Red rock by day, no light at all by night
Sedona, Arizona · 3 nights · Sep · Oct · Nov · Mar · Apr · May · up to 6
Sedona is an International Dark Sky city, which is the part most people miss because they only look at the rocks. Do the hiking early — the light is better and the trailhead lots fill by mid-morning — then give an entire evening to the sky. Bell Rock is the one standing on its own beside the highway south of town, reached from Courthouse Vista, and the trail up its shoulder spirals rather than scrambles. Every level you climb takes a few more people out of the picture.
The ending
A domed butte of red sandstone standing on its own off the highway, with the trail winding up the shoulder of it in ledges, and Courthouse Butte square and dark behind.
That is Bell Rock from Courthouse Vista. See how private it is and when it’s open, or build the rest of the trip around it.
Do
- Red Rock Vortex Guided Hike
- Stargazing at Dark Sky Sedona
- Trail Horse Adventure red-rock ride
- Sound Bath at Sedona Crystal Vortex
Eat
- Elote Cafe
- Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill
Stay
- Enchantment Resort
- L'Auberge de Sedona
Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock or Airport Mesa?
Bell Rock, for this. Cathedral Rock is the better climb and its trailhead lot is small enough to be full by mid-morning. Airport Mesa is the single most crowded sunset spot in Sedona and we would not plan a private moment there.
How much of Sedona is on trails?
Almost all of it. The town itself is a strip of shops; the reason to be here starts at a trailhead, which is why the lots fill before the day-trippers have finished driving up from Phoenix.