A Weekend in Red Rock Country: Sedona, Arizona

Two Days in Red Rock Country: Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is one of Arizona’s most beautiful places, located just about two hours north of Phoenix. While here, take in the incredible beauty of red rock country, go on epic hikes, dine at fabulous restaurants, and feel the “power of Sedona”, as this is an area of mystical Earth energy!

One can spend days exploring Sedona, with its countless hikes and places to explore, however a weekend also does it justice. We had just two nights here and filled our time. In this very quick two-day itinerary, we go through all that we did with just a weekend.

Day One – Afternoon Arrival

On Today’s Agenda:

Take in the views at Airport Mesa
Dinner: The Hudson

We arrived into Sedona in the early afternoon after driving up from Phoenix. As you get close to Sedona, the beautiful red rocks that Sedona is known for come into view.

After checking in to our hotel, we headed up to Airport Mesa, one of the best viewpoints in Sedona.

Airport Mesa | Sedona

The viewpoint was hopping as people gathered to watch the red rocks tinge golden with the setting sun, creating a beautiful sunset.

From here, we headed down to The Hudson, where we had a fabulous meal. If dining here during daylight, be sure to get a place on the patio for a meal with a view, one of Sedona’s best. We both loved our main courses, however the artichoke dip appetizer was stellar.

Day Two – Two Epic Hikes

On Today’s Agenda:

Morning hike: Devil’s Bridge
Lunch: Whole Foods picnic
Afternoon hike: Cathedral Rock Trail
Dinner: Mariposa

Devil’s Bridge

Our morning began with hiking to Devil’s Bridge. Devil’s Bridge is one of Sedona’s most popular hikes so plan to get here early. We arrived at the Mescal Trailhead and parked in the lot along the road. We were some of the first people here, arriving around 7:00 a.m.

The trail is beautiful as the red dirt path winds around desert flora with the rising sun casting a beautiful morning light on the red rocks.

Trail to Devil’s Bridge via the Mescal Trail | Sedona

I was especially enthralled with what looked like “glowing agave” when the morning light hit the agave plants!

On the last bit of the trail up to Devil’s Bridge you need to scramble up and over rocks and need two hands to do so. As you make it to the top, there may be a queue of people waiting to walk out onto Devil’s Bridge and have someone snap their pic. In the early morning hours we waited only a few minutes. While waiting in line, people we were chatting with said they had been there later in the day on a previous occasion when the queue was much longer!

Devil’s Bridge | Sedona

The “bridge” is quite wide, so even if one is afraid of heights, this should not be a problem.

Devil’s Bridge | Sedona

DEVIL’S BRIDGE INFORMATION:

Parking: Park at the Mezcal Trail Head along Long Canyon Road
Length of Trail: 4.3 miles round trip
Best time of Day: Early morning or late afternoon to avoid peak crowds

After completing the Devil’s Bridge hike, we stopped at Whole Foods Market right in downtown Sedona to gather some provisions for a picnic back at our hotel. We had another hike planned for later in the afternoon, so some rest, relaxation, and lunch along with pool time was on the agenda.

Cathedral Rock

Cathedral Rock is another of Sedona’s must do hikes. This short yet steep trail brings you up red rocks to take in beautiful views of Sedona from one direction and into the canyon from the other.

The wide trail begins with a slight ascent, as it traverses up the rocks.

Cathedral Rock Trail | Sedona

The views are vast of Sedona as you make the climb up to Cathedral Rock.

Cathedral Rock Trail | Sedona

As the trail climbs, it gets more difficult due to its steep ascent. There is one particular area that you definitely need two hands to climb.

The toughest part of the Cathedral Rock Trail | Sedona

The views at the top are absolutely worth the hike up!

The incredible views at the top of Cathedral Rock | Sedona

CATHEDRAL ROCK TIPS:

Parking/Shuttle: The Cathedral Rock trailhead parking lot is closed Thursdays-Sundays due to peak visitation. There is a shuttle (#15) that departs for the trailhead from the Sedona Shuttle Lot off SR-179.
Distance: 1.5 miles round trip. Keep in mind it is difficult at the end due to the steep ascent.
Best time of day: Early morning or late afternoon to avoid peak visitation as well high temperatures. This trail is mostly exposed so being mindful of sun and soaring temperatures is imperative.

