A WEEKEND IN SEDONA, ARIZONA: A 48 HOUR SEDONA GUIDE
/48 HOURS IN SEDONA
Sedona has been on my list of places to visit for a while now and after booking a random trip to Scottsdale, we decided to make a stop in Sedona. And let me tell you, that was seriously the best decision. Sedona is insanely stunning and has so much to offer. It’s about a two-hour drive from Phoenix and I highly recommend you stop there as well. Since Sedona was only a quick stop on the Scottsdale trip, we only had less than 48 hours there. If I’m being honest, I wish we had more time in Sedona and less time in Scottsdale. I’m going to be sharing the highlights of our trip and some activities to add to your list below! If you have a short trip to Sedona coming up, this post is for you!
THINGS TO DO:
Pink Jeep Tour
Started out bright and early with the famous Pink Jeep Tour! This is a must in Sedona. We booked the Broken Arrow Tour based on others’ recommendations and it did not disappoint. It was a 3/5 level of bumpiness and we loved every second of it. The views were insane and descending the Road of No Return was next level in the best way. If extremely bumpy rides aren’t your thing, they have several other tour options that are less bumpy. You can also drive your own Jeep or rent one if you’re familiar with offroading. Our time in Sedona was very limited (and freezing), so we chose this tour over hiking in the early morning.
Hiking
Sedona offers more than 100 different hiking trails! Most trails lead into the famous red rocks. The views are truly incredible. I’ll list some of the popular hikes below, but you can find a full list of Sedona’s hiking trails here. You can even filter it by difficulty, length, etc.
Bell Rock Climb
Distance: 1 mile I Difficulty: Moderate
Cathedral Rock
Distance: 1.2 miles I Difficulty: Moderate
Fay Canyon
Distance: 2 miles I Difficulty: Easy
Devils Bridge
Distance 2-4 miles I Difficulty: Easy
Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop
Distance: 4 miles I Difficulty: Easy
Soldier Pass
Distance: 4.5 miles I Difficulty: Moderate
Explore Uptown Sedona
A great area to stay near! Uptown Sedona, AKA, Main Street District is the old part of the city. You’ll find restaurants, boutiques, and galleries. It’s such a pretty part of town to walk around.
Spirituality and Metaphysical Offerings
Sedona is known as a spiritual mecca. You’ll find healers, intuitives, artists, and spiritual guides. Some of the hikes in Sedona even allow you to experience a special cyclone of energy called a vortex! If you’re into this kind of stuff, I highly recommend you dig deeper and plan ahead as some offerings may require appointments.
WHERE TO EAT:
After hearing rave reviews about Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill, we had to make a dinner reservation there. The Latin-inspired food by chef Lisa Dahl, the views, the floor-to-ceiling windows, Mariposa is really a Sedona must. We sat inside because of the weather, but they do have a patio with incredible views of red rocks. Be sure to snap a picture before or after! We ordered the following menu items: Pulpo Parrilla, Cauliflower Curry Bisque, Ribeye Steak with Herb Butter, Pollo Rustico, Steelhead Salmon Dessert: Prickly Pear Cheesecake and Chocolate Boca. Just a heads up, we made reservations a few months in advance as they book out fast (especially in the summer). You can make reservations here. I also posted an Instagram reel here if you want some food visuals!