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Sedona’s Chapel of the Holy Cross is said to be one of the most visited sites in Sedona. According to the Chapel of the Holy Cross Website, this Sedona vortex welcomes over 1 million visitors each year.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex is one of the easiest vortex sites in Sedona to reach, because you can literally drive right up to the vortex! Unlike other vortex sites in Sedona, the Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex is a building built right into the red rocks, making this a very unique vortex location!
We visited the Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex site multiple times, and each time it was just swimming with people. With the amount of people at the chapel, it’s hard to really feel the vortex feelings, however, it’s still a great place to visit in Sedona with awesome views of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte!
What is the Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex?
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Catholic chapel in Sedona that was built in 1956. This building was built directly into the red rocks of the Coconino National Forest, and right on a Sedona vortex site.
The design of the chapel is super unique coming from inspiration found in the Empire State Building by Marguerite Brunswig Staude. The chapel was originally going to be built in Hungary by Lloyd Wright, however, once World War 2 broke out Marguerite decided to build the chapel in Sedona instead.
And what a beautiful chapel it is. It’s believed that the vortex is right on the rocks the chapel has been built on. As such, the energy from the Chapel of the Holy Cross vortex can be felt both outside and inside the chapel.
What is a Vortex?
A vortex is a spot where energy is either leaving or going into the Earth. There’s no way to really “prove” a vortex site scientifically, but people attest to feeling the energy all the time.
It’s believed that there are seven Sedona vortex sites, each offering a chance to feel the vortex energy.
We’ve visited all seven of them and can say we believe the energy of a vortex is based on the energy of those around you. If people are loud with children running around screaming at each other, you won’t find much of the calm energy a vortex can bring.
Likewise, if visiting a vortex with construction nearby, it may be hard to connect with the inner beings that you’re hoping to connect to.
At the Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex, people feel the vortex energy the strongest inside the chapel itself. While we didn’t feel anything there, it’s a better chance to feel the energy inside than outside the chapel where the road literally wraps around this Sedona vortex site.
Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex FAQs
Is Chapel of the Holy Cross Free?
Yes! Entering the Chapel of the Holy Cross is free to everyone. There is a spot to make donations, votive candles are sold for $1 for those looking to light a candle for loved ones, and there is a gift shop downstairs in the chapel. But, visiting the chapel itself is completely free, including the parking.
How Long Is The Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex Hike?
To get to the Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex, you don’t have to hike at all. Instead, you just walk up the path to the entrance to the chapel, or sit at the edge of the parking lot overlooking the rocks where the vortex site is pinned. With that said, there is also a Chapel of the Holy Cross trail (2 km out and back) that you can hike from here. However, that’s not actually where the vortex is, it’s just a trail in the area.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross Trail Difficulty
Visiting the Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex in Sedona requires zero hiking! The parking area is right below the chapel and vortex site, so you simply walk up the ramp into the chapel! If you park at the base of the Chapel of the Holy Cross, there is a couple of golf cart shuttles that are free and will drop you off at the chapel walkway! The pathway that leads up into the chapel is at a slight incline, but there are no trip hazards and it’s 100% accessible.
What Kind of Vortex Is Sedona Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex?
Sedona’s Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex is considered to be a highly spiritual vortex. In fact, some say that it’s the most spiritual vortex in all of Sedona.
Where Exactly Is The Chapel of the Holy Cross Sedona Vortex?
The address for Chapel of the Holy Cross is 780 Chapel Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336. The vortex site at the Chapel is said to be on the rocks at the chapel, and others feel the vortex force inside the chapel itself. It’s worth noting here, you cannot walk out on the rocks at the chapel, so if you want to meditate here, you have to do so inside the chapel building.
When are the Chapel of the Holy Cross Sedona mass times?
Mass is at 3:00 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Sedona’s Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex Directions
If you’re flying into Sedona or Phoenix and are looking to visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross, you’ll need to rent a car, as public transportation doesn’t go to this area of Sedona.