Dinner this evening was at Mariposa, one of Sedona’s top restaurants. The views, especially during sunset, are incredible. The massive windows allow guests to take in the views while dining. The food and service were also outstanding so this is a restaurant we recommend you put on your list!

Dinner at Mariposa | Sedona

Day Three – Short but Sweet Hike

On Today’s Agenda:

Hike to Birthing Cave
Post hike coffee at Sedona Coffee Co
Tlaquepaque Shopping Village

The Birthing Cave

An early morning start makes this sunrise hike so enjoyable. The Birthing Cave is again one of the must see sites in Sedona.

What’s in a name?

The Birthing Cave was used historically as a cave for childbirth and a safe place for women of the Sinagua tribe to hide out. It is also said that the cave resembles a birth canal as one stands in the back of the cave for views outward!

We parked at Long Canyon/Chuckwagon along the side of the road for easy access to the trailhead.

Parking along the road off Long Canyon Road for the Birthing Cave | Sedona

Most of the trail is very easy and flat, except for the rock scramble up into the cave at the end.

The trail to the Birthing Cave is flat and wide |Sedona

As you hike the trail, at about 0.3 miles in, you will come across the first trail sign.

Continuing on another 0.25 miles (0.55-0.63 miles in, according to both of our Apple watches) there will be a fork in the trail. Be sure to take the trail to the left. You will start to see the large red rock in the distance, this is where the entrance to the cave is.

Approaching the Birthing Cave | Sedona

As you reach the cave, look up! The rock scramble/rocky stairs lead you up to the cave.

Once in the cave, go as far back as you can for views out. The side walls of the cave create a dramatic view as you look out to the beautiful horizon. We were there just as the sun was rising so had beautiful golden light bathing the rocks.

A beautiful sunrise in the Birthing Cave | Sedona

Scrambling up the back of the cave will get you the best views but it is tricky. We had hiking shoes on with great traction and still found it difficult! The views from the bottom of the cave looking out are stunning.

The Birthing Cave | Sedona

BIRTHING CAVE TIPS:

Parking: Parking near the Birthing Cave trailhead is best done along Long Canyon Road near the Long Canyon Trailhead
Distance: Approximately 2 miles out and back
Best time of day: Morning – sunrise for less people as well as beautiful morning light.

After our hike, we headed back into town and stopped for a mid-morning coffee at Sedona Coffee Co. I also went next door to Karen’s Gluten Free Bakeshop and treated myself to an amazing gluten-free blueberry muffin.

We were leaving today back to Phoenix, so we headed back to our hotel to get ready and pack up. We had one more stop on the way out of town, however!

Tlaquepaque Shopping Village

This beautiful shopping area features southwestern architecture, cobblestone pathways, and fountains as its backdrop with art galleries, shops, and cafes to explore.

Wandering through here is a treat and a nice way to spend time doing something other than hiking.

With just a weekend in Sedona, you can fill your time with incredible hikes and dining at amazing restaurants. Beautiful red rock country is one of Arizona’s best places to visit!

Things to Know Before You Go:

Red Rock Pass – This pass is a required permit for parking at many of the trailheads. The pass is offered as Daily for $5, Weekly for $15, and Annual for $20. During our visit we did not have to purchase the permit for any of our parking areas. For more information on the Red Rock Pass visit the website.
Make your dining reservations ahead of time – Sedona is popular and its fabulous restaurants are highly sought after which makes dining without a reservation difficult, especially during peak visitor times. As soon as you have your dates planned out, make your dining reservations. You can always cancel (ahead of time, as some places do have cancellation policies in place) if you change your plans down the road. We tried to make reservations at Elote, one of Sedona’s most popular restaurants, however had no luck even looking weeks out.
Sedona is in Mountain Standard Time (MST) and does NOT observe Daylight Savings Time.