15 Stunning Sedona Sunrise And Sunset Photo Spots

Sedona is always in the conversation when we talk to friends and family about our favorite places in the US for photography. We adore Sedona’s wide open and rugged red rock landscape, its countless elevated vantage points, and its easy to reach locations to watch sunrises and sunsets. The fact that many picturesque viewpoints are at the end of fun hiking trails is just the icing on the cake.

In this guide we show you 15 stunning Sedona sunrise and sunset photo spots, based entirely on our own experiences.

Our Experience

We spent 8 unforgettable days exploring Sedona from dawn to dusk in December 2021, and boy did we take a lot of photos! Our cameras and hard drives got major workouts that week, as we ticked off the most popular locations but also searched for hidden gem photo spots we could share with you. And you’ll find a mix of both in this guide.

We loved hiking to stunning viewpoints, and we genuinely felt excited to get up at 5:00am to photograph sunrises because Sedona is just so exceptionally picturesque. Soft light and colorful skies at sunrise and sunset really elevate the already spectacular Sedona landscape to whole new level, so don’t miss out. Read more about us.

Sedona Sunrises And Sunsets

Sunrise

Sunrise is our favorite time of day in Sedona. It’s a chaotic place during the day, but there’s nobody around at dawn and the tranquility is wonderful. It really is like the calm before the storm. The major pro is benefiting from quieter parking lots at popular hikes and photo spots. After dawn, getting parked is a constant challenge.

From a photography standpoint, sunrise is amazing because you can enjoy it from various vantages points on both the east and west side of Sedona. That means you can take photos looking directly at the sun or directly away from the sun, so you have plenty of options. Just be aware that 5:00am-7:00am is usually the coldest part of the day, so you’ll need to wrap up if you visit in winter.

Sunset

Sunset is another wonderful time of day in Sedona. City lights begin to dazzle, colorful clouds swirl above and softening light cools the majestic red rock walls. But like sunset in most other tourist heavy destinations, the famous spots are always busy. It pays to have a plan A and a plan B. For instance, if you can’t get parked at Cathedral Rock for sunset, you already know you’ll revert to Bell Rock as a backup.

The most famous sunset spot in Sedona is Airport Mesa. It’s great and you should do it, but we also have lots of other great places you can watch the sun setting, so keep an open mind. Similarly to sunrise, you can watch sunset from various places in both the east and west of Sedona. So again, you have lots of options.

Okay, let’s get stuck into our favorite places to photograph sunrise and sunset in Sedona. We’re listing in no particular order, but within each photo spot you’ll find important details on parking, hiking and photography.

1. Devils Bridge

Devils Bridge is the most popular but also the most chaotic photography location in Sedona. It’s the famous instagram shot everyone just has to have in their feed, so expect it to be packed full of people. You’ll hike a short trail to a viewpoint overlooking a natural bridge and distant cliffs, which light up beautifully at sunrise.

We hiked to Devils Bridge for sunrise and had mixed feelings. The view was awesome and the formation was unique, but even before sunrise there were already 15 or so people waiting in line for a photo. It took a long time to get to the front and then we felt awkward because there were so many people watching us and waiting for their turn. And the line only got longer as the minutes passed by.

Parking – The only time you can guarantee getting a parking spot at Dry Creek Trailhead or Mescal Trailhead (both lead to Devils Bridge) is before or around sunrise. After 8:00am the lots are non-stop full, so you might have to park on the side of the road near the trailheads. Here’s the parking location.

Hiking – The hike to Devils Bridge is relatively easy, with two or three steeper climbs on uneven rocks near the bridge. If you hire a Jeep in Sedona, you can drive Dry Creek Road and park at Devils Bridge Trailhead, cutting out over half of the hike and guaranteeing a parking spot.

Photography – Sunrise is the best time to photograph Devils Bridge. Not just because you can park and beat the bulk of the crowds, but also because the sun rises from directly behind the bridge and lights up the distant walls.

2. Dry Creek Vista

Dry Creek Vista is one of the best hidden gem sunrise and sunset photo spots we found Sedona. Very few know that there’s a secret and secluded area located immediately behind Dry Creek Trailhead. It has expansive views over Sedona’s western red rock canyon walls, which either illuminate brightly at sunrise or sit directly underneath the sun at sunset.

We watched a serene and colorful sunset here after driving our Jeep over boulders into the hidden Dry Creek Vista area. There wasn’t a single other person in sight, so we soaked up the peace and quiet.

