In this sunset Sedona guide, we are sharing all the best locations for sunset in Sedona, how to choose where to watch the sunset, and tips for catching a great Sedona sunset.
We break up this guide into different sunset Sedona areas. The areas are determined not necessarily by the area of Sedona they’re in, but instead, by the way the viewpoint or location faces.
This way, depending on the clouds in the sky, the time of year, and really what you want out of your sunset in Sedona, you can decide what location is best for you!
Fair warning here.. this post on sunsets in Sedona is a long one.. like super long! Feel free to just scroll through and if a picture catches your eye, then stop and read the details about accessing that Sedona sunset location!
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a specific location.. open the tab below and jump to that specific location!
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How To Choose The Best Sedona Sunset Location
Time Of Year
At different times of the year, the sun is going to set in different locations. However, it’s always to the west, so you don’t have to worry about it too much.
With that said, if you want certain sun stars off rock formations, or say sunset is right before bedtime, you’ll want to consider the sunset location.
Recent Weather Patterns
The recent weather in Sedona will certainly affect the accessibility to sunset locations, and how awesome a location is or not!
For example, one of the best sunsets in Sedona is only really the best after a heavy rain, because you won’t get the reflection shot if there isn’t water puddles where they should be.
Likewise, after a heavy rain, one of the most popular sunset Sedona locations, Red Rock Crossing, won’t really be that cool, because you won’t actually be able to cross the creek, and the water is flowing too fast to get any sort of reflection in the creek there.
Clouds In The Sky
Clouds are often your friend for both sunrise and sunset! Too many clouds can block the sun, however, they can also offer a great place for light to be reflected off if there aren’t actually any clouds on the horizon.
Using the clouds to choose the best sunset Sedona location for you is easy. Just look where the clouds are, then see if there are clouds on the horizon to the west. If there are clouds in the sky over the red rocks in one area, but not in another, choose the spot facing the clouds! You’ll hopefully get some great pink and orange colors in the clouds at or just after sunset!
Consider How Much Time You Have
You’ll want to arrive at the Sedona sunset spot about 30 minutes before the actual sunset. This way, you can find a comfortable spot to sit and enjoy the show or scope out the exact shot you want.
That being said, you need to also consider the hiking time to each of the sunset locations. You’ll need to add in the hiking time, with wiggle room, and that extra 30 minutes prior to sunset arrival to really make the most of your sunsets in Sedona!
Sedona Sunset Map
Sunset Sedona Locations | Facing Actual Sunset
Airport Loop Trail West Side
Location | 34.84297, -111.79483
Parking | Sunset Park Free Parking | 34.85532, -111.79587
Hike | yes, 1 mile uphill first, then flat from Sunset Park
As an alternative and more romantic sunset location to the one above, there are a handful of places for a great sunset viewing from the actual Airport Loop Trail. While there aren’t any benches or big cutouts of obvious places to watch the sunset, the views are great.
Instead of hiking the entire loop, you can simply park at Sunset Park (at the base of Airport Mesa), and hike up to the right side of the trail to this sunset location.
Be sure to pack a blanket to sit on and a flashlight to light the way back down to the parking lot!
READ MORE | 3 Hikes on Airport Mesa
Air Terminal Drive
Location | 34.85073, -111.7905
Parking | $3/day Airport Parking Lot | 34.853073, -111.789599
Hike | short and flat on pavement
This is a great location for those looking to catch the actual sunset in Sedona without a big hike or really any hike at all.
Air Terminal Drive is a road on Airport Mesa leading right to the west side of the mesa. While there isn’t actually parking right in this area, you can par k in the $3 parking lot and walk right along the road, or even through the parking lot to get to this Sedona Sunset location.
We will say, while you are granted views of the actual sunset, this isn’t the best place for a Sedona Sunset, as there aren’t really views of the red rocks or pretty landscape around.
