Sedona is a town in Arizona amidst stunning scenery full of rugged, bright red rock formations. The idyllic-looking, extremely friendly town is known for its many fantastic restaurants, spas, art galleries and festivals. But most visitors know Sedona for the countless outdoor activities you can experience there. Like mountain biking and hiking. The Sedona area has so much to offer that we could easily spend a week here. In addition, the city is an ideal base for several national parks in Arizona. Like the iconic Grand Canyon, which you can reach from Sedona in as little as two hours by car. All this makes Sedona a destination that, as far as we are concerned, should not be missed during a holiday in Arizona.

Heights of outdoor paradise Sedona

The Sedona area is a vast nature reserve full of red rock formations, creeks, canyons and forests. It is a bizarre, even overwhelming landscape that we just can’t get enough of. There are several ways to enjoy this landscape. You can go on countless hikes, some more beautiful than others. There are also many mountain bike trails. Furthermore, you can easily explore the area with your rental car or camper van going wherever the wind takes you.

The most beautiful hikes in the Sedona area

The hiking possibilities in the Sedona area are world-class. Whichever hike you choose, you’ll find yourself in breathtaking, rugged scenery in or just outside the Coconino National Forest. Most trails are shorter than five kilometres. You can therefore do several hikes in one day. To get you started, we have listed our top five in alphabetical order below.

1. Birthing Cave Trail

The Birthing Cave is strangely not so well known but if it is up to us, it is an absolute must-see. The total three-kilometre hike takes you to a cave with spectacular views at the end. This is a perfect place to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Park at the start of the Long Canyon trail. First follow the Long Canyon trail and at some point turn left for the Birthing Cave.

2. Boynton Canyon Trail

Boynton Canyon is one of the most beautiful so-called “box canyons” (a gorge with only one entrance/exit) in the area. The ten-kilometre round-trip hike to and through the canyon is very popular partially thanks to its special flora and fauna. As a result, this hike can be a bit crowded. The car park can be found near the start of the trail, just outside the Enchantment Resort entrance.

3. Cathedral Rock Trail

This particularly popular circular hike of about three kilometres is quite steep in places. But the views along the way and at the summit are second to none. This is the place to enjoy a sunset. Just keep in mind that you have virtually no shade here. So, especially if you are there in summer, it is smart to hike there only when the sun is about to set. On the Back O’ Beyond road, you have space to park at the start of the hike.

4. Devil’s Bridge Trail

One of the great geological formations near Sedona is Devil’s Bridge: a sandstone arch you can stand on for the best holiday photo. It is a not too long hike of around three kilometres. Only during the last part do you have to do some climbing and scrambling. But once you reach the arch, you get spectacular views of the surrounding area. As far as we are concerned, this is one of the hikes not to be missed in this part of Arizona! You can park at the end of the paved section of Dry Creek Road.

5. West Fork of Oak Creek

Are you looking for a slightly longer but quiet, shady hike near water? Then take the West Fork of Oak Creek hike in the Coconino National Forest. This 11-kilometre hike takes you through a serene, varied landscape. Of course, you get to see beautiful, red rock formations here. But also an idyllic, babbling brook, many unusual plants and the most beautiful songbirds. You can park your car at Call O’ The Canyon.

The most beautiful mountain bike trails near Sedona

The Sedona area lends itself extremely well to mountain biking. You have many, fantastic tracks for both beginners and (very) experienced mountain bikers. We find it an ideal addition to the hikes near Sedona. This is because you get to experience more of the amazing landscape in a shorter time. And if you don’t care about the sport but the cycling itself, then take it easy. Anything goes, nothing is required.

Before we name some of the most popular tracks for beginners and for advanced riders, first some practicalities. First of all, transportation to the start of the MTB trail. Since there is most likely no bike rack included with your rental car, you will have to cycle to the track yourself from Sedona. In itself, the distances from downtown Sedona to most tracks are not that great. But most motorised traffic on the road is not so used to cyclists. Therefore, pick the tracks closest to your accommodation. Or use the free Sedona Shuttle. Once at the track, be aware that you will be sharing the path with other users. No cars this time but hikers and sometimes even horse riders.

In summer, it can get quite hot there, especially if you over exert yourself. In addition, the mountain bike trails are at quite a high altitude (around 1,300 metres). The advice is therefore to take it easy, especially at the beginning, and to bring lots of water. Finally, in the practical questions at the bottom of this blog, we make some suggestions on locations where you can rent a mountain bike.

The best mountain bike trails for beginners

One of the most enjoyable trails for beginner or less experienced mountain bikers is the Long Canyon Trail combined with the Deadman’s Flat Trail. The trail is just under seven kilometres long (there and back) and has few elevation changes. Sometimes you have a fairly steep, short descent but you can easily ride around that.

Once warmed up and feeling like more mountain biking in the area? Then try the trails of Aerie, Wilson Mountain Trail and Llama. The latter in particular is a fantastic track through picturesque landscapes that you will want to do more than once. Llama does have some, slightly trickier sections but fortunately there is an easy cut-off route back to Bell Rock.

The best mountain bike tracks for more experienced mountain bikers

The best tracks for the “intermediate” mountain biker are the West Sedona Tour, Chuckwagon, Aerie (which is also listed under routes for beginners), Templeton and Mescal. But perhaps the best and most beautiful route for reasonably experienced mountain bikers is the combination of the Aerie Trail and the Cockscomb Trail. Are the aforementioned trails too easy for you? Then consider Hangover, but do get informed about this track by experts (e.g. at the bike rental shop) first!

Sightseeing in Sedona

Sedona has a pleasant town centre with a fair amount to see. But the real attraction is the surreal, red rock scenery visible all over town. However, there are some interesting sights. One of these is the Chapel of the Holy Cross. This unique rock-built chapel from the mid-1950s. The chapel looks impressive not only on the outside but especially on the inside. Bear in mind that there are relatively few parking spaces so plan your visit early in the morning or just later in the afternoon.

A little further west you have the historical heritage sites of Palatki and Honanki. Here you will find rock dwellings from the 1100s to 1400s. At that time, the Sinagua, ancestors of the Hopi, lived here. They were hunters (of deer and rabbits) and gatherers. From 1400, the Sinagua built an even larger rock town, namely in the Camp Verde area south of Sedona: Montezuma Castle. There will be a separate blog about this rock city soon.

Sightseeing in Sedona

Sedona has a pleasant town centre with a fair amount to see. But the real attraction is the surreal, red rock scenery visible all over town. However, there are some interesting sights. One of these is the Chapel of the Holy Cross. This unique rock-built chapel from the mid-1950s. The chapel looks impressive not only on the outside but especially on the inside. Bear in mind that there are relatively few parking spaces so plan your visit early in the morning or just later in the afternoon.

A little further west you have the historical heritage sites of Palatki and Honanki. Here you will find rock dwellings from the 1100s to 1400s. At that time, the Sinagua, ancestors of the Hopi, lived here. They were hunters (of deer and rabbits) and gatherers. From 1400, the Sinagua built an even larger rock town, namely in the Camp Verde area south of Sedona: Montezuma Castle. There will be a separate blog about this rock city soon.

You may also be interested in

• The grandiose Grand Canyon National Park
• Hiking fun in Joshua Tree National Park
• Cycling and hiking in Yosemite National Park
• City trips in the USA