Hiking Sedona's Red Rock Country

Welcome to Arizona – the gateway to some of the USA’s best hikes. You’ll be welcomed to the rust-coloured desert landscape with a hearty breakfast before your first hike of the trip. We begin near Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock, two of Sedona’s most prominent and beautiful landmarks, and quickly climb into layered shelves of red rock sandstone. Halfway into our hike, we’ll reach Cathedral Rock, a stunning 300-metre-tall sandstone monolith. Your local leader will prepare a tasty lunch and share some of the native and indigenous history of the area – you’ll learn how this very spot was once a fertile hunting ground. After lunch, we’ll complete our hike among the towering cliffs, sheer pinnacles and pristine canyons of Sedona. This evening, you’ll settle into your accommodation with the option to experience some of Sedona’s artisan shopping districts before dinner with your newfound travel companions and leader at one of our favourite Sedona restaurants. (B/L/D)

Fuel up on breakfast this morning before stepping back in time along Sedona’s old wagon roads (now trails) to a red rock saddle that offers sweeping views. The trail we hike is named for the overhanging rock that shelters part of the route from the sun and is a Sedona must. Prepare for exhilarating steps up Schnebly Hill for vistas and panoramic views of the canyons below. Along the way, your local leader will fill you in on the history and story of T.C. Schnebly and his wife Sedona, the town’s namesake.

If time permits, you’ll head to the historic mining town of Jerome, Arizona, tonight. Jerome, a 19th-century mining town built on the side of a steep mountain, is one of the most unique places in America. Your local leader will give you a walking tour of the switchbacking streets, staircase sidewalks, haunted buildings, and fascinating history of this quaint Arizona gem. Before returning to Sedona, you’ll enjoy dinner in Jerome’s most historic and charming restaurant. (B/L/D)

Today, you’ll head north to conquer Sedona’s highest peak at 7,122 feet. Within just the first few steps of this hike, you’ll be transported to an entirely new character of landscape – the ecosystem is lush, with tall, deciduous and coniferous trees. Towering red and white sandstone spires protrude from the mountainside and provide stunning views as we conquer the summit. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with what is arguably one of the best views Sedona has to offer. Expect a panorama of beautiful red rocks surrounding you and Oak Creek Canyon below. From here, tuck into a picnic lunch overlooking Sedona before returning to your accommodation for the evening and enjoying a group dinner together. (B/L/D)

After your final breakfast, you’ll finish this adventure with a creek hike that brings us to a beautiful high desert oasis (great for swimming). The walk winds close to the creek until you reach a refreshing swimming hole to cool off in. You tuck into a creekside picnic lunch and soak up the cool shade of the riverside trees above. From here, your group can continue to the Mogollon Rim above Wet Beaver Creek or stroll back to the trailhead. You’ll return to your accommodation in the afternoon, where you’ll say your final goodbyes to your newfound travel companions and legendary group leader. (B/L)