FUN 3 Day Sedona Itinerary: Ruins, Hikes & Swimming Holes

I was skeptical about Sedona but was quickly won over by panoramic red rock views from our our hilltop hotel, seemingly endless trails through vibrant red canyons, and adorable shops full of Native-made turquoise jewelry, naturally dyed rugs, handmade pottery, and other one-of-a-kind goodies.

Not to mention the striking 90-foot cross that holds up a small chapel on top of a 250-foot rock peak, the serene wine country just south of the red rocks, or the feeling of bumping along a 100-year-old wagon trail in the back of an open-air Jeep…

My 3 day Sedona itinerary is full of all these adventures and more—with my firsthand tips both must-see highlights like Cathedral Rock and Subway Cave, along with plenty of hidden gems to add to your Sedona trip!

Where to Stay in Sedona

Sedona is quite spread out and sometimes traffic can really back up, so staying somewhere central can make a really big difference! We really enjoyed staying in an area where we could walk to coffeeshops, dinner, and the cutest wine bar that was right next to our hotel!

We stayed in the Uptown area at the Hyatt at Pinon Pointe (booked with points), which is perched up on a hill with panoramic views of the surrounding red rock formations at the pool and campfire area. There were a variety of locally owned restaurants literally steps away, and the iconic Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village was just a block down the road. Although I usually opt for smaller boutique hotels, I would truly stay at the Hyatt at Pinon Pointe again and again!

Some other exceptional hotels and B&Bs in this scenic walkable area include:

• The one-of-a-kind boutique rooms at El Portal Sedona Hotel
• The spacious rooms (and delicious breakfast) at Whispering Creek Bed & Breakfast
• The highly-rated budget-friendly suites at Sedona Uptown Suites

Also See: Where to Stay in Sedona for First Timers: Central & Scenic

How to Spend 3 Days in Sedona

Day 1: The Perfect Introduction to Sedona

Day one is a big day, starting with the serene and scenic Chapel of the Holy Cross and some hidden caves nearby, followed by a fun off-roading Jeep adventure, and the cherry on top is sunset at Sedona’s most red rock iconic rock formation—Cathedral Rock!

Views from the Chapel of the Holy Cross

9am: Chapel of the Holy Cross

Aim to begin your Sedona adventures at 9am at the Chapel of the Holy Cross when it opens.

Religious or not, this striking modernist 1956 Roman Catholic chapel is a must-visit—and a perfect spot to quietly set an intention at the beginning of your Sedona trip! I’ll be honest—I was skeptical, but it was unlike any church I’ve ever visited—with the most moving crucifix I’ve cast my eyes on.

The chapel is built straight into a 250-foot red rock formation and held up by a striking 90-foot cross. And as you walk up the hill from the parking lot to the chapel, you’ll be greeted with panoramic views of the surrounding rock formations.

Inside the chapel there are a few rows of pews and bare walls that direct your attention the gazing eyes of a life-sized Christ crucified on a tree—with a 90-foot wall of windows behind that reveal the landscapes of Sedona. Take some time to sit in a pew, contemplate, and perhaps light a candle.

The chapel is a 10-minute drive from the center of Sedona, but can be longer if traffic backs up—and finding a parking spot can be tricky mid-day, hence why I recommend getting here early! And keep in mind that you’ll have to walk up a short hill from the parking area to the entrance of the chapel.

Raven Caves Trail

A 5 minute drive from the Chapel of the Holy Cross takes to you one of my favorite Sedona hidden gems—Raven Caves, a small system of caves just a 0.25-mile from the parking lot! And, there’s a gorgeous view along the way (see above!)

The walk to the caves is short, but it’s easy to keep going and miss the caves, so I used AllTrails (as I did on all my Sedona hikes!) to find the caves.

Keep in mind that these caves are unmaintained, and little dangerous, with ledges and a bit of scrambling required—so, good shoes are certainly recommended, and I’d skip this spot if you’re afraid of heights.

There are also a variety of other great hikes near Chapel of the Holy Cross if you want a longer hike to kickstart your Sedona adventures! Check out the Broken Arrow Trail and Hog Wash Trail.

Afternoon: Off Roading Jeep Tour

Don’t leave Sedona without going on an off-road Jeep tour—that’s what everyone told me, and it wasn’t until I was in Sedona myself that I understood why!

This is one of the more rugged rides, 2,000 feet up a 100-year-old wagon trail with some of the best views in all of Sedona. In the open-air back of a Jeep Gladiator, you get to take in every view without breaking a sweat!

