Last updated August 13, 2026 · Editorial policy
Things to Do in Sedona, Arizona: What Is Actually Worth Your Time
Quick answer: This is an honest look at Sedona, Arizona: which popular attraction to think twice about, what to do with that time instead, and the spot most visitors never reach.
Devil’s Bridge is the one I’d skip first. The arch photo looks effortless online, but from the paved Dry Creek Road lot the round trip runs around 4.6 miles, and at the bridge itself you queue behind a line of people waiting their turn for the same shot. The drive to the upper trailhead that cuts it to roughly 1.8 miles needs a genuine high-clearance 4WD; a rental sedan will not survive it. For the same red-rock arch with a fraction of the foot traffic, point yourself at Fay Canyon instead, where a short spur scrambles up to a natural arch most people walk right past.
The pick most visitors miss is the back stretch of Boynton Canyon, where the trail leaves the resort views behind and narrows into quiet forest. It rewards the people who keep walking after the crowds turn around.
One move that saves a real headache: take the Sedona Shuttle to Cathedral Rock. The trailhead lot is closed to cars while shuttles run (Thursday to Sunday, about 7 AM to 5:30 PM, and daily in peak season), so circling for a spot is wasted time.
- Park free at the SR 179 park-and-ride (1294 SR 179) for Cathedral Rock; no Red Rock Pass needed when you ride the shuttle.
- If you do drive to a trailhead, a Red Rock Pass is about $5 per day or $15 per week.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
