Not every destination pairs athletic adventure amid spectacular scenery with quieter spiritual pursuits, yet Northern Arizona’s Sedona does both exceptionally well. Visitors who enjoy balancing outdoor exploration with reflection will find this red-rock framed town uniquely compelling.
PHOTO:
© CITY OF SEDONA
Home to roughly 10,000 residents and covering about 19 square miles, Sedona sits roughly 100 miles north of Phoenix and is dotted with abundant vegetation. Ponderosa pines and piñón trees crowd the hills and canyon rims, while dramatic, 300-million-year-old red rock formations define the skyline. Wildlife is common, and the town’s designation as a Dark Sky City means the night sky is brilliant and clear. Architecture here tends to blend with the natural setting, creating a cohesive, low-impact aesthetic. Sedona projects a relaxed, artsy energy—equal parts contemporary hippie and accomplished outdoor community—with a deep respect for the landscape, regional history and local Native American traditions.
PHOTO: © CITY OF SEDONA
Once considered a well-kept secret, Sedona drew many more visitors after the onset of COVID-19; annual visitation has climbed to three million or more in recent years. Despite the increased numbers, the town still feels like a special getaway to many travelers. People come for outdoor pursuits—hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and hot-air ballooning—and for the town’s famed energy vortexes, sites where visitors pursue meditation, yoga or other spiritual practices. Wellness and transformation are major draws, and Sedona offers everything from tarot readings to cliffside yoga. With around 100 restaurants, the destination also satisfies food-focused travelers seeking regional and international cuisine.
One of Sedona’s greatest strengths is its community of highly skilled guides, healers, athletes and instructors. These professionals tailor experiences to visitors’ interests—leading strenuous hikes on remote trails, guiding meditation at prime vortex locations, or providing deeply restorative spa treatments. The town’s blend of elite outdoor athletes and spiritual practitioners makes it possible to balance physical challenge and inner work in a single day. After an active afternoon on the trails, visitors can enjoy inventive dining, shop independent boutiques and galleries, or relax with a world-class spa service.
However you choose to experience it, Sedona has a way of shifting perspective—often gently, sometimes profoundly—even if you didn’t come looking for change.
CHECKING IN WITH ANDREW GROSSMANN
Tourism Manager, City of Sedona
What makes Sedona like nowhere else?
Sedona surprises many visitors. Though it sits in the high desert of the American Southwest, its landscape differs from the stereotypical saguaro-studded desert. Instead, Sedona is defined by towering red rock formations, verdant vegetation, crisp blue skies and the year-round flow of Oak Creek through the community. The striking palette of red, green and blue—where rocks, trees and sky meet—creates a luminous visual experience that often leaves visitors feeling inspired, reflective and connected to the place.
How is nature central to Sedona?
The red rock landscape is the town’s defining element. I often liken Sedona to a Tibetan singing bowl: the community rests at the center while impressive red rock formations rise around it. Although some of these rocks lie within municipal limits, most are part of the surrounding Coconino National Forest. That public land features more than 200 recreational trails and over 400 miles of pathways for hiking, biking and exploration. As a result, more than 75 percent of visitors include at least one trail-based activity during their stay. Nature here is not mere scenery—it’s the foundation of the Sedona experience.
How has the city managed increased visitation since COVID?
To reduce congestion and improve access, the City of Sedona operates the Sedona Shuttle, a public transportation system serving popular areas. We also completed the Forest Road Connection project, which created a new route from Uptown Sedona into West Sedona to help distribute traffic more evenly.
Have you experienced Sedona’s mystical side?
Sedona’s mystique reveals itself differently to everyone. Many local wellness practitioners say the town tends to reflect what you bring to it: if you arrive open to reflection and change, Sedona can facilitate that process; if you force an experience, it may feel elusive. For me, living and working here has produced countless moments of awe. What visitors do with that sense of wonder—how they integrate it into their lives—remains a personal choice. We encourage people to visit and discover Sedona for themselves.
Is Sedona suitable for business travelers?
Sedona is increasingly popular for bleisure travel, executive retreats and intimate conferences. Several resorts offer meeting and event spaces set against extraordinary natural surroundings, enabling guests to pair productive work with outdoor experiences like hiking, mountain biking or wellness activities. Because the town is compact and easy to navigate, business travelers can move seamlessly from meetings to recreation, making Sedona an effective place to combine work with meaningful downtime.
DIVERSIONS
No visit to Sedona is complete without visiting at least one vortex site. Many people hike or bike to these locations, while others practice yoga or meditate amid the red rocks. The most well-known vortexes include Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Boynton Canyon and Cathedral Rock, though sites such as Chapel of the Holy Cross also draw visitors seeking quiet reflection.
© MARIA FEKLISTOVA | DREAMSTIME.COM
Most of Sedona’s more than 200 hiking trails lie within Coconino National Forest, which offers about 400 miles of routes. Popular treks include the West Fork Trail and Devil’s Bridge Trail. Newer offerings for mountain bikers include technical routes such as the Hardline Mountain Bike Trail, and the region now provides more than 250 miles of dedicated mountain-bike terrain across trails for all skill levels.
Blending the spiritual with the physical, the Sedona Metaphysical and Spiritual Association represents more than 30 wellness practitioners who hold permits to offer sunrise yoga, meditation and sound-healing sessions directly on the red rocks. For shoppers and wine lovers, the Verde Valley Wine Trail lies about 30 minutes away and features nearly 20 commercial vineyards and roughly 25 tasting rooms, with varietals including Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Vermentino, Syrah and Petite Sirah.
LODGING
AMBIENTE
Car-free, adults-only and focused on nature, this elegant hotel blends into the landscape with refined amenities and contemporary design. It has earned industry recognition for its quality.
900 W. State Route 89A, Sedona
$$$$$
L’AUBERGE DE SEDONA
A secluded riverside enclave beside Oak Creek, L’Auberge offers an intimate atmosphere, a romantic restaurant and a restorative spa.
301 L’Auberge Lane, Sedona
$$$$$
HILTON SEDONA RESORT AT BELL ROCK
This resort provides spacious suites with views of Bell Rock, extensive spa facilities, a pool and multiple dining options—well suited to families and groups.
90 Ridge Trail Drive, Sedona
$$$$$
DINING
DAHL & DI LUCA RISTORANTE ITALIANO
An elegant Italian restaurant with white-tablecloth service, homemade pasta and live piano, celebrated for authentic northern Italian cuisine.
2321 W. State Route 89A, Sedona
$$$$$
ELOTE CAFE
A rustic, southwestern-inspired favorite serving dishes influenced by the chef’s travels in Mexico—often difficult to reserve due to its popularity.
350 Jordan Road, Sedona
$$$$$
RENÉ AT TLAQUEPAQUE
A French-Mediterranean spot nestled in the courtyards of Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, emphasizing seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
336 State Route 179, Suite B-118, Sedona
$$$$$
JUST THE FACTS
Time zone: GMT-7 (no daylight saving time in 2026)
Phone code: Country code: 1; City code: 928
Currency: U.S. dollar
Key industries: Tourism
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
English
COMING AND GOING
International visitors traveling to the United States for tourism or business generally must obtain a nonimmigrant visitor visa for temporary stays; many application steps can be completed online.
INFO TO GO
The nearest major airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor, about a two-hour drive from Sedona. A smaller option, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, is about 25 miles north of Sedona; the drive from Flagstaff into town takes roughly 40 minutes and passes through scenic Oak Creek Canyon.