Introduction

There is nothing quite like Sedona. Drive two hours north from phoenix and you will quickly start to wonder whether you’re in the Arizona desert or on the planet Mars. Sitting in the middle of these vibrant orange rock formations, travelers will find the quaint desert town of Sedona. This place might be one of the last places you’d expect to embark on a spiritual journey but this place is renowned for offering an energizing experience. Sedona is home to a series of energy funnels called vortexes in which energy streams enter or exit the Earth. Energy vortexes like these are actually found at multiple points on our Earth. People travel from all over the globe to bear witness to these energy fields. For many years, the Native Americans that called these lands home believed that these vortex sites would bring about heightened self-awareness and spiritual healing as the energy fields allowed for easier access to the other dimensions. 

For this Sparked Travel post, I decided to leave the guide more open-ended and highlight more of the major points of Sedona. I chose to approach this guide in such a matter because that is the beauty of Sedona; once you are here, it is more up to your mind, body, and soul to decide what it is drawn to. But I assure you, there is something here for everyone. So, throughout this journey take some time to close your eyes and practice mindfulness allowing the energy to flow through you. And if these spiritual vortexes aren’t your style, Sedona has plenty of thrilling excursions and hikes to cleanse any mind of the day to day monotony.

When arriving into town, you will find that it is quite quirky with most buildings donning Sedona’s iconic turquoise accents. Sedona is actually home to the only Mcdonalds in the world to not have that iconic yellow arch; it’s turquoise of course. The town is home to many shops, restaurants, and tour companies. The shops are filled with little knick knacks, many paying homage to the surrounding vortexes or spiritual energy. This would be the perfect opportunity to pick out some of those healing crystals you’ve heard so much about. There are also many items that relate to the area’s deep Native American culture. One recurring figure is the Kokopelli which is depicted as a figure playing a flute along with antenna-like tendrils on its head. This deity represents growth, fertility, and joy making it one of the perfect representations of Sedona and its healing energies. If you are inclined, there are many adventure tours allowing visitors to rent ATV’s or hop on one of the iconic pink jeeps that take you deep into the Sedona backcountry. 

Vortexes

Sedona has well over 200 trails fit for exploring with the most popular trails leading right to the main vortex points. The most well-known are Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon. Bell Rock has an easy trail loop that is just under two miles that takes you around the entirety of the Bell Rock vortex; you will find that you can actually climb up near the base of the rock formation. The Airport Mesa trail is a 3.2 mile loop and in fact circles the small Sedona airport where you will get a glimpse of the private planes or helicopters flying in and out. There is even a restaurant there which makes a great spot for dinner while the sun sets on the beautiful landscape. The Cathedral Rock Trail is a more difficult trail being just over a mile but with a steep elevation gain. This out and back trail is arguably one of the more scenic trails of the vortex trails making the strenuous climb worth it. Finally, we have the Boynton Canyon trail which is the longest of the four sitting at just over 6 miles. The longer distance allows hikers to see more of the landscape and the walk can be quite meditative as each step you take brings you closer to the energy fields. Keep in mind that these are the most popular hikes and parking will be limited so make sure to get there early or hope to get lucky!