Recommend: Hiking boots, sun screen, backpack for water bottle, and long pants…read more Park and ride shuttle parking lot filled up before 10AM. Go early if you are a morning person. This will help to finish the hike before noon. If you are not a morning person, download the Sedona shuttle app, follow the shuttle into the lot for a parking spot. The trail up to the cathedral rock can be narrow and steep at some sections. Going up is more difficult than coming down based on our experience. The view at the top - spectacular!

It's a great hike, views are great. The transportation can be a bit challenging. If the parking lot…read moreis full and the shuttle parking is full, you will need to park in uptown and take another shuttle. Spent more time getting to the trail head vs. the time on the hike.

Actually just visited this spot yesterday, it was really neat. Definitely a hidden gem in Sedona,…read morecan't wait till that restaurant is built out. We took some great pics, and like they said, you really cant get that particular angle of that mountain peak anywhere. Best of all, there was no charge to visit, shopping center was really enjoyable too, definitely stop in on your next trip to Sedona.

"Dagot'ee" (Welcome) and "Ashoog" (Thank you)…read more These are the greetings in the White Mountain Apache Language that you will likely feel when you visit Fort Apache Historic Park for it is a captivating destination that unveils the rich tapestry of history. Walking its grounds connects one to what happened in the past. It was a military outpost in the late 19th century site from the 1800s. This park honors the legacy of a turning point in history between the Apaches and the US Cavalry. Exploring the preserved buildings from over a century ago, over twenty in total, tell their tales. A museum and cafe also sit among the remnants of an Indian boarding school run by the Bureau of Indian Education. Quarters that sheltered officers and barracks for the ranks, with an old graveyard too, show both hardships and triumphs of those who made this place home. Each structure recounts stories of the Apache and soldiers who coexisted through changing times. Today, Fort Apache stands as proof of history that came and links cultures still alive. If you love history like me and want to learn about the life of the Apache tribe from the past to the present, this should not be missed. I, myself, frequent the park every time I pick up my mails since the post office is housed in one of the old structures. Outside the post office, you can also pet friendly dogs of families staying in those barracks. They love to get some treats too.

Fort Apache is a "must see" for those desiring to learn more about western expansion in the 1800s…read more Many buildings are well-restored and so many others remain from that period that you can imagine how the fort was "back in the day". Most interesting is that the Apaches welcomed the US Army into the stunning valley. One registers at the museum for a nominal fee and then you are free to roam all the property including the original site where the commanding officer lived as well as the continuously functioning US Post Office. And, do not miss lunch in the Arrowhead Cafe. The menu is brief but the food is yummy and freshly prepared. Adjoining the cafe is a shop for products made by Native Americans, even handmade clothes and fabrics to make some. We've lived the Arizona for 40 years and should have come much sooner. Also, a school has been on the property since 1920 and has been continuously occupied since then.

This cave is located in Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Since it is super popular, you have to…read moremake reservations on their website so that it's not overcrowded and to limit the disturbances to the cave. It gets pretty busy so make sure to set an alarm when the tickets get released. It's a 2.2 mile out and back cave, although if you're too tired or scared you can always turn around and head back. The deeper in the cave I went, the fewer the visitors. The process is pretty straight forward. Once you get checked in at the parking lot entrance, park and walk to the orientation tent where they ask if any of the clothing you are currently wearing has been to another cave (to avoid the spread of white nose syndrome in bats) and also some basic orienteering. They also have flashlights for rental if you forgot. These are really powerful flashlights so I highly recommend it since your cellphone light isn't going to cut it. It gets pretty chilly in there so bring jackets even if it's hot on the surface. The cave flooring is pretty even although there are some dips you might trip on if you're not prepared. No scrambling or anything strenuous. Very fun!

I was taken along on this trek last minute, thinking it would be a simple hike down to just chill…read moreinside the cave. I was wearing jeans and regular street sneakers. I also had no flashlight or headlamp of my own - I was reliant on two friends with flashlights. I totally acknowledge that I was completely unprepared, so take this review with a grain of salt and use your own judgment. HAVING SAID THAT...even if I knew what I was getting myself into, I still would have hated it and probably never gone. I am a "dirt trail with pretty views" kind of person so this was a nightmare for me. We climbed down the rocky cave entrance for about 5-10 minutes before fully leaving the light. I had to constantly watch where I was stepping so as to not step on a loose rock, fall and break my ankle. And it's really fun trying to "watch where you step" IN THE DARK. At the point where the decline ends and the entrance light is fully gone, I could have stopped, enjoyed the novelty of being in darkness and 50 degree moist air, and headed back. My friends convinced me that it "gets flat" soon...it does not get flat. I eventually had to head back because I was starting to panic. Later, I realized we didn't even make it a quarter of the way so I'm really glad I went back. This is NOT a beginner excursion. I was shocked to see children and elderly people coming down the cave entrance as I was leaving. I would NOT recommend this unless you are physically fit, healthy, and brave.

