An Introduction to Sedona
By Robert DeMayo
Mention the Southwest to anyone these days and they’re not talking about the Grand Canyon, or Santa Fe; they are talking about Sedona, Arizona. Some are attracted by the breathtakingly beautiful buttes, spires, and canyons, others want to relax in a spa, take a jeep tour, or just enjoy the town. USA Today rated the ride down route 89A from Flagstaff to Prescott (right through Sedona and the Verde Valley) the most scenic in America.
We are not the first people to be drawn here either. Almost 8,000 years ago hunter/gatherers roamed the canyons while searching for the abundant food. Then came the Sinagua—a proud and resourceful people—who excelled in the area for hundreds of years, and then disappeared. Later arrivals include the Yavapai, the Apache, and the pioneers. The Coconino State Forest surrounds Sedona, and on many local walks the past feels just around the corner.
Modern day Sedona is the new-age capital of America with thousands of people coming to experience the famous “vortexes,” or just immerse themselves in the metaphysical community. Alternative medicine is firmly established with numerous natural, holistic-based healing practices such as hot-stones massage, Reiki, acupuncture, aromatherapy, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, and massage. Whether you want a Tarot card reading, some time for meditation and spiritual contemplation, or just need to get yourself grounded, you’ve come to the right place.
You’ve probably seen Sedona before and not even known it. This area has been featured in over 60 films, but in most cases it was referred to as Wyoming, New Mexico, California, even Canada. It wasn’t until The Rounders (1964), staring Henry Fonda, was filmed here that Sedona was called Sedona in a movie.
Modern stars are drawn to this area as well, and many have homes tucked away in the nearby canyons. There are also numerous galleries, coffee shops, and interesting stores to browse through. Outdoor activities include golfing, hiking, mountain biking, powershute flights, and horseback rides. Jeep tours are one of the best ways to get off into the canyons and climb right up on the rocks.
Over millions of years water carved out a natural corridor between Arizona’s northern plateau and the southern desert. Through this process, the sparkling water of Oak Creek, fed from springs and snowmelt up on the Mogollon (mug-e-on) Rim, eventually created Oak Creek Canyon. It is at the mouth of this canyon where Sedona is nestled. Below, and on all sides, is red rock country; 500 sq. miles of awe-inspiring beauty that stretches south right into the Sonoran Desert.
The town itself has less than 14,000 residents—nothing compared to the 5 million people who visit it annually—and building restrictions aim to keep the red rock views the main attraction. There are very few streetlights, no buildings over two stories, and everything must match the primary colors found in the rocks. This is the only place where you will find a McDonalds with teal arches. The city only allows a minimum of exterior lights so at night the stars are visible. Coyotes, Bobcats, Mule Deer, Javalinas, Black Bears, and even Mountain Lions live in this area and are often spotted just on the edge of town.
This well-preserved wilderness is made up mostly of Pinon Pines and Junipers, but near the creeks are old Sycamores and Cottonwoods. The brush is called High Chaparral and is very diverse because the area is a transition zone between the Colorado Plateau and the deserts to the south. From mixed conifer forest to desert grassland, the different habitats for plants and animals are incredible.
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