Sedona



Sedona is a town in Arizona, United States of America, 120 miles north of Phoenix. Known for its beauty and serene setting amidst the beautiful Red Rocks, the town is famous for its vibrant arts community with nearly 100 art galleries and events including the Sedona International Film Festival, Sedona Arts Festival and the Sedona Jazz Festival. It offers excellent outdoor adventures, including mountain biking, hiking and off-roading. Sedona is surprisingly sprawling, with Oak Creek to the south, West Sedona and Uptown Sedona each providing great views, hikes, dining and arts.

By plane
The nearest major airport is in Phoenix Sky Harbor or Phoenix Mesa Airport.

By car
Sedona is along Arizona State Route 89A (AZ 89A), about  north of Phoenix,  northeast of Cottonwood, and  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.

Get around
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.

By guided tour
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.



See


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.



Hiking and mountain biking
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 Over the Edge Sedona Bike Shop (1695 Hwy 89A, ), and from Absolute Bikes (6101 Hwy 179, ).



Other notable trails include Soldier Pass Trail and Courthouse Butte Loop Trail. For a more laid back stroll, park near the end of Verde Valley School Road and walk the rest of the way to Oak Creek Crossing. Or take an hour's walk from near the school by the junction of the Upper Red Rock Loop Road and the Highway 89 (there is a parking lot there). The trail leads up to one of the finest panoramic views you will ever see.

Scenic drives
This is a gorgeous area and driving around gives you great views of the rocks. Jeep rentals for serious off-road driving are popular. If you have four wheel drive, Schnebley Hill Road at sunset provides excellent views.



Spas and wellness
Sedona is famous as the home of five New Age vortices, areas where the earth's magnetism is said to have special properties. Vortices are located at Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Boynton Canyon, and Schnebly Hill. You can take a vortex tour from one of many local guides, or hike to the sites yourself. Look for cairns marking the vortex sites.



Buy
Sedona has many shops specializing in local Native American arts and crafts, international galleries and New Age shops (aura readings, healing crystals, vortex information) in addition to the usual tourist fare. A few stores sell shirts dyed in genuine Sedona red rock.



Eat
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.

Splurge




Go next

 * Flagstaff, Historic Route 66 and the Grand Canyon to the north.
 * Phoenix, the Valley of the Sun, to the south.
 * The historic mining towns of Cottonwood and Jerome to the southwest