This is a must see while in Sedona. The entrance fee is $12. You can park your car in either of the two parking lots, picnic, or walk along the creek. Spectacular views of fall colors! Very clean, tranquil and soothing with interesting rock formations at one point. We also sat on one of the picnic tables by the creek and had lunch. read more

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Too expensive! $15 to get in and the trails aren't even that long. It was $10 just a year ago. Also, $2 for a map - absolutely bonkers charging money for a piece of paper when there's a map once you get inside. We paid $15 to sit at a picnic table and hiked a quarter mile :/ read more

Crescent Moon Picnic Site - Parks Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

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Second time being here, so lovely! So glad we got a nice spot on a Friday afternoon during the summer as I heard it can be very busy and if they're full they'll turn you away. We took our 3 pups to walk around and chill by the water for a few hours and it was a lovely way to spend the afternoon. Highly recommend! Bring some beach or camping chairs and or a hammock! read more

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I love Crescent Moon and the views it offers, but the parking is getting a little steep considering you could hike in from the Baldwin Trail for free and end up at the exact location on the opposite side. The only great thing or I'd say decent thing to park inside the picnic site is they have bathrooms, picnic tables and grassy areas to let for family, kids run around. Since it has been raining the last few days it wasn't too busy and parking was a breeze. However when weather came temperatures are warmer the lot fills up fast and you may have to circle quite a few times before finding one. You may swim in the creek, slide down into the deeper pool area as well. The water current can be a bit strong especially after rain and the rocks slippery. Wearing water shoes is highly encouraged. read more

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The park was nice. Inside parking is limited so arrive early. There are restrooms and picnic tables on site. The creek runs for miles. Just a 5 min walk from the parking, you will find the first watering hole. It is the most visited area, considering its perimeter from the entrance and the deepest watering hole. read more

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There are creeks and rivers that run through this park and they are absolutely beautiful! It's $2 if you park in the area and walk up to the entrance. It's $11 if you park your car inside the park. We found that parking is limited, the only negative here. So you have to wait for a car to leave, in order to be permitted to enter. 1 for 1. Unless you come very early right at opening, then you're more likely to nab parking. We didn't have any luck as no one was leaving the park so we parked nearby and just walked down. They are pet friendly which is a huge plus since the Red Rock State Park is not pet friendly. There's so many pathways here to hike by the creeks and rivers! We started with the little creeks in the middle of the park then followed them to the major river where we found all of the families having a great time! You can follow the major river all the way to the famous shot of the Cathedral Rock, lovely view. It was perfect in May, warm, sunny, and breezy. :) read more

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I opted to hike here to see Cathedral Rock and it was a great hike. Dog friendly which is a plus! It was $11 to enter the park and there was ample parking available. There are many trails to explore here so we were able to spend a good amount of time here. read more

Crescent Moon Picnic Site - Parks Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

I LOVE this spot. There are I think 3 different "trails". I don't remember or know which one I'm at but I came here last year and loved it. I can now say that the weekend is busier than the weekday. Last year I came on a Saturday and had to "hike" deep into the forest to find a secluded spot. This year I went, well today on a Friday and it's DEAD. I love it. I don't have to go very far. It is better marked this year too. Last year it wasn't blocked off where it is now and there wasn't a sign pointing to the creek. This year there is. It is so beautiful and peaceful. Make sure you leave no trash or glass and pick up after yourself. read more