Parking – Park at Dry Creek Trailhead and walk, or drive your Jeep over rocks into the hidden vista area. Dry Creek will be quiet for sunrise but it will be busy in the lot by sunset, so you may have to find alternative parking. Here’s the parking location.

Hiking – There is no hiking involved to reach Dry Creek Vista. Simply head over to the northwest side of Dry Creek parking lot, pass by the boulders and walk for 1 minute.

Photography – The best part of this spot is how close you are to towering canyon walls, which will glow orange and yellow at sunrise. Sunset is attractive, but you’ll need a bit of luck with clouds and colors in the sky. Without those it could be an underwhelming place to watch sunset compared to others in our guide.

3. Cathedral Rock

Cathedral Rock is the most iconic natural landmark in Sedona. It’s at the epicenter of Sedona’s remarkable landscape, and rocky spires perched atop the dome-shaped Cathedral Rock draw the eye from all throughout the region. Parking at the main trailhead is notoriously difficult, but there are 4 alternative parking areas with additional hiking involved.

We hiked Cathedral Rock for sunrise and it was an amazing experience. From behind giant finger-shaped spires we found at a hidden second summit, we watched the sun rising from behind the enormous formation of Courthouse Butte. Hiking up for sunrise was a fun race against time!

Parking – Getting parked at Cathedral Rock Trailhead is near impossible all day after 9:00am. Sunrise is the only time you’ll be able to park here without waiting in a long line. If you want to do sunset, either arrive well in advance or plan to park at either Baldwin, Red Rock Crossing, Yavapai or Bell Rock instead. Here’s the best parking location.

Hiking – The hike to Cathedral Rock in Sedona is short but very steep on slick rock. It should take around 45 minutes to summit but you need robust shoes with good traction. Don’t miss the second summit at the top.

Photography – Framing the surrounding landscape from Cathedral Rock’s summit at sunrise or sunset is great, but in truth, we preferred taking photos of Cathedral Rock from afar.

4. Bell Rock

Bell Rock is a fantastic Sedona sunset alternative to Cathedral Rock. It’s another iconic formation which is twinned with Courthouse Butte and together they dominate the southern skyline. The hike to reach a flat viewpoint half way up Bell Rock is much easier than Cathedral Rock, and you can see Cathedral Rock from the vista which is an added benefit. Bell Rock is also one of the main energy vortex sites in Sedona.

We hiked Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte around midday, so we didn’t do it for sunrise or sunset. But we know it would make for a superb photo spot at either time of day because of its wide open views near the tall eastern walls.

Parking – Bell Rock is hugely popular and parking is limited. You’ll have no problems if you head out to shoot sunrise at Bell Rock, but sunset will be extremely crowded. Park at Yavapai as an alternative. Here’s the best parking location.

Hiking – The Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop Trail is flat and easy but takes a few hours. Climbing straight up Bell Rock only takes 30 minutes and the added elevation provides a much better photography vantage. Take care on the slick rock.

Photography – Despite the far reaching views, Bell Rock was another formation we preferred taking photos of, rather than from. We would choose to do sunset over sunrise from Bell Rock.

5. Schnebly Hill Vista Overlook

Schnebly Hill vista overlook is the highest vantage point to watch sunrise or sunset in Sedona. It’s way up near the top of the enormous eastern mountains flanking Sedona, and the west facing view looking down over the landscape is sensational.

We drove our Jeep up Schnebly Hill Road in late afternoon but didn’t want to drive back down the bouncy 4WD road in the dark. So we missed the sunset, but even the early evening view with soft light was mightily impressive.

Parking – Only high-clearance vehicles can drive up to the overlook directly from Sedona. But we did notice several campers that had come up the back way from I-17. Those guys would have enjoyed a sunset and then a sunrise from the comfort of bed. Here’s the parking location.

Hiking – You can hike Casner Canyon Trail to Schnebly Hill vista overlook but it’s unmaintained and hard to follow. We recommend hiking to Merry Go Round (next in our list) instead.

Photography – The west facing view over Sedona from Schnebly Hill vista overlook is magnificent. You’re at 6,000 ft overlooking the town below at 4,350 ft with red rock formations and desert vegetation stretching as far as the eye can see. Both sunrise and sunset would be awesome from this viewpoint.

6. Merry Go Round

Merry Go Round is a popular sunset spot for Sedona Jeep tour companies. It’s a fun rock formation that you can climb around, and it’s also a popular wedding shoot location for locals. The viewpoint is 2 miles down Schnebly Hill Road from the summit vista overlook, and that 2 miles makes a huge different when you’re trying to get down ahead of the dark at sunset.

