Sedona, AZ: I have been working hard and need to take a break. I want to go to Sedona in the next week or so by myself. I have searched for private guides and I have not been...

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I have been working hard and need to take a break. I want to go to Sedona in the next week or so by myself. I have searched for private guides and I have not been successful. I don't want to go on one of the Pink Jeep tours and I don't want to buy 9 seats for privacy because they still travel in groups. I don't want to go on a thrill ride. I want to go an make shots at great locations during both twilights. I've considered renting a jeep but I don't know how safe it would be or if it would be wise. I don't know the area. I have a Tundra TRD Pro and can navigate unimproved roads easily but I don't want to attempt rock climbing. If you have experience or relevant information I would appreciate some input.

wanderingbear Loc: San Diego

OK. We go to Sedona yearly. Both winter and summer. You don't need a guide. You can get to 90% of all the areas you might want to go to. roads are very good. Many people go to the Vortex areas. Great visuals from any of them. All you need is a simple map showing theses spots. None require and extensive climbing. One of the very scenic to start with is the Airport Vortex. Drive up and park. Enjoy the view. Another is the Church in the Rock A further suggestion would be to go on up Oak Creek Cyn. to Flagstaff, near the top are some canyon look outs. Beauty abounds as you will see. Enjoy

Bear

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

A private guide would be your way to go. Check to see if there is a photo club in Sedona. Someone there would be glad to show you around. Just maybe one of our hoggers lives nearby.

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

DavidPine wrote:

I have been working hard and need to take a break.... (show quote)

David, go to user list and choose find by location. There are 4 people listed from Sedona.

howlynn Loc: pueblo west, co

David try 'www.susiereedphotos.com', she is a local.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Somebody here on UHH reccomended this photography guide in 2015, for our last trip:

https://www.amazon.com/Photographing-Southwest-2-Arizona-Laurent-Martres-ebook/dp/B006G75N7Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487978638&sr=1-3&keywords=laurent+martres

Excellent site suggestion and driving directions for the whole region.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Thanks everybody. I appreciate the suggestions and recommendations. I bought the book on Amazon. I feel better about my trip. I'm going to wander about alone for about 10 days. I've had about 4 days off in the past two years.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

DavidPine wrote:

Thanks everybody. I appreciate the suggestions and recommendations. I bought the book on Amazon. I feel better about my trip. I'm going to wander about alone for about 10 days. I've had about 4 days off in the past two years.

David, Sedona and the surrounding area is so very beautiful that once there, the first question you may ask yourself is why you didn't take a whole month off.

Have fun and enjoy!!!.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

That's exactly what I hope I experience. I've also decided to bop over to Monument Valley. Thank you.

tdekany wrote:

David, Sedona and the surrounding area is so very beautiful that once there, the first question you may ask yourself is why you didn't take a whole month off.

Have fun and enjoy!!!.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

DavidPine wrote:

I have been working hard and need to take a break.... (show quote)

This was my youthful stomping ground.
I believe you responded to the previous post a couple of weeks ago just under my list but here it is again:
I have my own Jeep and go where they go and thousands of additional places. Your Toyota should be able to go to simple unimproved areas and roads. Never ever go OFF road as the destruction to the environment is irreparable. I never ever did this in my whole life.
Schnebly Hill Road, Tlaquepaque Shopping Center (This takes a day to explore and photograph), The green Arches of MacDonalds (The only ones in the USA), Chapel of the Holy Cross, Old Town Sedona, Bell Rock, Red Rock Crossing. Expanding the circle. Drive up Oak Creek Canyon (Are you able to walk on uneven ground?) there is a steel arch bridge with wonderful trails from it one up a side canyon, Continuing up there is Indian Gardens then Slide Rock. Continue up to West Fork and the ruins of the Mayhew Lodge and the old cave they kept milk and butter in and the old swimming pool. Cross West Fork from there and there was a trail to an old 1800's pioneer cabin and an absolutely beautiful pond they built in a beautiful setting and their spring coming out of the hill you can drink the crisp cool water. Then just wander up West Fork and it takes a day (I have taken years though). Cave Springs Campground is worth a visit and directly across from it is a beautiful side canyon. It had a road at one time and there is an old model A rusting with trees growing through it. Also there are old turn of the 19th century inscriptions in the cliffs there and the walk is absolutely fantastic, if you are motivated the trail goes to the top pf the rim. Then got to the switchbacks and you can see the old original wagon road in the hillside and at the top you can look back down the canyon.
You will also be close to Montezuma Castle, Montezuma Well, Tuzigoot Indian Ruins near Cottonwood, Copper Museum (An incredible museum hidden in the small town of Clarkdale) then eat at the best Mexican food restaurant in northern AZ at Su Casa. While there might as well visit Jerome which is an art colony now that was a ghost town, see the moving jail and the Jerome Grand Hotel. It is supposedly haunted but stay on the third floor looking over the Verde Valley it is the insane floor and has an incredible common balcony that lets you sit and talk with others staying on the same floor. Lots of fun. Old Town Cottonwood, Page Springs Fish Hatchery is a beautiful location and very interesting.
I know there are many other tourist traps but I have personally found the places I listed as personal favorites from some one who lived in the area (We have a nice 4 bedroom house in Oak Creek Canyon) and years of exploration, again I know of hundreds of other places in the canyon and West Fork including beautiful caves and hidden trails including to the ruins of the logde lodge where Zane Gray wrote some works at and also wrote about and up the beautiful hidden canyon behind it. Sunset Crater and the Ice Caves with visitor center. Walnut Canyon Indian Ruins north near Flagstaff, Wupatki Indian ruins are incredible. Also if you feel adventurous there are many forest roads that you can get maps for that the Forest Service publishes and are available at better outdoor shops. Most should be usable by your vehicle. I always had a Jeep though and never worried but never anything else so I do not know your vehicle capabilities. These roads that you to areas that virtually no one goes to in the Sedona area. Great scenery north of Flagstaff where all the volcanoes are Drive to the near top of San Francisco Peaks for another seldom visited place that is beautiful.
Enjoy your trip.