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Merry Go Round Rock | our favorite Sedona sunset location
Location | 34.873969, -111.708453
Parking | $5 at Hukaby Trailhead | 34.866512, -111.74869
Duration | 7.8 miles out and back
Elevation | 1,079 feet
Terrain | multiple creek crossing, muddy and icy in winter
Merry Go Round Rock is a trek to get to, but the views and photo opportunities are well worth it. The rock itself isn’t what’s to freaking die for.. it’s the cave photo at sunset that’s absolutely amazing.
The views from Merry Go Round Rock and the trail all the way there and back are stunning. Now, the trail itself (Munds Wagon Trail) parallels a road that’s accessible for 4×4 high-clearance vehicles. However, the road was closed when we were there in February due to snow and ice.
If the road is open, and you have a high-clearance vehicle, there really isn’t much hiking involved. And, even more, if you have a mountain bike, we’d actually suggest riding up to Merry Go Round Rock instead of hiking, because it’s 4 miles uphill one way!
All that to say, again, the views are incredible, and this may end up being a top hike if you can push through the length of the trail!
Chicken Point
Location | 34.829162, -111.754700
Parking | $5 at Little Horse Trailhead | 34.824336, -111.775840
Duration | 4.13 miles
Elevation | 457 feet
Terrain | on a well-maintained trail the entire way
Chicken Point is a beautiful place to watch sunset. The actual Chicken Point viewpoint doesn’t have views of the sun going down, but right in that area, there are plenty of rocks to climb up for the view!
We raced our way through the two mile hike to Chicken Point after a long day on the bikes, and honestly felt like we arrived at the viewpoint just a few minutes late. However, the hike and the views all around are lovely!
The best part about Chicken Point is with the easy access, you still get great views into the canyon, and get to not only watch the sun go down, but also watch the colors in the canyon change too!
Hiking to Chicken Point, you simply follow Little Horse Trail up past Chapel of the Holy Cross and to the Chicken Point Viewpoint, found on the map and the geo-tag above.
Altar Cave | the BEST Sedona Sunset
Location | 34.905894, -111.840728
Parking | $5 at Boynton Canyon Trailhead | 34.907356, -111.848582
Duration | 2.63 miles
Elevation | 839 feet
Terrain | on a well-maintained trail until the red rock scramble at the end
Oh my goodness.. This may just be one of my favorite hikes in Sedona. It’s short, but the views are incredible, and there are not one, but FIVE CAVES on this one hike!
We went to Altar Cave after reading it was good for sunset, and along the way were just shocked at how many more caves are right in the same area. And shoot.. while the views from the actual cave were incredible, the views from the flat slick rock above Mescal Trail were great too.
Hike along Mescal’s Trail until you see massive boulders are both sides of the trail. This is where the trail takes a sharp turn to the left, and if you start going left, you’ve gone too far.
At the boulders, peel off of Mescal’s Trail and start your scramble up the wash of the red rock. There is a little climbing involved, but nothing too difficult or scary!
Once you reach the top of the red rock shelf, Altar Cave is to the left along the red rock wall. You’ll see a couple of caves in the area, and to the right are great sunset views too!
Sedona Sunset | Facing Thunder Mountain
Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout
Location | 34.853434, -111.789765
Parking | $3/day Airport Parking Lot | 34.853073, -111.789599
Hike | none
This is hands down one of the most popular sunset Sedona locations. And honestly, it’s not that great. While yes, you can see the sun setting over the red rocks of Sedona, you can also see fences and trees right in your view.
And that’s not to mention the loads of other people around making it almost not even enjoyable to watch the sunset here.
With that said, it’s an accessible location for a Sedona sunset and will do in times when hiking just isn’t for you.
Keep in mind, getting closer to the actual sunset time, there will be a line of cars waiting to get into this parking lot. So if you plan to come here for sunset, come extra early and stake out a place you want to sit and secure a parking spot!
READ MORE | 10 Airport Mesa Sunset Spots
Sedona View Trail Benches
Location | 34.85413, -111.78777
Parking | Free Airport Loop Parking Lot | 34.85565, -111.78021
Hike | yes, uphill .6 miles
Facing the exact same way as the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout, but 1,000 times better. The Sedona View Trail benches offer fantastic views over Sedona.
