What to do in Sedona

Sedona is arguably one of America’s most beautiful cities and if you have ever seen any photos of it, it’s no wonder. This desert town near Flagstaff is surrounded by red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and pine forests. It’s mild climate and new age vibes make it a destination for tourists and Arizona locals alike. Uptown Sedona is filled with New Age shops, spas and art galleries, perfect for a low key afternoon. For the more adventurous, the town’s outskirts are filled with numerous trail-heads for hiking and biking, and you can even take a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon. To the North you have Oak Creek Canyon which boasts several campgrounds, picnic areas, and recreation areas within the canyon.

We spent the weekend in Sedona in June and took full advantage of the what this desert town had to offer.

Where to Eat:

If you are looking for views and GREAT food, I have the perfect place for you: Mesa Grill Sedona. Mesa Grill is kid AND dog friendly and serves Southwestern style American food.

•  1185 Airport Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Hours: 7:30 am – 9 pm daily

The coolest thing about this restaurant is the wall to wall windows looking out to the airport. You get to watch private planes and helicopters take off and land at the Sedona Airport while enjoying your meal!

Also worth noting – the kids menu is really fun. Sophie got banana bread and fruit which was such a fun option.

If you are in the mood for pizza (which I always am), we found a great little place in West Sedona. Pisa Lisa specializes in wood fired thin crust pizza and gourmet dessert. I’m talking gelato bar, tiramisu, cannolis… a dream! I didnt take many pictures because I was too busy stuffing my face but you can dine in or do take out.

• 2245 West Highway 89A, Sedona, 86336, AZ
• Hours: 11:30 am – 9 pm daily

What to do?

Stroll the shops

Visit the shops downtown! Sedona has a great main street with lots of fun New Age shops with crystals and places to get souvenirs. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafe’s if you don’t want to leave this area. My 5 year old also found a local who had his pet snakes out for people to hold, so that was a highlight for her!

Hike & Bike!

Sedona has some of the coolest hiking trails we have done as a family. Because of our short stay, we were only able to do two but they were incredible. If you are into mountain biking there are tons of trails for you as well!

Cathedral Rock

Cathedral Rock Trail is a 1.2 mile out and back trail rated as moderate to hard for its steep rock climb and lack of shade but so worth it. Our 5 year old was able to do it pretty easily. We went before sunset and were rewarded with spectacular views!

There are two parking lots and the parking fee is $5. Be sure to bring a hat and hiking shoes- the rock is slick!

Bonus tip: once you reach the top, follow the little trail left and scramble up some more rocks to reach a lone standing pillar that makes for a great photo op and some solitude.

Devil’s Bridge

We started this hike at 6 am to beat the Arizona heat and were definitely not the only ones with this game plan. If you are seeking solitude, this is not the hike for that. From everything I read online, this was supposed to be fairly easy 4 mile round trip hike. Well, not if you don’t have a 4×4 vehicle and have to park at the Dry Creek Vista parking area. Then it becomes a 6 miles quite strenuous trek.⁣

Once you can see the bridge above you, the trail becomes more of a climb so beware of that. We arrived at the bridge around 7am and there were already about a dozen people up there. This meant we had to wait “in line” to take our photos walking across. Still such a cool experience – and for people who are afraid of heights, I can promise you it’s wider than it looks!

• Start early because there isn’t much shade. ⁣Maybe even in the dark if you are looking to beat the crowd.
• Park at either Long Canyon Road (4 mile hike) or Devils Bridge parking area for the 2 mile version if you can. ⁣
• The last mile of the hike is straight up with some scrambling. Kids will need assistance. If the trail is wet or icy, you will want to be extra careful on this hike.⁣

Other notable hikes include Soldiers Pass Trail (to see the Seven Sacred Pools), Bell Rock, Boynton Canyon and West Fork.

Slide Rock State Park

Slide Rock is an Arizona State Park located in Oak Creek Canyon 7 miles north of Sedona. It got its name from a natural water slide formed by the slippery sandstone rocks of Oak Creek.

• 6871 AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Hours: 8 am – 6 pm (these change depending on the time of year)
• Entrance Fee: Monday – Thursday: $20. Friday – Sunday: $30 per vehicle

Slide Rock is the perfect place to cool off in the summer because the water coming from the mountains is frigid! There is a little general store within the park where you can get snacks and drinks, as well as sunscreen, water shoes, towels, etc. There is also a restroom down by the creek and one near the parking lot.

• Wear water shoes, the rocks are extremely slick
• Bring sunscreen and a hat because there is no shade during the day
• Glass is prohibited, so be sure to bring plastic containers and a cooler for snacks

Where to Sleep?

I know Sedona has some gorgeous resorts and eclectic little motels but we were passing through in an RV. Therefore, we opted to take advantage of the public land in Arizona and boondocked off of Hwy 89A. It’s called “The Main Drag 525” if you google it. The dirt road is a little rough and you’ll see RVs as soon as you pull off the highway but if you keep going down the road, your sure to find a spot.

• Loy Butte Rd. (FR-525) Sedona, AZ 86336
• GPS: 34.8334, -111.9083
• Price: Free

If boondocking/ dispersed camping is something you are interested in, I highly recommend checking out campendium.com. This is a fantastic resource on where you can overnight for free, with lots of up to date reviews and photos.

Thanks so much for checking out this blog post. That wraps up my favorite things to do in Sedona if you are only there for a short trip. Feel free to pin the image below to save this blog post for future reference!