While not a National Park, Sedona deserved a special mention after our visit following Saguaro National Park. Located roughly an hour south of Flagstaff, Sedona is a picturesque town set against a backdrop of red-rock buttes, towering monoliths, and verdant pine forests. The sandstone formations surrounding the town capture the light at sunrise and sunset, bathing the area in vibrant red hues that create a truly magical landscape. Despite its array of New Age shops, spas, and art galleries, we mostly bypassed the town’s urban charms in favor of its natural splendor.
We found a fantastic AirBnB condo in a charming part of Sedona, which served as our home base for a week. Our days were filled with adventures in the surrounding parks and wilderness areas, indulging in the local cuisine only when necessary.
Admittedly, I’m not well-versed in the mystical “vortexes” said to permeate Sedona, nor the plethora of high-end galleries and boutiques, but perhaps a future trip might persuade us to explore these urban delights.
Our explorations took us to renowned spots like Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte, Bell Rock, Coffee Pot Rock, and the Chapel of the Holy Cross, to name a few. Each formation has its own unique name and character, contributing to Sedona’s storied landscape.
One of our favorite hikes was around Airport Mesa. The loop trail offers panoramic views that encapsulate the essence of Sedona’s beauty. We ventured up to the Sedona Trail View Point several times, where a 360-degree vista unfolds—a tapestry of red rocks, valleys, and canyons. Catching a sunset from this vantage point is a must; the parking challenges are a small price to pay for the breathtaking scenes at dusk.
Another memorable day was spent at Red Rock Crossing in the Crescent Moon area. We started on the Baldwin Trail, detouring onto the Templeton Trail to reach the river where Cami and I enjoyed a refreshing swim. We then resumed our hike on Baldwin, scaling some of the red rock buttes to catch a sunset that painted Cathedral Rock in golden light—an unforgettable sight and a photographer’s dream.
Our adventures also led us to the Secret Slickrock trail, an easy trek that ends at a high overlook above the Crescent Moon Picnic Site, a popular spot for those seeking Sedona’s famous energy vortexes.
In the remaining days, we visited the Chapel of the Holy Cross and explored vast stretches of the Coconino National Forest. Unfortunately, the Bell Rock trailhead was closed, and we missed out on the Seven Sacred Pools.
Our journey continued towards Phoenix and the mystique of the Superstition Mountains. Despite limited time and challenging weather, this region fascinated us with tales of the fabled Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine. Most of our time was spent in the Lost Dutchman State Park, venturing into the Tonto National Forest—a place that definitely warrants a return visit for deeper exploration.
