We chased the sun for years during our full-time travel years. Heading south to Florida or Arizona for the winter months, escaping the grey skies and snowy seasons. For us, RV living is better suited to temperate climates and an ability to expand our living space into the outdoors.
Arizona is by far our favorite winter destination, returning year after year, we found ourselves centering our travels around Tucson. It wasn’t until our last year of full-time traveling that we struck the perfect balance between an early winter stay in southern Arizona and then a quick drive north to Sedona for the spring months.
Exploring Sedona
Sedona is one of the most dynamic places we have ever visited. The melding together of spirituality, scenic vistas, and sunshine is almost too perfect. Springtime brings cool nighttime and temperate daytime temps, with sunshine bringing additional warmth and light during the lengthening days. Most tourism websites note that April or May are the best months to visit Sedona, but we found that March into April has ideal hiking weather, less crowds, and the off-chance that you will get to witness a light dusting of snow falling on the red rocks: a sight that is worth the occasional chilly morning.
We have coined our identities in Sedona as our best selves, because among the red rocks, we found our balance in full-time RV life. We woke early, hiked most mornings, visited cultural and spiritual spots many mid-days, ate delicious foods in the afternoon, and then worked in the evenings. We often sat outside, extending our small living space to accommodate more activities in and around our RV. We enjoyed learning about the history, meeting local communities, and experiencing everything Sedona has to offer.
Beginner-Friendly Hikes in Sedona
As with almost anywhere we have visited, hiking has played a major role in falling head over heels for any place we spend time. Sedona remains, to this day, at the top of our list for places to experience the great outdoors. Trails range from a 100-foot walk along a path to dozens of gruelling miles to summit one of the many rock formations scattered throughout the area. We were beginning hikers during our first stay in Sedona, but here is where we began attempting longer and more challenging hikes. Here are some of our favorites, ranging from shortest to longest, that we would all note as accessible to a beginner hiker:
- Bell Rock Trail: Bell Rock is one of the most popular sites in Sedona and can be seen from the passing highway. A short walk from the parking lot will yield many photo opportunities, a walk around Bell Rock will give you many viewpoints, and a trek up the formation can bring you closer to the aliens that are rumored to live in a different dimension directly above the top. There are many stories like this related to the rock formations in and around Sedona. It is part of the full experience to chat with locals about their experiences and beliefs that have been built through stories about Sedona.
- Courthouse Butte Loop: Courthouse Butte was one of our first and remains our favorite hike in the Sedona area. A little less crowded than Bell Rock, you can park in the Courthouse Vista Parking Lot. This hike is 3.5 miles with around 350 feel of elevation change. All elevation change is gradual and the path is well marked. Our favorite thing about this trail was the diversity we found in walking around the butte. The trail begins as dirt with epic views of both Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, but soon we found ourselves walking across the red rocks and stopping to admire the twisting trees, small shrub bushes, and the bold blue sky above us. We knew we wanted to take our time on this hike, so we packed a picnic breakfast. There were plenty of places to stop and enjoy our bagel sandwiches. We love how Courthouse Butte seems to tower over the landscape and that we can tangibly see the effects of sun and shade on the surrounding plant life. This is a great hike for beginners, but also anyone wanting to explore a less popular path around a larger rock formation.
- Devil’s Bridge: Devil’s Bridge is another popular hike with a big payoff. Becoming Instagram famous about a year before we arrived in Sedona for the first time, we knew to arrive early. Even at 5:30 am on a weekday, with barely any light in the sky, the parking lot was filling up. We began our hike as the sun broke the horizon, and we stopped frequently to admire the changing light in the sky. One thing about Sedona is that it is unlike anything we have ever seen anywhere else. The colors and textures, and general scenery of the area stole our breath over and over and over again. This hike has been done a couple of times, too. With just over 500 feet of elevation gain, it had a few spots that required a large step up or steady footing on the dirt path. As beginning hikers at the time, it was a doable and yet moderate hike for us. Well worth the challenge, when you get to the bridge area, there is a line of people all waiting for the famous solo shot on the bridge. We waited our turn and trekked out to the thinnest part of the natural arch, while the person in line behind us snapped several photos.
Why We Love Sedona as Full-Time Travelers
Sedona sticks with us, years after our time there. Even writing this blog makes us think about planning a return trip to Sedona, getting on trails we haven’t tried, and visiting sites we haven’t seen yet. We love everything about our Sedona selves because being in this area pushed us outside, both literally and figuratively. Sedona offers a window into a spiritual world that begins in wonderment. Aliens, crystals, and Stupas: we found something to learn and experience on and off the trails in Sedona. There is something about the trails in and tales of Sedona that embed themselves into your being.
Ready to Discover Sedona?
