We took the whole crew to Slide Rock State Park, and this one surprised a few people. On paper, it…read moresounds simple. A creek, some rocks, a natural "slide." In reality, it's a full-on experience. First thing you notice is the setting. You're tucked into Oak Creek Canyon with red rock walls rising up around you, water cutting through it like it's been doing forever. It's one of those places where the scenery alone would be enough. But then you add the water. And that water is cold. Not refreshing. Not brisk. Cold. The kind that hits you and resets your entire nervous system. Once you get past that initial shock, though, it's perfect, especially with the Arizona heat doing its thing overhead. The main attraction is the natural rock slide, which is exactly what it sounds like. Smooth, worn stone with water rushing over it, turning the whole thing into a fast-moving chute. Kids loved it. Adults pretended to be cautious and then went right down anyway. It's controlled chaos in the best way. People laughing, slipping, climbing back up to do it again. We had a bigger group, so we claimed a stretch of rock and sort of set up camp for a few hours. There's enough space to spread out if you're willing to walk a bit. Towels on the rocks, bags tucked away, everyone rotating between the water and just sitting back taking it all in. It does get busy. No way around that. This isn't some hidden, quiet spot. But it never felt overwhelming, just lively. There's an energy to it that works. Families, groups of friends, everyone there for the same reason, to cool off and have a good time. A couple practical things. Wear shoes with some grip. Those rocks are no joke. And keep an eye on your footing, especially with kids. It's fun, but it demands a little respect. What stuck with me is how simple it is. No overthinking, no production. Just water, rock, and gravity doing what they do. You show up, you get in, you laugh a little, maybe get knocked around once or twice, and you leave feeling like you actually did something with your day. If you're anywhere near Sedona and it's warm out, this is an easy call. It's not polished, it's not quiet, and that's exactly why it works.

Entrance cost is quite high, even though it's reduced to $20 from October-April. It's $30 the rest…read moreof the year. That's the time when most people enjoy the water and spend more time within the park. I guess it's a good place to take a family as the walk is easy and you can do a picnic here. We were here for less than an hour as I didn't find much to do. We walked the short Clifftop Nature Trail, which had signs for the different plants. Then we went down to the Slide Rock Swim Area. It was a nice view, but there are nice views all around Sedona that comes with a lower price tag.

My favorite Arizona hike because it makes you cross the creek 13 times, meaning you are hopping on…read morerocks across the creek, 13 times. Plus it's beautiful. You start low in the gorgeous canyon and get higher, the creek gets wider. Very beautiful where ever you look at any point. Wear hiking boots, or water resistant hiking sneakers in case you miss a rock. $15 parking free at the park, national parks pass does not work here, it's a local park. Enjoy! Soak it all in.

The views were amazing. We hiked roundtrip 6.9 miles and some water crossing spots were trickier…read morethan other reviewers claimed. There were 13 small creek bed water crossings so wearing water proof shoes/boots. Most families turned around about 1.5 miles in. I personally wouldn't take a child under 7. If I were to come back I would wear rubber boots and actually walk down the creek bed. You get the same views less effort - my opinion.

Oak Creek Canyon Vista Overlook sits right at that transition point where the road climbs and the…read morelandscape suddenly opens up. You're driving, maybe half paying attention, and then it hits you. You pull over almost on instinct. This isn't a long hike or a full-day commitment. It's immediate. You step out, walk a few yards, and the entire canyon drops away in front of you. Oak Creek Canyon stretches out below like a living map, winding through layers of red rock, green patches of forest, and shadowed cuts that shift depending on the time of day. The elevation here gives you a different perspective than what you get down inside Sedona. You're not surrounded by the formations. You're above them, looking out across the whole system. It changes how you read the landscape. You start to see how everything connects. The road threading through the canyon, the way the rock walls rise and fall, the contrast between desert and greenery that somehow coexist in the same frame. The light does a lot of the work here. Early morning is sharp and clean, pulling out detail and texture. Midday flattens things a bit, still impressive but less dramatic. Late afternoon is where it really settles in. The sun drops, shadows stretch across the canyon, and the reds deepen into something richer. It's the kind of view that keeps evolving the longer you stand there. There's usually a steady flow of people, but it never feels overwhelming. The overlook is wide enough that you can find your own space, lean against the railing, and just take it in without feeling rushed. There's a calm to it, even with others around. What I like most is how effortless it is. No planning, no gear, no commitment beyond pulling off the road. And yet the payoff feels like something you had to work for. It delivers that sense of scale Sedona is known for, but in a way that's accessible to anyone who shows up. You don't stay for hours, but you don't leave right away either. You take a few photos, then a few more, then you stop taking them altogether because you realize it doesn't translate. Some places are like that. Five stars, easy. It's one of those stops that turns a drive into something you remember.

