The weekend in Sedona travel guide is here! After two great visits to this magical spot in the past few years, From the best hikes to where to eat and what to wear, I’m sharing it all for you below!
WEEKEND IN SEDONA TRAVEL GUIDE:
During my first visit to Sedona in 2021, we decided to stay in Sedona from Friday to Tuesday, flying in and out of Phoenix and renting a rental car to drive two hours to Sedona. We stayed in a great Airbnb that had a pool in the complex and was a quick drive to almost everything in town. We also did a day trip to Page, Arizona where we were able to see Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend (you can find all of the details HERE!)
Overall, we loved this trip and so glad we packed in as much as we did. Now to breakdown our entire weekend!
WHERE TO HIKE
Hiking in Sedona is truly magical. I was never a big hiker before I went to Sedona but this trip made me love hiking! My three biggest tips for planning your hikes are…
1) Download the pro version of All Trails. This app gives live updates on how busy it is, the best places to park and maps to follow when you lose service. It was a lifesaver for us and gave us great tips, especially with areas closed during COVID.
2) Get up early! We got to most of our hikes before 7 am. This allowed us to get great parking spots as well as beat the crowds on the trails. The weather was also much cooler in the mornings and getting pretty warm by the time we ended in mid-morning which was nice as well.
3) Dress Appropriately! We saw SO many people hiking in normal tennis shoes and I can’t stress enough how important it is to wear hiking boots for these routes. Some of the hikes were very steep in certain areas and if we didn’t have our hiking boots, not sure if we would have been able to do the hikes. I shared my entire packing list HERE for anyone needing tips on what to bring!
Soldier Pass
This was our first hike of the trip and about a 10 min ride from our Airbnb. The parking lot is super small and doesn’t open till 8 am but we were one of the last cars to make it in the lot after getting in line around 7:20 am. We were able to see the Seven Sacred Pools and then also discovered secret caves that were a little scary to climb but such a cool view! Great views and an easy hike!
Cathedral Rock
Cathedral Rock was my favorite hike in Sedona. Warning though, it is STEEP. Definitely make sure you’re ready to climb up in certain parts! The view though is incredible and we took turns heading out to take photos from the edge. Like all of our hikes, plan to get there early (we got there around 7 am) to grab a good parking spot and avoid the crowds!
Bell Rock
On our first day, we did this as our second hike of the day for sunset! It was an easy trail and we had incredible views from the top. Airport Mesa also came highly recommended for a sunset view but this was a much quicker ride and not crowded at all!
Devil’s Bridge
Our final hike of the trip, this hike is known for the photo moment rock bridge. The hike was pretty moderate but VERY crowded. To get a photo on the bridge, it was over a hour wait at 8:30 am so we skipped and just took one by it. Great views overall though but definitely plan to get there early if you want a shot on Devil’s Bridge!
WHERE TO EAT
Indian Gardens
Our favorite restaurant of the trip had to be Indian Gardens. A little bit out of town, this spot is nestled within the trees and has some of the best food we’ve ever had. They serve primarily breakfast and lunch but they also have pizza nights a few nights a week so definitely check their schedule! They also have drinks and food to go as well as a small store to shop. Definitely add them to your weekend!
Creekside Coffee
We stopped at this local favorite after our first morning hike and it was the perfect place to refuel and relax. They have a large porch with great views of the mountains and delicious coffee and breakfast options.
Firecreek Coffee Co.
Another favorite coffee spot of ours was Firecreek Coffee Co. Located right near our Airbnb, we grabbed coffee and pastries to go as well most mornings or sat outside on their porch to soak up the sun.
Elote Cafe
Our first dinner out we went to the highly recommended Elote Cafe. We had an amazing meal of Mexican dishes and margaritas and would highly recommend for your dinner out!
SaltRock Kitchen
If you’re looking for a spot to catch the sunset during dinner, SaltRock has the perfect view! Located in the Amara Resort, we had a great meal here and loved the gorgeous views of the mountain before the sun set.
Javelina Cantina
On our last day, we had lunch at this Mexican spot in town and it was such a fun find. We sat out on their gorgeous sunny porch and had some amazing authentic Mexican. Warning the portions are HUGE so definitely share!
Pizzeria Bianco
We had dinner at this spot in Phoenix before our flight back but I wanted to make sure to include it because it’s an absolute must if you’re in the area! This famous pizza spot had the most picturesque outdoor dining set up with twinkle lights and blooming flowers. Plus the meal was incredible of course with delicious pizza and wine. Definitely recommend adding this to your list if flying in or out of Phoenix!
WHAT TO DO
Visit The Wineries
Since most of our hikes were down by mid-morning, we had our afternoons open to relax or explore. One of our favorite afternoons was heading to a few wineries. Our first stop was at Page Spring Cellars, which is located on a river and has lots of seating so perfect for groups. We all split a few bottles and their delicious charcuterie boards and it was so relaxing.
We then headed to D.A. Ranch and we loved the vibe of this winery. Live music, farm animals, lots of space and a really gorgeous setting, highly recommend visiting here for a fun afternoon!
Shop Downtown
Sedona has two shopping areas. The first one we visited was Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. I loved this area as it had so many different galleries, boutiques and restaurants to find really beautiful gifts and pieces. For more quirky and tourist shops, head to downtown Sedona where you can find everything from crystals to mood rings.
Stargaze
Maybe it’s because we’re not used to seeing stars at night in NYC but we were blown away by how clear the sky was at night! We also had a full moon during our stay so we loved sitting outside at night to soak up those gorgeous views.