Great Destinations

Sedona, Arizona – September 2025

We’ve visited Sedona several times and have always been amazed at the fantastic red rock formations that make this area famous. It comes from an iron-rich sandstone layer that exists only in this area and has been eroded away over millions of years to leave the giant formations. It’s part of the giant uplifted Colorado Plateau that covers most of Utah and northern Arizona, but the sandstone here is different from what you see at the Grand Canyon, just 100 miles north.

On this trip we were visiting friends who have a home in Sedona and know it well. We took advantage of their knowledge and enjoyed some great hikes, chosen for the amazing views they provided all along the way. As for many visitors, a highlight was climbing up to the famous “Devils Arch” formation, and of course Nancy had to venture out on the narrow bridge that tops the arch, about 100 feet up. Our friends were toting their infant daughter on these hikes, and she too saw the view from the top of the Arch.

After visiting with our friends we took a side trip to the Grand Canyon (see photos here), and then returned to Sedona for another night, staying at the renowned Enchantment Resort. Some of the best hikes in the area leave from trailheads near this hotel, but we chose instead to mostly hang out by the pool and enjoy the view from there.

Photos in this gallery are mostly from our hikes, but a few were from our friends’ home which is fortunate to have a spectacular view of the rocks from their back patio.

Balanced red sandstone spire on a sloping Sedona cliff beneath a cloudy gray sky.
Red sandstone overhang and shaded alcove framing cloudy sky and canyon vegetation in Sedona.
Pale Sedona sandstone cliffs glowing in evening light above juniper trees and dark desert scrub.
Sedona valley and distant mesas framed by red cliff walls, juniper branches, and desert vegetation.
Panoramic Sedona view with warm light on red rock ridges and dark desert vegetation below.
Wide Sedona valley view with red rock cliffs, green desert vegetation, and distant blue mountains.
Cathedral Rock and surrounding sandstone towers under broken clouds and muted evening light in Sedona.
Tall Sedona sandstone spire in a shadowed canyon with steep red cliffs and green vegetation.
High view of green forest, rocky overlook, and red canyon walls in a Sedona landscape.
Bell Rock formation in Sedona behind green desert shrubs and trees under streaked blue sky.
Sedona red rock towers lit by sun below dark storm clouds over a desert landscape.
Panoramic Sedona red cliffs lit by sun beneath dark storm clouds and blue-gray sky.
Tall red canyon walls and green valley floor with distant ridges in a Sedona landscape.
Red sandstone trail with juniper, desert shrubs, and rounded rock ledges in Sedona.
Wide panorama of Sedona red slickrock, green junipers, desert valley, and distant ridges.
Red sandstone buttes illuminated by sunlight beneath a dark blue storm sky in Sedona.
Red slickrock and canyon walls overlooking a green valley near Devils Bridge in Sedona.
Cathedral Rock and surrounding red cliffs rising above green desert vegetation under partly cloudy sky.
Black and white Sedona canyon scene with steep cliffs, rock spires, and strong shadows.
Prickly pear cactus with red fruit growing among desert shrubs and red rocks in Sedona.
Sedona sandstone spires and steep red cliffs above a shadowed canyon with green vegetation.
Bell Rock and red sandstone formations above green desert shrubs under blue sky in Sedona.
Wide view of Devils Bridge spanning a rocky canyon with a hiker on top and Sedona cliffs in the distance.
Hiker on a red sandstone overlook with Sedona formations, green vegetation, and blue sky behind.
Sedona slickrock overlook above a green valley with red cliffs and blue mountains in the distance.
Lone hiker on Devils Bridge sandstone arch overlooking green desert scrub and distant red cliffs in Sedona.
Red sandstone spire and Sedona cliffs rising beyond bright green foreground trees.
Layered red sandstone trail and canyon walls with desert shrubs in a Sedona rock formation.
View across the red sandstone Devils Bridge arch with juniper trees and layered Sedona cliffs beyond.
Devils Bridge arch sits about75 feet above the canyon and is a bit narrow on top for me – Sedona, Arizona
Black and white panoramic view of jagged Sedona red rock ridges beneath layered storm clouds.
Storm clouds gather above rugged desert ridges – Sedona, Arizona
Close view of vertical Sedona sandstone cliffs with erosion lines, ledges, and small shrubs.
Rounded Sedona red rock spire framed by branches with hazy blue mountains in the background.