Red Rock State Park and Crescent Moon Ranch
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Red Rock State Park sits along Oak Creek just south of Sedona, offering a quieter, more low-key alternative to some of the area’s busier spots. We spent a few hours hiking a handful of miles through the park, where the trails offered great views, mellow terrain, and a nice balance of open stretches and shade. What stood out most to me was the contrast between the white bark of the Arizona sycamores and the surrounding red rock. The hummingbirds buzzing around the feeders near the visitor center didn’t hurt either.
Red Rock State Park
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Tucked neatly into the landscape is an old ranch house known as the House of Apache Fires. Built in the late 1940s, it was never fully completed. While there are efforts underway to restore it, the building is currently closed to visitors, leaving it as a quiet reminder of the area’s more recent past.
Red Rock State Park itself exists thanks to an unlikely moment. In 1980, then–Arizona governor Bruce Babbitt was hiking along Oak Creek and was told to leave because the land was private property. That encounter kicked off efforts to acquire and protect the area, eventually leading to the creation of the park. A fortunate outcome of being kicked off a trail.
Red Rock State Park may not be the biggest or flashiest stop around Sedona, but it’s absolutely worth a few hours.
For our final stop in the Sedona area, we visited Crescent Moon Ranch, also along Oak Creek. We followed the creek until it opened up onto a wide, flat stretch of red rock with a perfect backside view of Cathedral Rock. I was especially excited to catch a reflection of Cathedral Rock in the water.
Scattered around the area are remnants of an old ranch, including a water wheel and a few weathered structures tucked among the trees and red rock. It adds just enough history without distracting from the setting.
The real highlight, though, was spotting a Common Black Hawk perched near the creek, its feathers getting tossed around by the wind. They’re a rare sight, and this stretch of Oak Creek is one of the few places in the U.S. where they nest. A pretty great way to wrap up our time in Sedona.
Red Rock State Park itself exists thanks to an unlikely moment. In 1980, then–Arizona governor Bruce Babbitt was hiking along Oak Creek and was told to leave because the land was private property. That encounter kicked off efforts to acquire and protect the area, eventually leading to the creation of the park. A fortunate outcome of being kicked off a trail.
Red Rock State Park may not be the biggest or flashiest stop around Sedona, but it’s absolutely worth a few hours.
For our final stop in the Sedona area, we visited Crescent Moon Ranch, also along Oak Creek. We followed the creek until it opened up onto a wide, flat stretch of red rock with a perfect backside view of Cathedral Rock. I was especially excited to catch a reflection of Cathedral Rock in the water.
Scattered around the area are remnants of an old ranch, including a water wheel and a few weathered structures tucked among the trees and red rock. It adds just enough history without distracting from the setting.
The real highlight, though, was spotting a Common Black Hawk perched near the creek, its feathers getting tossed around by the wind. They’re a rare sight, and this stretch of Oak Creek is one of the few places in the U.S. where they nest. A pretty great way to wrap up our time in Sedona.