There are no crowds. No trees blocking the view. No fences in the foreground. Just an overall more enjoyable sunset over Sedona view.
There are a couple of benches along this trail, and then a few places with large rocks that can work as seats for watching the Sedona Sunset!
READ MORE | 3 Hikes on Airport Mesa
Airport Loop Trail North Side
Location | 34.85471, -111.7921
Parking | Free at Sunset Park | 34.85532, -111.79587
Hike | yes, short, uphill
If you’re cutting it close on time for sunset, skip the above-mentioned places and instead park at Sunset Park in Sedona, then hike up to this viewpoint. It’s again facing the city with the red rocks as the backdrop and again doesn’t have massive crowds.
Parking at Sunset Park means you don’t have to deal with trying to find a parking spot on Airport Mesa for the Sedona View hike, and better yet, don’t have to deal with the traffic coming down Airport Road either!
This is a short hike uphill to the viewpoint, and truly you can stop anywhere you want along the hike that you think offers a great viewpoint.
To get to the views, from Sunset Park, take the Sunset Trail. It comes to a T at the Airport Loop Trail. You’ll want to go to the left here, and then just stop wherever you fancy. If you continue up this trail, you’ll get to Airport Mesa Vortex, another place with great views.
READ MORE | A Complete Guide to Sedona’s Airport Mesa Vortex
Sky Ranch Lodge Resort
Location | 34.85233, -111.79035
Parking | Free at Lodge for guests | 34.85233, -111.79035
Hike | no
To be able to enjoy the sunset from the Sky Ranch Lodge Resort, you need to actually book a stay with them. We didn’t stay with them, as we camped the entire time we were in Sedona, however, the place looks super inviting.
Based on what we read, you can actually watch sunset from the hot tub or pool at Sky Ranch Lodge Resort.. talk about a real treat!
Check out current prices for Sky Ranch, and enjoy the sunset and sunrise where you stay here in Sedona.
Cultural Park
Location | 34.852488, -111.831403
Parking | free, massive lot, with potholes on the way in
Hike | no
The photos below are from sunrise in Sedona because we didn’t take any at sunset, but still wanted to show what the views were from here.
Cultural Park is definitely not your average or normal place to watch sunset in Sedona. However, we experienced multiple great sunsets, and sunrises, here that we had to include it.
Cultural Park is a trailhead to many popular mountain biking trails and easy walking trails on the far west side of Sedona. It’s directly across from Red Rock Loop, at the last stop light out of town.
This park is an abandoned outdoor theatre on one side of the road, and on the other, where the open parking is, you’ll find great sunset views. There is one self-guided nature trail at Cultural Park that’s super short and a couple of covered picnic tables.
This is a great place to make dinner or bring takeout and enjoy a Sedona Sunset to yourself!
**We lost Georgie here for an entire day. It was a super traumatic experience, and we believe she was hiding in a culvert from coyotes that we later saw walking around in the middle of the day. With that said, keep an eye on your pets here, as we saw and heard coyotes on multiple occasions here, even right in the middle of the day!
Sedona Sunset Spots | Overlooking Famous Red Rock Formations
Airport Loop Trail South Side
Location | 34.84978, -111.78215
Parking | Free Airport Loop Parking Lot | 34.85565, -111.78021
Hike | yes, relatively flat
The Airport Loop Trail is a great, easy hike offering fantastic elevated views in all directions of Sedona as you circumnavigate Airport Mesa on this loop. However, you don’t need to do the entire loop to get great views!
Starting at the free Airport Loop Parking lot, you’ll have a very short walk right around to the south side of the mesa that overlooks Courthouse Butte, Bell Rock, and Cathedral Rock. If you look closely, you can even find Wind Caves below too.
