25 Essential Things to Do in Sedona (for First Timers)

Beautiful red rocks, towering buttes, and deep canyons characterize this vibrant Arizona town in a mountainous desert region. Sedona is known for its rich artistic culture and offers a wide variety of galleries. Plus, the energetic activity here draws a vibrant new-age community.

I love visiting Sedona and count it as one of my favorite places to visit in Arizona. Make sure to bookmark my guide to where to stay in Sedona as you plan your trip! 

Let’s get into the best things to do in Sedona!

25 Best Things to Do in Sedona

Devil’s Bridge

Venture out onto a natural red rock bridge with panoramic views of Sedona.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free 

Devil’s Bridge is one of Sedona’s most iconic features that offers stellar photo-ops atop this towering natural bridge. The hike is steep but not overly challenging and winds through some of the beautiful red-rock countryside for which Sedona is famous.

To get out ahead of the crowds, start your hike early in the morning. This is also the optimal time to take photos. Parking can also be limited at the main trailhead (Devil’s Bridge Trail), so I recommend starting at Mescal Trailhead, which is a 5.7-mile round-trip hike that tends to have less traffic.

Montezuma Castle National Monument

See the ancient cliff settlements built by indigenous peoples.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (928) 567-3322 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 4:45 pm daily | Entrance: $10

Montezuma Castle National Monument contains the remnants of incredible dwellings built into the cliffs by the Sinagua people sometime between AD 1100 and 1400. The structures have been well preserved and offer an incredible glimpse of the region’s cultural past. 

The national park lies about 45 minutes southwest of Sedona – a drive that’s well worth it to see such a unique example of history.

👉 Just have a day to explore Sedona? This private tour of Sedona is customizable and will take you to the top sites!

Bell Rock

Hike a few miles to this iconic bell-shaped rock formation.

📍 Google Maps | Hours: Open 24/7 | Entrance: Free

The monolithic Bell Rock butte emerges out of the Sedona countryside as one of its most recognizable formations. While you can appreciate the butte from afar, a fantastic 3.5-mile round-trip hike takes you to the top, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the valley.

Bell Rock is also the site of a vortex, a place of concentrated energy where some believe there is elevated spiritual activity.

Chapel of the Holy Cross

This intriguing chapel emerges from the surrounding red rocks, creating an impressive site.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (928) 282-4069 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: Free

Constructed in the 1950s, this Catholic Chapel perches high up on a cliff face, seemingly embedded or emerging from the red rocks themselves. The Chapel of the Holy Cross welcomes all visitors wanting to behold the architectural wonder, regardless of religious denomination, and has a small gift shop at the base. 

For those looking to attend a mass while visiting Sedona, the Chapel of the Holy Cross is a wonderful place to combine worship with the area’s natural beauty.

Airport Mesa

For some of the best views of Sedona, this hike is a must.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (928) 203-2900 | Website | Hours: Open 24/7 | Entrance: Free

The moderate Airport Mesa loop leads around the base of the large mesa and offers beautiful views of the scenery below. It’s one of the best places to watch the sunset and enjoy the beautiful color changes in the red rock country. 

Airport Mesa is also the site of one of Sedona’s vortexes where the Earth’s energy allegedly radiates at greater intensity.

Boynton Canyon

This hike will take you to an iconic Subway Cave with sweeping views.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free

Boynton Canyon and its Subway Cave are equally as impressive as Devil’s Bridge and Cathedral Rock, yet slightly less popular. 

The 6.1-mile out-and-back hiking trail is considered to be moderately challenging. To reach the Subway Cave, take a side trail to the right about a mile from the final canyon viewpoint. It should be labeled!

Soldier Pass Trail

This hike leads to a massive sinkhole and a series of seven small pools called the seven sisters.

📍 Google Maps | Hours: Open 24/7 | Website | Entrance: Free

Soldier Pass Trail is my personal favorite hike in Sedona, and it beats out the more popular Devil’s Bridge and Cathedral Rock in my opinion. I only saw a few other hikers on the 4.5-mile trail, so we had all of the main sites to ourselves. 

This moderately difficult hike leads to a giant sinkhole called Devil’s Kitchen, the Seven Sisters (seven small pools), and a unique cave. Each of these features is remarkable, but the trail also winds through what I thought was one of the most beautiful landscapes in Sedona.

Brins Mesa

Explore Sedona’s breathtaking landscape dotted with red rock buttes and canyons. 

📍 Google Maps | Hours: Open 24/7 | Entrance: Free

Brins Mesa is a moderate stroll for those wanting to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Sedona landscape. 

