The geology that makes Sedona famous began 330 million years ago when this region lay beneath a shallow sea. Layer upon layer of sediment accumulated over geological time: sandstone, limestone, mudstone, compressing and solidifying into rock thousands of feet thick. The uplift of the Colorado Plateau raised these layers above sea level; erosion carved them into the formations we see today. Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Coffee Pot Rock - each named for what imagination sees in its shape - represent harder rock left standing while softer material weathered away. The red color comes from iron oxide in the Schnebly Hill Formation, named for the family whose road provides some of Sedona's best sunset viewpoints. The geology here differs from the Grand Canyon's deeper, older exposures, but the erosion processes are similar: water, frost, and time sculpting stone into impossible shapes.

Beginning in the 1980s, Sedona became famous - or infamous - as a center for New Age spirituality. Practitioners identified four primary 'vortex' sites where the earth's energy supposedly concentrates: Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Boynton Canyon. The theory holds that these locations produce measurable electromagnetic anomalies that affect human consciousness, promote healing, or facilitate meditation. Scientists find no evidence supporting these claims; the vortex phenomenon is better understood as a cultural rather than geological feature. Yet the belief persists, generating tourism, supporting businesses, and drawing seekers who report genuine experiences at these sites. Whether you attribute that to energy fields or to the psychological impact of stunning natural beauty in a peaceful setting, Sedona's vortex reputation has become inseparable from its identity.

Long before vortex seekers arrived, the Sinagua people built cliff dwellings throughout Sedona's red rock canyons. Honanki and Palatki heritage sites preserve their architecture and rock art, accessible via dirt roads north of town. The Sinagua farmed the Verde Valley from roughly 650 to 1400 CE before dispersing to other pueblos; their descendants may include today's Hopi and Zuni peoples. Later, Yavapai and Apache bands hunted and gathered here, considering specific formations sacred. Spanish missionaries arrived in the 1600s; American settlers followed in the 1800s. The town itself dates only to 1902, named for the postmaster's wife. But human connection to this landscape extends back millennia, and traces of that history remain visible for those who know where to look.

Sedona offers some of the best hiking and mountain biking in the American Southwest. Trails range from easy walks along Oak Creek to demanding scrambles up Cathedral Rock's slickrock slopes. The Devil's Bridge trail leads to a natural sandstone arch; Soldier Pass features multiple sinkholes and ancient ruins. Mountain bikers come specifically for the world-class singletrack, technical terrain through red rock landscapes unlike anywhere else. Jeep tours access backcountry areas closed to regular vehicles, bouncing up Broken Arrow trail or along Schnebly Hill Road. Oak Creek Canyon north of town provides swimming holes at Slide Rock State Park, where natural waterslides have polished the creek bottom smooth. The Forest Service requires Red Rock passes for parking at most trailheads - available at local vendors and online.

Sedona sprawls across three areas: Uptown Sedona with its concentration of galleries and tourist shops, West Sedona with more local businesses and services, and the Village of Oak Creek to the south. Phoenix Sky Harbor airport lies two hours south via Interstate 17 and Highway 179, itself designated a National Scenic Byway through the red rock terrain. Flagstaff to the north provides an alternative gateway, connected by the dramatic switchbacks of Oak Creek Canyon along Highway 89A. Accommodation ranges from camping at Forest Service sites to luxury resorts; prices run high during peak seasons. The arts scene that began with sculptors and painters drawn to the light has expanded to nearly a hundred galleries. Restaurants have improved dramatically as the town evolved from roadside stop to destination. Plan visits for spring or fall; summer brings extreme heat, winter occasional snow.