Sedona is one of our favorite spots to escape to as a family and we have been there countless times over the years. There are so many incredible places to explore and fun activities to do, keep reading to discover our favorite things to do in Sedona with kids!
*Updated January 2025
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase or book a reservation through the provided link then we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. We really appreciate your support!
14 Fun Things to Do in Sedona with Kids
Table of Contents
- Slide Down a Natural Rock Water Slide
- Cliff Jump at Grasshopper Point Swimming Hole
- Swimming at Red Rock Crossing
- Go on a Mystery Picnic
- Hike to a Hidden Cave at Soldier Pass
- Hike to Devil’s Bridge
- Take a Jeep Tour
- Drive on Disney Lane in Red Rock State Park
- Take a Trolley Tour
- Feed the Fish at the Hatchery
- Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross
- Eat under the Turquoise Arches
- Become a Cowboy for a Day
- Take in The Views at Airport Mesa
Slide Down a Natural Rock Water Slide
Slide Rock State Park is one of the most popular places to visit in Sedona with kids. Even though it can get pretty crowded during peak season, it is still worth a stop.
Your kids will love sliding down the natural rock water slide and splashing in the shallow river.
The surrounding red rock bank has plenty of space to set up a picnic spot and hang out for the day.
If you are craving more solitude, venture upstream until you find a secluded area to swim.
There are 200 parking spots in the lot and they fill up quickly during the warmer months so you’ll want to arrive early. Parking is not allowed along Highway 89A, so if the lot is full you’ll need to wait or come back later.
Check the State Park website for updated fees, hours, and visitor information.
Cliff Jump at Grasshopper Point Swimming Hole
Grasshopper Point is such a beautiful swimming hole. With towering red cliffs, sun dappled trees, and clear refreshing water, it is the perfect place to spend a hot summer day.
Even though it is not nearly as crowded as Slide Rock, the parking lot still fills up quickly in the summer, especially on the weekends. Plan to get there early in the morning, or later in the afternoon when people start leaving.
The attendant at the ranger station let us know that cars parking along the canyon road are often towed and ticketed, so she strongly advised against it.
There is a parking fee, check the National Forest Service website for updated fees, hours, and information.
Grasshopper Point is referred to as a “swimming hole and picnic area”, so I imagined that there would be a nice grassy area with sandy banks and picnic tables.
However, the bank is actually covered in large stones and boulders and we didn’t see any areas that would be good for setting up lunch. There is plenty of shade, though so no need to bring a shade tent.
The trail leading down to the river bank is also a little rocky and steep in some areas, so I would recommend wearing tennis shoes. We wore flip-flops and it wasn’t the best choice of footwear!
You’ll also want to wear water shoes or lightweight tennis shoes in the water since the river bottom is rocky. They’ll also be helpful if you plan to climb the rocks for cliff jumping.
We love that there are several ledges of varying heights for jumping, so it is perfect for different ages.
If you continue up the stream, there is an area just for swimming and not jumping. Just so you know, the water is freezing cold even in the summer!
Swimming at Red Rock Crossing
Red Rock Crossing at Crescent Moon Ranch is the most scenic swimming holes in Sedona with views of the stunning Cathedral Rock.
It is the perfect spot for families as there are several beaches with shallow swimming areas. The water also tends to be a little warmer than Slide Rock.
This swimming hole is located at Crescent Moon Ranch where you can find the original homestead and water wheel near the entrance. There are also picnic tables and grassy areas if you want to pack a lunch.
The parking lot fills up quickly during peak season and on the weekends, so come early or expect to wait. Check the Forest Service website for updated fees and visitor information.
Go on a Mystery Picnic
For a fun and delicious alternative to a traditional picnic, try a Mystery Picnic with Amazing Co!
The Mystery Picnic will take you on a food crawl through Sedona where you’ll solve clues to find different restaurants.
When you arrive at each location, they’ll have the dishes prepared and packaged for you to take with you. At the end, you’ll be directed to a scenic picnic spot where you can enjoy a delicious spread of local dishes.
I won’t give away the locations so that you can solve the clues on your own, but on our first stop we picked up platters for the main dish, at our second stop we picked up charcuterie boards for the appetizer, and our last stop we picked up drinks and dessert.
We had so much food that we were able to save some for leftovers for dinner that night! Our kids LOVED it, and so did us parents! It was such a fun way to try new restaurants and everything was delicious!
Hike to a Hidden Cave at Soldier Pass
There are so many great hiking trails to explore in Sedona with kids, Soldier Pass is one of our favorites.