There are milder Jeep routes, but my choice was to get a bit further off the beaten path and embrace the bumpy ride, because its part of the fun!

Another reason Jeep tours are so popular in Sedona is because traffic often backs up mid-day, and parking at trails can be a challenge. Getting groups of tourists in the back of Safari Jeeps take some extra vehicle off the road—and gets you exploring more of Sedona beyond the most popular trails with limited parking. Instead of driving and parking, you just get to take in the views!

Evening: Cathedral Rock at Sunset

Sedona’s most iconic landmark is Cathedral Rock, and the rugged 1.2-mile roundtrip hike up is an absolute must-do if you’re physically able. The cluster of towering red spires are stunning from below, but what surprised me was the unexpected view at the top!

You spend the whole hike climbing—and scrambling—up the steep sandstone face, assuming that the payoff will be a view back down of where you came from. But the trail ends as you cross a high saddle and are suddenly standing inside what feels like a natural red rock amphitheater, surrounded by sandstone spires overlooking a hidden canyon.

I recommend hiking a few hours before sunset (and perhaps bringing a to-go dinner with you!) because as the sun dips in the sky, the spires illuminate with a warm glow—something you can only see from the top of the hike, not down below.

The parking situation for Cathedral Rock is a little confusing, here’s a quick overview:

• Thursday through Sunday: The Cathedral Rock parking lot closes, and you have to get here via the FREE Sedona Shuttle.
• Monday through Wednesday: Parking lot is open, but it can be difficult to find a spot during the day. Thankfully, we had no trouble finding a spot on a Monday evening for our sunset hike!
• 🚲 Pro tip: avoid the parking chaos (and traffic!) by renting an e-bike!

Day 2: Montezuma Castle, Swimming Holes & Wineries

Today we’re heading just south of Sedona to a 900-year-old Sinagua ‘castle’ built straight into a 150-foot-tall limestone cliffside. Then we’ll hike into Wet Beaver Creek Canyon to a hidden swimming hole! And if you have time, you can also visit some nearby wineries for a tasting.

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Out of the many ancient Native America ruins surrounding Sedona, Montezuma Castle is one of the most accessible—and most visually striking! A short 5 minute walk from the parking lot leads you right beneath the 250-foot-tall limestone cliff, with the ‘castle’ built right into it.

The ‘castle’ is actually a five-story, 20-room cliff dwelling constructed by the Sinagua people (not the Aztec Montezuma) sometime between 1100 and 1350 AD. It served as a communal home, meeting place, and storage for crops and seeds.

It wasn’t until I was at Montezuma Castle that I realized the cliff dwelling is perfectly situated a few hundred feet from Beaver Creek—and the land in between was used for farming corn, squash, and beans. I found myself imagining what it would have been like to walk through the corn fields, wade in the creek, and then climb up into the cliff dwellings for a dinner of roasted squash and beans.

The park’s visitor center some helpful exhibits full of information about Sinagua who lived here up until about 1425 AD, but if you want to read more before visiting, check out this History.com article. Reference the National Parks Service for up-to-date opening hours and alerts about Montezuma Castle!

Montezuma Well

Your Montezuma Castle entry fee (or America the Beautiful Pass) also covers entry to the nearby Montezuma Well where you’ll find a massive limestone sinkhole with cliff dwellings perched along the rim, along with a prehistoric irrigation canal. We didn’t make it to Montezuma Well, but given how close it is, I wish we had!

Hike to Swimming Hole (the Crack at Wet Beaver Creek)

Just a 15 minute drive from the Montezuma Castle will take you to the trailhead for one of Sedona’s best ‘hidden’ swimming holes.

A refreshing, cool stream cuts a crack through vibrant red sandstone cliffs, with some perfect cliff jumping ledges and a serene swimming hole with the most beautiful surroundings.

The trick is that to get to the swimming hole, nicknamed The Crack, you have to hike about 3.5 miles through the desert with very little shade. Of course this means that you really need to be prepared—especially during the hotter months. Please only attempt this hike if you’re a confident hiker with enough water and awareness about the heat.

To get to the swimming hole, follow the Bell Trail on AllTrails, which is 7.1 miles roundtrip with 590 feet of elevation, through quiet pinyon-juniper woodlands and grasslands.

We unfortunately weren’t able to swim at the Crack because there was surprisingly chilly when we were in Sedona in April! If I’m ever back in beautiful Sedona, this swim spot is at the top of my list!

