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Visiting Sedona Arizona in winter is arguably the best time to go to Sedona. There are so many things to do in Sedona in winter, and in fact, a lot of the hiking in Sedona is better in the winter due to cooler day time temps!
As camp hosts, we work in the summer months and travel in the winter. We’ve visited Sedona now four different times, all of which have been in the winter months!
We love to travel in the off season, as there are so many great perks to traveling in the off season, but with that said, there are some times in winter to avoid Sedona.
Sedona in December
Visiting Sedona in December comes with some major perks, but also some downfalls. In December in Sedona, you can join in with the Christmas festivities around town, and you’ll have more shuttles running to and from trailheads.
However, you also have a lot more people throughout December in Sedona. With Christmas break being on a staggard schedule, you’ll likely have people out of school and on holiday all throughout the entire month.
And from experience, right around Christmas, Sedona gets extremely busy. Same goes for right into the New Year.
Visiting Sedona in January
Visiting Sedona in January helps you skip the Christmas rush in Sedona, however, you’ll hit some of the New Year’s tourism. You’ll also hit a wave of people coming to Sedona for the long weekend of MLK Jr. Day.
Other times of the month, you’ll be fine to not be sharing the trails with so many others. And you won’t have the higher accommodation rates outside of the holiday weekends either.
Sedona Arizona in February
February offers the last bit of winter travel to Sedona. There’s still a chance for Snowdona, and there aren’t long weekends in February that raise the prices and bring in more people.
However, there’s one weekend in February that brings in loads of people and acutally shuts down parts of Sedona. That’s the Annual RunSedona weekend. Generally it’s held the first bit of February, but I suggest checking their website for more details.
Things To Do In Sedona In Winter
- Feel the energy of a vortex.
- Catch sunrise over the red rocks.
- Take a hot air balloon ride.
- Hike inside a cave.
- Stand on top of an arch.
- Visit a cliff dwelling.
- Mountain bike the slick rock.
- Rent a 4×4.
- Catch a Christmas event.
- Watch the sun dip below the horizon.
1. Feel The Energy Of A Vortex
There’s something to be said about the energy in Sedona. While some attribute it to the amazing views and Creation around Sedona, others think the energy is due to the many vortex sites in Sedona.
Whether you believe in vortex energy or not, visiting the vortexes in Sedona is a great way to get out and get some easy hiking in.
Our favorite easily accesibly vortex in Sedona is the Airport Mesa Vortex. The views from this vortex are great, and it’s a super short hike to the vortex.
For those really into the energy of the vortex sites in Sedona, we recommend taking a Sedona Vortex tour. On this four hour tour, you’re guided through meditation at the vortex sites, really taking your vortex experience to the next level.
Save Your Spot | Vortex tours in Sedona sell out quickly. Save your spot here.
2. Catch Sunrise Over The Red Rocks
One of the greatest things about visiting Sedona in winter is that sunrise is not as early as it is during the summer months. That makes getting up before sunrise a lot easier!
Set your alarm and get out of bed to catch a breathtaking sunrise in Sedona. We’ll be the first to admit, getting up for sunrise is super hard, but it’s always worth it!
When we camped in Sedona out on FR 525, there were multiple mornings we woke up for sunrise and then watched the hot air balloons float across the sky… and sometimes even land right next to our rig!
Read More | 7 Beautiful Sunrise Hikes in Sedona, Arizona
3. Take A Hot Air Balloon Ride
If hiking for sunrise isn’t really you thing, can you imagine taking a hot air balloon ride to watch sunrise over Sedona instead!?
Each morning, if the weather allowed, there were multiple hot air balloons floating across the sky in Sedona. It looked like such a magical experience to have.
4. Hike Inside A Cave
There are some super famous caves in Sedona, like the Subway Cave, but the famous caves only scratch the surface. With literally hundreds of caves in Sedona, including 5 caves all within one mile of each other on Mescal Trail, there’s a cave for everyone.
Well I suppose I shouldn’t say everyone. Caves in Sedona can be pretty tricky to get to and are often times dangerous to get inside. So always be sure to enter a cave knowing the risks of injury.
A few notable caves in Sedona with short-(ish) trails are,
- Wind Caves
- Birthing Cave
- Altar Cave
- Soldier Pass Cave
- The Subway Cave
- Kachina Tree Cave
- Keyhole Cave
5. Stand On Top Of An Arch
Standing on top of an arch in Sedona in the winter is only a good choice if you have dry weather. Arches are naturally going to be just like a bridge and be more slick and icy than other parts of the trail (or road in the bridge example).
With that said, if it’s dry weather, it’s pretty special to get up on top of an arch in Sedona. In other places like, Arches National Park and Natural Bridges National Monument, visitors aren’t allowed to climb up on top of the arches. So the fact that you can in Sedona is unique!
