Fall in Sedona: 10 Best Things to Do in October & November
We’ll admit it: fall might be our favorite time of year in Sedona.
There’s something about October and November in Northern Arizona that’s hard to beat. The intense heat of summer has faded, mornings are crisp, hiking weather is nearly perfect, and evenings are finally cool enough to make a hot tub, fire pit, or glass of local wine outside feel really good.
And then there are the colors.
Sedona may be famous for its red rocks, but fall brings another layer entirely. Cottonwoods turn brilliant yellow and gold, Oak Creek Canyon comes alive with changing leaves, and the contrast against the red rock landscape is spectacular.
If you're planning a fall trip to Sedona, here are some of our favorite ways to experience the season.
1. See the Fall Colors in Oak Creek Canyon
Yes, Arizona has fall colors!
Oak Creek Canyon is one of the best places near Sedona to see them. As temperatures cool, the canyon's oaks, maples, sycamores, and cottonwoods begin changing color, creating pockets of yellow, orange, and red beneath the towering canyon walls.
Because elevation varies throughout the canyon, the colors don't all change at once. That gives visitors a surprisingly generous window to catch them during the fall.
One of our favorite ways to enjoy the season is simply driving Highway 89A north through Oak Creek Canyon toward Flagstaff. Give yourself plenty of time—you'll probably want to stop more than once.
Local tip: Weekends can get busy during peak fall color. Go on a weekday or early in the morning if you can.
2. Hike West Fork Trail
If there's one Sedona-area hike that really shines in fall, it's West Fork.
The trail follows Oak Creek through a narrow canyon, crossing the creek multiple times beneath towering cliffs and trees. During fall, those trees transform the canyon into one of the prettiest places in Northern Arizona.
Unlike many of Sedona's exposed red-rock trails, much of West Fork is shaded, wooded, and tucked into the canyon. It almost feels like you've left Arizona entirely.
It's also extremely popular during peak foliage, so an early start is worth it.
3. Take Advantage of Perfect Hiking Weather
Fall is when hiking in Sedona gets really good.
October days are generally much more comfortable than summer, and by November, cool mornings make longer hikes especially enjoyable.
This is a great time to tackle some of Sedona's classics, including:
Devil's Bridge
Cathedral Rock
Bell Rock
Doe Mountain
Boynton Canyon
Soldier Pass
If you're planning Devil's Bridge and have an appropriate high-clearance 4WD vehicle, check out our guide to hiking Devil's Bridge like a local, where we share an alternate way to access the trail that can eliminate some of the extra road walking.
Whatever trail you choose, remember that the desert cools quickly once the sun goes down. Layers are your friend in fall.
4. Explore Sedona by Jeep or Bronco
Fall is also one of our favorite seasons for off-roading.
With cooler temperatures, you can spend much more of the day exploring the backcountry comfortably—and some of Sedona's best views aren't accessible from pavement.
There are trails ranging from relatively easy scenic drives to much more technical routes, so choose something appropriate for both your vehicle and your experience level.
If you don't have a 4WD vehicle, our friends at Arabella Off Road rent Jeeps and Ford Broncos built for exploring the area's backroads.
We've also taken one of their vehicles on the Copper Chief Trail from Cottonwood to Jerome—an adventure that combined off-roading, incredible Verde Valley views, Arizona mining history, and lunch in Jerome. You can read about that trip in our Cottonwood-to-Jerome off-road guide.
5. Spend an Afternoon in Arizona Wine Country
A lot of first-time visitors don't realize that Sedona sits right next to one of Arizona's wine regions.
Just south of Sedona, the Verde Valley is home to vineyards, tasting rooms, and wineries scattered throughout Cornville, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, and the surrounding countryside.
Fall is an especially beautiful time to visit. The weather is perfect for sitting outside with a glass of wine, harvest season brings its own energy to the vineyards, and the drive through the Verde Valley is gorgeous.
You can spend an afternoon visiting tasting rooms, wander through Old Town Cottonwood, grab dinner, and be back in Sedona that evening.
