Oh Sedona! The name conjures up memories of stunning red rock cliffs, bright blue skies, an aura of mysticism and spirituality combined with Native American heritage. My one and only memory of this magical place is over 30 years old - my Grandfather took our family there before his health really took a turn for the worst. The beauty of Sedona and the fleeting joyous last time we spent together left an indelible print on my heart. At the time - it was still pretty wild from what I recall. We stayed at the (still gorgeous to this day) Enchantment Resort in perfectly appointed casitas and experienced a wonderful combination of wilderness and luxury.

Needless to say, Sedona has been on my list of places to revisit for years and I was curious to see how it had changed. Z is notoriously hard to shop for so I decided to surprise him with an early Valentine’s Day getaway that could incorporate mountain biking and a beautiful location. He’s in the middle of training for the Cape Epic in South Africa so I knew he’d be stoked to get in some technical trail riding in a new spot!

Friday: Arriving in Sedona & Settling In

Friday Z finished his work day while I drove to Sedona - an easy 2.5 to 3 hour drive from where we are staying in the U.S. We checked into the Sedona Real Inn & Suites, which I chose for its proximity to the trails and reasonable price. While Sedona has some incredible resorts, I knew we'd be spending most of our time outside and didn't want to splurge on a high-end hotel we wouldn't fully use. I got a great deal on the room, but there are a LOT of options in Sedona.

The hotel was clean, spacious, and practical, with plenty of room for our gear—perfect since Ziya had his bike and I had my hiking stuff. A larger fridge, coffee maker, and microwave were great conveniences, especially since we try to save money by having breakfast in the room instead of going out. We always travel with our own coffee setup, stuff to make healthy post-workout shakes, some healthy snack and breakfast options - all which make mornings easier (and healthier).

That night, we kept things low-key, ordering food in and relaxing instead of heading out. We wanted to get an early start Saturday and finish up any loose ends with work that evening. We tend to keep restaurant spending to a minimum when traveling, not just for budget reasons but because we’re really selective about where we eat and prefer to spend money on meals that are actually worth it. (If you’re curious more about our travel-heavy life check this article out!)

Saturday: Exploring Sedona—Hiking & Biking

We started the morning with our usual routines—coffee, a little writing, planning our respective routes, breakfast, and getting our gear ready for a day outside.

Splitting Up for the Day

• Ziya hit the mountain bike trails, tackling Sedona’s technical, challenging routes

• I set out to explore and hike, starting at the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

I parked on the street before I hit the Chapel and decided to do the Chapel Trail to Chicken Point. I planned on meeting a girlfriend in the afternoon and wanted to get time in hiking this area before heading towards the Boynton Canyon area.

The crowds were up at the Chapel, but as I headed out on the trail, it thinned out and I felt relatively alone in the wilderness. There was always someone else coming or going every 10-15 minutes or so and everyone was friendly and had a good grip on trail rules. The views are absolutely stunning and I thoroughly enjoyed taking my time along this route. Many routes are shared use (MTB, hike and horse) but there was no congestion and everyone was polite.

A bit after noon, I headed to Boynton Canyon which was probably at the busiest time of the day! The parking lot was full, so parked along the road, and the trail definitely was more packed too! I loved getting a chance to meet up with one of my long-time girlfriends and we took the next few hours to discuss everything under the sun while we took in the gorgeous red rock cliffs, canyons, and woods of this area. The trails were definitely more crowded here. There are a number of big-ticket instagrammable photo ops (bridges, caves, etc…) that draw quite the queue! I later found out a friend who runs adventures with Women Who Explore (Karrie Carnes) was out there with a group and had a funny instagram vs. reality story of the wait for one of the epic (but busy) photos!

By the time I got back to the hotel, I was exhausted, and so was Ziya. After an intense day outdoors, neither of us had the energy to go out, so once again, we ordered in, stretched out, and relaxed.

Sunday: A Final Hike & Heading Home

We briefly considered staying an extra night but ultimately decided to head home, squeezing in one last hike before we left.