Very beautiful overlook. It was a little crowded, but there was more than enough parking, even for…read morea Saturday. Beautiful views. There are bathrooms there. Very basic but does have running water to wash hands. Excellent views, great for graduation pictures, will be back again!

Part of the West Fork Trail the remnants of the Lodge take you back to a wonderful time in history…read more Many famous people stayed here over the years a few being President Herbert Hoover, Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable and Walt Disney. It operated from about 1925-to the late 60s. There were beautiful apple orchards and a few trees still remain to this day. When it was no longer able for keep up it was sold to the US forestry Service. Unfortunately a fire tripped through in the 80s destroying most of the structures. Now you'll find remnants of a beautiful fireplace and foundation walls, and parts of the root cellar. The views are amazing and after many hikes on this trail it remains a favorite. Parking can be very hard to get. The parking lot is small and fills up quickly. I highly recommend getting here quite early to ensure a spot. You are in the canyon so there is no street parking nearby.

Great mile out. Mile back hike. Took the littles! It's a little rocky but we managed. It wasn't…read morecrowded when we went and found parking on the side of the road so we didn't have to pay. Don't suggest taking up your littles to the top if you don't feel comfortable with heights.

We had help finding our way. GPS stops working so have it downloaded. Could use a sign but the…read morelittle scramble up and down is worth the view. Saw javelina on the way back to trailhead.

I love this little watering hole! This was our first time but it won't be our last. It was nice and…read morepeaceful. The walk down has a lot of stairs and big boulders to get to the water. So if you're not comfortable coming down and going up stairs you might want to skip this one. There are shallow and deep parts here so it's nice for everyone, swimmers and littles who prefer shallow water. The parking area is small which is nice so it doesn't get over crowded. Parking is $5 per vehicle. America the Beautiful pass is also accepted for day use parking.

Great place to spend the day and pack a lunch, work on crossword puzzles, and take a nap . Be sure…read moreto buy your parking pass when you arrive. The ranger stops by often. Restrooms. Picnic tables. Easy walk to the creek.

Joyce is amazing. She comes prepared for any age of child and keeps them entertained for the entire…read moretime. My two children were 4 & 6 and she had them doing different, fun activities without tv or screens for the entire 5 hours. I am so grateful for her energy and care while attending to them. I am from out of town. I was apprehensive to go with someone off of Yelp but I was sincerely joyful to find Joyce. She's a retired Pediatric Nurse and my children were in fabulous company. Thank you, Joyce!!

We had the opportunity to have Joyce take care of our three kids (6 and 2 years old) in Sedona so…read morewe could attend a wedding. Joyce is awesome! She had toys and educational materials for both age ranges. The kids usually watch TV, but they were so engaged, they had no need for it! The kids, especially the older one, took to her immediately. By the time we came back, Joyce had fed the kids and tucked them in. Joyce was a lifesaver. She is flexible, easy to work with and her rates are very reasonable. I would highly recommend her!

The whole staff was very informative, helpful, friendly, pleasant, and kind. They set up our…read moretablet with the best directions and trails. The Polaris Turbo was so much fun to be in, first time being in the turbo. Our 8hrs went by quickly, the scenery was beautiful, even saw some Elk and deer out. Overall our Group had a blast and we'll be back! Thank you so much ATV rentals for a wonderful and memorable Sunday

The staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. They explained everything and helped make our day on…read morethe trail successful.

This was my favorite hike we got to do in Sedona on our weekend trip! The trail has a mix of shade…read moreand sun, and when doing it in the early morning it is not too bad. The trail has beautiful views of the red rocks throughout. The signage is also pretty clear. We hiked to Subway Cave via Boynton Canyon Trail (4.8 miles). If this is the trail you are doing, just make sure you turn off to go towards Subway Cave instead of continuing on Boynton Canyon Trail. We got to Subway Cave around 9 am and this was the latest I would say it is safe to get here. On our way down from taking pictures there was a long line forming to get up to the top for the last scramble. If you are debating if you should scramble up to the top or not, do it! The view is jaw-dropping! I would definitely recommend this hike!