Sedona/Red Rock Recommendations?

I'm going on a trip to the Phoenix area later this spring for business but will have much of the day free on the day I get into town. I'd like to make a trip to Sedona in my off-time. Naturally I will bring my XT and lenses.

I've seen lots of photos of the Red Rocks and Oak Creek Canyon (see, e.g. http://www.sedona.net/index.cfm?go=Photos , but most of the websites I've seen provide information primarily about lodging, places to eat, paid tours, etc., and little information about the best scenic hikes. Any recommendations (like how to find Cathedral Rock or Bell Rock or other particularly stunning formations and views)?

Thanks!

I haven't spent enough time in Sedona to offer any suggestions, but I've found that the Photograph America newsletters can have some good tips for places to shoot, maps, etc. He's got one that's all about Sedona and at $8.50 for the PDF, it's probably worth the small investment (though I haven't seen it, so buyer beware). You can check it out at http://www.photographamerica.com/issue67.htm

Hope this helps!

As you enter Sedona there is a pull off at Bell Rock. In the afternoon the light is great for taking pictures. Here is a picture (reduced size) I took of our tour bus. I was using a Polarizing filter here. It is now on the Cardiff website.. http://www.cardifflimo.com/



If you take the Jeep tours out of Sedona you might want to take precautions to protect your camera from the fine red dust..This is really a problem if you go up into Monument Valley

I used a rain cover. There are several on the market but this is the one I bought. They ship and you get 10 days to decide if you want it. If you do you just sent them a check. If you don't you just return it.

http://abetterphotoguide.bizhosting.com/camera_rain_covers.html

There are several along the main street of Sedona.
Pink Jeep is probably the largest. The one in the picture uses Hummers.

Was their 2 years ago and there are lots of photo ops. Lots of roads around Sedona go out into the red rocks and be sure to go up Oak Creek Canyon to the north. You will have more places to take pics than time. If you can get a little more time the Grand Canyon is about 2 to 3 hours north. See Sedona first or it will be anticlimatic after the Grand Canyon.

Good shooting Bill

Thanks for the tips, everyone! I was hoping we would be able to see the Grand Canyon, but we're staying in Phoenix, so that's really too far for a there-and-back-in-one-day trip, considering that we won't even be able to make it to Sedona until about 1 p.m. or so. We'll have to save the Grand Canyon for a real vacation and maybe hit a couple of the National Parks in southern Utah too. I saw the Grand Canyon when I was 16, and I remember it being jaw-droppingly spectacular; my wife's never seen it. I'm just itching to get there now that I have a decent camera.

Any additional thoughts or recommendations on the Jeep tours (expense, length, specific companies, etc.)? I take it that it's a better option than hiking--which we also are willing to do.

jthiegs said:

Any additional thoughts or recommendations on the Jeep tours
(expense, length, specific companies, etc.)? I take it that it's a
better option than hiking--which we also are willing to do.

Click to expand...

If your willing to hike then spend most of your time doing that. I've never done a jeep tour, but have driven every road the tours take and have far more interesting and beauful shots taken while hiking compared from roadside.

Al

Also many of the roads the jeep tours take can be driven on by a non-4WD non-super low clearance vehicle when they are dry. Just be very aware of the weather forcast and turn around before the road gets sketchy - rain can make a passible road terrible even for 4wd. It can be quite embarrasing and costly (and possibly dangerous in warmer or colder months) to get stuck. I'm not suggesting you do it, just saying it can be done. If you go to the ranger station and learn of good hikes in the area, a good number of them have trailheads starting from graded dirt roads and the ranger can give advice if a 2wd vehicle can make it to the trailhead or the conditions of a particular road.

Fire risk is severely high, some areas may be closed. Also don't drive on any road that is not marked/numbered or pull off roads in non-designated parking areas and damage roadsides and plant life.

Al

The jeep tours are off road 4 wheeling tours and not on paved roads.

You can fly through it, jeep over it or do the eco friendly ride a horse or hike it.

As I mentioned the main street of Sedona is lined with tour operators.

here is a link to one of the tour operators ..

