Photos of Sedona, Arizona

Sedona Desert

We (my wife and I) came to Sedona on a mid-September weekend, driving for two hours north on Interstate 17 from Phoenix through typical Arizona scenery - semi-desert with hills, mountains and valleys, basking in the hot sun. From exit 298 a narrow, two-lane road 179 leads to the town of Sedona, and until the last minute you have no idea how dramatically the scenery in front of you will change from not-so-exciting to its-creator-must-have-been-on-hallucinogens when this place was born.

Courthouse Butte

For the entire week we enjoyed abundant sunshine, with daytime temperatures reaching 90F and cooler evenings and mornings. The monsoon season supposedly just ended, the rainfall was very generous throughout the summer, as we could easily see in an exceptionally green desert plant life. I wouldn't mind being a witness to a thunderstorm or two, they are really spectacular as we were told, but the heavens must have run out of water and served us its other great gift, the sunshine.

In general, the area is quite cooler than the deserts of southern Arizona, but not as cold as Flagstaff and the rim of the Grand Canyon, where winter snow is a frequent visitor. All year round the humidity is low and drinking plenty of fluids is highly recommended, especially if you are hiking.

Bell Rock, Sedona's most recognizable landmark

Sedona doesn't have a well defined city center, it is spread across a large area, with two main roads as its skeleton. Vistas change as you drive around the town, but it is hard to find a spot without a spectacular view. The most dramatic views can be seen just before the sunset and after sunrise (for jet-lag sufferers). If we had to pick just one sunset viewing spot it would be a hill near a small parking lot on Airport Road. People gather there and in other places to see the red rocks burst in flames in the fire of the setting sun.

Information about various attractions and things to do in Sedona is available at each hotel. You can also find brochures in stores and other businesses.

We think Sedona is a perfect place for hikers and for the lovers of nature photography. There are dozens of spectacular trails of various length and difficulty in the area. Special parking lots, located near trailheads, help greatly in accessing nature's wonders, although some of them are not so easy to find.

Once you leave your car behind you will be surrounded by the beautiful desert, which seems much more diverse than when looked at from a distance. Most trails lead to fantastic rock formations, changing shapes as you approach and walk around them. Some of the trails can be a little difficult once they reach bare rock, especially on steep inclines. But the view from the top is always worth it.

Sedona has all the regular amenities a tourist may want: great restaurants, shopping, golf, near-perfect weather, and an extensive system of trails for hikers. With more than 100 trails rated from majestic to magnificent everyone will find something matching their physical ability and sense of adventure.

Sedona is a good starting point for trips to many nearby attractions. The first on anyone's list would be the Great Canyon, only two hours away. It is much closer than from Phoenix, allowing for more time spent exploring the Canyon and staying there until sunset. Another great place to see is an old mining town of Jerome, today just a reminder of times gone by.

Cathedral Rock

And then there are the vortexes. Mysterious places of high energy, they are cleverly marketed by the locals and although I haven't experienced "the Force" it is the chase that counts, and you couldn't do it in a more beautiful place than Sedona.

Our favorite vortex is around Cathedral Rock, located in the center of the Sedona valley, accessible after a short but steep hike. The Rock is split in the middle into several spires, and offers unusual views on the surrounding area.

This experience alone would probably put Sedona as number 1 on my list, but there is so much more to see. You have to trust me on that until you see it with your own eyes.