The Price of Beauty - The Red Rock Pass and other Sedona, AZ Things to Do Tips

Sedona is surrounded by geological formations called Red Rocks, and are basically named after what they look like. All the names can get confusing, as sometimes they just look like big red rocks to me.

You can do a tour of all the named rocks, just get a handy dandy map, after you buy your Red Rock Pass. Yes, you have to pay to park at any of the sites. Ah, the price of beauty, if things aren't expensive enough in Sedona.

Generally, you need a Red Rock pass to park at any of the parking areas in the Sedona vicinity to view the rocks or ruins such as Palatki, and it can get confusing about what to pay for what, as there are State Parks in the vicinity and National Monuments as well.

We seemed to do okay with a Red Rock pass, and we found that if there are park workers around, they will just tell you what pass you need. The pass fees go to maintenance, and I agree that some kind of fee must be charged to keep these areas beautiful with such high tourist traffic. But I found that the Park Service wasn't too keen on checking your pass, and only asked if you had one, so you could conceivably lie if you wanted to ( you didn't hear that from me)

The easiest place to get a Red Rock pass is at Safeway, in West Sedona. Then, you can pick up sandwiches, snacks and drinks for the day as well. Their sandwiches are quite decent.

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Directions: Safeway is located in West Sedona, on Highway 89A south.

The Red Rocks are even more spectacular if you lace up some good hiking shoes or boots and get right in there.

There are many trails for all abilities, from strolls in Boynton Canyon, to much harder hikes, and you can appreciate the scenery much more if you are actually in it. You can get information on hikes in the little newspaper you are given when you purchase your Red Rock Pass.

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This road is a must at about 5:30 pm. Part of the loop is a dirt road, so take care if it is raining. Narrow, winding Lower Red Rock Loop Road turns into narrow winding Upper Red Rock Loop Road, and as you drive along, there will be several chances to stop and admire the rocks at different viewpoints, which will be dirt turn-outs.

We happened along this viewpoint at about 6:30 pm. Ahhhh, fabulous!!

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Directions: South of Sedona, on Highway 89A, approx 10 miles from Cottonwood. The road is signed.

Located on the Upper Red Rock Loop Road, is Crescent Moon Recreational Area.

There is a fairly big parking lot, picnic areas, and well-manicured lawns on the banks of Oak Creek. To my surpise, I noticed a large stand of bamboo near the parking lot, perhaps planted by the State, or someone, anyway. Cathedral Rock will be visible in it's glory. Don't start snapping yet! Get closer, along the creek, and you will get your money shot. There's many shallow spots on Oak Creek and you can hop on some rocks to set up a brilliant picture.

The best time to go is late afternoon to early evening. Get there about 5:00, as this is a popular spot and the lot starts filling up rapidly. When we arrived, there were quite a few people there, along with some die-hard or maybe professional photographers. They were all running to their special spot, lugging their paraphenalia: tripods, huge lenses, big camera bags bulging with equipment, then waiting for the setting sun to cast the right light and shadow for their picture.

For us, it was fun just to wander around, especially on the exposed smooth, undulating sandstone rocks, worn away by water and time. And, of course, I had to get my postcard perfect shot!

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Directions: Head out of Sedona, and turn off on Upper Red Rock Loop Road. The way to Crescent Moon is signed clearly.

Weirdly pronounced by Sedona locals as MUG-ee-un, the Mogollon Rim is a 2,000 foot escarpment cutting diagonally across Arizona into New Mexico. There is a dramatic change going up to the rim: the top of the rim consists of ponderosa forest, consistent with a high mountain environment, while the bottom consists of lowland dessert.

You can view the dramatic scenery at the Oak Creek Canyon Vista, if you drive north of Sedona on Highway 89A. There is a large parking lot and view points to take it all in.

Also, if you are looking for some inexpensive souveniers, many native people have set up stalls and tables at the viewpoint. I don't really think a lot of the items are authentic, but they do have a nice selection.

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Directions: Drive north of Sedona on Highway 89A, and watch for the sign, it just says "viewpoint"

This beautiful Red Rock canyon is home to the exclusive Enchantment Resort and offers trails for just strolling along, enjoying nature and the red rocks, or you can choose some harder hikes.