It costs $11 per vehicle to park here. This is another spot where my parents had come about 5 years ago without me and it didn't require any fees. I think most people come here to get that "photogenic" view of Cathedral Rock, but long story short, it's not worth it. Firstly, the "photogenic" view of Cathedral Rock is the fact that you can take a picture of Cathedral Rock + the stream down below at this picnic site, so you get a reflection of Cathedral Rock as well. When we were at the pay station, we asked the attendant if the view was looking good today and even the attendant was like I have no idea. I haven't been out to see it in a while and the stream has changed over time so it heads in a different direction now too. Well, I wished we had listened to her, because this view was so weak. FIRST OF ALL, there are no signs to point you to the "vantage point" where you can get this photogenic view. Second of all, the map they do give you (we had to ask for it), is so poorly printed, it's impossible to read, so after we parked, we just kind of started walking. I followed a sign "to the river" and then after that, it just disappeared. I took a wrong turn at one point and had to balance beam walk over a concrete ledge to cross over a stream (I could've also turned back and looped around, but I was being lazy). I then took a wrong turn and ended up in a field that I don't think I was supposed to go to, because after walking a bit, the path got narrow, I got nervous about wildlife, and some barbed wire appeared too, so I quickly turned around and retraced my steps. Finally, I managed to find my way, again following the stream, to what I think is the "spot," and boy was it underwhelming. The stream bed, as the attended had said, seemed to have changed direction, there was only a small little area where you could angle things so that you could get the reflection of Cathedral Rock and even then, the angle was so that part of the entire rock formation was a bit cut off. In general, this "vantage point" wasn't great even without the reflection because the bottom half of your photo and your viewing of Cathedral Rock is just blocked by the trees along the stream located directly in front of you. All in all, I was very unhappy with my view of Cathedral Rock from here, and even more unhappy that it cost money to get in for no guidance to the vantage point and for a mediocre vantage point as best. Thankfully, we were able to find a much better view of Cathedral Rock that was *gasps* free. Check out my review of Cathedral Rock for more information on where to go for that amazing view! read more

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This place is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I've been to Sedona a handful of times and can't believe I only just learned about it. This made my trip for sure. Swimming hole overlooking the beautiful rocks. Bring drinks, a picnic, your pup, a volleyball-- this is my kinda day!! Small entry fee. Perfect, perfect! read more

Crescent Moon Picnic Site - Dog friendly! On leash - Parks Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

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This place is breathtaking and is so relaxing !! Beautiful views to say the least ! Definitely family friendly place to swim and just enjoy one another's company and nature! read more

More than a picnic site, the Crescent Moon Ranch at Red Rock Crossing is one of original homesteads along Oak Creek. We had no problem entering the park at 9 am on a weekday in May. The entrance fee had several options, including passes. The ranger told us that the pass was also good for parking at Grasshopper Point and at the West Fork of Oak Creek. These are all beautiful, popular spots. The story gets a little muddled here, but since we live here we bought the annual pass. Just beyond the gate is a large meadow and several historic structures. Features on the ranch include buildings, the original water wheel, and an irrigation canal that runs by the creek. Beyond that you will find Oak Creek itself. Walk about a thousand feet (300 meters) up the trail by the creek and you will find the iconic spot where everyone -- yes, everyone -- takes their picture of Cathedral Rock. This year the creek isn't especially high, and there are plenty of little islands you can walk out on. We did see a family set up on a sandstone island for a picnic, so now I understand the name of this site. In there among the islands is one of the famous vortexes. If the Forest Service can't keep up with the tourists you will find lots of stacks of stones there. I had fun with my plant identification app discovering names for all the plants in the area. Basically you have to bring your own food and water in, and pack your own trash out. Also, please don't make yet another stack of rocks. Be a good citizen, and this will still be a beautiful spot when you come back again. That's how we roll in Sedona. read more

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What a cool spot! We didn't believe people when they said go early to get parking and showed up around noon with the lot totally full. Most people dropped their stuff off and parked up the hill about 3/4 a mile. However we asked the ranger if there was waiting allowed and he let us in line to wait for a parking spot. We were the second car in line and there were about 4 cars behind us. It did take about 30 minutes to finally get a parking spot. Do bring chairs, towels, good shoes for the water and lunch! We passed the large first swimming area and it was PACKED, given the pandemic right now this was a little frightening so we kept walking. We found a much more secluded and quieter swimming area and we were glad we kept going. There were still families all around but everyone was respecting the space, weren't playing loud music (like the first spot) and weren't being obnoxiously loud so everyone could enjoy nature. We put our chairs right in the stream to put our feet in the water and ate lunch that way. It was a completely perfect day and I think this place is much cooler than slide rock. Parking is $11 per car. read more

