Sedona, AZ Road Trips

1 Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 331 Forest Rd, toll-free: +1-800-288-7336. In addition to providing the usual visitor information, there is also a National Forest Service ranger on hand to answer questions about regional hikes. Red Rock Passes are sold here.

Sedona is home to a bustling downtown and vibrant arts community, but the real attraction is the surreal, red rock landscape, visible from anywhere in town. There are however several notable historic sights. 1 Chapel of the Holy Cross, 780 Chapel Rd, ☏ +1 928-282-4069, toll-free: +1-888-242-7359. This unique chapel built into the rock offers great views. 2 Palatki Heritage Site, Forest Rd 525 - Forest Rd 795, ☏ +1 928-282-3854 (reservations). Daily 9:30AM-3PM. A Sinagua archeological site with cliff dwellings and pictographs and petroglyphs, dated to 1100-1400 CE. The site is located in the Coconino National Forest, and has three interpretive trails. Reservations are recommended, as visitor numbers are managed by the rangers to limit damage to the site. A Red Rock Pass, which can be purchased at the visitor center, is required on all vehicles. Red Rock Pass. 3 Honanki Heritage Site, Forest Rd 525 (15 miles west of Sedona), ☏ +1 928-203-2900 (reservations not necessary). Daily 9:30AM-4PM. A Sinagua cliff dwelling site with numerous pictographs, inhabited from 1100-1300 CE. The site is managed by the Coconino National Forest Service. A Red Rock Pass is required on all vehicles; the passes are not sold here and must be purchased beforehand. Red Rock Pass. 4 Sedona Heritage Museum, 735 Jordan Rd, ☏ +1 928-282-7038, [email protected]. Daily 11AM-3PM. A small museum dedicated to the history of early white settlement in Sedona. $5 (adults), free (children under 13).

Canyons, creeks, mountains, forests, spiritual vortices, hikes and mountain biking trails surround the area. A Red Rock Pass($5/day, $15/wk, $20/yr, sold at multiple locations and online) is required to park at trail heads. The U.S. Forest Service has guides and maps to the local trails. Mountain bikes can be rented from Thunder Mountain Bikes (1695 Hwy 89A, ☏ +1 928-282-1106), and from Absolute Bikes (6101 Hwy 179, ☏ +1 928-284-1242). 1 Boynton Canyon, Boynton Canyon Rd. One of the most scenic of the box canyons in the area, and correspondingly popular. The parking lot is a short distance from the trail head; no parking at the luxury resort. 2 Broken Arrow Trail, Morgan Rd (Hwy 179). Follow an easy 2-mile hike to Chicken Point. Well-marked trail (follow the cairns). Beautiful views. Do early in the morning before Pink Jeeps - which start around 8AM. Can also see Submarine Rock from trail. This route is popular for mountain biking. 3 Cathedral Rock Trail, Back-O'Beyond Rd (Hwy 179, 3 miles before 'Y' intersection, left at Back-O'Beyond Rd, 2 mile to park.). For a challenge, this 0.8-mile trail is steep, but the view is unparalleled. Great at sunset. Beats Airport Mesa. Can walk around the base of the rock for a less strenuous hike. 4 Bell Rock Pathway / Vista (off of Hwy 179). A 3.7-mile trail with fantastic views of Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and the surrounding area. Suitable for hiking and mountain biking. 5 Devil's Bridge Trail, Dry Creek Rd (FR152) (12 miles west of Sedona). The largest natural sandstone arch in the area.

When it comes to dining, Sedona has an exceptional choice of style, atmosphere, decor and flavor developed for tourists from around the world. Many of the restaurants in Sedona are rated among the best restaurants in Arizona, and several have earned national acclaim. 1 Picazzo Pizza, 1855 W Hwy 89A, ☏ +1 928-282-4140, [email protected]. Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM. Very good food, pizza choices are too numerous to mention. Take out available. 2 Wildflower Bread Company, 101 N Hwy 89A (Shops at Pinon Pointe), ☏ +1 928-204-2223, fax: +1 928 204-9449. Wildflower raised the bar for affordable dining in Sedona. Good food at affordable prices. Great views of the red rocks. Nice comfortable fireplace on a winters' day, with daily newspapers and free wi-fi. Very central location. Creekside Coffee, 251 SR 179, ste C2, ☏ +1-928-955-9888. Su-Th 6:30AM-5PM, F Sa 6:30AM-6PM. A cozy coffee shop with an unobstructed view of the surrounding red rocks with a good amount of seating, indoors and out. $10 or less. (updated Feb 2020) 3 Casa Bonita, 164 Coffee Pot Dr #H, ☏ +1 928-282-2728. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM; daily Happy Hour 3-6PM. They offer a 10% discount if you are staying at a few selected hotels in the area. Just show your room key. 4 Coffee Pot Restaurant, 2050 W Hwy 89A, ☏ +1 928-282-6626. Daily 6AM-2PM. A local institution that has been featured on the Travel Channel, Food Network, etc. With a view of Coffee Pot Rock, this historic family-friendly place offers 101 omelets and southwestern favorites. Open for breakfast and lunch only.