We talk about the entire loop hike further down in the post, but you can also just do an out and back to wherever you find a comfortable and satisfying spot for you to stop for sunset views!
*Pay attention on this trail for signs of animals! We saw javelina tracks, and even saw a bobcat walking right along the trail!
Sedona Trail Viewpoint
Location | 34.85527, -111.77959
Parking | Free Airport Loop Parking Lot | 34.85565, -111.78021
Hike | yes, only one minute
For those not interested in a long hike from their cars, the Sedona Trail Viewpoint is the perfect place to watch sunset. You can see Courthouse Butte from this viewpoint, and even a slight look at Bell Rock, but really it faces the other Red Rocks across the valley.
These views light up beautifully at sunset! This is not a very traditional sunset location in Sedona, as it’s not fully viewing the famous red rocks, but it’s an easy hike to and from the car up some red rock steps to still get a sunset view!
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Secret Slick Rock
Location | 34.827656, -111.804155
Parking | Free at Secret Slick Rock Trailhead | 34.8300784, -111.7994043
Hike | yes, relatively flat, 1-mile round trip
OMG!!! This is our favorite sunset location in all of Sedona. We went back to this area two different times because the views from here are just that good!
With that said, what made the views here top notch was the heavy amount of rain we got the days leading up to us shooting sunset Sedona here. The heavy rain caused huge puddles of water on the slick rock, thus creating absolutely stunning reflection shots!
Even without a heavy rain, this place would be great, as the sun set lights up Cathedral Rock beautifully, and you still get views of the actual sunset as well!
Red Rock Crossing
Location | 34.825303, -111.808926
Parking | $11 at Crescent Moon Park | 34.8265568, -111.8083602
Hike | very short walk from Crescent Moon Park
If you’ve seen a reflection shot of Cathedral Rock in Sedona at sunset, you’ve likely seen the view from Red Rock Crossing. This is a very iconic sunset Sedona location with Cathedral Rock reflecting onto Oak Creek.
However, this view is only good if there hasn’t been a ton of rain in the days leading up to catching sunset here. You can run into two things with lots of rain. One, not being able to actually cross the red rock with the water being too high. And two, the water flows too fast that the chance of a reflection on the water is void.
With that said, there are still great views of Cathedral Rock at sunset from all around the Red Rock Crossing area. If the water is flowing too quickly, don’t be bummed.. there are plenty of other great photo opportunities in the general area! The water was rushing when we were there, so we took photos from above.
READ MORE | Our Complete Guide to Finding Red Rock Crossing Sunset
Lover’s Knoll
Location | 34.836307, -111.820623
Parking | free at base of hill | 34.836855, -111.821614
Hike | yes, short climb to the top of the hill
Heading out of the west side of Sedona, you’ll run into Red Rock Loop at the last stoplight in town. Down this road, you’ll first see an unnamed pullout, listed below, that has great views. However, if you continue down the road, you’ll also find Lover’s Knoll.
This is a marked pullout on Google, and is a really large area for parking. Do be warned here, enter this area slowly. Pay attention to where the rocks are coming out of the ground, and drive around them!
Park at the base of Lover’s Knoll and then walk up about 100 yards to the top of a little hill. You’ll be greeted with great views of Cathedral Rock here! Pack a blanket and have a nice sunset picnic.. this place is perfect for that!
No Name Pull Off On Red Rock Loop
Location | 34.843046, -111.826124
Parking | free | 34.843046, -111.826124
Hike | no
The no-name pull-off on Red Rock Loop is at the first super sharp turn going right. You’ll pull off to the left of the road.. and in doing so, go slowly and use your signal! It’s a blind corner and bumpy getting in.
We actually ended up spending a day here. The views were so good and it was a great place to get some work in! The parking area has some big rocks, but with slow and careful driving, you can make it in any car.
If you’re nervous about driving here, there is a small pull-out just past this no-name pull-off on the right that can fit one or two cars.
The views from here are great. We liked the views from Lover’s Knoll a bit more, as Cathedral Rock stood out more into the sky, but this spot was also great and perfect for those looking to not hike at all for sunset!