Or make wine country part of the stay itself—some of our vacation rentals are located right in the Cornville wine country area.
6. Take a Fall Day Trip to Jerome
If you've never been to Jerome, fall is the perfect time to go.
This historic mining town sits high on Cleopatra Hill overlooking the Verde Valley. Once a booming copper-mining community, Jerome is now filled with historic buildings, art galleries, quirky shops, restaurants, and plenty of stories about its colorful—and supposedly haunted—past.
October makes the town's spooky reputation even more fun.
Walk the winding streets, explore the shops, learn about the area's mining history, and stop for lunch or dinner with a view over the valley.
7. Watch the Sunset — Then Stay for the Stars
One of the underrated perks of visiting Sedona in fall?
You don't have to wait until ridiculously late to see the stars.
Earlier sunsets mean you can watch the red rocks glow during golden hour, have dinner, and still have plenty of time for stargazing afterward. Head over to my blog post about sunrise/sunset spots for some great ideas.
Sedona is an International Dark Sky Community, and once you get away from the brightest parts of town, the night sky can be incredible.
Even better: if you're staying somewhere outside central Sedona, you may not have to go anywhere at all. Some of our favorite nights are simply spent outside at the property, looking up.
Bring a blanket, turn off the outdoor lights, give your eyes a few minutes to adjust, and enjoy.
8. Have a Slow Coffee Morning
Not every Sedona morning needs to start with a sunrise hike.
Fall is perfect for slowing things down.
Throw on a sweatshirt, grab coffee from one of our favorite locally owned coffee shops, and spend the morning sitting outside before deciding what to do with the rest of the day.
We have an entire guide to our favorite local coffee shops in Sedona if you're looking for somewhere to start.
Sometimes a cool morning, hot coffee, and a red rock view are enough of an itinerary.
9. Enjoy Hot Tub & Fire Pit Season
This might be one of our favorite things about fall.
There's a point every year when Sedona evenings suddenly get chilly enough that getting into a hot tub feels amazing—and we've officially entered that season.
After spending the day hiking or exploring, come home, pour a drink, light the fire pit, or soak under the stars.
It's simple, but it's one of those experiences that makes a fall trip to Northern Arizona feel completely different from visiting during the warmer months.
And yes, this is absolutely one of the reasons we love having hot tubs and outdoor spaces at our vacation rentals.
10. Leave Some Room in Your Schedule
This may be our most important local recommendation.
Don't schedule every minute.
Sedona has plenty of bucket-list hikes and attractions, but some of the best moments here happen when you aren't rushing to the next one.
Take the scenic road you hadn't planned on taking.
Stop when you see an incredible view.
Spend longer at the winery.
Sit outside with your coffee.
Watch the sunset from the patio instead of racing to another trailhead.
Fall in Sedona is especially good for this kind of travel.
What to Pack for Sedona in the Fall
One thing that surprises visitors is just how much temperatures can change throughout the day.
You might be perfectly comfortable in a T-shirt during a sunny afternoon and reaching for a jacket a few hours later.
For an October or November trip, we'd recommend bringing:
Layers
A light or medium-weight jacket
Comfortable hiking shoes
Sunscreen
A reusable water bottle
Sunglasses and a hat
A daypack
Warmer clothes for evenings outside
And don't let cooler temperatures fool you—you still need plenty of water while hiking in Arizona.
Is Fall a Good Time to Visit Sedona?
We might be biased, but we think it's one of the best times to visit.
The weather is comfortable, the trails are inviting, wine country is beautiful, the fall colors add something completely unexpected to the desert landscape, and cool evenings are made for sitting outside under the stars.
If we were helping a friend choose between an October or November trip and another time of year, fall would be very hard for us to beat.
Come hike. Explore the backroads. Drink some Arizona wine. Find the fall colors. Sit under the stars.
And don't forget to leave a little time to do absolutely nothing.
That's fall in Sedona—and it's our favorite.
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