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9.15.2020 Tuesday morning It was a great place to walk and to get wet in the stream. Peaceful ( probably it wasn't in season), beautiful views, beautiful streams. When you see the first spot that you can jump in and swim, if you are a good swimmer, get in from the bush side and not the rock side because it's very slippery, my husband enjoyed a good hour inside the stream but he mentioned the current was very strong. After that spot, walk further and pass the cairns, on the right side you will see the part of the stream with less strong currents, this area is really nice to play with the water. It's a MUST visit in Sedona read more

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I was very surprised not to see more reviews of this site, considering it's the jumping off point for the iconic views of Cathedral Rock, also known as Red Rock Crossing. I've heard this can get rather crowded so I opted to come by early on a Monday morning and had the place nearly to myself. There are walking paths that take you past an old water wheel, picinic tables and a sprawling lawn. This can be a great place to bring lunch and relax. If you follow the paved sidewalk to the creek, you can walk alongside the water through a canopy of trees, which eventually opens up to spectacular views of Cathedral Rock. It's a photographer's dream. I spent about 90 minutes here enjoying the views of the creek and the beautiful surrounding rock formations. The trail eventually narrows and ends near Buddha Beach which has stacked rocks and is a peaceful stopping point. There is an $11 entry fee-I paid cash and there was an attendant on site-not sure if they take credit cards or not. I lucked out in late October to see the leaves turning and enjoyed some cooler weather. I would venture to say this is a must visit in Sedona for some relaxation and iconic views-not a hike per se but a low key way to enjoy the beauty of Sedona. read more

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It's so pure place . We took some power stones to purify and clean-up at the river. Also we purified ourselves. We could get energy .it was a little hard to park cars . They didn't let us in until some cars left. We waited for 30 minutes to get in the parking. The sign said " Don't wait here " or something. But we didn't have a choice, there were not other parking near there . Lucky, other cars left , so that they let us in . It was a little expensive to park cars even only 1hour. We have to pay $11 per day . read more

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My family and I spent a weekend in Sedona and we had visited this location on (8/5/22 around 12pm) to see Buddha Beach. We settled north of the creek/stream. The water was clean and clear in that area. As far as the lower part, there was trash (even a whole watermelon). Perhaps it was because there was more people/families gathering at this time. My biggest complaint is the parking, fees, and professionalism of staff here. Staff lacks any empathy, absolutely rude and acts like they own the place. At the time we arrived parking was full. The closest area was approx 1.5 miles away. My mom has difficulty walking long distances/ADA so my bf and I decided to drop her off right in front of the entrance with the rest of the family. We do not have the heart to make them all walk that long distance. As soon as we opened the doors of our van, we were yelled at rudely by the park staff saying we couldn't unload there/didn't read the sign/didn't see staff. Keep in mind THERE WAS NO SIGN OR ANY CLEAR INDICATION WE COULDN'T DO SO. THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE LINING UP TO ENTER AND WE WERE UNLOADING OFF TO THE SIDE/NOT BLOCKING ANYONE. As any person would, my bf talked back with the as forementioned statements and that we were only doing this because of ADA reasons. This donkey park ranger had the audacity to talk back and say "have you discussed this with me?". Like what it's none of your business. My bf said he literally didn't see him there. The ranger proceeded to say more unnecessary shit. My bf went off and the ranger said "i might not let them in". Um what? You dont own the damn place. We were ready to call the authorities as you cannot deny the right of a person to enter a national park. Like cmon man. Parking on site was $11 and walk in was $2 - we were forced to pay the $2 fee as we parked offsite. Total scam as we were a party of 7, in total COSTED MORE THAN PARKING ONSITE. As we were paying, they were also giving another family a hard time for another reason. read more

We wed here on 11/11/2020. Perfect and diverse landscape. Best view of cathedral rock. Also has river and forest. read more

Crescent Moon Picnic Site - Parks Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