1 Oak Creek Brewery & Grill, 336 Hwy 179 D201 (Tlaquepaque), ☏ +1 928-282-3300. Noted for nut-brown ale, hefeweizen and Pilsner-style lagers. If you can't decide what to order, try the Seven Dwarfs sampler, served in miniature 5-oz. beer steins. 2 PJ's Village Pub, 40 W Cortez Dr #7, ☏ +1 928-284-2250. Daily 10AM-2AM. Very local feel.

Sedona.org Vacation Rentals, 3190 West State Route 89A, Suite 550, ☏ +1 928-440-2576. Sedona.org Vacation Rentals offers vacation homes in Sedona with luxury furnishings, high end amenities, and easy access to Sedona's attractions. Book today $162. (updated Jul 2020) Porter Vacation Rentals (Porter), 1785 W State Rte 89A, ☏ +1 928 364-3188, [email protected]. Offering vacation rentals in Sedona. (updated Aug 2021) 1 Sky Ranch Lodge, 1105 Airport Rd (left at the Y from 179 to 89A South, then left at Airport Rd and up a mile), ☏ +1 928-282-6400, toll-free: +1-888-708-6400, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Scenic views from Airport Mesa, pet friendly. Nice grounds. Quiet. Older property but well maintained. Reasonable prices. From $80/night. 2 Aiden by Best Western Sedona, 2545 W Hwy 89A (left at Y from 179 to 89A, 2mi on left, between Coffee Pot and Dry Creek Rds), ☏ +1 928-282-1533. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Basic motel, good location, set back from road. Free wi-fi and breakfast, pool, pet-friendly. Clean. From $93/night. 3 GreenTree Inn Sedona, 2991 W Hwy 89A, ☏ +1 928-282-9166, toll-free: +1-877-282-9166, fax: +1 928-282-6208. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Swimming pool and jacuzzi. Free continental breakfast and wi-fi. $239/night. 4 Mountain Modern Sedona, 95 Arroyo Pinon Dr, ☏ +1 928-282-1414, toll-free: +1-800-353-1239. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. A pleasant hotel on the outskirts of town, just off 89A. Rooms have exterior entrances; they're a bit on the small side but they're clean and well-decorated.

1 Sedona Airport (SDX IATA FAA:SEZ). Too small for scheduled jet traffic, but is popular for as a private aviation destination. The nearest major airport is in Phoenix Sky Harbor or Phoenix Mesa Airport. Sedona is along Arizona State Route 89A (AZ 89A), about 120 mi (190 km) north of Phoenix, 20 mi (32 km) northeast of Cottonwood, and 30 mi (48 km) south of Flagstaff. From Phoenix, take I-17 north to Camp Verde area and then exit at Cottonwood/Payson exit onto Arizona State Route 260 (AZ 260). On AZ 260 go northwest to Cottonwood. In Cottonwood at the intersection of AZ 260 and AZ 89A, travel north on 89A to Sedona. An alternate route from the south is I-17 to AZ 179 (north of Camp Verde) through the Village of Oak Creek. AZ 179 is designated as an All America Road by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This road winds through stunning red rock terrain. To reach Sedona from Flagstaff, you can take the scenic route of AZ 89A direct from Flagstaff, or south on I-17 past Sedona, then turning north on AZ 179 through Oak Creek or AZ 260 through Cottonwood. The route south of Flagstaff winds through scenic views of Oak Creek Canyon via 89A, known as the Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road. Drive carefully, as the switchbacks and falling red rocks can be treacherous, but the views are well worth it.

Walking in Sedona allows for great views but a bike or car is necessary to access trail heads and most destinations. The city is divided between 3 distinct areas, all fairly spread out and realistically requiring a vehicle. Limited public transit exists. A number of companies provide guided tours (by bus, trolley or Jeep) of Sedona that include transportation from the surrounding areas. Some companies will provide bus travel from nearby towns while others begin in Sedona. Some will provide just a brief tour with small stops, while others may take you on a hike, and arrange all your meals. CenterFocus Experiences, ☏ +1 928-567-8580, [email protected]. An outdoor adventure guide company based in the Sedona area. They offer hiking and backpacking trips to the Grand Canyon, as well as rock climbing, canyoneering, archaeology and astronomy tours. 2 Pink Jeep Tours, 204 N Highway 89A, ☏ +1 928-282-5000, toll-free: +1-800-873-3662, fax: +1 928-282-3513. A fun way to see the red rocks if you're not in to hiking. Sedona Trolley Tours, ☏ +1 928-282-4211. The best first thing to do in Sedona is to take the Sedona Trolley. They have two routes. One is the City Highlights Tour and the other is Scenic Canyon Tour. $10.