Sedona is nestled between the massive, fire-hued rocks of Red Rock State Park and the lush gorges of Oak Creek Canyon. The dusty, semi-arid topography is the base for giant, striped monoliths that take on shades from bright red to pale sand and seem to change color with each passing cloud or ray of sunshine. Since most of the rock is sedimentary, the portrait is constantly eroding and changing shape. Verdant Oak Creek Canyon, with juniper and cypress trees lining a clear stream, provides a sharp contrast.

Inspired painters, sculptors, and other creative souls flocked to Sedona and now call the area home. An established art colony, Sedona boasts ubiquitous galleries and studios that display residents' artistic endeavors. Alongside artists live spiritualists, who embrace the energy set forth by such natural splendor. Sedona is purportedly home to several vortices, specific fields that emit energy upward or inward from or to the earth. Found at various locations, these natural power fields are thought to energize and inspire.

The town received its name in 1902, from T. Carl Schnebly, one of the first settlers in the area. Schnebly wanted to establish a post office, yet both names he submitted to the postmaster general—Schnebly Station and Oak Creek Crossing—were deemed too long for a cancellation stamp. At the suggestion of his brother, he decided to name the town after Sedona Arabella Miller Schnebly, his wife. Her mother, Amanda Miller, claimed to have made the name up because "it sounded pretty".

The Schneblys weren't the first ones to reside in Sedona. Ancient cliff dwellings found in the area were constructed by the Southern Sinagua people (Spanish for “without water”) around A.D. 1130-1300. Two of the largest cliff dwellings, Honanki and Palatki, still retain a number of pictographs in the shapes of animals, people and various designs.

Sedona is the starting point for hikes and scenic drives throughout red rock country. From the vista point on the Mogollon Rim to Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon Drive (SR 89A) winds through the canyon, offering a continuous display of natural beauty, including the area's signature-colored rock formations as well as sudden changes in vegetation. Oak Creek flows between 1,200-foot-tall canyon walls toward the red rocks of Sedona.

A Red Rock Pass is required for parking when visiting or hiking the many scenic areas in Sedona. Passes may be purchased at the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. A daily pass is $5, and a weekly pass is $15. Federal Inter-Agency passes are available at self-serve machines at various trailheads, at the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, the Red Rock Ranger Station Visitor Center, and Oak Creek Overlook. Some restrictions may apply.