Wine & Dinner

If time allows, sip some local wine while overlooking the vineyards at one of the nearby wineries along the Verde Valley Wine Trail. My choice is the picturesque Salt Mine Wine, a short drive from Montezuma Castle with $12 tastings of five pours.

Since our plans were disrupted by bad weather, we sadly didn’t make it to the wineries, but were happy to be able to taste Arizona wines at The Art of Wine, a wine bar just steps from our hotel in Uptown Sedona! If you can’t make it to an actual vineyard, this wine bar is a rewarding alternative.

Day 3: Subway Cave, Slide Rock Swimming, Tlaquepaque & Whiskey Tasting

We’re saving some of the best of Sedona for last—the Boynton Canyon trail to beautiful Subway Cave, swimming and sliding at the natural waterslides of Slide Rock, shopping for locally made goodies at a Mexican-inspired village, and optional whiskey tasting with live music!

Subway Cave Hike (Boynton Canyon Trail)

Subway Cave is another one of those popular Sedona hikes that I was worried would be overrated… but it indeed lived up to the hype!

What was remarkable wasn’t necessarily the cave’s resemblance to a subway tunnel—it was the adventurous climb up into the cave, the views of the surrounding canyon, the cliff dwellings, the enjoyably scenic hike to the cave, and seeing a giant sun dog while reading and eating lunch in another nearby cliffside cave!

To get to the cave, you’ll have to follow the Boynton Canyon Trail through piñon‑juniper woodland with ever-changing views of the canyon. But the main trail diverges as you near the cave, and the offshoot is completely unmarked! To avoid missing the cave and wasting time, I highly recommend following the trail on AllTrails—there’s a 7 day free trail, and the app will notify you if you go the wrong way.

We were visiting on a cooler, cloudy day and started around 10am but if I’d definitely start a bit earlier depending on the temperatures. And although its a popular hike, the trail itself wasn’t crowded at all—but when we got to the cave, there were quite a few other groups and families hanging out, exploring, and eating lunch.

There are two ways to get inside the Subway Cave: (1) as you approach the base of the cave, turn left and climb up to the ledge, then carefully follow the ledge around until you get into Subway Cave, (2) scramble straight up into the cave. This is what we did, and it was more challenging than it looks! With all of this in mind, the Subway Cave is not ideal for folks with mobility issues or a fear of heights.

Don’t miss (respectfully) seeing the small cliff dwellings and other caves on the ledges to the left of Subway Cave (left when facing the cave from below).

Acai and/or Lunch

On the drive back into Sedona town from the Subway Cave trailhead, you’ll pass a Berry Divine Acai Bowls which has a drive through for refreshing, fruity acai bowls! For us, this was the perfect treat after our hike! You could also grab lunch somewhere nearby, or stop in one of the grocery stores along the way.

Swimming at Slide Rock State Park

If it’s a hot day, you can head 15 minutes north through the verdant Oak Creek to Slide Rock State Park (typically open until 4 or 5pm), which is perhaps the best swimming spot in Sedona—with an 80-foot-long natural ‘waterslide’ carved into the red sandstone by the river.

The swimming areas are located on a 100-year-old homestead that was once a 43-acre apple farm! There are some historic cabins you can see before or after swimming.

We sadly had to skip Slide Rock because of colder weather and logistics, but on hot days, it’s incredibly popular, so parking can be tricky sometimes. Just 5 minutes down the road, Indian Gardens Cafe & Market, serves coffee and lunch!

Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village

You can’t leave Sedona without wandering through Tlaquepaque, an expansive shopping area designed in the 1970s to look like a Mexican village. We loved that our hotel was within walking distance from here!

Tlaquepaque is home to 50 different independently operated shops, cafes, and restaurants—with a heavy emphasis on art and locally made goods.

My favorite spots included Esteban’s for a variety of hand-thrown pottery, the Chai Spot for cozy drinks and a view, and the many shops full of turquoise jewelry!

Check the official website for up-to-date opening hours and details about the various shops and restaurants!

Redwall Lounge

Redwall Lounge is another Sedona hidden gem we discovered—this whiskey distillery often has food trucks AND live music in their outdoor seating area with red rocks views.

It was a lovely place to hang out without needing a reservation—and taste a variety of whiskeys, vodka, and gin made onsite (or cocktails!) My husband and I shared a tasting and stayed for several hours once we realized there was live music!