Best Things To Do In Sedona, AZ

Feb 15

Taking a trip to Red Rock Country and in need of a list of the best things to do in Sedona? I’ve got you covered.

I was fortunate enough to take two trips here in a six month period, which allowed me to do tons of research on the area. Take what I’ve learned, and use my guide to help you plan the perfect weekend trip to Sedona!

First things first, let’s talk about food. Sedona is a shockingly busy place on the weekends- no matter the time of year. This is probably because it’s only a short distance away from Phoenix, and a great place to vacation for those looking for a weekend away (like yourself). If you’re looking to plan a trip to Sedona and are interested in eating out, I advise you to book your lunch and dinner reservations at least two weeks in advance. You will have better luck with getting into lunch places, but there are some great restaurants you should try for dinner if you like great food (so planning in advance will be key).

Best Restaurants In Sedona

The Hudson Sedona is one of my favorite restaurants in this city. I’d even go as far to say it’s one of my favorite restaurants ever. They have a large menu to choose from and great views of the mountains if you sit outside. This restaurant was so good that I ate here twice for dinner the first time I visited.
The Vault Uptown is also an amazing spot to grab food! This spot, in my opinion, is best for lunch. Their trashcan nachos are definitely an IG Story moment, but their cocktails, outdoor seating, and view of the nearby mountains are all in the running for being the best thing about this place. I don’t think there’s another spot in the city that can compete!
Mariposa is a Latin inspired grill. Make a reservation here during sunset so you can enjoy the view while eating dinner! I didn't get the chance to eat here when I visited because of how quickly they book up for reservations. They have a great chef that’s known for introducing fine dining to the small town of Sedona in the late ‘90s and she remains the largest restaurateur in the area. It’s expensive, but I’ve been told plenty of times that the food won’t disappoint.
Dahl & DiLuca is a great place to go if you’re looking for insanely good Italian food. I didn’t have a chance to eat here either, but the reviews are phenomenal and it’s constantly recommended. The only thing you don’t expect about this place is the obnoxious Italian decor. But it’s worth ignoring for all the wine and carbs you’ll consume. It’s also owned by Chef Dahl, so it’s no surprise this place is almost always booked.
Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery isn’t a restaurant, but it does have good wine, food, and atmosphere! It’s a cute family operated winery tucked a little out of Downtown Sedona, so you’ll have to drive to it. It’s a great spot to go if it starts raining and you can’t go hiking around the city. They had live music when we were there too, which made this a great place to wind down for a few hours.

Best Places To Stay In Sedona

On my first trip to Sedona, I stayed at the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock. It’s one of the best hotels in Sedona, but it is slightly out of the downtown area and there isn’t much to walk to. However, it is on a golf course which makes this the perfect place to stay if you’re heading out to Sedona on a golf trip. Perks of this hotel are: it’s dog friendly, COVID safe, clean, has a pool, and it’s close enough to Downtown Sedona to still travel in and out of a few times a day. The only downside I really experienced when staying in this hotel was the traffic I ran into when heading downtown right after lunch and right before dinner. There’s only one road in and out of Downtown Sedona so once traffic backs up, your 20 minute drive can turn into an hour. Plan in advance if you’re staying at this hotel or in the general Bell Rock area.
The second trip to Sedona, I switched it up and stayed in this VRBO. If you’re not familiar with VRBO, they’re just like Airbnb except sometimes they offer different listings. This place was in the same general area that I stayed in my first time in Sedona so I was already familiar with what was around. It’s definitely on the quieter part of town but sometimes it’s nice not to be so close to the hustle and bustle of a busy place. I’d definitely recommend looking into staying here if you’re about to take a trip to Sedona.

