The Local’s Guide to Sedona: 10 Best Things to Do, Hidden Gems, & Insider Secrets
From a family that traded city life for red rocks and starry skies
Our family has lived in Sedona for nearly five years now, and we can honestly say it’s our favorite place we’ve ever called home. From San Francisco to New York City, we’ve lived in and explored some amazing spots — but nowhere has captured our hearts quite like Sedona.
We’ve traveled all over the world both with and without kids, so we know how important it is to make the most of your hard-earned vacation days. We created our full length Sedona Travel Guide to help you experience Sedona like a local — from our favorite hikes and family-friendly activities to great restaurants, hotels, hidden gems, and the perfect photo ops.
While that guide is very comprehensive, we get a lot of questions about just the highlights if you are only visiting for a weekend getaway, so here we are sharing the top 10 places to hike and things to do, see and eat while visiting Sedona.
The 5 Best Hikes in Sedona: A Local Family’s Top Picks for 2026
1. Birthing Cave / Long Canyon Trail
This hike is roughly 2 miles round-trip, and is short and manageable, but the final scramble up to the cave is steep (~400 ft elevation gain) and requires some sure footing.
Why it’s great: A relatively quick hike that leads to one of Sedona’s most photographed hidden gems, the Birthing Cave. The massive red-rock alcove frames panoramic views of Long Canyon and the surrounding buttes. It’s a short effort for a huge payoff.
Local tip: Start early, both to find parking as well as to catch the morning light as the cave faces west and lights up beautifully mid to late morning. The trail splitting off to the cave itself can be easy to miss. Just over half a mile into the Long Canyon trail from the trailhead you will see a smaller trail splitting off to the left near an old wire fence. Follow this smaller offshoot to find the cave.
2. Subway Cave / Boynton Canyon
This hike is roughly 6 miles round-trip to the end of the canyon and back, and is mostly gradual with a few steeper sections near the end.
Why it’s great: Boynton Canyon trail is one of Sedona’s most iconic (and most crowded) canyon hikes, blending red rock walls, and lush forest as it transitions from open desert views into a shaded box canyon, making it one of the most diverse and scenic hikes in the region. While this trail is very popular, many people miss the smaller trail offshoot leading to the Subway Cave itself which is a must visit location for an adventuring hiker.
Local tip: You can access the Subway Cave from the small side trail about 2 miles in. The side trail isn’t well marked but you will see a huge Alligator Juniper tree right where the trail splits. Start early to enjoy cooler temps and fewer crowds. Parking fills fast at the Boynton Canyon Trailhead and spills into street parking down the road. Don’t miss the short detour to the Boynton Vista/Vortex near the start of the main Boynton trail for incredible views and a quieter experience at sunrise or sunset. Bring lots of water as the shade comes later in the hike.
3. Honanki & Palatki Heritage Sites
Honanki:
The Honanki Heritage Site has roughly 1 mile total of short walking paths with minimal elevation gain. It is short, accessible, and suitable for most ages/abilities.
Why it’s great: One of the best preserved Sinagua cliff dwelling sites left in the area with incredible rock art, masonry walls, and a quiet canyon setting make it feel like stepping back 900 years.
Local tip: The drive in is on rough dirt roads so go slow, and ideally bring a higher clearance vehicle.
Palatki:
The Palatki Heritage Site has 1.2 miles total of designated paths to cliff dwellings and pictograph alcoves. These are well-marked trails and they offer ranger-guided educational areas.
Why it’s great: Dramatically set against towering red rock cliffs, Palatki features extensive rock art panels and ancient shelters that help tell the story of Sedona’s earliest known cultures.
Local tip: This site requires advance reservations as they limit capacity to protect the ruins. Timed reservations cost $1 and can be reserved at Recreation.gov. Like Honanki, it’s also accessed by a rough dirt road. They’re located near each other in the same canyon region, so many people visit both sites in the same outing.
4. Secret Slickrock
This short hike is less than a mile round-trip, is relatively easy and has an amazing payoff at the end of the trail leading to a wide, flat slickrock with incredible views.
