THE THOUGHTS OF DESOLATE, boring, uninhabitable, and without water often come to mind when thinking about living in an actual desert. I had the same perspective until I discovered the town of Sedona, a hidden gem in the Southwest of the United States. This is a playground for any outdoor enthusiast and spiritual seeker searching for enlightenment. Here are 11 temptations that might have you packing your bags and heading out to the State of Arizona.
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One of the more strenuous hikes in Sedona, Arizona has views at the top of the summit worth every step of sweat and tears. Head down Dry Creek Road from 89A and follow your map to the parking lot. You will need a Red Rock Pass for this excursion. The 5-mile round trip hike begins across the road from where you parked and will elevate to about 2000 feet. Bring plenty of water, food, and protection from the sun, for this trail, will take about 3 to 4 hours to complete roundtrip. If you plan on tackling this mountain in the late afternoon, a headlamp will be necessary!
El Portal, a terrific dog-friendly hotel with individualized suites for you and your best friend. The Hacienda Boutique Hotel is located in Sedona’s art district. You can find juniper firewood burning in the fire pit nightly and a variety daily tours offered by the hotel staff to the Grand Canyon and Sedona’s local attractions. Walking distance from El Portal are several great restaurants and the world famous Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village.
Spring and summer bring to Arizona an opportunity to photograph landscapes filled with wildflowers, especially between Flagstaff and Sedona along SR 89A at the Oak Creek Vista.
The Honanki Heritage Site is an ancient rock art site and cliff dwelling that belonged to the Sinagua and Ancestors of the Hopi Nation. This historic ruin is located 17 miles Northwest of Sedona in the Coconino National Forest. From Sedona take SR 89A and turn right onto Forest Road 525 for about 10 miles till you reach the site
5. Sedona Weather
You can experience a blizzard just 30 minutes up highway 89A towards Flagstaff with its own unique climate system and also drive back down into town with another climate system of sunshine and dry desert landscape, all in the same day. I had this lucky occurrence happen to me during spring break a few years ago.
Red Rock Crossing Park is located along Oak Creek with photogenic views of Cathedral Rock. The park is open from sunrise to sunset with plenty of opportunities for swimming and hiking. If you are looking for less crowded swimming holes in Sedona, this is your spot! There is a parking fee per vehicle and dogs are allowed on a leash. This area is probably the most photographed location in Sedona, so take full advantage of magic hour and have your camera ready!
The 1.1-mile trail inside Red Rock Crossing State Park attracts a variety of people including painters, artist, meditators, and even full moon dancers. The meditation art of stacking rocks has become quite popular to this particular trail and almost impossible to miss.
The Amitabha Stupa is located in West Sedona and can be reached from Highways 89A. Turn north onto Andante Road and head a mile toward Thunder Mountain. Take the last left on Andante road onto Pueblo Road and the parking will be on your right. People from all over the world come here to pray and can be found walking clockwise around the Stupa chanting a mantra or deep in prayer. Daily offerings are given in the morning at the front of the altar with seven bowls filled with water, representing the seven states of Vajradhara (enlightenment).
Locals from Sedona, including tourists on the side of Highway 89A between Flagstaff and Sedona gather water at this tapped-off spring. This is some of the freshest water I have found so far in the Western United States, besides Mount Shasta, CA. There are several campsites around Harding Spring, so feel free to take advantage of this area. Remember to check the water yourself, or ask the town if they have tested the water for safe use. When in doubt, always filter!
From Sedona, head down 179S for 1.4 miles and take a left onto Morgan Rd. Drive another half a mile and cross onto the dirt road, pass the cattle guard, and carry forward another 80 yards to the front of the Broken Arrow Trailhead. The northern views of this trail during monsoon season are a haven for any timelapse photographer looking to capture the distant storms. The trail is about 2.5 hours round trip and often shared with mountain bikers and jeep tours using adjacent roads.
There are plenty of boutique restaurants in Sedona, but none like ChocolaTree Eatery. The organic vegetarian restaurant has some of the best medicinal raw cacao chocolate in the world. It is probably the only restaurant ever created with a silk tissue attached to a Nubian Pyramid, perfect for fellow aerialists like myself! You can enjoy both raw and cooked food and even choose meals according to your Ayurveda body type.
