Sedona.

What to do in Sedona The Southwest United States

Sedona is laid out along two main corridors, Highway 89A in West Sedona and Highway 179 in Uptown. Days here pivot entirely on daylight: out early to beat the desert sun and trail parking congestion, back in the afternoon for green chile stew or cold beer under sycamore trees, and quiet evenings watching sunset flush the sandstone red. It suits self-directed walkers, drivers, and travellers comfortable on dirt trails.

24 hours in Sedona The Southwest United States

Park before 7:00 a.m. at Cathedral Rock for a brisk scramble before the midday heat. Refuel on blue corn pancakes in Uptown, spend the afternoon ducking into craft shops at Tlaquepaque, and catch sunset from Airport Mesa with the valley glowing beneath you. Select 1 Day above to see it.

2 days in Sedona The Southwest United States

Spend your second morning wading Oak Creek along the shaded West Fork Trail. In the afternoon, take Highway 89A south into the Verde Valley for a late lunch of wood-fired trout and a tasting flight of Syrah at the Page Springs cellars. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.

3 days in Sedona The Southwest United States

A third day allows an unhurried visit to the Sinagua cliff dwellings at Palatki before winding up the switchbacks to Jerome. This steep former mining town offers panoramic valley views, local craft breweries, and an afternoon far removed from resort traffic.

Sedona The Southwest United States itineraries by interest

• Desert Hiking in Sedona The Southwest United States

  Climb the sandstone slabs of Cathedral Rock or track the shady creek beds of West Fork Trail under towering canyon walls.

• Regional Wine in Sedona The Southwest United States

  Taste crisp Vermentino and Syrah along Page Springs Road, where small Verde Valley vineyards tap volcanic limestone soils.

• Southwestern Cooking in Sedona The Southwest United States

  Eat smoked pork carnitas, blue corn enchiladas, and cactus-fruit glazes seasoned with local chilies along Highway 89A.

• Sacred Architecture in Sedona The Southwest United States

  Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross, built directly into a two-hundred-foot red rock spur by architect Marguerite Brunswig Staude.

• Art Galleries in Sedona The Southwest United States

  Browse bronze sculpture, Navajo weaving, and silver jewellery along the sycamore-lined stone courtyards of Tlaquepaque Arts Shopping Village.

• Scenic Drives in Sedona The Southwest United States

  Drive Oak Creek Canyon along Route 89A up to the Mogollon Rim overlook for sheer switchbacks through ponderosa pines.

• Native Archaeology in Sedona The Southwest United States

  Inspect twelfth-century Sinagua cliff dwellings and preserved petroglyphs at nearby Palatki and Honanki heritage sites.

• Mountain Biking in Sedona The Southwest United States

  Ride technical red slickrock ledges and fast red-dirt singletrack on the popular Chuckwagon and Mescal trail systems.

• Stargazing in Sedona The Southwest United States

  Take advantage of designated Dark Sky Community ordinances at two-mile-high viewpoints like Jordan Trailhead or Crescent Moon.

• Day Trips in Sedona The Southwest United States

  Head up the mountain to Jerome, a former copper-mining ghost town clinging to Cleopatra Hill with copper bars and historic saloons.

• Swimming Holes in Sedona The Southwest United States

  Cool down in natural sandstone chutes and spring-fed basalt pools along Oak Creek at Slide Rock State Park and Grasshopper Point.

• Botanical Walks in Sedona The Southwest United States

  Study native agave, prickly pear, and high-desert flora along shaded pathways at the Crescent Moon Ranch riparian area.