Things to do in Sedona
The Red Rock scenic town of Sedona in Arizona has grown over the years to attract adventurers from all creeds. Recently, the area has seen a huge growth in the wine industry, and outdoor recreation is as big as ever, even comparable to Moab, Utah. When you are considering things to do in Sedona, keep in mind that it’s large area with a lot of ground to cover. So why not take a tour with Arizona Scenic Tours? If you’re planning a longer stay and are looking for things to do in Sedona, check out this list!
Weather in Sedona
Sedona in the fall
The weather in Sedona is comparable to Prescott and Green Valley. That means winters can see snow and rains, although not often, and summers can be in the 90s. It really is beautiful year round weather. Some of the best hiking is through Oak Creek Canyon after a think snow. Note the featured image. The best comination of weather and crowds are late fall and early spring, when there are less people but perfect weather. The summer will be the busiest and the hottest, but you’re guaranteed the ideal light and weather to see Sedona at its reddest. Winter offers the least amount of crowds, save the holiday week, and the best chances to see Red Rock under snow. The weather and temperature in the spring and fall are fantastic. You can see colors of leaves changing in Oak Creek Canyon in the fall which is superb.
Tlaquepaque
Within the heart of Sedona is the village of Tlaquepaque. Not an actual village per se, but this unique part of Sedona is a beautiful replication of a colonial Mexican forum. The village hosts shops, restaurants, and services for those in town. One restaurant of note is the Sedona Brewery, a great place to grab a beer after a long hike or bike ride. The shops of Tlaquepaque are certainly high-end, but provide an opportunity to find jewelry unique to the area, and art from local artists. If you’re planning on doing a jeep tour, often pick ups are here.
Oak Creek Canyon
Oak Creek Canyon
The truest gem of Sedona is Oak Creek Canyon. This canyon is north of the town and able to drive through on State Route 89. It’s absolutely worth a visit. The road through goes through the bottom of the canyon along Oak Creek, meaning that all of your views will be down looking up, creating striking scenes of mountain-looking canyon walls. The canyon is full of hiking trails, as well one of the most famous state parks in the states, Red Rock State Park. One of the most famous hiking trails in the state also starts here – the West Fork Trail. Several sites throughout the canyon offer opportunities to camp and picnic. These sites are run by the National Forest Service, so you will need to pay for a pass to use.
Sedona’s Vineyards
Relatively new to Sedona tourism is a wine industry that focuses on drier wines. Several vineyards line the Oak Creek between Sedona and Cornville. Getting to the wineries for tastings takes as little as 10 ten minutes from downtown Sedona. On our tours, we like to feature Javalina Leap Vineyard, who focuses on reds of all flavors. In turn, these wines are featured in Sedona as well, and can be drank at the famous Cowboy Grill.
Hiking
Hiking Bell Rock
Sedona has some amazing hiking and biking trails. Some of the best are right in town. These include Fey Canyon, Bell Rock Loop, and Cathedral Rock. These are all easy hikes that are even easier to access. Almost all of the trails in Sedona are managed and run by the National Forest Service. This means you need to get Red Rock Pass, commonly sold around town, in order to park at trailheads without getting tickets. But since the forest service receives money to manage the trails, they are clean, safe, and well maintained. This also goes with mountain biking – the trails are just as safe and fun. Bikers be weary, as sandstone can often be an unforgiving rock to fall on (we’ve seen things).
Road Trip
The Boyton Canyon area.
Sedona is nestled between some of the best parts of central and northern Arizona. Flagstaff, Jerome, and Prescott are all one hour or less away and are great towns to dine and explore. There are a few national monuments nearby which are preserving Indian ruins from the Sinaqua tribe, including Montezuma’s Castle and Tuzigoot. Definitely worth a visit! The drive through Oak Creek Canyon itself is one of the most scenic drive in the state and takes you to Flagstaff, which has its own wonders to explore. Are you a confident driver? Book an ATV or UTV while in Sedona to drive around its famous off-road trails. Arizona Scenic Tours can help you set that up!
Conclusion
Chances are you have limited time in Sedona. To get the most out of your time there, you can always book a tour with us! We show you all of the highlights and best spots. If you have a longer time to spend in Sedona, this list will set you up with everything you need to fill your time.
To learn more about about our Sedona tours, check out these links!
