Things to Do in Sedona: Red Rock Sights, Easy Walks and Free Picks

The best things to do in Sedona, Arizona, for a family are the short red rock trails at Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock and Devil's Bridge, a guided visit to the Palatki Heritage Site cliff dwellings, and free stops like the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park. Add an afternoon at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village and the Sedona Heritage Museum and you have a full trip that never needs a Jeep tour. Most of the trailheads sit on Coconino National Forest land, so the real planning is about passes and parking, not tickets.

The red rocks are free to look at. It's the parking that costs $5.

How we chose

Every pick was checked on its own official site, the Coconino National Forest site or the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau site. We favoured sights a family can do in half a day or less: red rock trails first, then easy walks and free stops. Times come from the source where it gives one; otherwise the estimate is ours.

How do parking and passes work in Sedona?

At most Sedona trailheads you need a Red Rock Pass or an America the Beautiful pass if you leave your car, according to the Coconino National Forest. The Red Rock Pass is typically $5 a day, $15 a week or $20 a year, and one pass covers everyone in the vehicle. You can buy it online at Recreation.gov (it's tied to your licence plate), at kiosks at the fee sites, or at the Sedona Chamber of Commerce visitor center at 331 Forest Road in Uptown Sedona.

Two things catch visitors out. The Red Rock Pass is not valid at Arizona state parks such as Slide Rock State Park, which charge their own entrance fee. And the creekside concessionaire sites in Oak Creek Canyon, including Crescent Moon, Grasshopper Point and Call of the Canyon, don't accept the Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful pass at all.

The easiest workaround is the free Sedona Shuttle. Parking at its Park & Ride lots and the ride itself are both free, and shuttle riders don't need a Red Rock Pass. It typically runs Thursday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., year-round, to the Cathedral Rock, Little Horse, Soldier Pass, Dry Creek Vista and Mescal trailheads. While it runs, the Cathedral Rock and Soldier Pass trailhead lots are closed to private cars, so on those days the shuttle is the way in.

The red rock headliners

These four trails are the Sedona views you've seen in photos, and each fits in a morning.

1. Bell Rock Pathway, Village of Oak Creek

What to do: Walk out and back on the Bell Rock Pathway from Courthouse Vista, the trailhead on SR 179 for Bell Rock, Bell Rock Pathway and Courthouse Butte Loop. The Coconino National Forest calls the Bell Rock Pathway an easy, family-friendly trail.

How long: The full pathway is 3.5 miles one way, about 2.5 hours round trip by the Forest Service's estimate, but with kids you can turn around whenever Bell Rock looks close enough.

Why: It's wide and gentle, with restrooms at the northern and southern trailhead lots. Courthouse Vista has paved parking and a pass machine. Mountain bikers and horses share the trail.

2. Cathedral Rock Trail, off Back O' Beyond Road

What to do: Climb the Cathedral Rock Trail toward the saddle between the spires, from the trailhead 0.6 miles up Back O' Beyond Road off SR 179.

How long: About 1.5 hours round trip, per the Coconino National Forest.

Why: Cathedral Rock is one of the four best-known Sedona vortex sites named by the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, but be honest with your crew. The Forest Service rates it strenuous and describes it as more of a rock climb than a hike: steep, unshaded and difficult in places. Older kids who scramble will love it; toddlers belong on Bell Rock Pathway. Ride the free Sedona Shuttle from the North SR 179 Park & Ride on shuttle days.

3. Devil's Bridge Trail, off Dry Creek Road

What to do: Hike to Devil's Bridge, which the Coconino National Forest calls the largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area. The arch is about 50 feet high.

How long: The Devil's Bridge Trail itself is 1.6 miles round trip, about 2 hours, and rated moderate.

Why: It's the arch from a thousand phone screens, but the trailhead sits on the unpaved part of Dry Creek Road (Forest Road 152), which needs a high-clearance vehicle. In a regular car, start at the Mescal Trailhead (about 4 miles round trip to the arch) or Dry Creek Vista (about 5.8 miles round trip). Both are stops on the free shuttle.

4. Airport Mesa and the Airport Loop, West Sedona

What to do: Watch sunset from Airport Mesa, or walk part of the Airport Loop Trails around the mesa off Airport Road.

How long: The full Airport Loop is 3.5 miles and takes 2 to 3 hours. The Table Top Trail spur is half a mile one way, a better length for small legs.

Why: The Sedona Chamber of Commerce lists Airport Mesa as one of the four best-known Sedona vortexes, along with Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Boynton Canyon. Its vortex page describes them as places thought to be swirling centers of the earth's energy, and says many visitors feel recharged after a visit. Whether or not you feel anything, the view over West Sedona at sunset is reason enough. Park at the turnout half a mile up Airport Road.

Easy walks and gentle sightseeing

These stops suit grandparents, strollers-turned-walkers and anyone who wants red rock without a climb.

5. Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park, West Sedona

What to do: Walk the paths around the 36-foot Amitabha Stupa at 2650 Pueblo Drive in West Sedona.

How long: About 45 minutes, by our estimate.

Why: It's free, quiet and open dawn to dusk every day, according to its owners, Kunzang Palyul Choling. The parking lot is typically open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 14-acre site is a wildlife sanctuary, and leashed pets are welcome. Visits after dark aren't allowed, and vehicles over 20 feet can't use the lot.

Petroglyphs and cliff dwellings

Sedona's oldest attractions are the rock art and dwellings left by the people who lived here centuries before the town, and two Forest Service sites let families see them with a guide.

6. Palatki Heritage Site, northwest of Sedona

What to do: Book a guided tour of the cliff dwellings and rock art at the Palatki Heritage Site.

