Appreciate Sedona

1. Practice trail safety and etiquette

Plan your trail experience

Here are the basics for staying safe on the trail:

• Bring water, sunscreen and maps
• Wear layers for changing weather conditions
• Consider the length of the trail, elevation change and hours of daylight
• Monitor yourself and those around you for heat stress
• Read our blog on outdoor safety for a deeper dive and more tips

Access to the trail systems within the Coconino National Forest is a key feature of the Sedona landscape and everyone who enjoys them has a responsibility to preserve and protect these public lands for generations to come. To help guide positive behaviors on public lands, our team curated a selection of signature and solitude hikes across a range of skill levels.

Let’s talk about poop

The best thing to do with your poop, your toddler’s poop, or your pet’s poop is to pack it out with you. In a pinch, it is OK to use a digging tool to bury poop at least 6-to-7 inches in the ground. Always be prepared to respond appropriately when nature calls. Do not leave behind a dirty diaper or other trash.

2. Avoid traffic congestion

Vehicle traffic gets heavy during busy visitor seasons in spring and fall. Plan your visit between December and February or June and September to avoid the biggest crowds. Here are more ways you can enjoy your visit by avoiding the crowds and help minimize traffic congestion.

Ride the Sedona Shuttle

The City of Sedona provides multiple shuttle services that will get you where you want to go while visiting. Prices range from $2 per ride for Sedona Shuttle Connect and the Sedona Shuttle Trailhead Routes are free. Plan your ride and learn more at SedonaShuttle.com.

Car-free travel and regional transit

Did you know it is possible to plan an entire vacation in Sedona without using a car? Shuttles, tour companies and public transit can get you from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to your hotel in Sedona, to restaurants and shopping, to the most popular trails, to can't miss experiences like wine tasting at local vineyards and even get you to Grand Canyon National Park. Check out our quick guide to getting around for more information.

When you're behind the wheel

If you must drive around Sedona, here are a few things you can do to make the experience more enjoyable for yourself and other motorists:

• Learn how to use roundabouts. Remember, a “yield” sign means the other car has the right of way.
• Only park in designated spaces. This is especially important in the neighborhoods surrounding popular attractions like trailheads and the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

• Zipper merge! What is zipper merge? Zipper merge is using two lanes as long as possible before a lane restriction, then cooperating with other drivers to alternate merging into the single unrestricted lane.

3. Protect public lands

Leave no trace

Leave no trace really means leave no trace. Use Sedona’s trails in a way that no one knows you were here: 

• Pack out everything you pack in
• Trash your trash
• Don't stack rocks or scratch graffiti into the red rock formations

Stay on designated trails

Some “social trails” in Sedona are very popular but are not maintained by the Forest Service. This means that every footstep and tire track can do lasting damage to the landscape. Please consider staying only on designated trails during your visit. There are more than 100 designated trails to enjoy. Here are some of our favorite trails, curated by locals.

Tag Responsibly

Posting a geotag to social media can do serious damage to precious and fragile locations in and around Sedona. Think twice before geotagging, or it could be you who causes a precious location to be destroyed by overtourism.

Fire safety

Always check the local fire hazard conditions when you arrive in town. During some dry months, fire of any kind is prohibited in outdoor spaces. Check the U.S. Forest Service website or call the Fire Restrictions Hotline at 928-226-4607.

4. Respect the community

Sedona is home to more than 10,000 people who live and work here. When visiting Sedona, please treat it with the same respect you'd want your neighborhood to get from a visitor. Many of Sedona's popular attractions are in or near residential areas. Here are some ways you can love it like a local:

• Be aware of the noise you’re making. You might notice that Sedona's neighborhoods and the incredible landscape surrounding them are quiet. Very quiet. Please keep your voices and other sounds as low as possible.
• Please watch your speed on our streets and watch for pedestrians and cyclists when entering and leaving a residential area.
• Talk to locals. Learn our values and history. Listen to our stories. Find out what it's like to live here.
• Please respect private property.
• Donate to a local non-profit organization. Many of them are committed to preserving and protecting Sedona's natural beauty.