Wilderness Images Loc: Apache Junction, AZ.

One of the best ways to get to know the Sedona area is to talk to people who have been there. If that's not possible, find out first hand where to go and what to see by searching the internet. This is a popular hiking area and here is link to one of the more popular hiking sites which is frequented by hikers with a passion for telling it all and lots of exceptional photos of their experiences.... https://hikearizona.com/
While waiting for the sunset hour, I highly recommend visiting Tlaquepaque for a photo experience https://www.tlaq.com/

Jack Olson "Photos by Jack"
https://www.facebook.com/Images.in.the.Wilderness/

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Hi Architect1776: Where is Su Casa (which town)? We will be there in a month. Thanks.

Architect1776 wrote:

This was my youthful stomping ground.
I believe you responded to the previous post a couple of weeks ago just under my list but here it is again:
I have my own Jeep and go where they go and thousands of additional places. Your Toyota should be able to go to simple unimproved areas and roads. Never ever go OFF road as the destruction to the environment is irreparable. I never ever did this in my whole life.
Schnebly Hill Road, Tlaquepaque Shopping Center (This takes a day to explore and photograph), The green Arches of MacDonalds (The only ones in the USA), Chapel of the Holy Cross, Old Town Sedona, Bell Rock, Red Rock Crossing. Expanding the circle. Drive up Oak Creek Canyon (Are you able to walk on uneven ground?) there is a steel arch bridge with wonderful trails from it one up a side canyon, Continuing up there is Indian Gardens then Slide Rock. Continue up to West Fork and the ruins of the Mayhew Lodge and the old cave they kept milk and butter in and the old swimming pool. Cross West Fork from there and there was a trail to an old 1800's pioneer cabin and an absolutely beautiful pond they built in a beautiful setting and their spring coming out of the hill you can drink the crisp cool water. Then just wander up West Fork and it takes a day (I have taken years though). Cave Springs Campground is worth a visit and directly across from it is a beautiful side canyon. It had a road at one time and there is an old model A rusting with trees growing through it. Also there are old turn of the 19th century inscriptions in the cliffs there and the walk is absolutely fantastic, if you are motivated the trail goes to the top pf the rim. Then got to the switchbacks and you can see the old original wagon road in the hillside and at the top you can look back down the canyon.
You will also be close to Montezuma Castle, Montezuma Well, Tuzigoot Indian Ruins near Cottonwood, Copper Museum (An incredible museum hidden in the small town of Clarkdale) then eat at the best Mexican food restaurant in northern AZ at Su Casa. While there might as well visit Jerome which is an art colony now that was a ghost town, see the moving jail and the Jerome Grand Hotel. It is supposedly haunted but stay on the third floor looking over the Verde Valley it is the insane floor and has an incredible common balcony that lets you sit and talk with others staying on the same floor. Lots of fun. Old Town Cottonwood, Page Springs Fish Hatchery is a beautiful location and very interesting.
I know there are many other tourist traps but I have personally found the places I listed as personal favorites from some one who lived in the area (We have a nice 4 bedroom house in Oak Creek Canyon) and years of exploration, again I know of hundreds of other places in the canyon and West Fork including beautiful caves and hidden trails including to the ruins of the logde lodge where Zane Gray wrote some works at and also wrote about and up the beautiful hidden canyon behind it. Sunset Crater and the Ice Caves with visitor center. Walnut Canyon Indian Ruins north near Flagstaff, Wupatki Indian ruins are incredible. Also if you feel adventurous there are many forest roads that you can get maps for that the Forest Service publishes and are available at better outdoor shops. Most should be usable by your vehicle. I always had a Jeep though and never worried but never anything else so I do not know your vehicle capabilities. These roads that you to areas that virtually no one goes to in the Sedona area. Great scenery north of Flagstaff where all the volcanoes are Drive to the near top of San Francisco Peaks for another seldom visited place that is beautiful.
Enjoy your trip.