After leaving the vista, we stayed at Merry Go Round until very close to sunset. And there were 3 other Jeeps full of tours snapping photos until the last possible second with us. The high eastern peaks are a great place to look due west at the setting sun.

Parking – If you drive your Jeep or 4×4 vehicle up Schnebly Hill, you can park it on the side of the road right at the Merry Go Round formation. Here’s the parking location.

Hiking – One of the best Sedona hikes to escape the crowds is called Munds Wagon Trail. You can hike Munds Wagon up to Merry Go Round for either sunrise or sunset. Just be sure to carry a headlamp and backup light source.

Photography – The view is almost as expansive as the summit vista but here you can frame a wonderful photo using trees or rocks in your foreground. Sunset is the more likely option unless you want a unique sunrise hike.

7. Chapel Of The Holy Cross

Chapel of the Holy Cross has a stunning and easy access panorama overlooking Sedona. The church is a classic photo subject itself, but we didn’t realize it would also have such an excellent vantage point overlooking the landscape. To one side you have clear views of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, and to the other side a direct line to Cathedral Rock.

We never expected the view to be so far reaching and extensive from Chapel of the Holy Cross. And we realized that getting to a higher elevation for wide open views didn’t always have to involve a hike or Jeep trail!

Parking – There are plenty of parking spaces at the bottom and top of Chapel of the Holy Cross. Even around sunset when it’s busiest you should have no issues. Here’s the parking location.

Hiking – You don’t have to hike at all to reach Chapel of the Holy Cross. This makes it a perfect sunrise or sunset photo spot if you have any accessibility concerns.

Photography – Don’t worry if you haven’t got a wide angle lens at Chapel of the Holy Cross. You’ll be better off with a walk-around lens like a 24-105mm so you can frame the famous formations at varying focal lengths.

8. Doe Mountain

Doe Mountain is an unmissable Sedona sunrise photo spot. It’s up there with the very best in our opinion. You’ll hike a short but steep zig-zagging trail to a table top mesa with spectacular southeast facing views over Sedona and hot air balloons taking to the yellow dawn sky from the canyon below.

We hiked up to Doe Mountain for sunrise and it was one of our favorite experiences of the trip. We only saw two other couples up at the summit all morning, and the views were incredible. Don’t miss this one!

Parking – Doe Mountain shares a parking lot with Bear Mountain, which is a popular hard hike. The lot isn’t huge, but it will be empty for sunrise. Sunset is another story and you might have to park at nearby Fay Canyon trailhead which has far more spaces. Here’s the parking location.

Hiking – The hike to Doe Mountain summit is very short but it is quite steep. It should take around 30-40 minutes to reach the mesa and another 5 minutes on flat land to reach the viewing area.

Photography – Sunrise is a phenomenal spectacle from Doe Mountain. Sunset wouldn’t be as impactful because the view is southeast facing.

9. Mystic Vista

Mystic Vista is our favorite hidden gem Sedona sunrise photo spot. We bet you’ve never heard of Mystic Vista. It’s not on Google Maps or even our Gaia hiking app, but it does exist. The slightly elevated rocky platform is located very close to Fay Canyon trailhead at the end of Forest Service Road 9587. It would also be great at sunset, but sunrise means you get to photograph hot air balloons taking off.

We drove our Jeep down the forest road and parked at the very end. After walking up a steep slope we were shocked by the stunning wide open views and of course we had it completely to ourselves. Just be aware people live on the forest road so please be respectful, especially early in the morning.

Parking – Park at Fay Canyon and walk down the road or drive your 4×4 vehicle down the forest road to the very end. Here’s the parking location.

Hiking – At the end of the road keep heading south until you climb a very small mound, which opens up the hidden view.

Photography – Mystic Vista is perfectly suited to sunrise because the sun rises behind a range of red rocks directly ahead of the viewpoint. Hot air balloons taking off will come into view on your right side.

10. Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock is a wonderful sunrise and sunset photo spot close to the built up areas of Sedona. It’s hard to miss the unique submarine-shaped formation standing out in the skyline as you hike various trails and even as you walk around the nearby town. The hike up is easy enough but there’s a steep scrambling section near the top.

We hiked to Chimney Rock for sunrise on our last morning in Sedona and it didn’t disappoint. With our backs up to the chimney spires, we sat and enjoyed the wide open viewpoint as the sun climbed out from behind the unmistakable Airport Mesa ridge line.

