Sedona in a Weekend: The Non-Vortex Guide

Sedona draws more visitors per year than the Grand Canyon, and the dominant narrative — energy vortexes, spiritual renewal, wellness retreats — undersells the place. The red rock landscape around Sedona is one of the most dramatically beautiful in North America on purely geological terms, and the hiking and outdoor recreation are among the best in the Southwest. For a weekend from Phoenix: the drive north on Interstate 17 to Highway 179 takes about two hours. Enter from the south through the Red Rock Scenic Byway for the proper introduction to the landscape. The Cathedral Rock Trail — 1.5 miles with 742 feet of elevation gain to one of the most photographed rock formations in the world — is the essential hike. Go at sunrise. Slide Rock State Park in Oak Creek Canyon provides a natural water-slide experience in creek-carved sandstone. The swimming is legitimately excellent in summer. The drive home via Highway 89A through Jerome provides a bonus: a former copper mining city now populated by galleries and restaurants with views across the Verde Valley.