Pink Plankton

Sedona is a small desert town in the state of Arizona.  I absolutely love desert landscapes, they are my favorite places to photograph and explore. So when the opportunity arose to visit Sedona, I gladly accepted.   The town is well known for its beautiful, gigantic, red rock formations, which you'll see below, although the photos really don't do it justice.  It is definitely a place you must see for yourself. 

I spent four days here in August of 2021, but easily could've stayed longer.  My days were spent hiking and evenings were spent chasing sunsets and stargazing.  There are over 200 trails in the area.  Some are super popular and get pretty packed, but if you venture off the beaten path a bit, you can find one all to yourself. 

If you plan on visiting from afar I'd highly recommend renting a car, as you will need your own transportation to get to the trailheads and other attractions.  For accommodation I stayed in a VRBO for the first time and it turned out to be the best vacation rental I've ever stayed in.  Don't hesitate to book Sedona Zen Garden if you ever visit.   

Here are my favorite shots from the trip: 

Cathedral Rock in Sedona

One of the very first hikes I did was the Cathedral Rock Trail.  This is one of the most popular trails, as Cathedral Rock is iconic to the area. 

Cathedral Rock in Sedona

view from Cathedral Rock in Sedona

man posing in front of spire in Cathedral Rock in Sedona

If you make it all the way to the top, you will arrive at this spire. It's a pretty cool photo op!

girl sitting near spire in Cathedral Rock in Sedona

girl doing yoga pose on Cathedral Rock in Sedona

Me signature posing.

Cathedral Rock in Sedona

Cathedral Rock in Sedona

person hiking Cathedral Rock in Sedona

people hiking Cathedral Rock in Sedona

view from Cathedral Rock in Sedona

Cathedral Rock in Sedona

Sedona road with red rocks

Just the most scenic roads everywhere you go!

House in Sedona with red rocks in backyard

I really enjoyed driving around the residential neighborhoods and looking at the houses. They each have this desert style and some, like this one, have gorgeous backdrops.

Bell Rock in Sedona

This is Bell Rock, another really iconic rock and trail.

view from Bell Rock in Sedona

Bell Rock Sedona

view from Bell Rock in Sedona at sunset

Sunset here is absolutely beautiful. Although it's a popular spot, there is more than enough room to find a quiet place to yourself.

 

Cacti and red rocks in Sedona on Sugar Load TrailThe next few photos are from Sugarloaf Loop Trail.  There was practically no one else on this trail when I went. 

view from Sugar Loaf trail in Sedona

view from Sugar Load trail in Sedona

The view from the top with the residential areas down below.view from Sugar Load trail in Sedona

tall plant in Sedona on Sugar Load Trail

view from Sugar Load trail in Sedona

road and red rocks of Sedona in car mirror

sunset at Yavapai Vista in Sedona

This was one of my most memorable sunsets to date. This area is called Yavapai Vista. I hiked up here expecting it to be a busy spot, but there was no one! I had this giant ledge and view all to myself.  This was my last evening in Sedona and I was able to reflect on what I'd gained from the trip. The colors were also unbelievable!

sunset at Yavapai Vista in Sedona

I decided to stay until it got dark to capture the stars. I'm so pleased with this shot. Sedona has been recognized as an International Dark Sky Community.  You could see the Milky Way just as clearly from right outside my house.  The efforts they have put in place to reduce light pollution really do make a huge difference.

Milky Way and stars over Sedona

Overall, this short trip to Sedona was everything I had hoped for. I got to spend a few days alone, in nature, disconnected from my everyday life, and take some beautiful photos of rock formations. I was super sore from hiking by the end but it was well worth it!