Sunset Sedona with Nearly 360-Degree Views
Mesa Grill Sedona Restaurant
Location | 34.85043, -111.78878
Parking | Free at Restaurant for Guests | 34.85088, -111.78868
Hike | no
We did not eat or even go inside Mesa Grill Sedona. However, we did pull up to the outside of it and can say the views seem great.
Pictures online of inside the restaurant show nearly floor-to-ceiling windows along the walls, with great views through the windows!
This is one of the more popular restaurants in Sedona, probably because of the location, so if you plan on having a nice meal or drinks as the sun sets, be sure to look into reserving a table here.
Airport Mesa Vortex
Location | 34.85575, -111.77913
Parking | Free Airport Loop Parking Lot | 34.85565, -111.78021
Hike | .2 miles uphill on red rock to top of vortex
As with a lot of other places for a Sedona sunset, at the Airport Mesa Vortex, you won’t actually see the sun setting. Instead, you’ll have the chance to see nearly 360 views of the red rocks changing color all around you.
This is a great place if there is light cloud coverage in the sky, as you’ll likely get really pretty colors all around. From the top of the vortex, you can see Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock, with Cathedral Rock peeking in on the side.
You’ll also see the view over Sedona west, and get the chance to see the views over the really untouched Mund Mountain Wilderness in the east.
The parking lot at Airport Mesa only has ten spots. Be sure to get here early to secure a spot, or you can hike up from Sunset Park or down from the $3 parking at the top of Airport Mesa.
READ MORE | Hiking + Parking Guide to Airport Mesa Vortex
LEARN MORE | 7 Vortex Sites in Sedona
Bell Rock
Location | 34.803173, -111.76595
Parking | $5 at Bell Rock Trailhead | 34.805799, -111.766303
Hike | .5 miles round trip, or longer and steep to top of Bell Rock
Bell Rock is such a fun hike. It’s as hard or as easy as you want to make it. You can climb to the top of the “bell” or just stick around the base, either way the views are great!
We climbed to the top, or at least the highest point we felt comfortable with, during the day, getting down to the base just in time to make dinner for a beautiful sunset show.
There were a couple people shooting couples and even a wedding shoot here in the evening. With that said, there is so much space to find your own secluded spot too!
It’s worth mentioning, this is one of Sedona’s seven vortexes. Be sure to be respectful of those who choose to meditate here both during the day and around sunset time too!
GEAR GUIDE | The BEST Hiking Shoes for Sedona
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Location | 34.832001, -111.766902
Parking | Free at Chapel | 34.832426, -111.765939
Hike | yes, .4 miles from middle lot round trip
The very last thing we did in Sedona was visit Chapel of the Holy Cross. It’s one of those things we saw on everyone’s must do lists of Sedona, but we just kept choosing epic hikes over visiting this place.
However, once we visited the Chapel of the Holy Cross, we quickly realized why it was on everyone’s must do list! The views from here are great!
Any time of the day is pretty popular here it seems! There is a lot with about 5-7 handicap spaces at the top of the hill, and an accessible ramp leading up to the actual chapel.
There are also three other parking areas as the road curves up the hill. The only bathrooms are at the base, and in our experience, there was open parking at the top more often than in any of the other three lots.
Chapel of the Holy Cross has candles for $1, and a gift shop in the chapel, and it’s open to the public from 9:00 in the morning until 5:00. With that said, if sunset is after 5:00 when you’re visiting Sedona, this will not be a good place to go for sunset, unless you hike from Little Horse Trail to Chapel Trail.
READ MORE | Complete Guide to Chapel of the Holy Cross Vortex
Nolan Campground on 525
Location | 34.882953, -111.910255
Parking | Free at Campground | 34.882953, -111.910255
Hike | no
If you plan on wild camping, or dispersed camping, while in Sedona, you’re really limited to the places you can camp. In October 2022, new regulations went in, taking away the right to camp anywhere within the national forest surrounding Sedona.
