Red Rock State Park

The heart of the park is Oak Creek, which flows down from the pine country to the north through Sedona's red-rock canyons and on toward the Verde River. Because it carries water all year, its banks support a lush green corridor, a riparian forest of tall trees and dense understory that could not exist without the stream. In the desert Southwest such places are rare and precious.

Above that green ribbon rise the red cliffs and buttes that make Sedona famous. The park's trails weave between the two, along the shaded creek and out through drier meadows with open views of the formations. That constant interplay of cool water and warm rock is what gives the park its distinctive, restful character.

The red-rock country around Sedona lies within a landscape long known to Native peoples, including the ancestors of today's Yavapai and Apache, whose descendants are enrolled in the Yavapai-Apache Nation, as well as earlier cultures whose cliff dwellings and rock art survive in the wider region. The permanent water and sheltered canyons of the area made it a place worth knowing and returning to.

In more recent times the land that became the park was a working ranch along Oak Creek, and later it was set aside and developed as a state park focused on environmental education. That purpose shapes everything about the place today, from the ranger-led walks and school programs to the restraint that keeps it green and quiet rather than crowded and worn.

The riparian corridor along Oak Creek is one of the best places near Sedona to watch birds. Water-loving and woodland species gather in the trees and along the banks, and migrating birds pass through with the seasons, making the park a favorite for birders. Herons, hawks, songbirds, and many others can be seen with patience and binoculars.

Beyond the birds, the creekside woods and adjoining meadows shelter deer, javelina, and a range of smaller desert wildlife, most active in the cool of morning and evening. The nature center and interpretive walks help visitors understand how the creek, the plants, and the animals fit together, turning a pretty walk into a deeper look at how the high desert lives on its water.

Spring is green and mild, with the creekside trees leafing out and birds passing through on migration, a lovely time for the gentle trails. Summer days can be warm, but the shade along the creek keeps the streamside paths comfortable when the open country is hot.

Fall brings golden cottonwoods and sycamores glowing against the red rock, one of the prettiest times to visit. Winter is cool and quiet, with crisp, clear days, occasional dustings of snow on the red cliffs, and the fewest visitors of the year, ideal for a peaceful walk beside the water.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.