Sedona
Red rock canyons that turn deep amber at golden hour, ringed by trails that put you right inside the formations.
Best time to visit
March – May, Sept – Nov
Fly into
Phoenix (PHX)
Good for
Hiking, scenery, wellness
Suggested stay
3–4 nights
The rocks look different by the hour
Sedona’s red sandstone formations change color through the day — pale rust at noon, deep amber by early evening. Plan hikes for early morning or the two hours before sunset, both for the light and to skip the midday heat that hits hard for most of the year.
Uptown Sedona has the restaurants and galleries, but the formations themselves — Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, the Airport Mesa overlook — are scattered around the edges of town, so a car is worth having even for a short stay.
What a few days actually looks like
Mornings are for the trail before the heat builds — the climb up Cathedral Rock is short but steep, and the view from the saddle over the valley is the one everyone comes for. Midday is for staying out of the sun, whether that’s a spa afternoon or just lunch in the shade uptown.
Evenings belong to the overlooks. Airport Mesa is the easiest sunset spot to reach, but any west-facing viewpoint works — the rocks hold the color for a good twenty minutes after the sun actually sets.
Worth building your trip around
Cathedral Rock trail
A short, steep scramble to a saddle with one of the best formation views in the whole valley.
Airport Mesa at sunset
The easiest-to-reach overlook in Sedona, and still one of the best places to watch the rocks turn amber.
Bell Rock loop
A gentler trail that circles one of Sedona’s most recognizable formations without the crowds of Cathedral Rock.