The trail is about 4 miles round trip and although it is a little bit of a longer trail for kids, it is relatively flat. There are also nice shaded areas and plenty to see along the way.
There are only 15 parking spots available in the lot, so come early or hang out and wait for someone to leave.
The first stop you’ll come to is Devil’s Kitchen. It is a massive sinkhole located only 0.2 miles from the parking lot. This is the most active sinkhole in Sedona and has collapsed multiple times from 1880-1995.
If you continue along the trail 0.45 miles more, you’ll come to the Seven Sacred Pools. It is remarkable that these natural pools are always filled with water, even in the dry summer.
The next highlight is the secret cave. It’s a little tricky to find, but I tracked the distance on my watch for accuracy, so hopefully this is helpful.
After the pools, continue for another 0.65 miles until you come to a sign directing you to follow the Soldier Pass trail to the right.
After the sign, continue for another 0.25 miles until you come to a fork in the trail. The Soldier Pass trail continues to the left, but take the trail to the right to find the cave.
There will be some logs blocking the path, but it does not mean you are not allowed to enter the trail, it is just helping hikers not stray off the intended Soldier Pass trail.
Step over the log barricade and you’ll walk up to an open red rock mesa.
You’ll cross over the mesa and head to the right where you’ll see the entrance to the cave in the mountain.
It is 0.37 miles to the cave at this point, and it does get steeper as you make your way up.
My boys loved exploring in and around the cave, and it was a great place to cool off.
The best time to visit is when the sun is directly overhead filtering through the crack in the roof and illuminating the cave. We had just missed it, but it’s usually around 11:45 am in the summer. After you explore the cave, just head back the way you came.
You can also take a Jeep Tour on the Soldier Pass Trail or several other trails. This is a great option, especially when it is too hot to hike.
The Fay Canyon Trail is also a great hiking trail for kids and leads to secret overlook! It’s one of our favorite stops on an Arizona Hidden Gems Road Trip.
Hike to Devil’s Bridge
Sedona is spoiled when it comes to hiking trails. There are so many different ones to choose from, but Devil’s Bridge definitely needs to be at the top of your list.
The trail is either approximately 2 miles or 4 miles roundtrip, depending on if you have a high clearance vehicle that can take you to the trailhead.
If you don’t have a high-clearance vehicle, you can reach Devil’s Bridge via the Mescal Trailhead or the Dry Creek Vista Trailhead. Both trails are 3.9 miles round trip.
A small parking lot is located at each trailhead. If you are visiting Thursday-Sunday year round, the parking lot is closed and you will need to take the complimentary shuttle to reach the trailhead.
Cell service is spotty, so I highly recommend upgrading to AllTrails Pro so that you can download the trail map and use it offline.
If you do have a 4WD with high-clearance vehicle, you can drive for about a mile on Dry Creek Road until you reach the parking lot for Devil’s Bridge. From here, the trail is only 1.7 miles out and back.
Once you reach the bridge, you’ll find a massive sandstone arch. The arch looks more narrow than it actually is. It is safe to walk on, but use caution if you choose to walk on it with your kids.
This is a very popular trail and you’ll often have to wait for 30 minutes or even an hour to get a photo on the bridge. I recommend coming early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
This is one of our favorite hikes in Sedona. For more recommendations, see our guide 5 of the Best Hikes in Sedona.
Take a Jeep Tour
The Pink Jeep is an icon and their tours are one of the best things to do in Sedona with kids. From extreme off-roading to more scenic drives, there is something for everyone!
There are several tour companies to choose from, we opted to go with the Pink Jeep tour company.
We did the Scenic Rim tour and it was stunning, but there are plenty of tours to choose from.
I can’t think of a better way to experience the beauty of the red rock mountains than in the back of an open-air jeep with a knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide.
We bumped along backcountry roads and learned about the history of the area while taking in the incredible views. The ride was adventurous but not too harrowing, your kids will love it!
I recommend the late afternoon or early evening tour. The way the sun illuminates the red rock at the golden hour is just breathtaking.
If you want to explore the red rocks on your own, consider renting an ATV. There are several different rental companies to choose from. We have rented from Outback ATV Rental before and loved exploring on our own.
There are several scenic trails to choose from that aren’t too technical if you don’t have a lot of off-roading experience.
For more information and recommendations, see our guide, How to Spend a Weekend in Sedona.
