How to see Sedona from the great outdoors, visiting canyons and arches

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Even if you've never been to Sedona, you've still probably seen it on the big screen somewhere. Dozens of movies, including John Wayne's "Angel and the Badman," have been filmed here.

Famed for its red rock sandstone arches, mesas and canyons, you'll need to get an early start here, even on weekdays, as tourists usually outnumber locals. There is plenty of beautiful terrain to explore, and having several options, in case your first trailhead parking lot is full, is a wise idea.

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Chapel of the Holy Cross

Start your Sedona trip off with a visit to the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The church was commissioned by local sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, whose plans to build (inspired by the Empire State Building) were originally slated for Budapest, Hungary. Due to the outbreak of World War II, she had to wait, and later decided to build her church in her home town, with the project being completed in 1956.

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Red and orange sandstone surroundings

Almost every visitor comes to gawk at the Devil's Bridge natural arch, but the majority of them drive up a 4WD track to get close, while others walk the road. You can actually start out over by the Mescal Trail parking lot, walking the Chuckwagon Trail through some gorgeous scenery to arrive, or even start out over in Boynton Canyon, taking the Mescal and then Chuckwagon across to make a full day of it. 

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Devil's Bridge arch

If you get to the Devil's Bridge late in the afternoon, most of the crowds will have left, meaning the chance for a photo out on the arch (if you dare walk out on it) will have far less of a wait time, and you might even get the entire bridge to yourself. This immense sandstone arch was formed by erosion and is one of Sedona's most exquisite natural highlights. 

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Majestic Boynton Canyon

While many of Sedona's beautiful trails require a 4WD vehicle to access, or else a good head for heights, Boynton Canyon is a great family choice in that it's easy to get to, fairly flat and makes for a great half-day outing. You get to see some of Sedona's nicest landscapes, and if you want to stay, there's even a fancy lodge, Enchantment Resort, located right at the start, if you need to add a bit of 5-star luxury to what is already an attraction with views worth a million.

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Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Welcome to the vortex

Continuing up Boynton Canyon to its terminus brings you into a gorgeous natural outdoor cathedral, surrounded by colorful canyon walls. Here you'll find one of Sedona's noted "vortex" spots. Vortexes are places where the earth is alive with energy, said to be great for healing, meditation and natural recharging.

You'll find visitors here engaged in meditation, yoga, or for those less spiritually-inclined, just enjoying the awesome views and charged landscape. Unless you have wings, you'll need to retrace your steps through the canyon though, as the trail runs into steep canyon walls at its end.

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

View from the hidden Subway Cave

Hidden off a side trail up Boynton Canyon, Subway Cave has become a popular side trip for the Instagram crowd. A scramble up a natural rock ramp brings you inside this cave where you can look out at the valley below. It looks like you're peeping through a keyhole to a magical world from up here, and there are also some ancient Sinagua ruins to visit.

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Canyon overlook

It's easy to linger up here, as the views are fabulous, it's cool inside the cave in summer and the photo ops are endless. Plus, plenty of folks don't look forward to inching their way down the sandstone ramp they came up to get back out of the cave, so there's usually a queue in here for one thing or another.

The ledges inside the cave out to the viewpoint are wide enough for most people to tread gently out to, but those with vertigo might want to think twice.

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Sedona Valley overlook

Airport Mesa is another popular spot in Sedona, as it overlooks the entire town and surroundings, and has become the top place for taking sunset photos. There can be an endless line of cars inching up here about 15 minutes before sunset, so it pays to come early.

Fortunately, the airport has opened up a parking lot here precisely for managing the masses, so you'll definitely have a place for safe, paid parking to utilize. The sunsets here are amazing, with the sandstone surroundings changing color by the minute.

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Alone in the desert

Don't feel you have to follow the crowds out here or see only the landmarks. The high desert is stunning pretty much wherever you are, and there are loads of trails to explore. Just make sure to take a good map (and know how to use it), plenty of water and a camera or three for all those wonderful vistas and memories.