3 days in Sedona

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      Cathedral Rock

      Sedona's most photographed butte has a short but very steep trail of about 1 km each way, climbing slickrock with a final scramble to a saddle between its spires.

   2. Late morning

      Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte

      Families with young children can stick to the pathway's lower ledges, which give views without exposure.

   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

      A Catholic chapel built in 1956 into a red-rock ridge, with a giant cross forming its façade and a window looking out across the valley.

   5. Evening

      Airport Mesa

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

2. Day 2: Devil's Bridge and Red Rock State Park

   Devil's Bridge, Red Rock State Park and Soldier Pass Trail, then Sunset at Airport Mesa in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Devil's Bridge

      Start before sunrise or ride the free shuttle; by mid-morning the queue to stand on the arch for photos can last over an hour.

   2. Late morning

      Red Rock State Park

      A nature preserve along Oak Creek with gentle trails through riparian woodland, views of Cathedral Rock and a visitor centre explaining local ecology.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Navajo taco

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

   4. Afternoon

      Soldier Pass Trail

      The trailhead parking lot is tiny; take the free shuttle or arrive at dawn.

   5. Evening

      Sunset at Airport Mesa

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

3. Day 3: Red-rock jeep tour and Sedona Heritage Museum

   Red-rock jeep tour, Sedona Heritage Museum and Slide Rock State Park, then Stargazing tour 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

      Take a look at the restored apple-sorting machine in the packing shed, a reminder that Sedona was once orchard country.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Elote

      Elote Cafe and Mexican restaurants around town; expect a queue at Elote Cafe.

   4. Afternoon

      Slide Rock State Park

      On a historic apple farm in Oak Creek Canyon, a slippery sandstone chute about 25 metres long sends swimmers sliding down the creek into pools.

   5. Evening

      Stargazing tour

      Sedona's dark-sky status makes guided telescope tours on clear nights a highlight.

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

With 3 nights, Uptown Sedona keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, West Sedona ($$$) suits families, budget and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–22 hours of visiting over 3 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.

More or fewer days

• One day in Sedona
• 2 days in Sedona

Questions travellers ask