Arizona Hiking – Sedona
4 days
From $ 1899
Duration4 days

Beautiful red rock formations, lush creeks and forested slopes serve as our backdrop on this 4-day adventure in Sedona. Sedona is renowned for being both a destination for outdoor recreation and a powerfully spiritual place. This adventure explores it all—from daily hikes amid beautiful sandstone formations to 1000-year-old pueblo ruins, we cover an exceptional combination of breathtaking scenery and fascinating ancient history. While each day includes an opportunity for active exploration, there is ample time devoted to cultural interpretation as well as free time for discovering Sedona on your own, at your own pace. As the trip unfolds, expect to encounter something new each day: trails winding through manzanita and juniper, striking red rocks which lead to magnificent vantage points of the surrounding landscape, and hummingbirds feeding at a blooming Ocotillo. Hike among the spectacular red rock canyons, explore ruins from the native Sinagua Culture, discover the revitalized ghost town of Jerome, and visit three national monuments. Follow our experienced local guides as they lead us down the trail and enlighten us about the scenic, geological, and historical wonders of this colorful and unique destination.

This tour is operated by

  • Duration: 4 days
    Service level: Standard
  • Physical Grading: Light
  • Ends in: Park Shore Waikiki
    Ages: 18+
Arizona Hiking – Sedona Women’s Adventure - Tour Map

Itinerary

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Day 1: Meet in Scottsdale, hike in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and on to Sedona.
Our trip begins today in Scottsdale, Arizona. Meet your guides and fellow travelers at 8am at our host hotel conveniently located in vibrant Old Town Scottsdale. A brief orientation ensures we're all prepared before we load into our private van. We set out for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and our first hike on the Gateway Trail. Filled with lush cacti forests, diverse wildlife, interesting geography and the spectacular McDowell Mountains, the preserve spans over 30,000 acres and provides the perfect introduction to the Sonoran Desert ecosystem. After our hike, we continue on to Sedona. We make a short stop the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a local landmark since 1956. The chapel was constructed among the red rocks on National Forest land and, while no services are conducted, it remains open to people of all faiths as a place of tranquility and contemplation. Overnight in Sedona for the next three nights.
Transfer time: 3.5 hours; Hiking: 4.5 miles with 650’ elevation gain/loss.
Day 2: Hike to the Brins Mesa overlook; explore the mining town of Jerome.
After breakfast, we set out on one of Sedona’s classic hikes up Brins Mesa. Our trail winds through the striking red rock to a vantage point providing magnificent views of the surrounding landscape. Later this morning, we visit Tuzigoot National Monument, a large Sinagua pueblo that has been excavated and stabilized. The pueblo features prime examples of pottery, baskets, tools, weavings and demonstrations of how these ancient farmers and craftsmen lived a thousand years ago. Our next stop is the 19th-century mining town of Jerome. Built on a 30-degree slope, many of Jerome’s buildings were ravaged by fires or slipped downhill over time. A revised building code finally required structures to be made of only masonry, and the town now hosts galleries featuring local artists, tasting rooms featuring Arizona wines and numerous historic buildings to explore on your own. Tonight, we head to vibrant uptown Sedona for a delicious dinner.
Transfer time: 2 hours; Hiking: 4.5 miles with 1,000’ elevation gain/loss.
Day 3: Hike the Munds Wagon Trail. Choose your own adventure this afternoon.
We begin the day at The Huckaby Trailhead just above town. We climb the Munds Wagon Trail following an old wagon road. Around each bend of the hike we encounter something new—a fantastic desert vista, hummingbirds feeding at a blooming Ocotillo, or polished red, white and pink sandstone blended together to create a beautiful geological formation. Our guides work their magic and pull a fresh assortment of goodies from their packs and prepare a picnic lunch under the shade of a pinyon tree. This afternoon gives us a chance to choose our own adventure (while the activities are on your own, our guides provide transportation to your destination). Hike up the West Fork Trail in magical Oak Creek Canyon, shop for local artwork or just relax by the hotel pool and soak up some Arizona sunshine. Tonight, we enjoy a special final celebration dinner with our traveling companions and newfound friends.
Hiking: 6 miles with 600’ of elevation gain/loss (not including any optional hikes this afternoon).
Day 4: Enjoy a final hike in Red Rock State Park before returning to Phoenix.
We depart Sedona this morning and set off for Red Rock State Park, a 286-acre nature preserve with stunning scenery. Trails in the park wind through manzanita and juniper, and green meadows are framed by native vegetation and hills of red rock. Oak Creek flows through the park, creating a riparian habitat filled with plants and wildlife. Our guides lead us along a series of interconnecting trails. We discuss the geology of the Colorado Plateau and some of the fascinating adaptations that plants and animals have made to survive in this environment. En route back to Phoenix this afternoon, we stop at Montezuma’s Castle National Monument, a dramatic cliff dwelling located in a high alcove above Beaver Creek. Its purpose is still debated by archaeologists—was it a fortress, a religious center? We plan to arrive back in Phoenix between 4:30-5:30pm. Please do not schedule any departing flights before 7:30pm.
Transfer time: 3 hours; Hiking: 3-5 miles with 300’ of elevation gain/loss.

End place: Park Shore Waikiki

Inclusions

Included

  • Three nights hotel lodging
  • all meals from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 4
  • guides
  • roundtrip transportation from/to Phoenix
  • all national monument entrance fees and permits
  • Accommodation

    Hotel, 3 nights

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