This was my youthful stomping ground. br I believe... (show quote)

Ron F. Loc: Missouri

David,

I've been to Sedona several times, I was there in Dec. Last summer I hired Larry Lindahl to take me to places you probably couldn't find on your own. He's written a wonderful book entitled "Secret Sedona". It's got wonderful photos and describes short and long hikes around the area.
You can purchase the book online or locally in Sedona. I would highly recommend him for a private tour. His phone number is 928-202-1661.
You'll have a great time there.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Thank you for the details. I sincerely appreciate it.

Architect1776 wrote:

This was my youthful stomping ground.
I believe you responded to the previous post a couple of weeks ago just under my list but here it is again:
I have my own Jeep and go where they go and thousands of additional places. Your Toyota should be able to go to simple unimproved areas and roads. Never ever go OFF road as the destruction to the environment is irreparable. I never ever did this in my whole life.
Schnebly Hill Road, Tlaquepaque Shopping Center (This takes a day to explore and photograph), The green Arches of MacDonalds (The only ones in the USA), Chapel of the Holy Cross, Old Town Sedona, Bell Rock, Red Rock Crossing. Expanding the circle. Drive up Oak Creek Canyon (Are you able to walk on uneven ground?) there is a steel arch bridge with wonderful trails from it one up a side canyon, Continuing up there is Indian Gardens then Slide Rock. Continue up to West Fork and the ruins of the Mayhew Lodge and the old cave they kept milk and butter in and the old swimming pool. Cross West Fork from there and there was a trail to an old 1800's pioneer cabin and an absolutely beautiful pond they built in a beautiful setting and their spring coming out of the hill you can drink the crisp cool water. Then just wander up West Fork and it takes a day (I have taken years though). Cave Springs Campground is worth a visit and directly across from it is a beautiful side canyon. It had a road at one time and there is an old model A rusting with trees growing through it. Also there are old turn of the 19th century inscriptions in the cliffs there and the walk is absolutely fantastic, if you are motivated the trail goes to the top pf the rim. Then got to the switchbacks and you can see the old original wagon road in the hillside and at the top you can look back down the canyon.
You will also be close to Montezuma Castle, Montezuma Well, Tuzigoot Indian Ruins near Cottonwood, Copper Museum (An incredible museum hidden in the small town of Clarkdale) then eat at the best Mexican food restaurant in northern AZ at Su Casa. While there might as well visit Jerome which is an art colony now that was a ghost town, see the moving jail and the Jerome Grand Hotel. It is supposedly haunted but stay on the third floor looking over the Verde Valley it is the insane floor and has an incredible common balcony that lets you sit and talk with others staying on the same floor. Lots of fun. Old Town Cottonwood, Page Springs Fish Hatchery is a beautiful location and very interesting.
I know there are many other tourist traps but I have personally found the places I listed as personal favorites from some one who lived in the area (We have a nice 4 bedroom house in Oak Creek Canyon) and years of exploration, again I know of hundreds of other places in the canyon and West Fork including beautiful caves and hidden trails including to the ruins of the logde lodge where Zane Gray wrote some works at and also wrote about and up the beautiful hidden canyon behind it. Sunset Crater and the Ice Caves with visitor center. Walnut Canyon Indian Ruins north near Flagstaff, Wupatki Indian ruins are incredible. Also if you feel adventurous there are many forest roads that you can get maps for that the Forest Service publishes and are available at better outdoor shops. Most should be usable by your vehicle. I always had a Jeep though and never worried but never anything else so I do not know your vehicle capabilities. These roads that you to areas that virtually no one goes to in the Sedona area. Great scenery north of Flagstaff where all the volcanoes are Drive to the near top of San Francisco Peaks for another seldom visited place that is beautiful.
Enjoy your trip.

This was my youthful stomping ground. br I believe... (show quote)

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Thank you.

Wilderness Images wrote:

One of the best ways to get to know the Sedona are... (show quote)