Great spot to escape the tense heat of Arizona. From the parking lot, it's a short walk (depending on how far you wanna go) to the river where you can dip your feet or even swim in. There are certain spots along the river where the water pools so its great for a swim. I prefer the spots along the river where the water is running to avoid the mass and just dip my feet to keep cool. read more

I just took a trip to Sedona and hilariously we picked all the "wrong" things to do. So, this is part of a Yelp series where I'm sharing all the things NOT to do. Check my other reviews to save yourself from making the same mistakes we did (you'll also find what we loved from our last trip). This creek access/picnic site didn't meet any of our expectations... to the extent that we were completely confused when we arrived. Overall we would not recommend this location for anything but a quick picnic by the creek. The bad - Very little space/public access for the creek, there were like 3 beachy areas to sit by the creek, all occupied. - Do not count on lazy river/tubing, not enough flow. - The people there were odd, perhaps a little sketchy. - Paying to park for low amenities, we didn't stay long because there wasn't really anything to do, but it was $12. The good - Cute lizards - Good for photographs - Appears to be a trailhead read more

Awesome views of Cathedral Rock can be encountered here! There's a nominal parking fee about $11 per vehicle. It was a bit tricky to find the photogenic (unmarked) viewpoint with the creek in the foreground and Cathedral Rock in the back. It's located quite close to the entrance gate just off of the initial concrete pathway along the creek. Overall, the entire trail is not too long and not very strenuous. Many families with pets and little kids were present. I'm surprised there are not more reviews at this great place! read more

Crescent Moon Picnic Site - Parks Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

Very cool spot. Finding a parking spot wasn't hard, it wasn't too crowded. Peaceful walk along the water, but wear good shoes. The further back the walk, the larger the slick river rocks. Otherwise, it's an easy hike. read more

Crescent Moon Picnic Site - Parks Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

Worth the $11 parking for the car to be safe. Hike is really long but u can camp put along the creek for miles and just hang out. I recommend water shoes for the water. Hiking boot are a must, there rocks, sand and dirt... it help keep u steady. We saw ppl wlhad set up little tables and chairs and just splashed around in the water. There a mountain at the end but too much for us to hike but even as a beginner it was great for my wife and I. read more

So this place is very cool. My family and I just finished a hike and planned to go to Slide Rock but upon getting to the gate and seeing it was packed we decided to go to a local place by our rental house. This place is $11 to enter cheaper then slide rock. I would recommend this for older children/teens and adults. It has some rocks you can slide on for little kids but it's a really fun oasis with a huge pool in the middle. Very refreshing on a hot summers day and was not too packed midday on a weekday. Highly recommend! read more

Such a beautiful stop. Beautiful running water, trails, and red rock views. And, it's dog friendly! read more

Crescent Moon Picnic Site - Our yearly Sedona holiday trip. This is a great park...and it's dog friendly! Next time, Koda Bear! - Parks Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

My favorite place on Earth for more than 3 decades. Sadly, that has been hampered by the worst employees I've ever seen there working on the weekends this summer. They are openly rude or indifferent to customers. They tell customers they are full when they have many spots open that can be easily seen from the entrance. They did it to me weeks ago and I saw them do it to someone else today. They had to be turned away with somewhere around ten spots open!! They act like millennials but they are retirees! You'd think age would give them good work ethic. The crews they've had over the years have mostly been top notch. Hopefully these shockingly bad workers will be given the boot, never to return, leaving my happy place a better for everyone. read more

Loved it! Cheap to get in, plenty of parking, outhouse to use if needed and fresh running water to wash up or drink. We hiked to the swimming hole (about a half mile or so?) We passed big rocks, other swimming holes, a small rock beach etc. It was worth the hike in to relax for a few hours. Water was freezing but fun!! We went with a person who didn't walk well but with the short length of the hike and a slow pace, we made it! There is not a solid walking path here so I wouldn't recommend visiting with wheelchair or walker, but a limited walker could definitely still enjoy the park. View from parking area is surreal too! read more

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