Montezuma Well is a separate unit of Montezuma Castle National Monument. It's 20 minutes east of…read moreMontezuma Castle and well worth a stop! There's no entrance fee, but there's a small ranger station at the trailhead and a very enthusiastic volunteer who gave as an orientation speech of the human history of the area and the geology of the area. Without him, the visit would have been less impressive. The water in the sinkhole contains high levels of arsenic and carbon dioxide, so no fish are in the water...but don't worry there are plenty of leeches! Don't enter the water because of that, and also because you do not want to disturb the five species endemic to this spot of water. They're found nowhere else. Interestingly enough, there's near-constant volume of spring water even in times of severe drought, which would have seemed miraculous to the people who lived here. If you look from the rim, you can see several prehistoric dwellings right under the rim on the other side. Hiking down gets you close to more dwellings. Well worth a trip, especially as it's less crowded than the Castle.

My friend and I stopped to see the Montezuma Castle first. This Well is only a couple miles up from…read morethe Castle. It is another short trail loop to see the Well and it's FREE (no entry fee). It's a amazing site when you reach the top of the well with the view of the well and dwellings. There is a board with some facts. The best part though was there was a wonderful, very friendly Park Ranger stationed at the top to answer any questions and to talk about the Well and surroundings if interested. She also told us of the hidden path to actually go down onto the well. We were there around 3pm, on a Monday and there were no crowds at all. A must see!

First off, some of the signs pointing to the entrance of this place are flat out incorrect. Second…read moreoff, it's not worth it to buy a $5 pass. The main attraction really is the mansion so just buy a $18 pass which gives you access to the mansion tour as well as the outside grounds (which is what the $5 pass gives you access to). As for as museum goes, the subject material isn't that interesting: it's about a random wealthy family. Imagine a 100 years into the future we have a museum about a random millionaire. Our tour guide, Marco, was fantastic and great at answering questions for our little group of 4. The mansion really is just a showcase of how a wealthy person's home from the early 1900's. You get a glimpse into their business and personal lives as well as the type of furniture employed in the household. The tour was interactive and nice. The self guided tour is just literally walking around the mansion so there isn't too much to see but it makes for a nice, short walk. Overall, I think that there are more interesting museums out there. But if you're looking for a super quiet museum to browse, this would be the place.

Brenden did an EXCEPTIONAL job giving us a private tour of the mansion. He was full of facts and…read morestories. The artifacts & history packed into this mansion are so cool! You really got a sense of who these people were and how well they lived. The grounds are stunning and we really enjoyed the outside self guided tour. We were there two hours and I'd go back in a heartbeat!

This was completely mind blowing We were a family of three…read moreand we completed it with no issues going to the island trail. To see the canyon on both sides, the sunny side and the shaded side was a big difference. I do recommend taking your time going up the stairs because you will be out of breath. But it is completely worth it for the views The staff was absolutely wonderful. They even have people walking down the trails. Would totally recommend

This is a cool place where you can see structures left by Native people (prehistoric culture…read moreSinagua) although there are also artifacts from the Archaic peoples before them who did not reside permanently in the canyon. There is a visitor center and two trails here. The Rim trail at a pretty even 0.75 miles is great for people who want a stroll that follows the canyon rim (out and back trail). You can see the structures from the rim, but it's even better with binoculars. The Island trail is slightly longer at 1 mi, but a steeper 185 vertical feet into the canyon with a whole bunch of stairs at the beginning, and returns the same way. I guess people get too tired to climb back up since there are numerous signs warning of the steep climb back. The trail begins at the back door exit of the visitor center, which they close at 4 pm (the entire monument closes at 5 pm, so they don't want anyone to start the trail and get locked in). Both trails were great and they had informational signs along the way. I really liked the Island trail since you get up close and personal with the structures. The visitor center was standard - offering a gift shop, bathrooms outside, and information about the history and significance of the area. The ranger staffing the information desk was pretty patient with the group of tourists and determining if they were fit to do the Island trail. It's a totally different vibe from the Grand Canyon, so don't expect huge views.

This Memorial is located within the Green Valley Park, across from the stage. You can see it from…read morethe playground. This is a reverential memorial to the people that gave their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces, and in the Merchant Marine. The plaques on each wall are moving. Definitely worth stopping by.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I'n just now learning how Snoopy Rock got its name but now that I…read moreknow, I'm glad we made it a first Sedona climb. As we progressed in the hike we progressively noticed that this is not exactly your traditional Sedona hike. We pushed to the "top", well as high as we could go without bouldering, but we noticed that increase in elevation meant decrease in cairns and markers. About 3/4th of the way up they virtually disappeared. Everything became...unclear That being said, although a moderate hike, this trail is perfect for newer boulders and those who love exploration. Pro tip: make sure you have all trails handy when hiking!

Nice almost flat walk on a fairly well marked trail from the parking lot up to close enough to…read moreSnoopy for us to hold a little dog ceremony. One of Pearl's 11 puppies of 4 months old, all of whom were placed in good homes across the country, got away and was struck and killed by a car. So we brought mom and the dad, Oyster, up to Snoopy for a farewell ceremony for Brutus. A worthy send off for a special puppy.

Decided on a Sunday drive to Payson. After lunch we drove to Monument Peak Loop Trailhead for an…read moreeasy hike as it was 82 degrees. The parking lot is very small. We shared it was four other vehicles. The trail signage is perfect. The hike is partially shaded but more sun then shade. It is an easy 3.4 miles. If you take the loop counter clockwise, the beauty is in the last mile. We truly enjoyed this hike and recommend it for something easy and close to the city