A view not to be missed! Airport Mesa is in the middle of the city, with this scenic lookout facing the northern and western red rock formations. This is one of the best sunset views in Sedona, so time your visit accordingly! Halfway up the mesa is a small parking lot, where another incredible sunset view and a vortex await explorers.

Check out this striking mid-century modern chapel with an outstanding view of the red rocks, both from inside and outside. It’s a popular spot, so expect some crowds. Want a closer look at the red cliffs behind the chapel? The Chapel Trail is an excellent, fairly easy hike with awesome views of the cliffs. At the end of Chapel Trail, turn left on Little Horse Trail to reach the stunning Chicken Point. To Chicken Point, it's about 2 miles round trip, with moderate difficulty. The nearby Mystic Trail is about 3 miles round trip and considered easy.

Two vista points–Yavapai and Courthouse–are near to each other on opposite sides of the Red Rock Scenic Byway. There are hiking trails leading from both, but Courthouse Vista’s loop trail surrounding Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte is superior. It's 3.5 miles round trip, and moderately difficult. The walk up to Bell Rock is brief and easy. Visitors looking for a meditative experience will also want to seek out the alleged vortex on Bell Rock, so you may find people doing yoga or enjoying a moment of peace. Parking may be slightly easier at Yavapai, for what it’s worth!

The Sinagua built this 110-room hilltop pueblo over 1,000 years ago. Check out the museum inside the visitor center displaying artifacts discovered during the pueblo’s excavation. Then explore the pueblo’s ruins themselves just up a small hill from the visitor center. No one was sneaking up on them from that view! A 1/3 mile trail circles the ruins. It's mostly easy with some steep spots. The Tavasci Marsh trail, 1 mile round trip, leads to an important birding spot.

This town on a steep hillside was known as much for its loose morals and frequent disasters as it was for its booming mining business. Almost a ghost town after the mines closed, today Jerome’s crumbling buildings mix with a funky assortment of restaurants, bars, and shops. This is another cheaper lunch option than Sedona.

One of the highlights of Red Rock Loop Road, this state park’s hiking trails take in the surrounding red rock mesas and buttes. Most trails are easy to moderate in difficulty and go through a mix of brush and low forest. Oak Creek running through the middle of the park is an important watering hole for desert wildlife. The Kisva Trail is 1.8 miles and easy. The Eagles Nest, Javelina, and House of Apache Fires trails head upland from the Kisva Trail, and together create moderately challenging loops.

Even if you left your picnic basket at home, check out the incredible views of Cathedral Rock from this park close to its base. Keep walking along the Oak Creek Trail until you find the perfect photo spot, which is what many people come to this picnic area to do. The trail is about 1.5 miles round trip and easy.

Tibetan prayer flags flap in the wind and people come from all walks of life for prayer, meditation, or reflection in this peaceful desert sanctuary. The giant stupa, or Buddhist monument filled with sacred relics, is the focal point of the park, with sweeping views of the red rock mesas in every direction.

Pack your swimming trunks. Most of this park protects the former Pendley Homestead and its apple orchard, but the highlight is a natural water play area along Oak Creek, including a water slide! The red rocks surrounding the creek are also fun to climb around. This could be the highlight of the day for youngsters.

Oak Creek, and the canyon, fork to the west at this beautiful spot. It’s an easy, but long trail through a forested gorge that requires creek crossings on logs and stepping stones. You'll constantly look up at the red cliffs! The whole trail is 6.5 miles round trip. Don’t want to do the whole trail? Then enjoy the ruins of the Mayhew Lodge not far from the parking lot, then go as far as you'd like. A stunning stop whether you’re a hiker or not!

The grand opening for folks starting the tour coming from Flagstaff. Get a bird’s eye view of Oak Creek Canyon from this overlook. A Native American Craft Market, open 8am-4pm, sets up shop on the walkway between the parking lot and the overlook, so don’t forget to shop for a souvenir from a local artist.