Outdoors · Sedona · United States
7 best outdoor things to do in Sedona
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Postdlf, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Cathedral Rock, Devil's Bridge and Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 13–21 hours across 3 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 13–21 hours
- Areas
- Village of Oak Creek, West Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon
Outdoors in Sedona
Nature · Village of Oak Creek
1.Cathedral Rock
Use the free Sedona Shuttle to the trailhead rather than hunting for parking, and go early to avoid both heat and crowds.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Active
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · West Sedona
2.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.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Active
- Photo spot
- Views
- Outdoors
Nature · Village of Oak Creek
3.Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte
Families with young children can stick to the pathway's lower ledges, which give views without exposure.
- Time needed
- 1–2.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Views
Park · West Sedona
4.Red Rock State Park
Climb the short Eagle's Nest Trail for a classic Cathedral Rock view without the crowds of the main trail.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
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Park · Oak Creek Canyon
5.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
Nature · Oak Creek Canyon
6.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
7.Soldier Pass Trail
The trailhead parking lot is tiny; take the free shuttle or arrive at dawn.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Village of Oak Creek | Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte | 1.5–2 hours + 1–2.5 hours |
| West Sedona | Devil's Bridge, Red Rock State Park and Soldier Pass Trail | 2–3 hours + 2 hours + 2–3 hours |
| Oak Creek Canyon | Slide Rock State Park and West Fork of Oak Creek Trail | 2–4 hours + 2–4 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 4 free, 2 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Slide Rock State Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Village of Oak Creek): Cathedral Rock → Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (West Sedona): Devil's Bridge → Red Rock State Park, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (West Sedona): Soldier Pass Trail, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Oak Creek Canyon): Slide Rock State Park, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Oak Creek Canyon): West Fork of Oak Creek Trail, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- April: highs of 23°C (73°F), about 3 rainy days, very busy crowds. Warm, dry and one of the best months for hiking, with wildflowers and cactus blooms.
- October: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 3 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak autumn season: sunny, comfortable days and late-month colour in Oak Creek Canyon.
- May: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 2 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm to hot; hike early and use Oak Creek for cooling off.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- West Sedona — Local shops, supermarkets and trailheads along the main road west
- Village of Oak Creek — Quieter community at the foot of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte
- Oak Creek Canyon — Creekside cabins and lodges under sycamores and pines
More of Sedona
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Sedona?
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.
+Which of these are free in Sedona?
Cathedral Rock, Devil's Bridge, Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte and Soldier Pass Trail.