Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte above green juniper under a blue sky

Sedona, AZ 3 days

3 days in Sedona

Red rock hikes, a creek afternoon and sunset at Airport Mesa

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Photo: Tomas Castelazo, CC BY-SA 4.0

Three days is the sweet spot for a first trip to Sedona: enough time for the big-name red rocks, a cool creek, and a sunset or two, without spending the whole visit in a car. This plan keeps the walking manageable, builds in the long midday break the desert asks for, and leaves room to slow down.

Before you go

Before you go - Getting there: Phoenix is about a two-hour drive. Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is about 26 miles north, down through Oak Creek Canyon. - The free Sedona Shuttle runs Thursday to Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., from free Park & Ride lots to five trailheads, including Cathedral Rock and Soldier Pass. While it runs, those two trailhead lots are closed to private cars. - A Red Rock Pass or an America the Beautiful pass covers parking at many Forest Service trailheads, like Bell Rock and Boynton Canyon. Crescent Moon and Grasshopper Point charge their own day fee. - Carry more water than you think you need, start hikes early, and spend afternoons in the shade. Check Coconino National Forest alerts before you go. - Swap in if you can: Palatki Heritage Site (timed tickets on Recreation.gov) or Soldier Pass (4 mi round trip, on the shuttle).

Day 1

7:00 AM

Courthouse Butte Loop Hike · Moderate

Start early at the Courthouse Vista trailhead on SR 179: a 3.8-mile loop around Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, about 2.5 hours. Then breakfast and shade in the Village of Oak Creek, five minutes south.
Official info
10:30 AM

Red Rock Scenic Byway (SR 179) Scenic drive

Drive north toward town, stopping at the viewpoints. Spend the hottest part of the day indoors; the Uptown visitor center has maps and passes.
Official info
3:00 PM

Crescent Moon / Red Rock Crossing Viewpoint

Wade the creek right under Cathedral Rock. Day fee; check seasonal hours.
Official info
5:30 PM

Airport Mesa viewpoints Sunset viewpoint

Sunset time changes a lot through the year: check it for your date and arrive about 45 minutes before. The small lots fill fast.
Official info

Day 2

7:00 AM

Cathedral Rock Hike · Strenuous

Park free at the North SR 179 Park & Ride and take shuttle Route 15 (Thursday to Sunday). Only 1.1 miles round trip, but the upper half is a hands-and-feet scramble on slickrock. Wear shoes with real grip and turn around anywhere it feels beyond you.
Official info
2:00 PM

Oak Creek Vista Canyon overlook

After a long midday break, drive north on SR 89A through Oak Creek Canyon to the overlook at 6,437 feet.
Official info
3:00 PM

Oak Creek Canyon (SR 89A) Scenic drive

Come back down the canyon with stops at the pull-outs.
Official info
4:00 PM

Grasshopper Point Swimming hole

Optional picnic and creek time. Day fee; check swim conditions after storms.
Official info

Day 3

7:00 AM

Boynton Canyon Hike · Moderately challenging

No shuttle here: be at the trailhead on Dry Creek Road around 7:00 to get a parking spot. 6 miles out and back. Want something shorter? Fay Canyon, five minutes away, is an easy 2.1-mile round trip.
Official info
8:30 PM

Stargazing Night sky

Sedona is a Dark Sky Community. Once it's fully dark, find a pull-out away from town lights, let your eyes adjust for 20 minutes, and look up.