5 Fantastic Adventures to Have in Oak Creek Canyon
Oak Creek Canyon is a 12-mile long gorge between Sedona and Flagstaff. This gorgeous canyon is in the Coconino National Forest and is a popular scenic drive in Sedona. The Canyon attracts thousands of visitors a year and is beautiful in any season.
If you drive to Flagstaff from uptown Sedona it is about 28 miles through Oak Creek Canyon.
You’re driving through Oak Creek Canyon—where should you actually stop?
Originally published March 12, 2023 — Last updated September 1, 2026
To avoid any backtracking, the stops below are listed in the order you’ll reach them when you drive from uptown Sedona toward Flagstaff on 89A.
I’ve driven 89A through Oak Creek Canyon many times, and I don’t think you need to stop at every pullout to enjoy it. If you only have a few hours, I’d concentrate on Midgley Bridge, Indian Gardens Cafe & Market, Slide Rock Park, and Oak Creek Vista.
The drive from Sedona to Flagstaff on 89A is a gorgeous drive any season. This is a great road to take a leisurely drive and take in all the beautiful scenery surrounding you. There are a several areas you can pull off the road to explore Oak Creek or just snap a few photos.
Two popular stops include Midgley Bridge and the Oak Creek Canyon Vista. If you’re not interested in hiking you can stop at one of the six Picnic Sites on this route to take in some of the natural beauty as well.
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How to Get to Oak Creek Canyon
From uptown Sedona take 89A north to Flagstaff. You’ll wind along the canyon on the two-lane highway through Oak Creek Canyon.
Drive Oak Creek Canyon yourself or take a tour?
Drive yourself if: you want to stop whenever you like, hike, picnic or visit Slide Rock or Grasshopper Point.
Take a tour if: you’d rather have someone else handle the driving and learn about the canyon while you’re there. Take a guided jeep tour through Oak Creek Canyon.
5 Adventures – Things to do in Oak Creek Canyon Sedona, Arizona
The five activities below are the ones I think are most worth your time. However, you don’t need to do all five. If you’re visiting for only a few days, I’d choose based on whether you want to hike, get in the water, camp, fish, or simply enjoy the drive.
- Take a Scenic Drive. I’ve driven 89A through Oak Creek Canyon in different seasons, and I think the drive is worth doing even if you don’t have time for a hike. If you’re short on time, I’d stop at Midgley Bridge, Indian Gardens & Cafe, and Oak Creek Vista rather than trying to visit every pullout.
- Hike. Combine a Sedona scenic drive with a hiking trail. If you only have time for one I would choose West Fork because it has very different scenery than the traditional red rock hikes in Sedona.
- Camp. Want to spend a night or two surrounded by the canyon? If I could only pick one campsite I would choose Manzanita Campground.
- Swim. If you’re looking for a place to cool off, Grasshopper Point and Slide Rock are two of the better-known choices. Grasshopper Point is good if you’re looking for a shaded swimming hole. Slide Rock is the more popular of the two. It has a defined path to a smooth red rock slide on Oak Creek.
- Fish. A family friendly spot in Sedona to catch fish is at the Rainbow Trout Farm.
Oak Creek Scenic Drive
Midgley Bridge Picnic Site
From uptown Sedona take North 89A towards Flagstaff to hike some of the most stunning trails in Sedona. One of the first on this route will be at Midgley Bridge Picnic Site.
From here you can hike the Midgley Bridge Trail, Wilson Canyon Trail and the Midgley Loop Trail.
You can catch the Huckaby Trail from the Midgley Bridge Trail as well. If you you hike the Midgley Bridge Trail to the end you will arrive at the next hiking and/or swimming spot – Grasshopper Point.
Next spot on 89A is Grasshopper Point Swimming Hole.
Grasshopper Point
If you’re looking to hike near the water you’ll love hiking in Oak Creek Canyon. At Grasshopper Point you can hike the Allen’s Bend Trail above the creek.
Grasshopper Point is a day-use area and there is an entrance fee. You cannot use a Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful Pass for Grasshopper Point. Slide Rock is the most popular swimming area in Sedona. It is 5 miles north of Grasshopper Point.
Read about Grasshopper Point
Next Stop is Rainbow Trout Farm
Rainbow Trout Farm
Best for families with kids who want an activity rather than a hike. Oak Creek is a perennial stream and you can fish all along the creek year round. You’ll need an Arizona fishing license, if you’re older than 10 years. If you’re looking to teach your kids to fish, Rainbow Trout Farm just might be your place. You don’t need a fishing license or any equipment. The Farm provides everything you need to catch a fish.
Rainbow Trout Farm has two natural springs filled with hungry Rainbow Trout. Drop an old fashioned wooden pole in and within minutes your little one will have caught their very own fish! And quite a boost to their confidence in their ability to fish.
The Trout farm provides fishing poles and bait. Just grab a pole and a bucket, and ask the clerk for some bait.They will gut and clean your fish, you can then grill your fresh catch there at the park and have a picnic or get some ice and wait until you get home.You can also get a handful of fish food to feed the fish.
When you throw the fish food in you can watch the fish jump out of the water. If you do not have the patience for fishing or simply, like us, want your kids to experience catching their own fish but haven’t had such good luck the Rainbow Trout farm is a great way to spend some time with the family.
This is NOT catch and release-remember you have to pay for each fish you catch.