How long: The tour takes roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the Forest Service says to allow at least 30 minutes on rough gravel roads from Sedona.

Why: Tours are limited to 14 visitors, so it never feels crowded. Palatki requires a timed reservation on Recreation.gov plus a Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful pass. From September through May it's typically open 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. except Wednesdays, when it closes at noon. Expect about 60 uneven steps and no pets past the parking area.

7. Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site, east of Interstate 17

What to do: See the largest known petroglyph site in the Verde Valley, formerly called the V Bar V Heritage Site.

How long: About an hour, by our estimate, including the walk from the parking lot to the visitor center, which is about 100 yards.

Why: Unlike Palatki, the Forest Service lists no reservation requirement here, and volunteer guides lead tours during visiting hours. The Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site is just outside Sedona, on Forest Road 618 about 2.8 miles east of the Interstate 17 and SR 179 interchange. It typically opens Friday through Monday, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. from October to May (gate closes at 2:30 p.m.) and 8 a.m. to noon from June to September. A Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful pass is required, and pets aren't allowed.

Free and low-cost picks in town

When legs give out, Uptown Sedona and SR 179 have enough to fill an afternoon for little or no money.

8. Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, SR 179

What to do: Wander the courtyards of Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village at 336 State Route 179, fashioned after a traditional Mexican village under sycamores on the banks of Oak Creek.

How long: An hour or two, by our estimate.

Why: Walking the cobblestone lanes and peeking into the chapel costs nothing. The Chamber listing counts more than 50 shops and galleries and five restaurants, and says the village has been a Sedona landmark since the 1970s. The name is pronounced roughly T-la-keh-pah-keh. Tlaquepaque is typically open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

9. Sedona Heritage Museum, Uptown Sedona

What to do: Tour the old Jordan family orchard buildings at the Sedona Heritage Museum, 735 Jordan Road in Jordan Historical Park.

How long: About an hour, by our estimate.

Why: Kids under 13 get in free, and adults typically pay $10. The museum still displays the apple-grading machine in its 1946 fruit packing shed, plus a telegraph office that is the last remaining structure from a movie set built in Sedona; it appeared in the John Wayne film Angel and the Badman. Exhibits cover ranching, the orchard industry, Sedona-made movies and Sedona Schnebly, the pioneer the town is named after. It's typically open daily, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

10. Sedona Arts Center, Uptown Sedona

What to do: Browse the gallery at the Sedona Arts Center, 15 Art Barn Road, where more than 100 artists are represented.

How long: 30 minutes to an hour, by our estimate.

Why: It has free parking on campus, and donations keep its exhibitions and gallery demonstrations free. The Sedona Arts Center gallery is typically open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. It's a short walk from the museum, so pair the two.

What about Oak Creek Canyon?

Oak Creek Canyon's creekside spots are some of Sedona's most loved, but they're also the first to close after floods, so check before you plan around them. The Coconino National Forest alerts page lists closures of picnic sites, swimming areas and trails in the Red Rock Ranger District, and AZ511 covers SR 89A through the canyon.

When it's open, Slide Rock State Park is the family classic: the park's namesake creek slide runs through a 43-acre historic apple farm that Frank Pendley homesteaded in the early 1900s. It charges its own per-vehicle state park fee; check the park site for current rates. The Forest Service also warns against entering storm-damaged areas that may not be formally closed.

A one-day family route in Sedona

This route keeps driving short and saves the steep stuff for fresh legs.

1. Buy a Red Rock Pass online the night before, or plan a Thursday-to-Sunday trip and use the free shuttle.
2. Early morning: Bell Rock Pathway from Courthouse Vista, or Cathedral Rock if the kids are climbers.
3. Mid-morning: Tlaquepaque for shade, a snack and the chapel courtyard.
4. Lunch in Uptown Sedona, then the Sedona Heritage Museum and Sedona Arts Center.
5. Late afternoon: Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park, before its lot closes.
6. Sunset: Airport Mesa.

On a second day, book Palatki or visit the Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site, then carry on to Cottonwood and Jerome. See our Sedona area guide, where to eat, where to stay, and the outdoors and road trips pages for more.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a pass to hike in Sedona?

Yes, at most Sedona trailheads you need a Red Rock Pass or an America the Beautiful pass if you leave your vehicle, according to the Coconino National Forest. The Red Rock Pass is typically $5 a day and covers everyone in the car. Riders on the free Sedona Shuttle don't need one.

What is the easiest red rock hike in Sedona for kids?

The Bell Rock Pathway from Courthouse Vista on SR 179 is the Coconino National Forest's own pick for an easy, family-friendly trail. It's wide and gentle, with restrooms at the northern and southern trailhead lots, and you can turn around at any point.

What free things can you do in Sedona?

Free things to do in Sedona include the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park, strolling Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, the Sedona Arts Center gallery, and sunset at Airport Mesa. Children under 13 also get into the Sedona Heritage Museum free.

Is the Sedona Shuttle free?

Yes, the Sedona Shuttle and its Park & Ride lots are both free, and riders don't need a Red Rock Pass. It typically runs Thursday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., to the Cathedral Rock, Little Horse, Soldier Pass, Dry Creek Vista and Mescal trailheads.

Where are the Sedona vortexes?

The Sedona Chamber of Commerce names Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Boynton Canyon as the four best-known Sedona vortexes. The Chamber describes them as places thought to be centers of the earth's energy, a belief many visitors and locals hold.

Do you need a reservation for the Sedona petroglyph sites?

The Palatki Heritage Site requires a timed reservation on Recreation.gov, while the Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site does not. Both require a Red Rock Pass or an America the Beautiful pass for your vehicle.