We picked Courthouse Butte & Bell Rock Loop, which was a well-groomed, highly accessible trail. The trails were in perfect condition, there was no litter anywhere, and it felt incredibly safe. The trail was a perfect addition to the weekend and a great way to shake our legs out after our long Saturday adventures before we headed home!

After our hike, we decided to walk around Sedona proper for a bit and check out some shops and grab lunch. We found the shops to be full of a lot of overpriced junk to be honest (you can always count on me for that, sorry!). It felt very much like Balboa Island’s fun zone (for you SoCal folks) but with aliens and crystals instead of beachy items and bikinis. We popped in to Wildcraft Kitchen for a healthy lunch and while the food was good, we were a little shocked at the price—$65 for a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon, a quinoa bowl, and two non-alcoholic drinks. It was a reminder that Sedona is definitely on the pricier side. The food was good, but I mean…what?!

Final Thoughts: Is Sedona Worth It?

Saturday we were both elated with the scenery! But as we chatted about our day we both found ourselves a little bothered by how curated the environment was. It definitely can feel like you are on one massive Disneyland ride like Thunder Mountain. What’s great is that such a safe environment creates a way for your average person to access and enjoy this stunning nature in a way that’s doable for them. I think that’s an important part of encouraging people to be good stewards to the wild. Every single trail was extremely well maintained, NO litter, NO graffiti and well marked. I knew that if something happened to Z while he was mountain biking rough terrain on his own, he would and could get medical aid immediately. That’s something that factors in pretty heavily after October’s crash on the island (and subsequent spinal fracture 🥴).

I think it gets down to what you can afford and what you are looking for in your ‘desert adventure’! If you’ve got money to spare and you’re looking for a blend of comfort, convenience and incredible scenery - Sedona is perfect! If you’re looking to disconnect from the crowds and get into the wilderness, you’re going to have go way off the beaten path. I feel like you’re going to pay a lot more than what (to me) you get in value for everything from lodging to meals and more. However, I travel some pretty wild places - so again, take it with a grain of salt!

Would we go back? Yes, especially since we’re only a 2.5-hour drive away. However, next time, I’d love to explore the Grand Canyon and see how the experience differs. I personally prefer a bit more solitude and wilderness, but I can absolutely see why Sedona is still so popular.

The Good:

✅ Breathtaking scenery—Sedona’s red rock landscapes are truly spectacular.
✅ Great trails—plenty of well-maintained trails for all levels.
✅ Clean, organized, and safe—trails were pristine, and the area felt incredibly well-kept.
✅ Perfect for a weekend getaway—especially if you want outdoor adventure with some comforts.

What to Keep in Mind:

⚠️ It’s very busy—some trails feel more like tourist attractions than nature escapes.
⚠️ Expect traffic—cars, trams, people who don’t know where they’re going, lines to take photos, waiting on trails and more.
⚠️ It’s expensive—expect higher prices, even for casual meals. Our hotel cost vs. the value anywhere else would be considered insane.
⚠️ It’s polished—which is great for accessibility but might feel too curated if you prefer rugged wilderness.

Hotel Suggestions:

Keep in mind where you want to stay based off what you want to do - the Enchantment Resort is near the Boynton trail area and is stunning, but not in the immediate Sedona downtown area. The Sky Ranch Lodge is out towards the airport. We chose West Sedona because we wanted MTB trail access directly from the room.

Affordable $: Sky Ranch Lodge (closer to the airport)

Midrange $$: The Wilde Resort and Spa

Luxury $$$: Enchantment Resort

Have You Been or Are You Planning to Go?

I’d love to hear what you thought! Did you love it, or did you notice the same curated feel? Let me know in the comments! 😊

P.S.: Female travelers - check out Women Who Explore if you’re looking for women-led, small group adventures in a women-only group all over the world! It’s a great way to go new places in a supportive environment and make friends with awesome new people!