On Forest Road 525, a super popular place to camp for free, there are now a handful of campgrounds you can legally stay at instead of being able to park anywhere you wanted.
Nolan Campground is the further one to the top of the road, which connects over to Boynton Pass Road (where most of the popular hikes in Sedona are). This campground is quite large, and has some killer sunset views!
From here, you can see the red rocks in the distance changing to beautiful oranges and turning around, facing west, you’ll be able to see the sun setting just behind the mountains. If there are clouds in the sky, this is sure to be a phenomenal sunset. It was one of the best sunsets in Sedona we experienced, and I don’t think we took a single photo of it!
LEARN MORE | Where to Legally Camp Near Sedona For Free
Damfino Vortex
Location | 34.865148, -111.741746
Parking | $5 at Hukaby Trailhead | 34.866512, -111.74869
Hike | yes, 2 miles round trip
Damfino Vortex is a pit stop we made on our ride up to Merry Go Round Rock for sunset. However, that’s a brutal hike, and the views from Damfino Vortex are really great.
To get to Damfino Vortex, you can hike or ride up the Schebly Hill Road, or take the Munds Wagon trail about a mile up. There’s a sharp bend in the trail/on the road, and at that point you peel off and go up a social trail to the top of the red rock.
The sharp bend in the trail/road is obvious if you put the geo-pin of the vortex location onto a map app!
From here, you’ll have a view overlooking the entire town of Sedona and be able to watch the sun actually setting as well, as this faces west!
LEARN MORE | This Vortex + 6 More Sedona Vortexes Here
Sunset Hikes in Sedona
Doe Mountain | Wolf Cave
Location | 34.890154, -111.856546
Parking | $5 at Doe Mountain Trailhead | 34.893448, -111.865196
Hike | yes, 2 miles round trip
We hiked Doe Mountain for sunrise, which we highly recommend, however, it would also be a great place for sunset! The views from up here are overlooking all of Sedona on one side. And then turning to the west, you’d have a killer view of the sun setting!
Doe Mountain is one of very few places you actually get to see the sunset in Sedona instead of a place you watch the color changing on the rocks.
The hike to the top of Doe Mountain is short, but steep. So give yourself plenty of time to get to the top with breaks!
Secret Viewpoint in Boynton Canyon
Location | 34.9194782, -111.859645
Parking | $5 at Boynton Canyon Trailhead | 34.907356, -111.848582
Hike | yes, about 10 miles with entire loop
Okay, this hike is part of a longer loop that we seriously recommend in Boynton Canyon. The views all the way around the trail are fantastic and they make for a really cool day of hiking in Sedona!
DO NOT DO THIS HIKE IF YOU AREN’T FAMILIAR WITH HIKING / TRAILBLAZING
To get to this viewpoint, you take the Boynton Canyon Trail into the canyon, then peel off and hike up a creek/wash, up between two red rock faces, before a short scramble to the top!
The entire hike is epic and will bring you to caves, cliff dwellings, and a viewpoint of Sedona you’ll likely have all to yourself!
The turn off of Boynton Canyon trail is not marked, but here are the coordinates for it… 34.92065, -111.855882. From there you hike up the wash. Please DO NOT do this if you are not comfortable hiking and trail blazing / finding your own way!
To get a more detailed look at this hike, and the entire loop including this stop that we recommend, head to this post here (coming soon)! If you’re in Sedona before this post is live, shoot us an email and we’ll give you more details!
Sugarloaf Mountain
Location | 34.876326, -111.794149
Parking | Free at Sugarloaf Trailhead | 34.87429, -111.796447
Hike | yes, steep, but short 1.5 miles round trip
The photo below is from sunrise, but you can see the views you would get for sunset from here.
We hiked Sugarloaf Mountain for sunrise, and we just kept thinking how awesome the hike would be for sunset in Sedona as well. We didn’t have time to go back for sunset here, but definitely would make time if we ever find ourselves in Sedona again.