Drive on Disney Lane in Red Rock State Park
Rumor has it that Walt Disney had a vacation home in Sedona. Red Rock State Park supposedly served as inspiration for Thunder Mountain.
It is also said that the twisted vortex trees inspired the scary forests in Fantasia and Snow White.
Whether it’s true or not, Red Rock State Park is a gorgeous place to take a scenic drive or go on a hike. You can even take a drive on Disney Lane!
If you’re in the mood for a hike, try the Eagle’s Nest Loop Trail. This 2.4-mile round-trip trail leads to the highest point in the park.
Take a Trolley Tour
The Sedona Trolley offers a fun, unique, and informative tour. I know I love scenic drives, but my kids don’t really care for them. However, taking a scenic drive on a trolley makes it much more exciting for them!
We went on the 55-minute scenic drive to Boynton Canyon. It’s a beautiful drive and I enjoyed learning more about the history of the area.
I will say, when we did the tour it was cold so they had the window coverings one which took away from the experience. If you do this tour, try to plan it when the weather is nice so that you get the full open-air experience.
Feed the Fish at the Hatchery
The Page Spring Fish Hatchery is about 10 miles south of town in Lower Oak Creek Canyon. It’s a great place to take kids for an informational afternoon outing.
This is the largest state-run fish hatchery in Arizona. Over half of all of the trout that is stocked in Arizona’s rivers and lakes come from this single hatchery.
Entrance is free and you can learn more information at the visitors about how the fish are used to stock local ponds and lakes.
You’ll also have a chance to see about a dozen large tanks filled with hundreds of fish in various stages of growth.
A highlight for kids is feeding the fish. For .25 cents you can buy a handful of pellets to toss in the pond. It’s hard to tell just how many fish are in the feeding pond until you throw some food in and witness the mad frenzy with fish jumping everywhere!
There is also a walking trail through the riparian area along the river and picnic tables are also located on-site.
If you’re interested in catching fish, the Sedona Rainbow Trout Farm located north of town is a great place for kids to experience fishing. The pond is well-stocked so you’re guaranteed to catch a fish!
There is a small fee to use the pole and bait, then you pay per length of the fish you catch. No catch-and-release is allowed. For an additional fee, they will clean the fish and you can also purchase a grill kit and enjoy a picnic of freshly grilled fish!
Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross
I always appreciate the opportunity to expose my kids to different religions and cultures, so it was worth a quick stop at this remarkable church.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is Roman Catholic chapel built into the red buttes and offers spectacular panoramic views.
The church is a national historic monument and an architectural treasure. In fact, it was named one of the Seven Manmade Wonders of Arizona.
You can view the exterior from the road just a few miles south of Sedona, but it is worth parking and walking up to the chapel.
The chapel is relatively small but features a wall of windows overlooking the valley below.
Marguerite Staude brought her vision of this chapel to life and welcomed all as she declared, “Although Catholic in faith…its doors will ever be open to one and all regardless of Creed”.
Visitors are welcome inside during open hours, but enter with respect and reverence.
*Related post: While you’re in the area, be sure to make a stop at Jerome Ghost Town and the charming town of Cottonwood!
Eat under the Turquoise Arches
The McDonald’s located at 380 W. State Route 89A is the only McDonald’s in the world that doesn’t have golden arches!
Dining under the turquoise arches is a unique experience, and if your kids are anything like mine, a Happy Meal from McDonald’s is pretty much the greatest thing in the world!
Become a Cowboy for a Day
For a real Western experience, your kids will love spending a day at M Diamond Ranch where they can experience horseback riding and a cowboy cookout.
Blazin M Ranch also offers a variety of ranch activities at their frontier town, along with the option for a chuckwagon dinner.
Take in The Views at Airport Mesa
Who would have thought that the airport would boast one of the most scenic views in all of Sedona? It’s the best no-hike viewpoint in the area !
Take the Airport Road as it winds around the airport to the Airport Mesa Overlook. From here, you’ll be able to see panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, including Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Chimney Rock, Snoopy Rock, Courthouse Butte, and more.
Sunset is the best time to visit and you can also grab a bite to eat at Mesa Grill while you’re there.
There is limited free parking, but you can park at the airport for a small fee. You’ll also find several hiking trails in the area.
We hope this guide will help you discover some fun and unique things to do in Sedona with kids, and will help inspire your next family vacation!
Pin it for later:
[…] (And if you’re traveling with kids, be sure to check out our guide 15 Fun Things to do in Sedona with Kids!) […]