Best Hikes In Sedona

Hard

Devils Bridge: The length of this hike varies depending on if you have a 4x4. If you don’t have a vehicle that’s specifically made for off-roading, you’ll need to park on the side of Dry Creek Road before the dirt road begins. The hike from here is 4.2 miles. If you have a 4x4 or if you rented an ATV, you’ll be able to park at the designated “start” of the trail, which will only make this hike 2 miles for you. This is a dog friendly trail however, if you plan to hike to the top where the famous arch is, I would recommend to not bring your dog. The hike is relatively easy up until the last 1/4 mile. This trail is heavily trafficked and the last part of this hike is very challenging if you are scared of heights and aren’t comfortable with using your arms to pull you up in certain spots. If you bring a dog, it would either need to be small enough for you to carry carefully up the steep incline, or have enough agility to make it up the hike on its own if you’re planning to go all the way to the top. I recommend hiking this trail for sunrise, especially if you’re trying to take a photo out on the arch. I made the mistake of doing this hike in the middle of the afternoon and there were hundreds of people at the top waiting to take a photo. Just take a look at my IG vs. Reality post here.

Cathedral Rock: This hike is only 1.2 miles long, but you gain 740+ in elevation once at the top. I would say this hike is more difficult than moderate, as some portions of the hike are nearly vertical, so using your hands and your feet are necessary. We started this hike before sunrise, so there were very few people on the trail. As long as you’re following the white markers on the ground and the rock filled trail markers, you’ll be at the top of this hike in no time. We were lucky enough to make it to the top right as some paraglider’s were cruising through, so it made for a special touch to the gorgeous scenery. Considering this hike is vertical in some spots, I would not recommend bringing your dog with you.

Medium

Birthing Cave: Only being 2 miles, this hike is perfect to do at any time of the day. It doesn’t have a technical trail, but it’s been visited so many times that it’s hard to miss. Obviously the best time to do this hike is for sunrise since you’ll likely have the view to yourself which will look great in photos. The only difficult part of this hike is in the cave portion. We underestimated exactly how slippery it would be. To get the famous birthing cave photo, you have to make your way up the back end of the cave. It’s very sketchy to get to and very challenging to scale down once you’ve snapped your shot. You’ll also lose service at this trail, so make sure you right down exactly how to get to the cave before your signal goes out. Otherwise you’ll get lost. You can bring your dog on this hike, just be careful of all the cacti.

Soldiers Pass: This trail is a 4.7 mile loop and offers an array of popular sites. Attractions include Devils Kitchen Sinkhole, 7 Sacred Pools, and Arches. The best time to hike this trail is in the later part of the afternoon. There aren’t many spots to park near this trail, and the main parking lot only allows for a handful of cars and fills up very quickly. If you head here around 4pm, there’s a good chance you’ll get to park in the lot and likely have the trail to yourself. Keep in mind the time the sun sets, as the parking lot closes at 6pm. You’ll be able to get your car out as it’s motion censored. If you’re only interested in getting to the 7 Sacred Pools, you won’t have to walk for too long to get there. It’s best to photograph this spot right after it just rains. The two times I visited this spot, I didn’t get the best photos. The first time was in September, so it barely rained, and the second time was in February and it ended up sleeting on us. Made for a great memory though! If you brought your four legged friend, this is a great dog friendly hike in Sedona for you.

Easy

Reflection pools: I wouldn’t really call this a hike, but more of a quick walk. It only took us about 10 minutes to walk to from where we parked our car, which made this hike less than 1 mile round trip. There isn’t a clear trailhead for this hike, but the pools are easy to find once you get on the right path. This spot is best to visit right after it rains so there’s plenty of water in the pools for your photos. It’s an easy walk to bring your pup! Best to come for sunrise, or sunset when the sun isn’t beating down on the pools at a bad angle.

Crescent Moon Picnic Site: This definitely isn’t a hike, but it’s such a great spot to get out and explore! This site offers old barns, a river, and views of Cathedral Rock that you can’t get anywhere else. There’s plenty of parking but you have to pay to park in the lot. It’s a dog friendly park and the perfect spot for a picnic.

Bell Rock Loop Trail: Somehow this trail is only 2.2 miles, but it felt much longer when we were on it. It’s heavily trafficked and it overlaps with several other hiking trails around the area. The only things to be on the lookout for besides cacti, are the mountain bikers and trail runners. It’s a great trail to bring your dog, and a perfect trail to do in the afternoon since it’s more for exercise than for the views. Although the views are still gorgeous, there are other hikes with higher elevation that show you more stunning views of the surrounding mountains.