Parking – Chimney Rock is relatively unheard of and lightly trafficked, despite being very close to town. Park at Andante trailhead or Thunder Mountain trailhead for access. Here’s the best parking location.

Hiking – A loop connects Chimney Rock and Little Sugarloaf Trail (we cover Little Sugarloaf next). Chimney Rock is a short trail so you can get up pretty quickly, but it does have a fairly challenging final climb with a steep gradient on slippery ground.

Photography – Both sunrise and sunset are wonderful from the base of Chimney Rock’s spires. Lines of sight are from east to northwest, which covers both dawn and dusk. The expansive view includes downtown Sedona, Airport Mesa and the western canyons.

READ: Quotes and captions about sunsets

11. Little Sugarloaf

Little Sugarloaf is a Sedona sunrise and sunset goldmine. It’s our top recommendation because it has 360 degree views, it’s easy to reach from town and nobody knows about it. Nearby Chimney Rock is great, but Little Sugarloaf is a much easier hike, it’s got a flatter summit and it’s located further away from towering walls so it has a more expansive view.

We have to admit we had no idea about Little Sugarloaf until we stood at the base of Chimney Rock moments before sunrise. The lower down flat-topped rocky area looked like it was in a good spot so we hiked down to it. And we immediately realized this was the spot. Unfortunately, it was our last day in Sedona so we couldn’t do it for sunrise, but next time this is where we’ll go on our first morning.

Parking – Same as Chimney Rock, you can park at Andante trailhead or better yet you can park at Thunder Mountain trailhead. You’ll have no issues parking for sunrise but sunset may be an issue because the lots are so small. Here’s the parking location.

Hiking – Where Chimney Rock has a difficult final section, Little Sugarloaf does not. It shouldn’t take longer than 25 minutes to summit Little Sugarloaf from Thunder Mountain trailhead.

Photography – The open and flat topped Little Sugarloaf is almost unheard of, so you’ll likely have the place to yourself. Plus, staggering 360 degree views give you the freedom to shoot into or away from the sun at both sunrise and sunset. And you can easily use people as subjects with all the room up there.

12. Airport Mesa Scenic Vista

Airport Mesa is the undisputed king of Sedona sunsets. Its scenic vista has a great northwest facing viewpoint overlooking town, distant red rocks and the sun setting on the horizon. But it’s also very busy because it’s accessible by car. You can drive to a paid parking lot just steps from a graveled area with open views, which you can see in our photo above.

We like how visitor friendly this photo spot is. Airport Mesa at sunset is a very inclusive experience that works best for families with young kids or visitors with mobility issues. Our favorite part was maybe 15 minutes after the sun had set when the more vibrant colors appeared in the sky.

Parking – Airport Mesa scenic vista is easily accessible for all visitors. It has a huge parking lot right next to the viewpoint with a $3 fee, which is well worth it for the view. Here’s the parking location.

Hiking – Absolutely no hiking is required to enjoy the famous Airport Mesa view.

Photography – We think Airport Mesa’s popularity is justifiable. Downtown Sedona lit up at night with towering formations and colors in the sky is hard to beat. But the viewpoint is always crowded at sunset, so plan to arrive early and claim your tripod space.

13. Airport Mesa Vortex Site

Airport Mesa vortex site is a not-so-secret sunset alternative to the scenic vista we just covered above. While the scenic vista is at the top of the hill, Airport Mesa’s vortex site is located at the bottom of the hill. It’s a small rocky mound with a flat shelf-like summit providing great views over Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, but you can’t see much of the town and you can’t see the sun setting on the horizon.

We hiked down Sedona View Trail from the scenic vista to the vortex site and didn’t expect such amazing views to the east and southeast. Both Airport Mesa viewpoints are photogenic, so we recommend you park at one and hike the View Trail between them.

Parking – You can park for free in a roadside lot at the base of the vortex site mound, but there are limited spaces and a high demand around sunset. So you might have to park in the paid lot at the top of the hill near the scenic vista and walk down. Here’s the parking location.

Hiking – A very short hike up uneven steps is required to access the vortex site viewpoint from the parking area. The Sedona View Trail hike takes around 20 minutes from the vista.

Photography – Sunset is the best time to photograph views from the vortex site. With a telephoto lens you can capture the main road cutting through the landscape toward the Village of Oak Creek like in our photo above.

