Red Mountain Trail
If you don’t mind the long drive, hiking into the amphitheater of Red Mountain, a 1-million-year-old cinder cone in the San Francisco Peaks Volcanic Field, is a must-have experience. The trail begins at the end of…
Sedona sightseeing
Jail Trail River Walk
Looking for something to do with the kiddies during spring break? Family in town? Sometimes not everyone is up for – or capable of – a 6-mile hike in the red rocks. That’s when Cottonwood’s Jail…
Rock On
Scott Newth pulls out several binders filled with photocopied documents from the 1800s, maps, diagrams, and pages and pages of research on rock art in the Verde Valley. You’d swear he’d been researching the…
Dry Creek Trail
In late winter and early spring, Dry Creek is anything but dry. Depending on how much rainfall we’ve received, it’s completely impassable in some locations. The key to hiking this trail is finding that ideal time…
Munds Mountain Trail No. 77 in Sedona
The only remnant of any movie set ever built in Sedona is a tall rock chimney and fireplace shrouded in brush and trees on a rocky basalt road at the top of the Mogollon Rim. Reaching…
Courthouse Butte Loop in Sedona
The verdict is in: Courthouse Butte Loop is one of the prettiest trails you’ll hike in the snow – and it’s easy. The 4.5-mile loop traverses the base of Courthouse Butte, one of Sedona’s largest monoliths,…
Christmas in the Southwest
35th Annual Christmas Boat Parade of Lights Put on a sweater and gather along the shores of Lake Havasu in the far western corner of our state for London Bridge Yacht Club’s 35th Annual Christmas Boat…
Halloween in Sedona
It’s that time of the year when thoughts turn toward costumes and candy. There is no shortage of haunted happenings in the Verde Valley for the young and the young at heart, starting with the Pumpkin…
A.B. Young Trail in Oak Creek Canyon
The A.B. Young Trail is the only route (of which we know) that climbs the west wall of Oak Creek Canyon. From AZ-89A in the northern reaches of the canyon, you can spot the trail, which…
Sedona Reflections
In Sedona, everything is better in October. Daytime temperatures slowly start to drop and the summer monsoon storms dissipate. It’s also an ideal time to explore Pumphouse Wash in Oak Creek Canyon. Five miles of…
Sedona’s Loy Canyon
Sometimes you just want to walk in the woods, Hansel-and-Gretel style. That’s when you need to explore Loy Canyon and Loy Canyon Trail. The trail meanders along the floor of the canyon for 4 relatively flat…
Fiesta del Tlaquepaque in Sedona
The 45th annual Fiesta del Tlaquepaque, a celebration of Mexican Independence Day, takes place Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. Tlaquepaque’s longest-running tradition will feature mariachis, flamenco dancers, ballet…
Sedona’s Baldwin Trail
We don’t hike much during this time of the year, however, if we’re going to spend time on a trail, Baldwin ticks all of the boxes for a summertime jaunt. It’s in close proximity to Oak…
Sedona’s Thunder Mountain Trail
Thunder Mountain Trail is a gem of a hike that meanders along the base of its namesake, also known as Capitol Butte or Grey Mountain. Though there isn’t a ton of shade along the trail, it’s…
Jerome Historic Home and Building Tour
Arizona’s mile-high town is the place to be May 20-21 when the Jerome Historic Home and Building Tour returns for its 52nd year. The guided tour takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (the last…
Vultee Arch Trail in Sedona
Back in the day, accessing the Vultee Arch Trailhead wasn’t nearly as challenging as it is now. The only way to reach it today is with a high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle (yes, you need both high…
Templeton Trail in Sedona
For those who like to spend half the day rambling through Red Rock Country at a leisurely pace, Templeton Trail is right up your alley. You’ll only encounter one steep climb along this 9-mile (round trip)…
Sedona’s Munds Wagon Trail
We’ve hiked this trail in warm weather without a puddle in sight, so we suspect our experience was relatively rare, which made it even more special. Despite a blustery breeze, the scenery made us feel like…
Sedona’s Cathedral Rock Trail
Cathedral Rock Trail has long been one of our top 10 favorite hikes in Sedona, but the recent crowds in the area have kept us at bay for a couple of years. Then it dawned on…
Let it Snow!
