Season guide · Sedona · United States
Sedona in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Eddiewexler, CC0
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Quick answer
Sunny, mild days, autumn colour in Oak Creek Canyon and busy trails, particularly in October. Expect highs up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 10 rainy days across September–November. September–November are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 2°C (36°F) to 31°C (88°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 10
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 31°C (88°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 4 | 12.3 h | 4/5 |
| October | 25°C (77°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 3 | 11.2 h | 5/5 |
| November | 18°C (64°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 3 | 10.3 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 25°C (77°F) against a yearly 24°C (75°F), and 10 of the year's roughly 49 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- October: Sedona Arts Festival (usually early October)
- October: Sedona Plein Air Festival (usually October)
Make the most of the weather
Park · West Sedona
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.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
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Park · Oak Creek Canyon
Slide Rock State Park
Arrive at opening on summer weekends; the parking lot fills and visitors are turned away. Wear water shoes on the slick rock.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Active
Viewpoint · West Sedona
Airport Mesa
A flat-topped mesa between Uptown and West Sedona with a short climb to one of Sedona's best-known vortex sites and a panoramic view of Thunder Mountain, Coffee Pot Rock and Cathedral Rock.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- After dark
Nature · Oak Creek Canyon
West Fork of Oak Creek Trail
Bring shoes you don't mind getting wet, and expect a parking fee at the Call of the Canyon trailhead.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Kids
Nature · West Sedona
Soldier Pass Trail
A moderate trail past the Devil's Kitchen, a large sinkhole, and the Seven Sacred Pools, a chain of rock basins that hold water after rain, continuing to a small arch and cave high on the cliffs.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in autumn
- Montezuma Castle National Monument (About 30 minutes by car) — A five-storey Sinagua cliff dwelling tucked into a limestone alcove high above Beaver Creek, reached by a short paved loop.
- Flagstaff (About 45 minutes by car) — A mountain town at about 2,100 metres with a historic Route 66 downtown, breweries and Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered in 1930.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Sedona?
Yes: September–November are among the best months. Sunny, mild days, autumn colour in Oak Creek Canyon and busy trails, particularly in October.
+What is the weather like in Sedona in autumn?
Highs of up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 10 rainy days over the season.