Sedona is a picturesque town in Arizona that is noted for its mild year-round climate, New Age shops and spas, and beautiful surrounding natural red rock buttes and canyons. The town, which is located near the city of Flagstaff, makes a great jumping-off point for seeing some of the state's greatest natural wonders, including the immense Grand Canyon, the steep Mogollon Rim, and the towering San Francisco Peaks.
Old West towns like Tombstone and Bisbee are home to legendary attractions like the O.K. Corral, while other Arizona cities like Phoenix and Payson offer museums, art galleries, golf courses, spas, and major annual festivals. Visitors can also explore the historic Apache Trail or travel the route of the state's former Route 66 highway, which still showcases many classic roadside attractions.
Highlights:
- Touring ancient cliff dwellings at Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot
- Wine tasting and art galleries in Jerome and Cottonwood
- Exploring the Grand Canyon’s South Rim in a day
- Hiking and photography at Oak Creek Canyon and Slide Rock State Park
- Discovering Native culture at the Hopi Mesas or Flagstaff’s Museum of Northern Arizona
Unique Day Trips from Sedona:
1. Walk through breathtaking sandstone formations at Antelope Canyon
Although it took me 3 hours to drive from Sedona to Antelope Canyon, the trip was worth it. Antelope Canyon is a beautiful slot canyon located near the town of Page on lands belonging to the Navajo Nation indigenous American reservation.
The cavern, which is located near pristine Lake Powell, was originally developed following flash flooding erosion of regional Navajo sandstone.
Today, it is divided into the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon sections, which are commonly known as "The Crack" and "The Corkscrew."
Portions of the cave are open to the public as a tourist attraction, showcased as part of guided tours offered throughout the year by the Navajo Tribal Park.
You can enjoy excellent opportunities for nature photography within the cave, particularly at Upper Antelope Canyon, which can be accessed at ground level without any climbing necessary.
2. Drive along a historic desert route at The Apache Trail
The Apache Trail preserves the historic stagecoach trail of the same name, which was named in connection to the indigenous tribe of the same name and wound 40 miles through Arizona's Superstition Mountains.
The trail, which runs the same route today as AZ 88, meanders through rugged desert mountain terrain past beautiful natural sites like Apache and Canyon Lakes.
It is unpaved at its section between Tortilla Flat and Roosevelt Dam, showcasing steep cliff drops that make it a treacherous but stunning drive.
Magnificent scenery awaits those who make the journey along the route, including the panoramas of Theodore Roosevelt Lake and the Tonto National Forest.
The former copper mining towns of Globe and Goldfield are home to areas such as Lost Dutchman State Park, which offers trailheads into the Superstition Wilderness. Browse our romantic weekend getaways in Arizona guide for more ideas.
3. Hike through Bear Wallow Wilderness
Bear Wallow Wilderness is home to some of the American Southwest's largest tracts of virgin ponderosa pine forests, along with extensive areas of fir, spruce, aspen, and conifer forest tracts.
The wilderness area is operated as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, which is an important program to provide clean habitats for rare and endangered flora and fauna throughout America.
You can enjoy excellent opportunities for hiking, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, river rafting, and backpacking throughout the year at sites such as the gorgeous Bear Wallow Creek, which is surrounded by beautiful green riparian hardwoods.
An impressive population of black bears calls the wilderness home, along with populations of deer, elk, and native reptiles.
Five visitor trails meander through the wilderness, including the Reno Trail, which provides access to the creek's canyon.
4. Go on a scenic boat ride on Canyon Lake
Canyon Lake is one of four reservoirs constructed along Arizona's Salt River, originally created along with the development of the Mormon Flat Dam in 1925.
The 950-acre ace is the smallest of the Salt River's lakes, known as a popular stop along the scenic Apache Trail route at Apache Junction. It serves as a popular outdoor recreation area for the Phoenix and Sedona communities, offering year-round opportunities for hiking, boating, scuba diving, and water sports such as jet skiing.
Anglers can enjoy great opportunities to catch species like rainbow trout, yellow bass, channel catfish, bluegill, and walleye. Two boat launches are offered at the recreation area, along with a designated swimming area and a number of day-use picnic sites.
The Tortilla Flat Campground and the Canyon Lake Marina Campground offer marina services and overnight stay areas.
5. Walk along historic streets in Flagstaff
Flagstaff is one of the most picturesque cities in Arizona, flanked by the backdrop of the beautiful San Francisco Peaks. The city is known as a popular gateway area for exploring the region's natural wonders, including Humphreys Peak and Grand Canyon National Park. The famed Arizona Snowbowl ski resort offers opportunities for skiing and winter sports during the cooler months, located at an elevation of 9,200 feet above sea level. Downtown, delightful cultural organizations such as the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, the Clifford E. White Theater, and the Studio Theater present performances throughout the year. Annual festivals hosted in the city include the Flagstaff Music Festival, the Pickin' in the Pines bluegrass festival, the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, and the Northern Arizona Book Festival. Nearby, indigenous Pueblo sites are showcased at Wupatki National Monument and Walnut Canyon National Monument.