Arizona Nordic Village Arizona Nordic Village, formerly known as the Flagstaff Nordic Center, changed hands in October 2015, and last winter the cross-country-ski playground began encouraging snow bikes to come out and play. It also added…
Sedona’s Boynton Canyon Vista
When the days are short and the temperatures chilly, we like to explore some of Sedona’s shorter trails, and Boynton Canyon Vista checks all the boxes. The trail leads to a saddle between two red rock…
Slide Rock State Park in Sedona
Most locals past the age of 8 will tell you that Slide Rock State Park in the summer is highly overrated. After sitting in a long line of cars just to secure a parking space, you’re…
Doe Mountain
Every year, the trail leading to the top of Doe Mountain seems to grow in popularity as more and more hikers seek out the mesa’s 360-degree views. After spending several days flying above Sedona, we were…
The Arboretum at Flagstaff
When the dog days of summer arrive, it seems like half of Arizona escapes to the cooler climes of Flagstaff. And there’s no better place to spot wildflowers and wildlife than The Arboretum at Flagstaff. Leave…
Sedona’s Wilson Canyon Trail
After hiking Sedona’s trails for more years than we care to admit, we’ve realized there aren’t a lot of trails for beginning hikers, those out for a casual Sunday stroll or families with young kids. If…
Sedona’s Hangover
Were you disappointed (but obviously not surprised) that The Hangover Part III wasn’t worth the price of admission? We guarantee you won’t feel that way about the new Hangover Trail that traverses Mitten Ridge. For the…
Beyond Sedona’s West Fork
Even the most casual local hiker has most likely explored West Fork. It’s one of Sedona’s most popular hikes, especially in the fall when the trees along the trail put on a brilliant display of…
Sugarloaf Loop Trail
For some of the most expansive views in Sedona, you don’t have to climb to the top of Wilson Mountain or the Mogollon Rim. Sugarloaf, that little red rock mound at the base of Capitol Butte…
Sedona St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival
One of Sedona’s longest-running traditions, the Sedona St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival, returns for its 46th year March 12 at 10:30 a.m. The parade runs along Jordan Road in Uptown. Presented by Sedona Main Street Program,…
Sedona’s Cow Pies Trail
If you don’t mind a bumpy ride to get there, Cow Pies Trail is probably one of the flattest and easiest hikes in Sedona. It also happens to be located in an area of Red Rock…
Sedona’s Herkenham Trail
Few things match the beauty of Red Rock Country covered in a blanket of snow, especially when you consider that it’s a rare and fleeting sight. If you don’t want to waste time finding an off-the-beaten-path…
Sedona’s Sterling Pass Trail
Perhaps we’ve watched too many episodes of Finding Bigfoot, but if sasquatch was going to winter in Sedona, there’s no doubt he’d feel at home in the unnamed drainage surrounding Sterling Pass Trail. The area has…
Flagstaff’s Aspen Loop Trail
One of the best things about autumn? The changing leaves. Leaf peepers don’t have to wait for Oak Creek Canyon to peak at the end of October or beginning of November, either. Head north to the…
Sedona: Festive Us
Big Pine Comedy Festival Need a laugh? Don’t we all! The inaugural Big Pine Comedy Festival couldn’t come at a better time. The festival takes place Oct. 7-10 at venues in downtown Flagstaff. Ryan Stalder, a…
Pueblos and Cliff Dwellings
Sedona Monthly has been exploring and photographing ruins in northern Arizona for 12 years. Here are our favorites. Some are national monuments and easily accessed…others will test your knowledge of our landscape. As always, please…
Brins Mesa Trail
Back in June 2006, Brins Mesa made headlines when a fire broke out in the area, scorching more than 4,000 acres. Nine years later, you can still see the evidence when you hike the popular –…
Weir Trail
The weather outside is frightful…frightfully hot! When you want to find a swimming hole where you can beat the heat, check out Weir Trail. An offshoot of Bell Trail located east of I-17, Weir Trail ends…
Sedona, Take Me Away!
