So I’ve been meaning to hit Sedona for ages but man, those tour prices? Ouch. Figured there HAD to be free stuff worth doing. Grabbed my beat-up hiking boots and one questionable hat, ready to prove myself wrong.
The Free Stuff Mission Begins
First up? Bell Rock Pathway. Free parking? Score one for me. Just rolled right up early, like 7 AM early. Seriously folks, get there early. The light hitting those red rocks? Insane. Walked the main path easy, then kinda scrambled up a bit. Didn’t summit Bell Rock cause honestly? That looked sketch without gear. But the view even halfway? Worth the zero dollars.
Next, hit Courthouse Butte Loop. Same free parking lot! Bonus! This loop though… wow. Longer than I expected. Pack more water than you think, seriously. My two bottles barely cut it. The trail wraps you right around those massive formations. Felt tiny. Just walked and stared. Took me about 2.5 hours cause I stopped for photos a ton. Best part? Silence. Just wind and birds.
Finding More Free Gems
Midday, needed shade. Drove toward Oak Creek Canyon. Not swimming, obviously (permits cost money!), but Slide Rock State Park has this pull-off before the entrance booth. Parked free, walked down a short path. Found a spot by the creek, boulders everywhere. Dipped my hot feet in the freezing water. Absolute bliss. Just sat there eating my packed PB&J like a king. • Pro Tip: Bring snacks! Town prices are brutal. • Watch Out: Rocks are slippery! Almost took a comedy fall.
Later, chased sunset at Airport Mesa Vortex (the free one!). Everyone talks about the paid lookout. Nah. Found the free lot further up Airport Road. Small dirt lot. Parked. Hiked maybe 15 minutes up this dusty path. Boom. Panoramic Sedona view. People sitting quietly or doing yoga poses. Sat on a rock, watched the sun melt those rocks into pure orange fire. Zero cents paid. Perfect.
Wrapping Up The Free Tour
Tried finding some petroglyphs off Soldiers Pass Road too. Took a wrong turn – my fault, got distracted by a weirdly shaped cactus – and ended up near Brins Mesa trailhead. Hey, bonus view! Wind started picking up real bad though, so called it early.
- • Final stop: Chapel of the Holy Cross view. Didn’t park at the Chapel (money!). Parked safely on Chapel Road BEFORE it becomes private property. Walked 10 minutes along the road shoulder. Gravelly but safe. Got the iconic shot without paying the lot fee. Felt sneaky smart.
- • My shoes got destroyed. Red dust? Permanent.
- • Ate every single meal from my cooler.
- • Saw ONE rattlesnake (from FAR away!) and quickly backtracked. Excitement!
Honestly? Blew me away. Spent zero dollars on activities. Felt richer. Sedona’s crazy pretty views? Nature doesn’t charge admission. Sure my legs were jelly after Courthouse Butte, and my questionable hat lost its floppy fight with the wind… but man, proof’s in the packing. Do your prep, get there early, pack water/food/sunscreen like your life depends on it, and explore. Free Sedona magic is real.
Bottom Line: Businesses want your tourist bucks bad. Resist! Hike smart, park smart, look hard for the free pull-offs. It’s all there. Had more fun navigating for free than I ever would on some pricey jeep tour. My aching legs and dusty boots are my free trophies. Damn right it’s possible. Go find it!