Address: 3500 State 89A
Directions: 3 miles north of uptown Sedona on your right. If you hit Slide Rock Park you have gone too far. To learn more visit their official website: Rainbow Trout Farm
Next Stop Oak Creek Canyon Visitor Center
Oak Creek Canyon Visitor Center, Viewpoint and Indian Gardens Cafe
If you’re visiting during the months of April through October you can stop in at the Oak Creek Canyon Center to find out more about the area, to get maps and to purchase Red Rock passes. Right next to the visitor center is a vista and the Indian Gardens Cafe.
Next stop: Encinoso Picnic Site
Encinoso Picnic Site
Three miles from Grasshopper Point you can park at Encinoso Picnic site and hike the North Wilson Trailhead.
Manzanita Campground
A mile ahead just past Manzanita Campground you can hike Sterling Pass Trailhead.
All have great areas to explore, fish, swim, hike. or just relax. I have stayed at all of the campgrounds, with the exception of Pine Flats. I you’re considering spending the night (tent camping), I’d choose Manzanita Campground. It’s small, right next to the creek and you can only bring a tent (RVs not allowed)
Read more about my favorite Arizona campgrounds.
Sterling Pass Trailhead
Just a mile north of the Manzanita Campground is the Sterling Pass Trailhead
Next up a Swimming Hole: Slide Rock State Park
Slide Rock State Park
If you keep driving you’ll reach the popular Slide Rock State Park. This is a gorgeous area to explore.
About a mile up the road there is a picnic site called Halfway and one called Banjo Bill. A mile from Banjo Bill Picnic Site you can have a picnic at Bootlegger and hike the AB Young Trail.
Halfway Picnic Site
Next: .3 of a mile north is the Banjo Bill Picnic Site
Banjo Bill Picnic Site
Next: .8 of a mile north is the Bootlegger Picnic Site
Bootlegger & AB Young Trail
Next up: Hike on West Fork Trail 1.8 miles ahead
Call of the Canyon Picnic Site & West Fork Trail
If you only have time for one hike along 89A, I’d choose West Fork. It’s a much different experience from the red-rock hikes closer to Sedona. Just under four miles from Slide Rock State Park you’ll find the Call of the Canyon Picnic Site. From here you can hike the busy Call of the Canyon Trail which runs into West Fork trail.
This is one of the prettiest hiking trails in Arizona to go leaf peeping in the fall. Great for a shaded hike in the summer. You cannot use a Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful pass to park for West Fork Trail/Call of Canyon.
Next: Camping 1.4 miles ahead
Cave Springs Campground
A mile and a half up the road from Call of the Canyon is Cave Springs Campground. Across the street from the campground you can hike the Harding Spring Trail.
Next up: Harding Springs Trail .2 miles
Hike: Harding Springs Trail
Next : Campground .9 miles
Pine Flat Campgrounds
Next up Harding Springs .2 miles
Harding Springs
Next up Hike: Pumphouse Wash .7 miles
Pumphouse Wash Trailhead
As you continue to wind your way up 89A for two miles you’ll come to Pumphouse Wash Trailhead.
After this point the road is going to make multiple twists for 2.4 miles. This is fun to drive on a motorcycle. Your next vista will be at Oak Creek Canyon Vista.
Oak Creek Canyon Vista
If you’re driving north on 89A Oak Creek Canyon Vista point will be your last view of the canyon and if you’re driving south from Flagstaff it will be your first view of the canyon.
It is 14 miles from Midgley Bridge. During high tourist season Native American vendors will have concession stands at this spot.
Next Stop: Griffith Springs 6.4 miles north
Griffith Springs
From here the scenery will change as you are climbing elevation into Flagstaff. There is one more hike on 89A and that is Griffith Springs Trail 6.5 miles up the road. The hike is about a mile in length and is a walk through the tall Pine trees.
Do I Need a Red Rock Pass in Oak Creek Canyon?
If you plan on stopping at any of the day-use or picnic sites in Oak Creek Canyon, you will need a Red Rock Pass. Passes can be purchased online at Recreation.gov. They can also be purchased at the following locations:
- Sedona’s Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center – 331 Forest Road, Sedona, AZ
- Red Rock Ranger District Visitor Center – 8375 Hwy 179, Sedona, AZ 86351
- Oak Creek Visitor Center (open seasonally April – October) 3901 N State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
Please note: The Red Rock Pass doesn’t include access to Grasshopper Point, Call of the Canyon or Slide Rock State Park. These spots have a separate entrance fee. The America the Beautiful Pass doesn’t work on these either.
If it’s your first time visiting Sedona check out my Travel Tips.
If you’re in the Sedona area and looking for another stunning drive, you may also like Red Rock Loop.
Looking for other activities that don’t require hiking in Sedona? Check out our post on No Hiking Required- things to do in Sedona.
Sedona Guides
Sedona Tours
- Book a Flight to Sedona: To Sedona the closest airport is Flagstaff Pulliam and Sky Harbor in Phoenix.
- Rent a Car to Sedona: You can rent a car in Flagstaff or Phoenix and drive to Sedona. Alternatively, you can leave the driving to someone else and take a bus tour from Phoenix to Sedona.
- Where to Stay in Sedona: Choose from hotels, motels, resorts, airbnb, vrbo, cabins, and camp sites in Sedona.
- Tours to Take in Sedona
Adventurer At Heart
Amber is the writer behind Adventurer At Heart, sharing practical travel advice based on more than 25 years of exploring Arizona and traveling beyond it. She looks for places with a story, from desert trails and historic sites to scenic drives and towns worth your limited vacation time. When she’s not traveling, she’s gardening.