Take a bath … at Adobe Grand Villas To date, the most opulent bathrooms in Sedona (outside of private residences) can be found at Adobe Grand Villas. Opened in June 2004, the four-diamond luxury inn boasts…
Sedona Pottery
Mary Margaret Sather is a tiny woman – 90 pounds soaking wet – but her stature does little to convey her boundless energy and enthusiasm for art and Sedona. Mary Margaret grew up in the West…
Sedona Hike: Table Top Trail
With a name like Table Top, you can be fairly confident that the trail will offer spectacular views – and it does. But the route actually takes its name from Airport Mesa, which was originally Table…
Jerome Home Roam
It doesn’t take much research – a slow drive through town will do it – to realize that Jerome has a colorful and quirky past. So it shouldn’t be surprising that the seven homes and two…
Hike Sedona: Jim Thompson Trail
When it’s hot outside, but we still want to hike, we love trails where you can leave a car at either end, and Jim Thompson Trail is a great option. The hike begins near Jordan Road…
Hike Sedona: Hog Heaven
If you read our March 2015 cover story, you know the growing popularity of mountain biking in Sedona has led to the adoption of new trails by Coconino National Forest. One of our recent discoveries is…
Hike Sedona: Robbers Roost
According to local legend, Robbers Roost (also known as Shaman’s Cave or the Hide Out Cave), located northwest of Sedona but visible from any high vantage point in town, was a hideout for bandits and bootleggers,…
Hike Sedona: Chapel Trail
Some of the most iconic movie locations in Red Rock Country are located in the region once known as Little Horse Park. You and I know it as the Chapel Area. Several trails in the vicnity…
Sedona Art: Gedion Gallery
A gallery filled with sculptures, carvings, weavings, textiles and jewelry from Zimbabwe located in rural Arizona? Gallery owner and stone sculptor Gedion Nyanhongo thinks it’s the perfect fit. He opened Gedion Gallery in Sinagua Plaza at…
10th Annual Sedona Marathon Event
Happy 10th birthday to the Sedona Marathon! The race, organized by the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, returns Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. with 3,000 runners and walkers expected to participate in the marathon, half-marathon, 10K and…
Sedona Winter Hike: Bear Mountain Trail
The trail that leads up Bear Mountain may only be 2.5 miles one way, but it’s easily one of the most difficult hikes in Sedona. The trail begins across Boynton Pass Road from the Bear Mountain/Doe…
Winter in Sedona Images
Winter 2013-14 was one of the driest on record for Red Rock Country. In January, we only received 0.69 inch of rain compared to our average of 3.03 inches according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric…
Sedona Public Library’s Festival of Wreaths
After a short hiatus, the Friends of the Sedona Public Library will once again host the Festival of Wreaths. The library fundraiser kicks off on Nov. 9 with a preview party at the library (3250 White…
Hike Bell Rock Pathway in Sedona
Ah, autumn. That ideal time of year when the days are sunny and the evenings are brisk. It’s the perfect month to tackle the wide, scenic trail that leads from iconic Bell Rock to Little Horse…
Sedona Arts Festival
The Sedona Arts Festival isn’t just a small art show that pops up on the side of the road. Not only is the festival the oldest of its kind in Sedona (it celebrates its 24th anniversary…
Dia de los Muertos at Tlaquepaque
Not all that long ago, Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebrations in this country sparked religious protests and cries of devil worship – thankfully, that sort of narrow-minded thinking is behind us….
Coffee Pot Trail
Sedona doesn’t lack difficult hiking trails. The majority of our routes seem to be long, involve steep climbs and include rocky terrain. We are always on the lookout for trails that are suitable for all ages…
Long Canyon
Confession: In the 13 years we’ve been publishing Sedona Monthly, we have never featured Long Canyon Trail. Once we realized the error of our ways, we made a beeline for the trailhead on Long Canyon Road…
Oak Creek Canyon Block Party
It’s been a long summer for business owners in Oak Creek Canyon. Not only did they suffer through the Slide Fire at the end of May, they had to deal with the intermittent closure of SR…
Red Rocks Music Festival
Love chamber and operatic music? Then Red Rocks Music Festival is right up your alley. Back for its 13th year, the festival takes place Aug. 28-31 with performances at the Arizona Opera Center in Phoenix (1636…
Huckaby Trail
Huckaby Trail is a favorite hike among locals and tourists alike, so it’s no surprise that it was suffering from too much love. Originally constructed in 1998, the trail was rerouted at the end of last…
Celebrate Native American Music and Dance
Head to Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village on July 5 and 6 for the Celebration of Native American Music and Dance featuring Tony Duncan, the Yellow Bird Indian Dancers, Kelvin Mockingbird and Maestro Drew Diego Bennett….