Leaving Sedona, and heading south on 179 back towards I-17, you’ll come across a roundabout with an exit heading east to the chapel. There are signs at this roundabout stating which exit the Chapel of the Holy Cross is on. Follow the Chapel Road until it ends at the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
- Following Chapel Road, the road ends at a gated entry to the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Carefully enter through the gate.
- Pass the first parking area with the bathrooms, and continue driving up the hill (watch for pedestrians walking along this road).
- Pass the second parking area, and as you take a sharp left turn, try and snag a parking spot there. (Those with handicap parking permits, park right at the base of the chapel).
- If you can’t snag a parking spot up close, continue to the base of the chapel building and turn around, heading back down the hill looking for a parking area.
- After securing a parking spot, walk up to the chapel. Alternatively, catch a ride on the golf cart shuttle.
- The rocks at the base of the chapel are where the Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex is pinned, however, it’s believed you can feel the vortex energy inside the chapel building as well.
Experiencing The Vortex Feeling at Chapel of the Holy Cross
Regardless of if you believe in the feeling of a vortex or not, please be respectful of those around you visiting the area. Respectful behavior includes being quiet, calm, and giving people space.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex is a sacred place for many visitors, so ensure your behavior doesn’t ruin their experiences.
For those wishing to experience the vortex feelings, many people do so by sitting in the pews inside the chapel. Others find a quiet spot along the edge of the rocks or walkway to connect with the energy they’re seeking.
Please note, that walking on the red rock surrounding the Chapel of the Holy Cross is not allowed.
Best Time to Visit Sedona’s Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is open from 9am – 5pm every day. There are mass services at 3pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
With that said, avoid those times if you’re not wishing to partake in the mass service.
Early morning is the best time to visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex. The parking area is limited to only 45 cars and it gets busy rather quickly in the afternoon — so visiting early will help you escape the crowds!
Parking For the Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex in Sedona
Main Chapel of the Holy Cross Parking
Upper Chapel Parking Lot
Free Parking | Chapel of the Holy Cross | 34.832458, -111.765864
There is parking up the hill to the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Most visitors only stay for a short time, so it’s worth driving to the top of the hill to see if you can time getting a spot up close!
Be sure to not block the road or park outside of the parking lines!
Alternative Parking for the Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex
Lower Chapel Parking Lot
Free Parking | Chapel of the Holy Cross | 34.831297, -111.766623
At the base of the chapel hill, there is also parking. This area is the best place to get a nice photo of the Chapel of the Holy Cross building and is where the bathrooms are located.
Parking at the bottom adds some uphill walking to your day, however, there’s also a free golf cart shuttle taking people to and from the chapel building.
Recommended Gear for Photography in Sedona
This is our complete photography gear guide, and most of these things came in super handy when shooting in Sedona.
We shoot with a Canon R5, and alternate between a wide-angle lens, this telephoto (zoom) lens, and this basic everyday shooter.
With harsh lighting mid-day, we threw on this filter for the lens to cut out some of the light.
Recommend Gear for Hiking in Sedona
These are hands down the best hiking shoes in Sedona. In fact, we did an entire post on them and what else to pack for hiking in Sedona here.
Grab the complete packing for Sedona checklist with links to all our gear here.
For all of our hikes, we used our Garmin watches to track our distance and Jay’s even tracks elevation. They both have features for contacting help if you fall or need it. So we love them!
Lastly, we used our maps.me app all the time! You can pin locations on it, and it has a lot of the trails (even the social ones) on it — making it the best trail app for Sedona!
More On Sedona!
We spent a month in Sedona finding the best hikes, sunset locations, sunrise spots, and more. We even made complete guides for each trail that wasn’t so easy to find.
Arches in Sedona | A Guide to 4 Sedona Arches
Airport Mesa | 3 Airport Mesa Hikes
Red Rock Crossing Vortex | A Guide Like This to the Red Rock Crossing Vortex + Sunset Spot
Epic Sedona Itinerary | One Day Itinerary for Sedona
A Scenic Drive in Sedona | 5 Stops on Red Rock Loop Road
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