The hike to the peak of Sugarloaf mountain is actually a lot steeper than both of us expected, but the views are well worth it. You’ll have 360 views of all of Sedona, and will be up close and personal with the red rock formations behind you!
The parking lot here is small, and there is no alternative parking, so get here early to find a spot!
READ MORE | Not Your Average One Day Sedona Itinerary | Sugar Loaf Mountain + Keyhole Cave
READ MORE | A Complete Trail Guide to Sugarloaf Summit
Cathedral Rock Saddle
Location | 34.818815, -111.792184
Parking | $5 on Back O Beyond Trailhead Only Open Monday – Wednesday | 34.825141, -111.788297
Hike | yes, 2.4 miles of rock scrambling
First off, I’m hesitant to include this as a sunset place in this post, because with the new shuttle system in place, I think it’s much more difficult to hike Cathedral Rock at Sunset. Thursday – Sunday there is a Sedona Shuttle that operates during the day, and the road to Cathedral Rock is blocked off with a guard to anyone that doesn’t live on the road.
Check current shuttle times here.
Anywho.. Cathedral Rock is brilliant at sunset! While you don’t necessarily have a view of the sun setting or of any of the rocks changing colors at sunset, the views here are marvelous!
Be sure hike up to the second saddle / spire area of Cathedral Rock and check out views from there too!
Be warned.. hiking Cathedral Rock isn’t really a hike at all. The entire hike is actually a rock scramble up the red slick rock face. It’s not for those not in good physical shape, and you really need to have a sense of adventure and grippy shoes to get to the top of Cathedral Rock.
Like for real, you’ll be rock climbing at times! Again, the views are worth it if you can make it though!
Airport Loop Trail
Location | 34.855725, -111.780269
Parking | Free at Airport Loop Trailhead | 34.855725, -111.780269
Hike | yes, 3.74 miles relatively flat except for one downhill then uphill climb
We’ve talked about this trail in a couple of other parts of this post, as each of the separate sides of the trail offer great viewpoints for sunset Sedona. However, the entire trail as a complete loop is a great sunset hike to do in Sedona as well.
We did this hike right before sunset, and were constantly amazed by the views around each corner of the hike! The entire loop is 3.74 miles, and took us almost 2 hours to complete.
Instead of parking at the Airport Loop trailhead, which only has 10 spaces, consider parking at Sunset Park, and hike up Sunset Trail that then connects to Airport Loop Trail and doesn’t really add much to your hike!
Bear Mountain Secret Side
Location | 34.900015, -111.867487
Parking | $5 at Bear Mountain Trailhead | 34.893448, -111.865196
Hike | yes, uphill to the top of the red rock shelf
Even if you’ve been hiking before, you’ve probably never heard of “social trails”. Let us explain… social trails are bull crap, made-up “secret trails” that local Sedonans try to keep private so others can’t enjoy them.
However, all the area around Sedona is public land, and you have the right to that public land. And with that right, you should be able to enjoy the “social trails” just as much as the other trails in Sedona.
Okay, rant over.. onto this trail.
This trail is what’s called a social trail. It’s blocked off at the top of the second shelf of Bear Mountain by a couple of sticks. However, there is clearly a well-defined trail behind the pile of sticks. The viewpoint from here is fantastic.
We came down right before sunset, and were blown away by the view of the sun setting from this part of the trail. There’s an entire out and back trail we did here, leading to a cave and a cliff dwelling with an old illicit still in it, overlooking the every popular Fay Canyon.
However, you don’t have to do that entire hike. The sunset viewpoint we’re talking about here is right at the turn-off of this trail. Here are the coordinates, 34.899252, -111.868959 for the turn-off from Bear Mountain Trail.
If you download the free app, maps.me, then download the Sedona region, you’ll see the trail is actually a marked trail on that app!