Sedona View Trail
The recently opened Sedona View Trail lives up to its name, offering panoramic views of West Sedona in its entirety. The trail also provides a much-needed route for hikers and mountain bikers by connecting the Airport…
The Flagstaff Pro Rodeo 2014
Grab those cowboy boots! For the first time in five years, the rodeo returns to Flagstaff. The Flagstaff Pro Rodeo 2014 takes place June 27 (7-9 p.m.), June 28 (5-7 p.m.) and June 29 (1-3 p.m.)…
Copper Art Museum
When Drake Meinke was dreaming of a location for his Copper Art Museum, he started to research copper mining in the U.S. and discovered that Arizona is the largest producer of copper in the country. Seventy…
Call of the Canyon de Chelly
Canyon de Chelly, the second largest canyon in the country, reveals its secrets to those who slow down and stay awhile. Drive the north and south rims, and take a tour of the canyon floor where…
Events
March 2014 Calendar Mar. 1 20th Annual Sedona International Film Festival (thru 3/2). Call 928-282-1177 for information or visit www.SedonaFilmFestival.org The PEACE Program: Project for Empathy and Compassion Education with Lisa Doskocil, 10 a.m. (every Saturday…
West Fork
West Fork in the fall. We’ve hiked it. We’ve photographed it. We’ve written about it. We’re over it. Don’t misunderstand: Oak Creek Canyon’s most popular trail (and arguably the most heavily used trail in the area)…
12 Holiday Happenings: Christmas in Sedona
Celebrate the Holidays with the Romeros Dec. 1, 2:30 p.m., Sedona Performing Arts Center (995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road) 928-204-2415; $40 Classic guitar quartet concert. Ice Skating in Sedona Dec. 1-8 Mon.-Thur., 2-8 p.m.; Fri.,…
Teacup Trail
It’s easy to see why many of Sedona’s most iconic rock formations received their names – there’s no mistaking Bell Rock or Snoopy Rock. But Teacup Rock is a bit more difficult to discern. The best…
Sandmen
Sedona Monthly’s 7th annual cover story featuring Native American artists focuses on Navajo sandpainters. A fairly recent art form, sandpainting was traditionally used by medicine men in religious ceremonies until enterprising artists began using the medium…
Marg’s Draw
For a casual hike with stunning views, it doesn’t get better than Marg’s Draw. The trailhead is located in the center of town, the ascents are short and the red-rock pinnacles are inspiring.
Top of the World
Humphreys Peak captivated us long before we moved to northern Arizona, and judging by the number of people we encountered on our hike to the summit, we aren’t the only ones. Unlike the impressive mountain ranges…
10 Favorite Sedona Hikes
This month, Sedona Monthly celebrates 10 years of publishing Arizona’s magazine with the great view. Hooray for us! Hiking is one of the reasons we moved to Sedona, and since our first issue in March 2003,…
On the Road Again
Schnebly Hill Road Distance from the ’Y in Sedona (one way): 6.5 miles Attractions: red rocks If you have a high-clearance vehicle or a four-wheel drive, jump in and make a beeline for Schnebly Hill Road….
Zuni Style
In a remote corner of western New Mexico, near the border of Arizona, sits the 450,000-acre Zuni Pueblo. It’s the largest of New Mexico’s 19 pueblos and, according to the Zuni Department of Tourism, 80 percent…
Ruined
Navajo National Monument, located just south of Monument Valley, encompasses three cliff dwellings. Two of those dwellings are open to visitors. both are amazing destinations, but only one is truly worth the effort. Read on for…
Hopi Holidays
Dorleen Gashweseoma Lalo: Basket Maker Dorleen Gashweseoma Lalo did not learn to speak English until she met her husband, and for many years he acted as her interpreter as she traveled to museums and shows with…
Festival Fever
October might just be the best month to be in Sedona. Warm days with bright blue skies and billowing clouds are followed by crisp, clear evenings studded with twinkling stars. The leaves are starting to turn…
High on Sedona
Spend some time with your head in the clouds! Come fly with us as we board a helicopter, hot air balloon and biplane to discover a new perspective of Red Rock Country. Think flying is for…
Monument Valley
Monument Valley has captured the imaginations of people all over the world since Hollywood first showed us the expansive landscape and soaring monoliths in 1925. Countless photographers have been inspired by the colorful rock formations and…
That High and Lonesome Sound
In 2003, Chamber Music Sedona and the Sedona Historical Society united for Sedona’s Arts and Heritage Week, but that wasn’t the only pairing that took place that week. Wanting to try something new, Bert Harclerode, the…
Go! Get Outside! Hike!