14. Lovers Knoll

Lovers Knoll is another amazing hidden gem photo spot we found when driving around the west side of Sedona. It’s located on Red Rock Loop Road and it has magnificent Cathedral Rock views, which will illuminate under soft light at sunset with a clear sky. We had a very cloudy sky that evening, which resulted in a very dark, mysterious and deep purple sunset.

We’d just hiked Pyramid Scorpion Loop Trail and it was getting close to dusk, so we found a pullover on Red Rock Loop Road and stumbled across this awesome far reaching view over Cathedral Rock. We didn’t see a single person on the hike or during the sunset, so we highly recommend heading west to get off the beaten path.

Parking – Pull off Red Rock Loop Road into a dusty gravel parking area. You won’t have problems getting parked at Lover’s Knoll at sunrise or sunset because the dirt area is large and few know about it. Here’s the parking location.

Hiking – A very short walk up a small hill is required but it will take you 2 minutes at the most.

Photography – Sunrise and sunset would both work great here. At sunrise you’d be looking at the sun with Cathedral Rock below, and at sunset you can see Cathedral Rock glow a fiery red under clear conditions.

15. Red Rock Loop Road Scenic Vista

After enjoying the sunset views from Lovers Knoll, we decided to try again the next evening. But on the drive down Red Rock Loop Road we saw a very small nondescript pullover on a sharp bend and pulled over. After a very short walk, a magical wide open view revealed itself to us. So we stayed there for sunset instead.

It was a higher up viewpoint than Lovers Knoll so we could see further and frame more formations. But the view of Cathedral Rock itself wasn’t as good because it was from more of a side profile rather than front on. The best thing to do is visit both.

Parking – This hidden vista is easy to miss because there’s just a tiny dirt parking area on a bend near the top of Red Rock Loop Road. You might pass it and have to turn around. Only 2 or 3 cars will fit into the rocky pullover. Here’s the parking location.

Hiking – The vista is right on the bend so no hiking is required.

Photography – Both sunrise and sunset work equally as well here. At sunrise you can put the sun center frame and at sunset you could get red rocks glowing or clouds for texture.

Sedona Cave Photography

Did you know that you can hike to a handful of incredibly photogenic secret caves in Sedona? We didn’t include any of the caves in our sunrise or sunset list above because they’re mostly enclosed or don’t have views, and some of them require hiking off-trail which wouldn’t be safe in the dark.

With that said, you’ll have plenty of time between shooting sunrises and sunsets in Sedona, so from mid-morning to late afternoon you can go cave hunting. Finding and photographing Sedona’s hidden caves was one of our favorite parts of the trip, and we highly recommend you try to visit at least one or two.

The best caves to visit for photography in Sedona are as follows:

• Subway Cave
• Birthing Cave
• Keyhole Cave
• Soldier Pass Cave

Photo Spots Map

Click or touch the map below to activate. Zoom in and out, move around the map and see the locations for each of the amazing Sedona sunrise and sunset photo spots we’ve covered in this guide.

You can see there’s a nice spread right across Sedona, so you have lots of options on all sides of town at sunrise and sunset. So no matter where you choose to stay, you should be able to make dawn or dusk work quite easily near your accommodation.

Best Time To Take Photos In Sedona

Spring and fall are the busiest periods in Sedona which means more chance sharing photo spots with others, having issues with parking and paying more for hotels. But these seasons also have the most comfortable temperatures, especially around sunset.

Summer is slightly less busy than spring and fall, with cheaper accommodation options and fewer people fighting for parking spaces. But temperatures can be dangerously high during the day, sunrise is very early and sunset is very late.

Winter is the off season in Sedona, so you’ll get the cheapest hotel options, the best chance of getting parked and quieter photography spots. But mornings and evenings can be very cold, so you need to wrap up in warm gear.

We visited Sedona in December and thought it was a fantastic time for photography. Yes, the mornings were freezing cold and the evenings weren’t much better, but there were very few people around for the most part. We’re not huge fans of trying to take photos at places with hundreds of others, so the off season worked for us!

More From Sedona

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• 9 exciting Sedona Jeep trails
• Sedona’s 5 ancient ruins
• 1-5 days Sedona itinerary ideas
• Top rated Sedona hotels

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Want more Arizona content? Head over to our Arizona travel guides to explore the best of Grand Canyon, Sedona and beyond.

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We hope this Sedona sunrises and sunsets guide helps with planning your visit to Arizona!

Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.

Happy Snapping,

Mark and Kristen

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