Birding in Sedona & Red Rocks, Arizona
The Verde Valley sits at the convergence of three distinct ecosystems — Sonoran desert, Colorado Plateau, and riparian corridor — and the result is a birding calendar that produces something different in every month. The area holds the largest population of Common Black Hawks in the United States, nesting along Oak Creek from April through August.
The Verde Valley sits at the convergence of three distinct ecosystems — Sonoran desert, Colorado Plateau, and riparian corridor — and the result is a birding calendar that produces something different in every month. The area holds the largest population of Common Black Hawks in the United States, nesting along Oak Creek from April through August. Peregrine falcons nest in the red rock cliffs above the creek. Red Rock State Park, a 43-acre former apple farm on Oak Creek, hosts 140 species year-round and runs guided bird walks through the riparian zone where kingfishers, herons, and orioles work the water.
Weather & Conditions
| Month | High / Low | Rain Days | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55° / 29°F | 5 | Good |
| Feb | 59° / 32°F | 5 | Good |
| Mar | 65° / 37°F | 5 | Good |
| Apr | 73° / 43°F | 3 | Peak |
| May | 82° / 51°F | 2 | Peak |
| Jun | 91° / 59°F | 2 | Peak |
| Jul | 95° / 65°F | 9 | Good |
| Aug | 92° / 63°F | 9 | Good |
| Sep | 87° / 56°F | 6 | Peak |
| Oct | 76° / 46°F | 4 | Peak |
| Nov | 63° / 36°F | 4 | Good |
| Dec | 55° / 29°F | 5 | Good |
Where to Go
Main commercial strip. Restaurants, galleries, tour operators, gear shops. Can be congested on weekends.
1.2-mile roundtrip scramble. Most photographed landmark in Sedona. Vortex site. Parking prohibited Thu–Sun — use shuttle.
Largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area. 4-mile roundtrip. Most photographed hike. Go early.
7-mile roundtrip through a box canyon. Vortex site. Shaded and excellent for wildlife and birding.
6.5-mile roundtrip along Oak Creek with 13 creek crossings. The most iconic canyon hike in Sedona. Shaded and cooler than other trails.
80-foot natural sandstone water slide. One of America's top ten swimming holes. Open year-round. Crowded in summer.
Shaded swimming hole at the base of Oak Creek Canyon. Smaller and wilder than Slide Rock. $15/vehicle.
43-acre riparian park along Oak Creek. Best single-site birding in Sedona. Guided bird walks and nature programs.
360-degree panoramic views of Sedona. Vortex site. Best sunset viewpoint in town. 3.3-mile loop.
Bell Rock Pathway — easy 1.2-mile loop with iconic formations. Vortex site. Village of Oak Creek.
The canyon north of Sedona toward Flagstaff. Swimming holes, birding, West Fork Trail, Slide Rock. Highway 89A runs through it.
Quieter southern area. Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and Buddha Beach swimming hole on Oak Creek.
Know Before You Go
A Red Rock Pass ($5/day, $15/week, or covered by America the Beautiful passes) is required at most Sedona trailheads and day-use areas including West Fork, Boynton Canyon, and Bell Rock. Purchase at the trailhead kiosk or at the Red Rock Visitor Center on Highway 179. Grasshopper Point charges a separate $15/vehicle fee not covered by the Red Rock Pass. Have both covered before you drive to the trailhead.
July and August monsoon storms can drop an inch of rain in twenty minutes, and that water moves through slot canyons and washes with no warning. West Fork Trail and any narrow canyon hike can flood from a storm that is miles away and invisible from inside the canyon. Check the National Weather Service forecast for the full watershed — not just the sky overhead — before any canyon hike from July through mid-September.
On peak season weekends, Cathedral Rock parking fills before 8am and Highway 89A through uptown backs up. The same trails on a Tuesday morning are genuinely quiet. If your schedule allows any flexibility, arriving Sunday evening and hiking Monday through Wednesday delivers a quality of experience that the weekend crowd does not get.
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Hotels & Lodges for Birding
Enchantment Resort
A luxury adobe-style canyon sanctuary featuring premier trail access and dramatic red rock backdrops.
Mii Amo
A world-renowned all-inclusive destination spa set in the red rock walls of Boynton Canyon.
L'Auberge de Sedona
An intimate, creekside sanctuary of wood cabins set under a canopy of sycamores.