Romantic Day Trips from Sedona:
6. Admire Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park preserves one of the world's most magnificent natural wonders, preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World. The park, which was established in 1919 as the United States' 15th national park facility, spans 1.2 million acres and is one of the most-visited national parks in the county. Gorgeous rock layers formed in Precambrian times have been carved by the flow of the Colorado River, showcasing stunning red, brown, and pink layers today that make for unparalleled photo opportunities. Visitors can stay in luxury at accommodations along the park's South Rim, which is home to family-friendly tourist attractions like the Grand Canyon IMAX Theatre and the Yavapai Geology Museum. On the canyon's North Rim, secluded lodges and campgrounds offer convenient access to overlook points like Mather Point and the Yavapai Observation Station.
7. Visit ancient Hopi villages at First Mesa
First Mesa, Arizona is a unique attraction on the lands of the Hopi Reservation indigenous region, showcasing the historic way of life of the Hopi indigenous tribe's villages. The site consolidates three ancient Hopi and Tewa villages at Walpi, Sitsmovi, and Hano, located high atop a beautiful mesa that showcases sweeping panoramas of the surrounding Arizona terrain. Visitors can step back over a millennia in time and learn about the villages' traditional ways of life, gaining new respect for the practices and cultural traditions of indigenous Americans. Walpi village still operates without running water or electricity, showcased as part of guided walking tours overseen by the First Mesa Consolidated Village Office. At the Second Mesa, the Hopi Cultural Center showcases a beautiful art gallery that lets visitors purchase one-of-a-kind works of indigenous art, including polychrome pottery and carved katsina dolls.
8. Walk along steep hillside streets in Jerome
Jerome is a thriving artistic hub in central Arizona, once known as the site of Arizona's largest copper mine throughout the 19th century, which produced over three million pounds of copper a month at its peak of operations. Visitors can explore historic attractions such as Jerome State Historic Park, which is home to the lovely 1916 Douglas Mansion, operated today as a living history museum. A 1918 mine shaft is showcased at Audrey Headframe Park, covered by a glass viewing platform. In recent years, the city's downtown district has been completely revitalized, home today to beautiful art galleries, antique shops, boutiques, and delicious dining destinations within formerly-vacant historic buildings. Nearby, Tuzigoot National Monument preserves an indigenous pueblo set on a hilltop.
Family Day Trips from Sedona:
9. Discover stunning limestone formations at Kartchner Caverns
Kartchner Caverns are beautiful limestone caverns that were originally discovered by Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts in 1974, known for their 2.4 miles of spectacular underground passageways. The caverns have been operated as a tourist attraction since 1998, open to the public for guided tours. Visitors can explore lovely sites such as the caverns' Throne Room, which is home to one of the world's longest soda straw stalactite formations, and the impressive Kubla Khan column. Other major features that can be explored as part of guided tours include the caverns' Mud Flats, Cul-de-Sac Passage, and Strawberry and Rotunda Rooms. Throughout the summer months, the caverns serve as an important nesting site for endangered Myotis velifer bats. Above ground at Kartchner Caverns State Park, visitors can hike picturesque nature trails such as the 4.2-mile Guindani Trail.
10. Bike on rugged desert trails in McDowell Mountain Regional Park
McDowell Mountain Regional Park is a lovely 21,000-acre public park located within Arizona's northern Fountain Hills region, known as a prime spot for seasonal outdoor recreational activities in the Sedona area. The park, which is located along the McDowell Mountain range's western end, reaches heights of 3,000 feet above sea level, home to a spectacular network of more than 50 multi-use hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails. Competitive mountain bikers can make use of three mountain biking loop tracks of varying difficulty levels. The park is known as an excellent spot for wildlife watching, home to native species like coyotes, deer, and javelina. You can also stay overnight at the park's tent and RV hookup campsites, which offer picnic tables, restrooms, showers, and campfire rings.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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What is Sedona known for?
- Sedona is a picturesque town in Arizona, famous for its mild year-round climate, New Age shops and spas, and breathtaking red rock buttes and canyons.
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Where is Sedona located?
- Sedona is situated near the city of Flagstaff, making it a convenient destination for exploring Northern Arizona.
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What natural attractions can be visited from Sedona?
- Sedona serves as a great jumping-off point for visiting some of Arizona’s most famous natural wonders, including the Grand Canyon, the steep Mogollon Rim, and the towering San Francisco Peaks.
Best Time for Day Trips from Sedona, Arizona:
- March to May – Spring offers blooming cacti, red rock views, and perfect hiking weather for canyons, ruins, and scenic drives.
- June to August – Warm summer days are great for early morning adventures to higher elevations, swimming holes, and pine forests.
- September to October – Cooler temps and golden light make fall ideal for wineries, vortex sites, and small historic towns.
- November – Peaceful trails, fewer tourists, and mild weather make this a great time for cultural and nature outings.
- December to February – Winter brings occasional snow-dusted red rocks, cozy cafés, and serene desert landscapes perfect for reflection and exploration.
Plan Your Trip