2 days in Sedona

Day by day

1. Day 1: Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte

   Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, Chapel of the Holy Cross and Devil's Bridge, then Airport Mesa in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Cathedral Rock

      For an easier view, Red Rock Crossing at Crescent Moon Picnic Site shows it reflected in Oak Creek.

   2. Late morning

      Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte

      Fitter hikers can scramble partway up its ledges or walk the loop of about 6.5 km around neighbouring Courthouse Butte.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Prickly pear margarita

      Bars and restaurants across Uptown and the Gallery District, many with red-rock views from their terraces.

   4. Afternoon

      Chapel of the Holy Cross

      It is free to enter and gives some of the best views of the buttes without a hike.

   5. Late afternoon

      Devil's Bridge

      Visitors can walk out onto the arch, which is about 1.5 metres wide.

   6. Evening

      Airport Mesa

      Arrive at least 45 minutes before sunset to find space at the small overlook parking area.

2. Day 2: Red-rock jeep tour and Sedona Heritage Museum

   Red-rock jeep tour, Sedona Heritage Museum, Red Rock State Park and Slide Rock State Park, then Sunset at Airport Mesa in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Red-rock jeep tour

      Open-air jeep tours, led by companies such as Pink Jeep Tours since 1960, bounce over rocky backcountry trails like Broken Arrow, climbing slickrock steps and stopping at viewpoints that would otherwise mean long hikes.

   2. Late morning

      Sedona Heritage Museum

      Set in a pioneer family's farmhouse and apple-packing shed in Jordan Historical Park, the museum covers ranching, orchards and the many Western films shot among the red rocks.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Navajo taco

      Native-owned stands and casual restaurants in the region, including on the road to the Grand Canyon.

   4. Afternoon

      Red Rock State Park

      Ranger-led bird and nature walks run in the cooler months.

   5. Late afternoon

      Slide Rock State Park

      The water is cold even in summer, and the park also has creekside trails and the old orchard.

   6. Evening

      Sunset at Airport Mesa

      Watch the buttes glow red from the overlook, then head into town for dinner.

Before you go

• Red-rock jeep tour: Popular tours sell out at weekends and in spring and autumn; book a few days ahead.

If it rains

• Swap in Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village (Gallery District): Combine an afternoon browse with an early dinner on one of the courtyard patios.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–19 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.8 hours in December to 14.5 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Car. A car is essential for most trips, from trailheads to Oak Creek Canyon and day trips.

More or fewer days

• One day in Sedona
• 3 days in Sedona

Questions travellers ask