First Full Day in Sedona, AZ

Sedona is located within Coconino National Forest and sits at roughly 4,350 feet in elevation. Sedona's main attraction is its array of pink sandstone formations that surround the town, with over 200 trails of varying difficulty around formations including Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Thunder Mountain, and Snoopy Rock. These sandstone layer formations have been sculpted by millions of years of erosion.

Needless to say, we barely made a dent in visiting these trails and rock formations. Nevertheless, what we did see was well worth the time. The first few images were taken from our rental, which was located on a hill south of town. Due to physical limitations, we stuck to a few easy trails and viewed Bell Rock, Courthouse Rock, the surrounding Rock formations (of which I know not the names), and 7 Sacred Pools.

Some Photos taken upon our arrival and first full day in Sedona.

Click on an image to pop up a larger version.

Red sandstone buttes and mesas rising above green desert vegetation near Oak Creek Village.

Formations Near Oak Creek Village

Working on a caption.

Bell Rock

Working on a caption.

The Other Side of Bell Rock

Working on a caption.

A large sinkhole with steep red rock walls and fallen debris, known as Devil's Kitchen.

Devil's Kitchen (maybe)

Working on a caption.

Traditional Mexican-style architecture at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village decorated with warm white Christmas lights.

Tlaquepaque Village XMAS Lights

Tlaquepaque is a Mexican-style arts-and-shopping village in Sedona, modeled after a traditional Mexican settlement. It features cobblestone paths, courtyards, fountains.

Elevated landscape view of Sedona's red rock mountains and desert valley from a rental property.

A View from our AirBnB

Working on a caption.

Seven Warriors Mesa

Working on a caption.

The massive, flat-topped red sandstone monolith known as Courthouse Butte.

Courthouse Rock

Working on a caption.

Circular natural sandstone basins filled with water along the Soldier Pass Trail.

A Few of the 7 Sacred Pools

These are a series of natural water-filled potholes and pools carved into the red rock along Soldier Pass Trail.

Outdoor plaza with sycamore trees and cobblestone paths illuminated by thousands of holiday lights.

Tlaquepaque Plaza XMAS Lights

The annual Festival of Lights is a 47-year tradition that includes luminarias placed along the village paths, and all the sycamore trees on the property are wrapped in lights.

Another Image Taken from our AirBnB

Working on a caption.

Clusters of red rock formations and desert shrubbery in the vicinity of Courthouse Butte.

Formations near Courthouse Rock

Working on a caption.

Panoramic view of the Sedona wilderness and distant red cliffs from the Yavapai Trailhead.

Yavapai Trailhead View

Working on a caption.

Close-up of multiple tiered water pools carved into the red sandstone.

A Few More of the 7 Sacred Pools

They're considered sacred in some Native American traditions and fill with water seasonally after rain or snowmelt, creating temporary swimming holes popular with hikers.

A large, fully lit outdoor Christmas tree in a courtyard across from Tlaquepaque.

XMAS Tree Near Tlaquepaque

This massive Christmas tree dominated a courtyard in a small shopping area across the street.