Hiking has been our passion for years and is part of the reason we moved to Sedona in the first place. After visiting and living in Sedona for more than 10 years, we just now feel…
Wild Arizona
When families visit Sedona, it’s not always easy to find kid-friendly activities. (We have yet to meet a 10-year-old interested in a day of gallery shopping or spa treatments.) Lucky for all of us, three distinctly…
Holidays at Home
Back in December 2007, Sedona Monthly featured a cover story about all of the unique holiday events that take place in northern Arizona. Every December since that issue, we’ve received e-mails requesting that we do the…
Music to Our Eyes and Ears
Despite the public flogging Arizona has received over the past few months, we still think this is an incredible state. We have Grand Canyon and Saguaro national parks and the red rocks of Sedona in our…
Road Trip!
California may be known as the car-culture capital of the country, but Arizona boasts some of the most scenic, historic and fun roads (without the traffic). Here’s a look at six of our favorites. Red Rock…
Surfin’ Safari: Arizona’s Big Wave
Last fall, Sedona Monthly hiked the rings of Saturn. It took us years to get there, and the permit process was painful, but the payoff was absolutely worth it. Our group included three of the 20…
History Remade
When the first issue of Sedona Monthly was published in 2003, it included a story about the filming of 1950’s Broken Arrow in Red Rock Country. Joe McNeill, the article’s author and the magazine’s creative director,…
Made in Sedona
Shop at home for the holidays. We’ve all been hearing a lot lately about shopping locally, especially those of us living in small towns like Sedona. As the only locally owned and operated magazine in Sedona…
Grand Canyon
On average, it rains on Thanksgiving Day in Arizona every 10 years. Naturally, that once-a-decade storm would bring downpours, lightning and snow to northern Arizona as we shopped for freeze-dried food and compressed our sleeping bags…
A Journey to the City in the Sky
About two years ago, on my way home from Santa Fe, N.M., I noticed the signs for the Acoma Pueblo along Interstate 40. Being a fan of Acoma pottery, I pulled off the highway only to…
Arizona is for Snowbirds
December is here, and if it hasn’t happened already, thousands of northern Arizona residents are watching the sky, holding their breath until the first delicate snowflake drifts down. While our friends in other locales – the…
11 Reasons Autumn in Sedona is So Cool!
Autumn’s arrival in northern Arizona heralds more than just shorter days and cooler nights – in fall, Sedona seems to awake from a sluggish summer slumber to show off all her splendor with vibrant changing leaves,…
10 Places to Go to Beat the Arizona Heat
It’s a dry heat. Sedona has four mild seasons. Summers aren’t bad – we have monsoons. We’ve heard it all and, while we’ll admit our summers are a walk along the beach compared to our neighbors…
Live Your Sedona Adventure!
Opportunities for adventure in Sedona are as endless as the brilliant blue sky or breathtaking red rock vistas. It’s a fact that hits home for me every day – my husband, Daniel Finch-McCaffrey, is Hilton Sedona…
At Home for the Holidays
Yes, Virginia, there is more to the holiday season than frantic trips from mall to mall trying to get your hands on this year’s “It” item (Halo 3, perhaps?), scrubbing floors before the in-laws arrive, standing…
Get The Picture
Most of the millions of visitors who come to northern Arizona are connected to their cameras like it was a third eye. Wandering through galleries, seeing images of iconic locations such as Red Rock Crossing and…
Star Attractions!
For as long as humans have inhabited our corner of Arizona, their necks have been craned to the sky, gazing at the stars. Look at the pictographs of animals and hunters at the Palatki Heritage Site…
The Inner Light: Inside 3 Slot Canyons
Antelope Canyon is one of the most alluring spots in the Southwest, thanks largely to the talented nature photographers who’ve beautifully captured and shared its ethereal light beams, golden hues, and corkscrewing rock walls that seem…
Nature Calls!
Ask Sedona residents why they settled in Red Rock Country and you’ll hear some variation of this response again and again: It was just too pretty to leave. Visitors get the message too, flocking in huge…
All That Jazz!
Sedona’s Jazz on the Rocks festival, celebrating its 24th year with performances around town from Sept. 22-25, improvises around twin themes: Music and education. Proceeds from the weekend of music, revolving around the daylong outdoor festival…
Luminarias: Making Spirits Bright
“Thirty-one years ago, Christmas in Sedona was not commercially a big deal,” recalls Geoffrey Roth, whose jewelry store and gallery was one of the first to occupy the then-fledgling Tlaquepaque in the early 1970s. “For the…
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