As we were pressed for time, we decided to go up the Vista Trail, which in 25 minutes from the parking lot, takes you up to Boynton Spire, and a scenic view of Boynton Canyon.

The trail that goes up the canyon is about 3 miles, and you also get the chance to view some ancient cliff dwellings, which had nice views, but were nowhere as cushy as the Enchanment Resort.

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Directions: In West Sedona, head up Dry Creek Road. Take a left at the first T intersection, then at the next T, take a right.

Even though this has a tourist trap feeling to it, this chapel is a must see, especially to admire how it was built into the red rock.

It will be very busy with tourists when you arrive, but there are parking lot attendants on site who organize visitors in a very efficient manner, and will even help direct you as you back out, as the series of small parking lots up a very steep incline are quite awkward to manoeuvre in. After a steep walk up, you reach the chapel. You are welcome to go inside, and the interior is designed most simply, with benches to sit on instead of church pews.

Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, designed this church after being inspired in 1932 by viewing a cross as she gazed on the Empire State Building. The church was not built until 1957. Over 25,000 tons of rock were removed to build the structure. There is a prayer service every Monday at 5:00 pm, otherwise there are no other services.

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Address: Chapel Road
Directions: Highway 179, South of Sedona

It will become quite apparent once you arrive in Sedona , if you didn't know already, that it is a major centre of the New Age movement. Signs abound for offers of angelic healing, tarot readings, soul recovery and aural readings, and I could go on and on. Sedona is also known for it's vortexes.

A vortex is a site where the earth's unseen powers intersect to form a beneficial powerful energy.

One vortex is located at Bell Rock, and we headed out there, curious to experience a vortex, plus we wanted to get out and do some hiking. Bell Rock is known to contain "masculine" energy, to boost emotional, physical and spiritual energy.

I must say that as we sat and gazed out on a high point on Bell rock, I felt peaceful and serene. You get a glorious view of Sedona and it's surrounding red rocks. However, I usually feel peaceful and serene after reaching a summit of a hiking trail. Maybe there are vortexes in other places than Sedona?

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Directions: Major vortexes are Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon. Some of the New Age shops have free maps of vortexes in town, plus you can book tours.

Montezuma Castle and Well (see next tip) are actually located about 11 miles from each other. Located in the Verde Valley about 1/2 an hour south of Sedona, this area has been a haven to nomadic ancient peoples.

The name "Montezuma" came from explorers in the 1800's who believed the local aborginals would not have the knowledge to build such a structure so attributed it to the early Aztecs.

The dwelling could be called an ancient apartment building; it is not outwardly visible, but the interior has about 5 levels. It is so well preserved as it was built into a deep alcove and therefore was protected for the elements. This structure was actually only part of a large ancient community in the area, and you can see other ruins as you wander the interpretive footpath around the area. As it is about 100 feet from ground level, you cannot enter the dwelling, but you can get a good look at it from several viewpoints.

There is a small visitor's centre with some displays in it.

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Directions: 4 miles off of the I-17, about 1/2 an hour south of Sedona

Montezuma Well was created when underwater streams dissolved limestone in the area, and formed a cavern. The cavern eventually collapsed about 11,000 years ago, and formed a sinkhole. What you will notice as you approach the rim of Montezuma's Well, it is high desert country, and as you descend along the footpath by the water, the area becomes lush and green.

An amazing 1,400,000 gallons of water flows through it a day, and the water is always at a constant 74 degrees. Scientists still have not found the source that feeds this pond. There are no fish in the water, as it is too highly carbonated.

This pond was an oasis to the ancient native peoples, and as you walk the area, you will see many remains of cliff dwellings and stone homes, which were inhabited around the 900's. Behind Montezuma's well, there is an outlet near Beaver Creek, and an ancient irrigation canal that was carved into the rock to water crops.

What has been recently discovered is that the levels of arsenic in the water are 10 times the accepted level for human consumption. It is speculated that the nearby inhabitants may have left due to increased mortality from the water use.

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Directions: Located 11 miles north of Montezuma Castle on the I-17. There is no connecting road between the two.
Website: http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/aug/stories/montzwell.html