This 3-mile trail also connects to various other hiking trails that wind through the red rock wilderness, making it a great kickoff point to explore. You’ll be rewarded with unmatched views of the surroundings once you make it to the overlook.

Brins Ridge Trail also allows vehicles and is a favorite among adrenaline-chasing off-roaders.

Bear Mountain Trail

One of Sedona’s more challenging hikes leads to what many consider the best views in town.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free

Hike nearly 5 miles and gain 2,000+ ft of elevation on Bear Mountain. This trail is not for the inexperienced hiker or faint of heart because much of the hike requires scrambling over sheer rock. Those with the gumption to take on one of Sedona’s most difficult hiking trails will be rewarded with stunning views of Fay Canyon and towering buttes.

Prepare for your hike by bringing lots of water, sun protection, and shoes with good traction.

West Fork Oak Creek Trail

This beautiful hike leads through the forested Oak Creek Canyon punctuated by striking red rock formations.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 8 am – dusk daily | Entrance: Free

West Fork Trail winds through the lush Oak Creek Canyon just outside of Downtown Sedona. This easy, mostly flat walking trail turned out to be an unexpected highlight of my trip because of the unique scenery.

While most of Sedona is a beautiful desert, the water of Oak Creek makes the canyon a verdant oasis, and I couldn’t get enough of the greenery contrasting with the red rock. The small Oak Creek has carved out incredible tunnels and unique formations in the canyon rock walls.

Cathedral Rock

Hike up to this monolithic red rock for breathtaking views of Sedona from above.

📍 Google Maps | Website

There’s a reason that Cathedral Rock Trail is one of the most popular things to do in Sedona. The massive red butte truly resembles a cathedral, and the hike up to it offers increasingly fabulous views. The hike requires a bit of scrambling and gets difficult in some places – especially if you attempt it at midday in summer as I did.

The hike terminates at the top of Cathedral Rock where, from its spires, the views of the valley below are spectacular. 

Grand Canyon

The iconic southern rim of the Grand Canyon is a short drive from Sedona.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (928) 638-7888 | Website | Hours: Open 24/7 | Entrance: $35 per vehicle

Arguably the world’s most recognizable natural wonder, the Grand Canyon is worth seeing at least once in your life. The drive to the south rim from Sedona only takes a couple of hours, so pack a bag for the Grand Canyon and make a day trip out of it!

We spent a couple of hours strolling along the walking trails at the top of the immense canyon walls. It was as spectacular as expected.

Visit Slide Rock State Park

Take relief from the hot desert temperatures with a dip in this canyon river.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (928) 282-3034 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $20 per vehicle

Slide Rock State Park is one of the most popular Sedona attractions and undoubtedly the most fun way to escape the desert heat in summer. 

The water of Oak Creek meanders around towering rock walls, creating a picturesque natural bathing area. The banks of the river feature Sedona’s iconic red rocks, perfect for basking in the sun after a swim. 

Hike up or down the river to find a less populated area. The park draws dozens to hundreds of visitors each day.

📚 Related Reading: 19 Best Places to Go Camping in Arizona (By a Local)

Pink Jeep Tour

You can’t go wrong taking an off-roading jeep tour of the Sedona landscape.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (800) 873-3662 | Website | Entrance: starting at $59 per person

Pink Jeep Tours are a super fun and efficient way to see all of the top sites and attractions in and around Sedona. 

They offer tons of different tours, including one to ancient hidden cliff dwellings. If you want to pack a ton of sightseeing into a short time, a Pink Jeep Tour is the perfect option.

Verde Valley Wine Trail

Explore Sedona’s various wineries scattered throughout this little-known wine country.

🌐 Website | Entrance: Free

Sedona has its very own wine country where you can sip a glass of local vino and enjoy views of the stunning landscape. There are multiple fantastic wineries scattered throughout Oak Creek and nearby Cottonwood and Jerome. Together, these wineries make up the Verde Valley Wine Trail.

Our favorites were Oak Creek Vineyards and Page Springs Cellars, both of which had great wine to enjoy with beautiful views of the surrounding nature. 

Vortex Site

Visit one of Sedona’s areas of energetic importance to connect with yourself and the Earth.

👉 Browse Tours on Viator

Sedona is considered a destination of spiritual importance and revered as a sacred place by many. This is thanks to its many vortexes, sites of strong, natural energy flow. 

These vortexes are scattered throughout the countryside and draw many visitors wanting to meditate, feel energetic forces, and see what all the fuss is about. Most of the sites are somewhat remote and require a hike or bike to reach them. Otherwise, you can take a Jeep tour to various vortex sites.

Red Rock Scenic Byway

This drive is a must for stunning scenic views without having to leave the car.