Why it’s great: A quick hike with minimal elevation gain (~75 ft) when you want “Sedona scenery” without the work of an actual hike. Perfect for a relatively easy impromptu family photoshoot or a nice picnic.
Local tip: Head here for sunset, bring a blanket and stay a moment on the slickrock to soak in the red-rock glow. Parking is small so arrive early.
5. Doe Mountain
This hike is roughly 1.5 miles round-trip. It’s a short but steep climb (~400 ft elevation gain) that weaves through switchbacks quickly up a mountainside to the top of a mesa. You can go from the trailhead parking lot to the top of the mesa in about 30 minutes.
Why it’s great: A local favorite. Some of the best views and a short challenge with a minimal time commitment. The top of the mesa offers a wide, flat expanse with panoramic vistas of Bear Mountain, Fay Canyon, and Boynton Canyon.
Local tip: Ideal for sunrise or sunset as the light from either direction showcases the spectacular vistas of the red rocks. The top of the summit is flat but has cliff edges, so keep kids close. Limited parking at the Doe Mountain/Bear Mountain trailhead.
Best of the Rest: The Best Swimming Hole, Restaurant, Coffee, Shopping, and Landmark in Sedona
6. Best Sedona Swimming Hole — Bootlegger (Oak Creek Canyon)
The “other” water slide. Slide Rock State Park is iconic, but it’s often crowded and prone to closures. Bootlegger, located just up 89A, offers shaded canyon vibes and shallow wading that is much safer for younger children. Its a quiet, less touristy creek spot where locals go to cool off. Keep in mind there is limited parking in the relatively small lot, and you should bring water shoes as the creek bed is rocky and slippery.
7. Best Sedona Restaurant — Indian Gardens Café & Market
Indian Gardens Café & Market, a 1940s General Store turned modern cafe, has become the best hidden gem up Oak Creek Canyon, boasting a beautiful outdoor courtyard and fresh, farm-to-table sandwiches, salads, and more. Has gluten-free options and pastries. A great brunch/lunch stop before or after a hike at West Fork or anywhere in the canyon.
8. Best Coffee in Sedona — Blackhawk Coffee
Blackhawk Coffee is a local coffee cart with some of the best coffee in town. It is located in the parking lot of Twice Nice Thriftique (which is also a great stop if you’re into thrifting). Try the Cubano.
9. Best Shopping in Sedona — Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
Tlaquepaque is a charming, Spanish-style plaza — modeled after the original Tlaquepaque in Guadalajara, Mexico — featuring art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants set beneath shady sycamores along Oak Creek. While Tlaquepaque itself is quite popular, it’s easy to miss the best hidden gem there, The Chai Spot. They serve authentic spiced chai and sell various Pakistani snack items, jewelry, books and more. Don’t miss the beautiful upstairs patio in the back, perfect for people-watching and relaxing vibes.
10. Best Sedona Landmark — Chapel of the Holy Cross
Chapel of the Holy Cross is an iconic Sedona landmark built into the red rocks offering breathtaking views and a peaceful atmosphere that draws visitors from around the world. Don’t miss the Madonna and Child rock formation directly north of the Chapel, as well as the Two Nuns.
Honorable Mentions
Son Silver West Gallery
Son Silver West Gallery is part shop, part museum. This Southwest-inspired boutique adorned with a huge collection of antique signs, offers handcrafted jewelry, home décor, and artisan gifts with a large outdoor section filled with miscellaneous kitsch. Don’t miss the many ancillary rooms and the small museum located in the back of the shop.
Harding Spring: Nature’s Water Fountain
Driving up Oak Creek Canyon? Stop at Harding Spring just outside Pine Flat Campground right off of 89A to fill your reusable bottles with fresh, natural spring water. It’s a local rite of passage.
These are just some of our favorites, but you can find the comprehensive breakdown of all of the hikes, restaurants and places in (and out of) Sedona that we love, as well as a lot more in our full guide. Sign up to be a paid subscriber to get access to this guide, as well as our other travel articles, cultural deep dives and a lot more!