Is 1 day enough for Sedona? Here are the best things to see and do on a short visit
There’s no mistaking the red rock landscape of Sedona. A skyline of towering sandstone formations is eroded into fanciful shapes, a landscape that feels exotic yet familiar at the same time.
Sedona is a small town chock-full of art galleries, shops, restaurants and spas. Yet it’s all wrapped in spectacular national forest land veined with splashy creeks, hiking and biking trails and rugged back roads. If you can’t find a little piece of paradise somewhere in Sedona, you’re just not trying very hard.
There’s so much to see and do in Sedona that a week can fly by. But the easy accessibility of red rock country also makes Sedona one of Arizona’s best day trips, especially from Phoenix. Just a short drive up Interstate 17, then along State Route 179 and you’re suddenly rolling into the Village of Oak Creek sprawled at the base of Bell Rock. Your adventure is just beginning.
Here’s how to do Sedona in a single glorious day.
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Morning: Bell Rock hike, Jeep tour, Chapel of the Holy Cross
If you need to fuel up after your drive, stop at Red Rock Café. This locals hangout is known for friendly service and heaping portions of home-cooked breakfast and brunch selections. You’ll find something for everyone on the menu that includes freakishly ginormous cinnamon rolls, Belgian waffles and blue corn huevos rancheros. 100 Verde Valley School Road, 928-284-1441, www.redrockcafeaz.com.
The best way to experience the beauty of Sedona is on foot. For one of the easiest hikes, stop at the Bell Rock parking area on SR 179. From here you can enjoy a gentle stroll along the flat, wide Bell Rock Pathway. The popular route skirts the sandstone flanks of Bell Rock and rambles for 3.6 miles. It also connects to several other trails if you want to explore more, or turn around whenever you get the urge.
To escape the crowds and enjoy a little more of a workout, peel off Bell Rock Pathway onto Courthouse Butte Loop. The moderate 4.2-mile route swings through shaggy meadows and woodlands circling both Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock before rejoining the pathway. A Red Rock Pass ($5) is required and available from the trailhead kiosk. 928-203-2900, www.fs.usda.gov/coconino.
If you prefer to let someone else show you the sights, sign up for a jeep tour. In this craggy angular landscape, these bouncy exploratory rides have become a signature Sedona experience.
An army of brightly colored jeeps whisks visitors into the sandstone outback. Each jeep company offers specialty rides ranging from gentle, scenic excursions to boulder-climbing thrill-fests. Visit vortexes or overlooks or ancient Native American villages. The shortest tours last about 90 minutes. A list of jeep companies can be found at www.visitsedona.com.
Tucked amid the natural beauty found along SR 179 is one of Sedona’s most distinctive architectural wonders. The Chapel of the Holy Cross was completed in 1957, built between two pillars of rock.
The interior of the chapel is simple and unadorned. A few benches, some tapestries and flickering candles create a meditative oasis, while soft sunlight streams through the floor-to-ceiling window. Everyone is welcome. 780 Chapel Road, 928-282-4069, www.chapeloftheholycross.com.
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Midday: Tlaquepaque, Cowboy Club
Now you’re ready for a little retail therapy. Browse the distinctive galleries at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. This feels like walking into a different land, in a different time.
Tlaquepaque is a collection of Spanish-style buildings reminiscent of a Mexican hamlet. Cobblestone walkways meander past vine-covered walls and beneath stone archways. Graceful Arizona sycamores shade the courtyards where shoppers stroll past splashing fountains and beds bursting with flowers.
And if you have a thirst for a local beer or wine or a specialty cocktail, stop in at the Secret Garden Café, long a cornerstone of Tlaquepaque. 336 SR 179, 928-282-4838, www.tlaq.com.
Enjoy lunch with a view from the streetside patio of the Cowboy Club. Located in Uptown Sedona, this was once a storied saloon for local ranchers and Hollywood stars. It’s now a slightly upscale eatery with an eclectic menu that ranges from cactus fries to vegetable enchiladas to elk chops. 241 SR 89A, 928-282-4200, www.cowboyclub.com.
Afternoon: Uptown Sedona shopping, spas, Amitabha Stupa
After your meal, you can walk off a few calories among the shops and galleries spread amid the scenic blocks of Uptown. Get a jump on holiday shopping while reveling in some colorful panoramas. Even in the heart of town, the stone formations crowd in close. This is one of the things that make Sedona special. The startling beauty is not confined to designated overlooks or roadways. It follows you every step of your visit.
Tip: The Visitor Center is at 331 Forest Road in Uptown. 800-288-7336, www.visitsedona.com.
Another option is to embrace a little personal pampering. Sedona is known as a place of positive energy and healing and you don’t need to check in to a luxurious resort to experience it. Several day spas offer a range of treatments including massages, facials and pedicures lasting just an hour or two.
Try Namti Spa (928-282-7737, www.namti.com), Sedona’s New Day Spa (928-282-7502, www.sedonanewdayspa.com), or A Spa for You (928-282-3895, www.aspaforyou.com) to recharge and refresh.
Another popular destination for the spiritually inclined is the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park. Set on 14 acres at the base of Thunder Mountain, the site is open from dawn to dusk for visitors of all faiths for prayer, healing and meditation.
The stupa, a Buddhist structure, is one of the oldest forms of sacred architecture on Earth. In West Sedona, take Andante Drive north to Pueblo Dive and turn left. Proceed 50 yards and park. Take the short walking path to the stupa. 2650 Pueblo Drive. Free; donations appreciated. www.tara.org/amitabha-stupa/
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Finish up your Sedona day with a visit to Crescent Moon Picnic Area, known locally as Red Rock Crossing. The scenic park is a former ranch site spread along fertile bottomland at the base of Cathedral Rock.
There are picnic tables, restrooms and plenty of paths down to Oak Creek. It’s a popular swimming hole during summer months and lined with brightly colored leaves in the fall. This spot provides the iconic panorama of Cathedral Rock framed by forest and rising above the water. This is also the site of one of Sedona’s famous vortexes.
Crescent Moon Picnic Area is open until dusk. $12 per vehicle. 928-203-2900, www.fs.usda.gov/coconino.
To save yourself some driving time after leaving Crescent Moon, follow Red Rock Loop Road northeast to SR 89A. Turn left, continuing into Cottonwood and the junction with SR 260. Turn left on 260 and follow it back to I-17.
Find the reporter at www.rogernaylor.com. Or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RogerNaylorinAZ or Twitter @AZRogerNaylor.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sedona day trip from Phoenix: How to plan your perfect short visit