Devil’s Bridge
Location | 34.897663, -111.807711
Parking | Free at Mescal’s Trailhead on Road | 34.901805, -111.826766
Hike | yes, 4.35 round trip via Chuckwagon Trail at Mescal Trailhead
We unintentionally hiked this right around sunset and didn’t really think that the views would be so epic.. but boy they were! Not necessarily from Devil’s bridge itself for sunset, but for the hike back down!
We recommend hiking to Devil’s Bridge before sunset, planning to get there about an hour, maybe two before sunset. This way you’ll have time to wait in line if you want your picture on the bridge (we waited 30 minutes on two different occasions), and then the rocks behind Devil’s Bridge will still be in the light!
After getting your pictures on Devil’s Bridge, or just at the viewpoint if you don’t fancy walking on the bridge itself, start making your way back down the mountain. You’ll notice you’ll have pretty incredible 360 degree views of sunset all the way back down to the parking lot.
READ MORE | 4 Arches in Sedona
Boynton Canyon Vortex
Location | 34.91179, -111.84819
Parking | $5 at Boynton Canyon Trailhead | 34.907356, -111.848582
Hike | yes, .57 miles one way from parking lot
The Boynton Canyon Vortex is a great place to catch a completely different sunset in Sedona than all the traditional sunset locations.
To get to this vortex, the trail is mostly flat and sandy, up until the turn-off to the vortex summit. At that point, you’ll have to hike uphill and on the red slick rock to get to the top of the Boynton Canyon Vortex.
READ MORE | A Guide to the Boynton Canyon Vortex | or Kachina Woman Vortex Site
LEARN MORE | 7 Vortex Hikes in Sedona
Boynton Canyon Million Dollar View
Location | 34.923291, -111.865336
Parking | $5 at Boynton Canyon Trailhead | 34.907356, -111.848582
Hike | yes, about 10 miles doing the entire loop
Okay, this hike is part of a longer loop that we seriously recommend in Boynton Canyon. The views all the way around the trail are fantastic and they make for a really cool day of hiking in Sedona!
DO NOT DO THIS HIKE IF YOU AREN’T FAMILIAR WITH HIKING / TRAILBLAZING
To get to this viewpoint, you take the Boynton Canyon Trail into the canyon, then peel off and hike up a creek/wash, up between two red rock faces, where you’ll find a famous Sedona Cave and cliff dwellings. Returning to the wash, you hike up and around a rock scramble, along a ledge, then are greeted with THE BEST VIEWS we found in all of Sedona!
The turn-off of the Boynton Canyon trail is not marked, but here are the coordinates for it… 34.92065, -111.855882. From there it’s really trailblazing the entire way. Please DO NOT do this if you are not comfortable hiking and trailblazing/finding your own way!
To get a more detailed look of this hike, and the entire loop including multiple cliff dwellings, caves, and a naturally painted wall, head to this step step, geo-tagged guide to in our opinion one of the best hikes in all of Sedona. Linked here soon.
Sedona Sunset Quick Tips
- Arrive Extra Early | In our experience, the sunset in Sedona happened just before actual sunset time because it sets behind mountains in the west.
- Make Paid Parking Free | In most of the $5 parking lots above, there are alternative free parking areas on the road. Alternatively, snag a National Parks Pass and use it for free parking while in Sedona!
- Rent an RV for Flexible Travel | Did you know, you can rent RVs from other people? Check out RV Share, and learn how you can snag an RV or van for your trip to 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.
Sedona Itinerary | The Perfect ONE DAY IN SEDONA ITINERARY
Red Rock Canyon Loop Scenic Drive | 5 Don’t Miss Stops on Red Rock Loop Road
Sedona Sunsets | Our TOP 5 Sunset Locations in Sedona
Camping in Sedona | Where to Legally Camp for FREE in Sedona, Arizona
Recommended Gear For Sedona
Check out all our gear recommendations and a packing checklist for Sedona here.
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!
Save + Share Here
Don’t need to purchase anything for your trip… No worries! You can still support us by saving and sharing this post with the images below! And hey, that way you have easy access to it later.. another win-win!