http://www.redrockjeep.com/index.php?action=article&id=18

Here is a link for hiking if you have the time

http://www.sedonaarizonahiking.com/index.html

I live in the Phoenix area. I recommend spending an enitre day doing the following, but if you can't, you might want to still try to get in as much of this as possible. If you are coming from Phoenix, I recommend driving up I-17 toward Flagstaff but skip the Sedona turn-off. Just before you get to Flag you'll see an exit for the Flagstaff Pullian (spelling?) airport. It is also an exit for Arizona highway 89A. At the top of the ramp, make a left to head toward 89A. You'll need to make another left after you pass over I-17 to turn onto Hwy 89A. This will lead you back toward Sedona through the beautiful Oak Creek Canyon. It will add at least an hour to your trip. Just before you start entering the canyon, there will be a scenic lookout stopping area you can turn into on your left. This has some great views of the canyon. Following Hwy 89A will lead you directly into downtown Sedona. If you want to do some hiking, I recommend a trail along oak creek called the West Fork trail. It's about 1/2 the way between the lookout and Sedona. There will be a parking lot (with a fee) on your right where you can stop and park and catch the trail head. If you are short on time, you may not want to do this. In the middle of Sedona, you'll come to a "Y" in the road with a traffic light. This is the intersection with Hwy 179. You'll come back to this later as it will take you to Bell Rock and lead you back to Phoenix. Stay right at the "Y". Go just under a mile past the "Y" and look for Airport Rd. You'll want to make a left and drive up towrad the airport. It is on top of a mesa (mountain with a flat top) and you can get some great views along the road. When you come back down the road, make a left at 89A. Go several miles to Compactor Rd. Make a left. Go to Red Rock Loop Rd. Follow the signs to Red Rock State Park. There is a small fee to get in here. This is where Cathedral Rock is located and is the sight of several Western movies. Oak creek passes right in front of the beautiful rock formations - it makes for some great pics. Leave the way you came in and head back toward the "Y". If you have any time left (probably not), you can make a left (go north) on Dry Creek Rd. Take that to Boynton Canyon Rd. This will lead you to the site of some Indian cliff dwellings. If not, head back to the "Y" and make a right turn onto Hwy 179. Follow this rd. It will take you right past Bell Rock. After Bell Rock, there is not much more to see, but stay on Hwy 179 and it will take you back to I-17 and back to Phoenix. Enjoy your trip!

PS. The jeep tours is also a good idea.

I copied it for future reference..Agree the Oak Creek Canyon is spectacular.

Seems that time is a constrain on the original post. Won't get to Sedona until 1:00pm.

Leaves around 4 hours to hit the highlights.

As we saved our touring for Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon, I would be at a loss to recommend one tour over another but with the time element it seems the best option.

Anyone here done the tour thing and can recommend which one provides the best photo ops???

Pink Jeep Tours is a must IMHO! Here is a shot I took with my Canon S50 back in November of 2004:



--
http://350xt.blogspot.com/

but to recommand the 10-22mm EF-S.

that lens would totaly rock in that area. (pun intended)

you could also rent it for a week and the 17-40 at

http://www.rentglass.com/shop.aspx?type=Canon

and see what work best for you.

jthiegs said:

I'm going on a trip to the Phoenix area later this spring for
business but will have much of the day free on the day I get into
town. I'd like to make a trip to Sedona in my off-time. Naturally
I will bring my XT and lenses.

I've seen lots of photos of the Red Rocks and Oak Creek Canyon
(see, e.g. http://www.sedona.net/index.cfm?go=Photos , but most of
the websites I've seen provide information primarily about lodging,
places to eat, paid tours, etc., and little information about the
best scenic hikes. Any recommendations (like how to find Cathedral
Rock or Bell Rock or other particularly stunning formations and
views)?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

--



http://www.pbase.com/zylen

Great suggestion! Unfortunately, they are currently out of stock of that ultrawide-angle zoom and the closest Sigma equivalent. I did sign up for their automatic e-mail notification of when they have more available. I just wonder whether I will ultimately be able to time it in a way that will work with our trip. Looks like a great service, though. I could always rent from a good local shop, but that would cost $70 for the four days I'd need it. Then again, what's a great picture worth?

Sold! I booked a tour with Pink Jeep. As summersr noted in a post above, we'll only have at most six hours until sunset. While I prefer hiking, there's just no way, given those time constraints, that we'd be able to get on foot to the places it appears we'll be able to visit through the Jeep tour. I'm excited! -Joe

Terrific recommendations, BernieK. Thanks for the thoughtful post. I'm going to try to use as much of it as I can cram into our trip. Note that we've also decided to do a Jeep tour, so that will help. Thanks! -Joe

As I stated in an earlier thread, we saved out Jeep trip for Monument valley.

The fine red dust along the roads of Monument Valley is a camera killer if you didn't take steps to protect it between shooting.

Pink Jeep Tour - Did you have similar conditions on the back roads of Sedona or was it fairly dust free??

When I went to Sedona in November of 2004 the trails were dust free...at least I did not notice any. Could be because it was colder and more moisture in the air then during dry, warm weather.
--
http://350xt.blogspot.com/

Here are a few panos from few years ago in Sedona. (at a panoramic photography conference)
http://www.fullscreenpanos.com/sphpblog/index.php?d=24&m=07&y=15&category=1

This one is a rare foggy morning (requires Quicktime VR)
http://www.fullscreenpanos.com/qtvrcode/2005/0507/041112a-sedona.html
Had a few inches of rain the day before this.

Tons of good restaurants all over town, so make sure you have some time to eat while you are there. You can get an inexpensive state park parking pass so that you can park at the pull offs and do short hikes. There is a nice overlook of the city from near the airport, if you want a really early morning, do a sunrise shot from there and grab breakfast at the airport (although that is not one of the many great restaurants)

Church on the rocks is another spot to hit.

--
David Goldwasser
http://www.inertia-llc.com
http://www.fullscreenpanos.com