📍 Google Maps | Hours: Open 24/7 | Entrance: Free

This 7.5-mile stretch of road called the Red Rock Scenic Byway winds through the Sedona wilderness and offers an opportunity to enjoy spectacular views of the red rock landscape. This is a fantastic option to enjoy the outdoors when hiking or biking isn’t possible.

Off-Roading

Sedona is an off-road aficionado’s paradise, with tons of vehicle-accessible trails.

👉 Browse Tours on Viator

The area surrounding Sedona is known as an off-roading playground. The rocky and rough terrain makes it a popular destination for people to test their 4WD vehicles and driving skills.

Coconino National Forest has tons of trails designated for off-roading vehicles that offer a variety of difficulties. The best trails are Devils Bridge Trail, Hangover Trail Out-and-Back, and Schnebly Hill Road OHV Route.

If you aren’t confident in your off-roading capabilities, you can still enjoy a thrilling driving adventure by going on a Jeep Tour. 

Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village

Peruse the many art galleries at the architecturally beautiful Tlaquepaque Village.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (928) 282-4838 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Thu; 10 am – 6 pm Fri-Sun | Entrance: Free

Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village is a beautiful center designed to replicate a traditional Mexican village. The grounds themselves are worth visiting as they contain lovely gardens, benches, historic attractions, and art pieces. 

As its Spanish name hints, Tlaquepaque is filled with art galleries displaying unique pieces, often celebrating Sedona’s rich culture, history, and natural beauty.

Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park

For a beautiful moment away from it all, stroll this park made specifically for peace.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (877) 788-7229 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 6 pm daily | Entrance: voluntary donations

The Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park is an outdoor area that provides a tranquil hideaway for people to meditate, pray, and sit in peace. 

Stupas are one of the earliest types of sacred structures with origins dating back to the time of Buddha over 2,500 years ago. They are considered to hold the presence of Buddha and offer a place of enlightenment and spiritual significance for people of all religions.

Sedona’s Amitabha Stupa is one of the few in the West.

Mountain Biking

There’s no better way to see Sedona’s backcountry than from a bike.

The many trails that wind through the rocky, desert terrain in and around Sedona make it a top destination for mountain bikers of all skill levels. In fact, mountain biking is an awesome way to explore Sedona and see some of the more remote sites that are too far on foot. 

Some of the top-rated trails for mountain biking are Aerie to Cockscomb Trail, Chuckwagon Trail, and Hangover Trail.

Visit the Palatki Heritage Site

See the remains of cliff dwellings constructed in the 12th century.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (928) 203-7500 | Website | Hours: 8:30 am – 12 pm Wed-Sat; Closed Sun-Tue

Located in Coconino National Forest, the Palatki (“red house” in Hopi) Heritage Site contains preserved dwellings carved into the red stone cliffs by ancient peoples. The site is only accessible via a long, bumpy dirt road, but the unique attraction is worth the adventure.

Guides will take you on a short hike to the actual dwellings, explain preserved rock art, and teach you about the unique culture and history of the Hopi people who constructed the impressive structures.

Sedona Beer Company

This small brewery is the best spot for a post-hike bite and brew.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (928) 224-9002 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 8 pm; Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Sedona Beer Co. became our go-to spot to have a beer and a snack after a hot hike. The small, humble establishment is quaint and homey, and the outdoor patio has a stunning red rock backdrop. The beer list is ample, and they have some great food as well. Our favorite was the pretzel!

Uptown Sedona

Peruse artisan shops, galleries, and local markets with a view of the valley.

📍 Google Maps 

Sedona is an adorable small town that celebrates the area’s natural beauty with architecture inspired by the landscape. Many of the shops and restaurants are influenced by the rich culture and history of Sedona. 

The walkable Uptown Sedona is packed full of art and artisanal shops, restaurants, and cute cafes. From anywhere in the town, you’ll have a gorgeous backdrop of the stunning red landscape beyond.

Verde Canyon Railroad

See Sedona from a refurbished antique railcar.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (800) 293-7245 | Website |Price: starting at $139 

The coolest and most unique way to see Sedona is undoubtedly on a refurbished antique railway car on the Verde Canyon Railroad. 

This four-hour trip through 20 miles of countryside offers spectacular views of otherwise impossible-to-reach places, which you get to enjoy from a charming train car with food and alcohol service.

👉 Read Next: Best Things to Do in Phoenix

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Thanks for reading my guide to things to do in Sedona! All outdoor lovers, art aficionados, and the spiritually inclined should add Sedona to their list of must-see destinations. Up next, check out our picks on the best day trips from Phoenix (hint: Sedona makes the list!)