5 Tips for Hiking in Sedona
One of the many secret caves
What should I know before planning a trip to Sedona?
Do your research, plan and know your limits! I cannot stress this enough. It is important for any trip but when it comes to hiking, it is incredibly important to know what you’re getting yourself into and where you will be. Check what the weather will be like so you know what to pack, see where things are in relation to where you’re staying and the airport. Look into the most popular hikes and the their difficulty. Are they hikes you can handle? How long are they? Do you need permits? What is the parking like? etc. Plan which days you’ll be doing which hikes based on their location and length. This is all information that will be helpful and save you time in the long run because you won’t be scrambling to decide once you arrive. I picked a few hikes I wanted to do and then narrowed it down even further to the few I knew that were my must sees. I looked them up on Google Maps, saved them, and then went to do the same with the AllTrails App as well as reading up on them with other outdoor apps I use frequently. I studied the trails on maps, watched YouTube videos, and read tons of blog posts. I even spent hours studying maps to try and find some of the secret caves and look at the terrain. I find that even when I research and plan, these foreign landscapes still end up being different that what I expect, but in a great way. I had an idea of what Sedona might be like beforehand but there were still things I had to deal with that I either forgot about or came up and took me by surprise. But with prior knowledge, research, and sometimes having to think quickly, I was able to adapt to each situation.
My favorites for research when trip planning;
National Park Service (if visiting a NP)
Roadtrippers app (if planning a roadtrip)
Reserve America app (if camping)
KOA app
Pack accordingly. Make sure you do research to know what to pack for weather and what you’ll be doing. If hiking, you’ll need boots, a water bottle, potentially a backpack if you want to carry anything like a camera or gear of some sort. It all depends on personal preference. Sedona is in Arizona which is the desert so the summer meant unbearable heat. Light and airy clothing was the best choice with some layers for when it cools down at night. Having to buy gear on the road can be super frustrating especially if you’re trying to travel on a budget so I say try to avoid that unless its absolutely necessary. Packing everything that you can and will need is essential.
It’s hard not to put this at the number one spot but STAY HYDRATED. Arizona is incredibly dry, after all it’s the desert. Even in the cold winter months, you still must keep your body adequately hydrated. Make sure to bring lots of water with you while hiking, pack extra in the car, and keep some ready at your Airbnb or hotel for when you get back from adventuring. I made the mistake of not bringing enough water during the Cathedral Rock hike and since it was midday, I almost passed out from heat exhaustion. Drink and pack LOTS of water. Your body will thank you.
Speak to the locals! One of the best things I did while in Sedona is talk to local people, whether its your Airbnb host, the server at a restaurant, or your tour guide. Locals always know the best places to eat, sight see, hike, and even some of the hidden gems of an area. They can often offer advice, knowledge, or information that isn’t known to the average person nor found online. It also helps in terms of safety to let people know where you will be exploring, especially if you’re an avid solo traveler like myself. Head on over to the visitor’s center for tons of brochures, maps, and a very friendly and helpful staff. You can’t go wrong with asking questions, the more you know the better, right?
Please, please, PLEASE, practice leave no trace principles. Bring a bag to store your trash in. It’s very easy to pack a plastic bag or container of some sort to collect trash, yours or other’s. Don’t vandalize or deface any of the outdoor areas. Do not take anything with you (except for memories and photos of course) and do not leave anything behind. Pack out everything that you packed in down to each individual wrapper from the snacks you packed. Sedona is considered a VERY sacred place. Why would you want to take away from the immense beauty of it anyway? Be a responsible outdoorsman or outdoorswoman, mother nature appreciates it!
Just keep exploring friends!
xx
Cass