Where is Sedona Located
Located in Northern Arizona about a half hour south of Flagstaff, Sedona is not actually a park, but an area that consists of several State Parks, National Forest land, and the city of Sedona, all of which contain the amazing Redrock formations that the area is known for.
Why was Sedona Formed
The Sedona State Parks and the Redrocks Ranger District of Coconino National Forest were formed to protect this unique geological landscape. Even the city of Sedona has special regulations and restrictions to help keep the area as natural as possible. The towering buttes, mesas, and other formations are made of amazing red sandstone sculpted by time and weather over millions of years. Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon are not only rich in geologic history, but also human history and contain several archeological sites. Sedona is also know for its vortex sites which are energy points located in several of its Redrock Formations.
How do you get to Sedona
Sedona Airports- Sedona has a small airport but there are no regularly scheduled commercial flights. The majority of visitors traveling to Sedona fly into Phoenix International airport, which is about 2 hours from Sedona. Flagstaff, AZ is a half hour north of Sedona, and also has a small airport with daily flights, although the cost is typically quite a bit higher than Phoenix.
Sedona Car Rentals- Whether you fly into Phoenix, Flagstaff, or take a shuttle to Sedona it is difficult to see Sedona, the Grand Canyon, or the surrounding area without a car. There are car rental agencies in Sedona, as well as Flagstaff, Phoenix, and other near by cities.
Sedona Shuttles- There are several different shuttle companies that go to Sedona from the Phoenix Airport, Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon and other local cities.
Sedona Fees
Almost anywhere you go in Sedona you are going to get charged a fee. As a matter of fact Sedona is a high budget destination, especially if you want to stay at is high send Resorts, or visit its spas. The State Parks like Slide Rock and Red Rock State Park have separate fees for each park, and the Redrock Ranger district has a parking pass you need to purchase to park anywhere in the forest, as well as additional fees for camping and some other activities.
Sedona Weather and Climate
Sedona is located in a transition zone between the Mogollon Rim to the North and the Verde Valley to the South. Sedona is a desert environment with low levels of precipitation, and is characterized by hot summers, mild winters with little snowfall, and very pleasant spring and fall seasons.
When to Visit Sedona
With an average annual visitation of over 4 million people, Sedona is definitely a busy place. The Spring and Fall seasons are the best times to visit Sedona, with mid September through October typically having the most pleasant weather throughout the area. Summer is also a busy season due to American schools being out, but it is very hot especially during the July and August monsoons season. Winter is very slow, but it is typically not cold and can be a great time to visit if you want more solitude.
Sedona Environment
Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon have fairly rugged terrain filled with canyons, buttes and other rock formations. While Sedona itself sits on a geologic layer called the Hermit Shale, the major component of Sedona’s Red Rock formations is the Schnebly Hill sandstone, which gets its red color from iron oxide. The large tan and white cliffs high above Sedona are made of the Coconino Sandstone, with several other layers of sedimentary rock above it before you reach the top of the Mogollon Rim which has a basalt cap from volcanic eruptions that happened millions of years ago.
Sedona Flora and Fauna
The Sedona area is in a transitional zone that has a unique variety of flora that’s representative of life zones from the Sonoran Desert to the Ponderosa Forests above the Mogollon Rim. Sedona has wildflowers and cactus, arid grasslands, chaperal, and pinyon-juniper forests, and riparian habitat and everything in between, making it a unique area for Arizona Flora. Because of these unique life zones there is also a large variety of animal life including many reptiles, fish, amphibians, birds, small mammals, and larger wildlife like dear, bears and mountain lions.
Sedona Accommodations
If there is one thing Sedona has a lot of it is hotels, resorts and lodges. Sedona is known for its 5 star resorts and spas, and many visitors come here specifically for these luxuries. No matter where you stay, Sedona is an expensive place, but there is all sorts of lodging in Sedona with accommodations ranging from roadside motels, to rooms that cost $500 a night. There are also several RV parks that are also fairly expensive. As for campgrounds, you’ll find most of them in Oak Creek Canyon and not Sedona proper. These are small car camping sites run by the national forest and generally cost $20 per night.
Sedona Activities
Sedona is and outdoor mecca and there is a lot of variety when it comes to outdoor sports in Redrock Country. Jeep tours are probably the most popular activity and there is everything from family friendly to bone jarring rides. Mountain biking is another of the most popular pursuits and Sedona has a ton of great single track for all levels of riders. Sedona is also a great place for day hikes as well as a couple multi-day backpacks in the national forest. Oak Creek Canyon offer fishing, rock climbing, and some great swimming holes to cool off in the summer months. Visiting one of several vortex sites is also a popular thing to do in Sedona, as is a hot air balloon ride for a birds-eye view of the area. For those of you want to get pampered, Sedona is a resort town and there are a number of top notch spas, as well as some world class restaurants to grab a bite after a hard day of massage and facials.
Sedona Food and Drink
Sedona has a full on Restaurant Scene, as well a couple bars and nightclubs. With so many eateries to choose from it’s hard to know where to start, but your local hotel or campground host can usually steer you in the right direction. Typically the high-end restaurants are where you can get a great meal, while the middle of the road or smaller joints have low quality and high prices. Of course you also have several fast food options if you’re in a hurry or want to save a buck.
Sedona Health, Safety and Hazards
Unless you’re climbing one of Sedona’s spires, or going off a 20-foot cliff with your mountain bike the biggest danger in Sedona is the summer heat. It is very important to stay hydrated, wear sun block and get out of the sun when the temperature is just to hot. Although you probably won’t see one there are rattlesnakes so be aware. In the summer monsoon season heavy rainstorm can cause flash floods so anyone hiking through Sedona’s canyons needs to be aware of weather and local conditions.
Sedona Culture and History
The City of Sedona was
founded in 1902, while the various State Parks and National Forests
where protected more recently. Sedona proper is about 50 sq.
kilometers, while the surrounding area is much larger. Sedona was named after Sedona Schnebly whose husband came to the area in the early 1900’s. Before the Schnebly’s came to the area, there were several settlers in Oak Creeks Canyon who moved in after the local bands of Apaches were removed. The history of the Red Rock Country however, starts longs before modern times. The cliff dwellings at Palatki and Honanki are the largest in the Sedona area, and were constructed between A.D.1150 – 1300. There are also many smaller ruins in Sedona, as well as some great rock art.
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