Arizona is known as the Grand Canyon State. That spectacular and iconic National Park, a symbol of the American Southwest, deserves endless attention. But Arizona has an equally spectacular attraction much closer to Phoenix, Arizona's capital city and population center. It's Sedona, a crowded town known for its arts and retirees, but also a natural preserve renowned for its stunning red sandstone canyons and buttes.
I like to look past the town and its crowded tourist shops, and focus on the greater beauty of the red rock country that surrounds the development. It straddles the borders of both Yavapai and Coconino counties, mostly protected by state parks, national forest and wilderness areas. While early settlement has allowed roads to access many of the formations, hiking trails allow more sublime ways to appreciate the surrounding majesty. In addition Oak Creek flows through the heart of the country, creating a natural waterway through the dramatic landscape.
I thought I knew Sedona after 30 years of living in Arizona, I'm realizing I've only scratched its deep and varied surface. Enjoy my snapshots of a country that still's waiting for an adventure in the wild.
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| Beautiful Sedona. |
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| Cathedral Rock and Oak Creek in Red Rock State Park, Sedona. |
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| Sedona view and wooded canopy over Oak Creek near its developed heart. |
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| Red Rocks in northern Sedona, near the start of Oak Creek Canyon. |
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| Sedona's Red Rocks from Schnebly Hill Road. |
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| Bell Rock, Sedona. |
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| View from Broken Arrow Trail area of Sedona. |
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| At around 4,000 feet elevation, Sedona is high desert. |
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| Besides hiking, high clearance jeeps are sometimes the only way to access remote areas of Sedona. |
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| Panoramic view of Sedona, its development and its beauty, from the area's mesa-top airport. |
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