While the most popular arch in Sedona is Devils Bridge, Fay Canyon Arch is a great alternative for a shorter and easier hike. We also particularly like Fay Canyon Arch because it’s not as busy and crowded as other arches in Sedona.
If you choose to go to Devils Bridge arch, be prepared to wait in line to take a photo on the bridge… we had to way for 30 minutes when we visited in the winter, but have heard stories of people waiting upwards of an hour!
6. Visit A Cliff Dwelling
For as many caves as there are in Sedona, there’s even more cliff dwellings. Cliff dwellings are ruins from those who lived in the cliffsides of Sedona. They’re super interested to explore.
While there are cliff dwellings at places like the Subway Cave, getting off the beaten path by hiking things like the Boynton Canyon Sedona Loop are where you’ll find the best ones!
We even hiked to a cliff dwelling that had remnants of an old illicit still in it!
It’s worth noting, most cliff dwellings in Sedona are on ledges with massive drops. cliff dwellings are not for those who are afraid of hikes.
If you’re afraid of heights, but still want to see cliff dwellings, check out some of the heritage sites in the area like Honanki Heritage Site or the Palatki Heritage Site. Both are run by the forest service, and have easy trails and lots of information on cliff dwellings in the area.
7. Mountain Bike The Slick Rock
Winter in Sedona is the perfect time in our opinion to go mountain biking. While you have to wait until the trails are dry if there’s heavy rain in Sedona, the trails aren’t as dusty as summer time.
And more important than the trails being dusty, they aren’t scorching hot. With most of the mountain biking trails in Sedona being super exposed to the sun, winter in Sedona Arizona is a great time to take on the longer rides!
8. Rent A 4×4 Or Take A Off Road Tour
We have yet to rent a 4×4 in Sedona, but holy smokes is it a popular thing to do! There are loads of 4×4 trails in Sedona and rental companies that you can actually rent your own off road vehicle to explore, or take a guided off roading tour.
Winter is a great time to go 4x4ing in Sedona because the trails aren’t as dry, so while you do kick up dust, it’s not as much as in the summer months. It’s also a lot safer fire wise to 4×4 in the winter months vs the summer ones!
9. Catch a Christmas Event
If visiting Sedona in December, join in on the Christmas festivities going on around town. Things like Holiday train rides, concerts and shows, and even pajama parties. Find a complete list of Christmas events in Sedona here.
10. Watch The Sun Dip Below The Horizon
In all our adventures to Sedona, we were sure to find the best sunsets in Sedona. In fact, we visited over 31 sunset locations in Sedona we thought would be cool! And shoot, they were. Some of them require hiking, but lots of them require just a short walk!
In the winter months, the sun sets pretty early, giving you time to hike to and from the sunset location without getting back to your car too late to have dinner at a decent time still.
Remember, if you do a sunset hike in Sedona, pack a headlamp so you can return on the trail safely!
Our favorite sunset spot in Sedona is Secret Slick Rock, especially after a good rain!
Weather in Sedona Arizona In Winter
In our experience winter weather in Sedona over the years has been really pleasant. The nights get cold, but the day time temps are perfect for hiking and getting outside to explore the beautiful red rocks.
I honestly can’t imagine visiting Sedona in the summer and dealing with hotter temperatures.
On average, we were experiencing temperatures between 50-60 during the day, and in the high 30s at night. And while it was definitely cold before the sun came up or after the sun went down, the “cooler” day time temps are well worth dealing with the colder nights!
I actually often times hiked in tank tops in Sedona in the winter, that was before I got my skin cancer diagnosis though.
And, Sedona in the winter offers a chance to see Snowdona. A truly breathtaking scene to witness the snow on the red rocks of Sedona!
Sedona In Our Eyes
We love Sedona… and we also hate it. There’s a bit of a stuffy attitude with a lot of locals in Sedona. A feeling of I’m better than you. Then there’s the eagerness and maybe a bit stressed side of tourist there.. the ones who have an itinerary and are going to do everything in their power to shove it all into a day.
Don’t be those tourists… and don’t be those locals either. Instead, have an open mind.. remember Sedona is all public land and free for everyone to enjoy.. and if parking is too hectic at one place, go to another. It’s always good to have multiple back-up plans!
And shoot.. getting out and just enjoying your own piece of Sedona is way better than stressing about checking off all the things in your Sedona travel guide when crowds and days just don’t go as planned.
More on Sedona Travel
If you liked this post on things to do in Sedona in winter, I think you’ll also like our guides below. We try and avoid the crowds, find the secret side of Sedona, and get out into the beauty of Sedona instead of in the chaos.
Sedona Itinerary | The perfect one day in Sedona from exploring secret caves, to the best restaurant in town.
Sedona Packing List | Including the best hiking shoes for Sedona — seriously, multiple people ask us about our hiking shoes every time we’re in Sedona.
An Insiders Guide | 5 things to know about Sedona we’ve learned from traveling there.
