Discover Sedona Scavenger Hunt
Discover the red rocks of Arizona with a scavenger hunt across Sedona. Frame Cathedral Rock against a blue sky, find the spires of Bell Rock, climb to the Chapel of the Holy Cross built into the cliff and browse the galleries and patios of Uptown. Sedona is all sandstone buttes, desert light and famous energy vortexes, made for a jaw-dropping group photo around every bend.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
Uptown Sedona
Navigate to Uptown Sedona along Highway 89A and check in among the galleries and shops.
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2
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Drive south to the Chapel of the Holy Cross off Highway 179 and check in at the chapel approach.
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3
Bell Rock
Drive to the Bell Rock viewpoint or trailhead off Highway 179 near the Village of Oak Creek and check in.
Challenges (17)
Sedona kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Sedona backdrop (a red-rock butte, a juniper tree, an Uptown adobe storefront) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Uptown Sedona
Navigate to Uptown Sedona along Highway 89A and check in among the galleries and shops.
Uptown red-rock frame
Uptown Sedona has red-rock buttes rising right behind the main street. Take a group photo with the team in front of a storefront and the red rocks towering above.
Trivia: who Sedona is named after
When the first post office opened in 1902, the town was named after the wife of the first postmaster, Theodore Schnebly. What was her first name (the name the town now carries)?
Answers: sedona / sedona schnebly
Checkpoint: Chapel of the Holy Cross
Drive south to the Chapel of the Holy Cross off Highway 179 and check in at the chapel approach.
Chapel of the Holy Cross pose
The Chapel of the Holy Cross rises straight out of a red-rock cliff, with a huge cross built into its glass front. Take a group photo with the chapel and the cliff behind you.
Trivia: Chapel built
The Chapel of the Holy Cross was built into the red rocks as a modernist landmark. In what year was it completed?
Answer: 1956
Checkpoint: Bell Rock
Drive to the Bell Rock viewpoint or trailhead off Highway 179 near the Village of Oak Creek and check in.
Bell Rock silhouette
Bell Rock is a bell-shaped butte and one of Sedona's famous vortex sites. Take a group photo with the whole team framing the bell shape behind them.
Cathedral Rock view
Cathedral Rock is the most photographed formation in Sedona, a cluster of red spires. Find a viewpoint (the Back O' Beyond area or the Crescent Moon overlook) and take a group photo with the spires behind you.
Trivia: Sedona elevation
Sedona sits in Arizona's high desert, cooler than Phoenix below it. Its elevation is roughly 4,300 feet. To the nearest hundred, how many feet above sea level is it (answer between 4300 and 4400)?
Answers: 4300 / 4400 / 4350 / 4360
Tlaquepaque arts moment
Tlaquepaque is a Spanish-style arts village of courtyards, fountains and galleries. Find a piece of public art, a sculpture or an arched courtyard and recreate the scene with your team in the photo.
Juniper and prickly pear
The Sedona desert is full of twisted juniper trees and prickly-pear cactus. Find a striking desert plant and take a creative group photo with it (no touching the cactus).
Sedona foodie or treat
Find a Sedona treat (a prickly-pear margarita or lemonade, a Southwestern plate, a local ice cream) and take a group photo with everyone taking the first bite or sip at the same time.
Vortex pose
Sedona is famous for its energy vortexes. At any red-rock viewpoint, have the whole team strike a dramatic "feel the energy" pose with arms raised toward the rocks for the camera.
Local Sedona tip
Convince a local Sedona resident or shopkeeper to share a tip about the area (a quiet trail, a sunset spot, a gallery). Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Sedona finale
Final challenge. Find a stunning Sedona spot (a red-rock overlook at golden hour, Airport Mesa, a Cathedral Rock viewpoint) and take an amazing closing group photo. Cheers from red-rock country!
Frequently asked questions
Three to four hours covers Uptown Sedona, Tlaquepaque, the Chapel of the Holy Cross and viewpoints of Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock at a relaxed pace. Sedona is spread out, so this hunt mixes a walkable Uptown core with a few short drives between the famous red-rock landmarks.
A car or rideshare helps. Uptown Sedona and Tlaquepaque are walkable, but the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Bell Rock and the Cathedral Rock viewpoints are a few miles apart along Highways 89A and 179. Plan short drives between those checkpoints, then explore each on foot.
Yes. The route works for any age and most challenges are photo-based at viewpoints and in Uptown, with no hard hiking required. If your group wants to walk closer to the rocks, the Bell Rock pathway and the Chapel approach are short and well-marked. Bring water, hats and sun protection.
Sedona is famous in New Age circles for "energy vortexes" said to sit at spots like Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock and Boynton Canyon. Whether or not you feel the energy, they make great photo and challenge stops with spectacular red-rock views. The hunt treats them as scenic landmarks.
The red rocks glow most intensely in the early morning and the last hour before sunset, when low sun deepens the sandstone colours. Midday is bright and harsh. If you can, time the hunt so your finale lands near golden hour at an Airport Mesa or Cathedral Rock overlook.