Plan a Breathtaking Trip to Sedona this Fall

Sedona is a stunning city in Arizona located within the Coconino National Forest region. The main attraction that brings outdoor enthusiasts to Sedona are its jaw-dropping Red Rock formations and Canyons which make the perfect backdrop for hikers, bikers and outdoor adventurers from all over the US.

Sedona was inhabited thousands of years ago by the Sinagua community of Native Americans who lived and nurtured their lands until 1400 AD. The Montezuma Castle National Monument in Camp Verde still contains remnants from the time they lived here.

Sedona Vortexes

Sedona is very popular for its Energy Vortexes – areas of Earth that are high on energy. These vortexes are known to promote healing and refreshment for its visitors. The most popular energy vortexes in Sedona are at Airport Mesa, Bell Rock, Boynton Canyon and Cathedral Rock. You will find several talks and guided tours on the energy vortexes as well as people meditating or doing yoga etc in these spots. To me personally, the grandness of the Red Rock formations itself was healing, I can only imagine the positive effect that the vortexes can have on top of that.

Best time to visit Sedona

• Fall and Spring – These are the best times to visit Sedona between September and November or March to May when the temperatures are comfortable in the range of 70 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Summer – Summer is very hot and humid in Sedona, so it is probably not the best time for outdoor activities.
• Winter – This is one of the cheapest times to visit Sedona but it will be cold and some parts are covered in snow.

We went in mid September and did hikes earlier in the morning as well as during sunset when the weather was pleasant. October and November would be perfect for Fall visits to Sedona.

How to get to Sedona?

• Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) Airport – This is one of the most popular airports to fly into since there are a lot of flights flying into Phoenix airport every day. Sedona is a 2 hour drive from here.
• Flagstaff Pullium Airport (FLG) – This is the closest airport to Sedona. It is not as big or convenient as PHX airport but there are connections through the Phoenix Airport. Sedona is only a 40-minute drive from here.

From the Phoenix airport, you can either rent a car or take a shuttle to Sedona. There are shuttles that operate 7 times a day between Phoenix airport and Sedona from terminal 2 at the airport. You can find more details here. Shuttles take about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Once you get to Sedona, there are shuttles that get you to the various hiking trails as well.

Where to stay in Sedona?

Here are some hotels that are close to several trails and are centrally located to get to all the attractions and restaurants. I have mentioned the star ratings as well. Airbnbs are also a great option in Sedona which is home to some of the most stunning rental homes in the country.

1. Cedar’s resort (**)
2. Sky Ranch Lodge (***)
3. Real Inn and Suites (***)
4. Villas of Sedona (***)
5. Los Abrigados Resort and Spa (***)
6. Inn Above Oak Creek (***)
7. Alma De Sedona Inn (***)
8. Adobe Grand Villas (****)

We stayed at Sedona Real Inn and Suites since I got a great price during our visit in September. We also upgraded to their newest renovated Suites for a small fee when we got there. It was a wonderful and relaxing stay and I highly recommend them for your visit.

What to pack for Sedona?

1. Breathable hiking shirts with UPF
2. Long pants and shorts
3. Nice clothes for dinner or an evening at Tlaquepaque (optional)
4. Sunscreen
5. Sunhat
6. Sunglasses
7. Lip Balm with UPF 25+
8. Hiking shoes and socks
9. Water shoes (if you plan to cross creeks)
10. Swimsuits (optional)
11. Light jacket (for early morning hikes)
12. Hiking poles (optional)
13. Bug spray (for summer)
14. Headlamp (if planning sunrise hikes)
15. A small first aid kit

Places to visit and things to do in Sedona

Hiking Trails in Sedona

Sedona is one of the best places to go hiking. Beautiful Red Rock Canyons, blue skies, interesting greenery, Sedona offers some of the most beautiful scenery for hikers and mountain bikers. If you are new to Hiking, check out my Hiking 101 for Beginners – A Complete Guide.

Here are some of the most popular trails in Sedona from easy to hard for all types and levels of Hikers.

1. Birthing Cave Trail
   • Distance: 1.9 mi
   • Elevation Gain: 242 ft
   • Difficulty: Moderate
2. Devil’s Bridge via Mescal Trailhead
   • Distance: 4 mi
   • Elevation Gain: 528 ft
   • Difficulty: Moderate
3. Boynton Canyon Trail
   • Distance: 6.5 mi
   • Elevation Gain: 918 ft
   • Difficulty: Moderate
4. Doe Mountain Trail
   • Distance: 1.5 mi
   • Elevation Gain: 511 ft
   • Difficulty: Moderate
5. Seven Sacred Pools via Cibola Pass Trail
   • Distance: 2.8 mi
   • Elevation Gain: 387 ft
   • Difficulty: Easy
6. West Fork of Oak Creek Trail
   • Distance: 6.5 mi
   • Elevation Gain: 564 ft
   • Difficulty: Moderate
7. Cathedral Rock Trail
   • Distance: 1.2 mi
   • Elevation Gain: 741 ft
   • Difficulty: Hard

No Hike Views

Not really a hiker? Here are views that you can drive to from anywhere easily in Sedona.

Secret Slick Rock

Although this is an actual trail, it is more of a short walk (0.7 mi roundtrip) to the most stunning view of Cathedral Rock. Sunset is one of the best times to go here because the sunlight falling on the rock looks so stunning.

There is so much space to spread out once you get to the end so you can take your time to grab a snack and snap some great pictures.

Lover’s Knoll

Lover’s knoll is a short and scenic drive to a viewpoint with views of Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte, Twin Butte and Lee Mountain. This is also a famous spot for an outdoor wedding. Sunrise and sunset are some of the best times to go here.

Red Rock Scenic Byway Drive

Drive along Red Rock Scenic Byway (7.9 mi state route 179) where you see amazing views of the 4 Sedona vortexes, Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock.

Other fun things to do

Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village

Tlaquepaque is an Arts and Crafts Village in Sedona in Oak Creek modeled after the traditional Mexican village of Tlaquepaque in Guadalajara. There are a lot of traditional crafts and arts shops, great food, music and events happening here all the time. It is a nice place to check out for those looking for a relaxing evening in Sedona.

Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross

This is a Chapel with a very interesting architecture located on top of the Red Rocks in Sedona. It is open between 9am and 5pm. It has an interesting history where this was supposed to be built in Budapest, Hungary but later was built in the native region of Sedona by the local rancher, Marguerite Brunswig Staude who commissioned it.

Pink Jeep Tours

Want to get to some of the coolest and remote adventures in Sedona? Pink Jeep Tours takes you to some of the best off road adventures in Sedona such Broken Arrow, Ancient Ruins like Honanki Heritage sight, Rim views, DiamondBack Gulch etc. You can see the full list of tours in the link above. Pink Jeep Tours are also available in other parts of the US.

Places to eat in Sedona

I absolutely love trying and sharing plant-based restaurants wherever I go, so here is my list of restaurant recommendations! Our favorite ones were Tamaliza Mexican Food and Chocolatree Organic Eatery.

1. Layla’s Bakery Cafe
2. Tamaliza
3. Chocolatree Organic Eatery
4. The Chai Spot
5. The Secret Garden Cafe
6. Local Juicery
7. Fay Cafe
8. Whole Foods

Hope you enjoyed reading this post. If you plan your Fall trip to Sedona, let me know in the comments. Have a wonderful day! Don’t forget to subscribe for more such trip planning guides.