The town of Sedona (center photo) is surrounded by striking scenery. I took this picture from near the airport looking west.
It’s time again for the Wednesday Photo Essay. Today and next Wednesday, I will be featuring Sedona, Arizona.
I still remember the first time I followed Oak Creek Canyon down from Flagstaff, Arizona to Sedona. I had been up backpacking down in the Grand Canyon in 1986 and the side trip was something of an afterthought. I’d seen photos of the area’s striking red rocks and knew of the town’s New Age reputation. There were supposedly vortexes found there, psychic hot-spots that UFOs liked to visit. How could I resist? On the other hand, how could it possibly match my experience in the Canyon? Would I be disappointed?
The answer is a firm no; the detour was different— but very worthwhile.
I’ve been back several times since. The beauty of the red rocks calls to me and I find the New Age character of its inhabitants both interesting and amusing. I read recently that there are 176 New Age-oriented businesses in Sedona. I doubt that any other community in the world can claim such a concentration. The Age of Aquarius is alive and well!
Ommm. Here I am, sitting on a red rock vortex point below the Sedona airport practicing my meditation technique and waiting for a UFO. A heretofore unnoticed aura is wrapped around my head. Grin. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
My last visit was three years ago when Peggy and I visited for a week in November along with our friends Ken and Leslie Lake. The pictures from this and next week’s Wednesday photo essays are from that trip. Today’s will be mainly from the east side of town. Next week I will post photos from the west side including a hike up Boynton Canyon. Enjoy.
One of Sedona’s most famous sites is the Chapel of the Holy Cross. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
I decided that the chapel and its surroundings would do well as a black and white photo.
Another perspective.
These striking rocks are located east of the chapel. We took several photos. This one was by Peggy. I think this pair is known as the Two Nuns.
I added a tree for contrast.
Peggy caught this cactus just down from the chapel.
And I took a photo of its companion with the Nuns!
Several other towers were located above the Nuns…
Including this beauty. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
The view south wasn’t bad either!
Most of the prominent rock formations around Sedona have been named. I’ll close today with Bell Rock. Be sure to check in next Wednesday for more of the red rocks of Sedona as we journey east of the town to the area featured at the top of this post.
FRIDAY’S POST: My sister Nancy Jo is attacked by the Graveyard Ghost. A very scary tale.
MONDAY’S POST: A trip through the Grand Canyon by raft on the Colorado River.
WEDNESDAY’S POST: We return to Sedona for more gorgeous red rocks.
43 thoughts on “The Incredible Red Rock Country of Sedona— and a Chapel… Part 1”
Blogging_with_Bojana
Just wow.
Curt Mekemson
Which is pretty much how I feel about it! Thanks, Bojana. –Curt
Mel & Suan
Wow, that bloom on the cactus is sure pretty!
We are sure Bone would have been proud…
Curt Mekemson
I’ve got a photo of Bone sitting on a Saguaro. He said it was ouchy. 🙂
Mel & Suan
Bone getting uncomfortable huh? well, you place a little cushion under Bone next time and we are sure it’ll be happy!
Curt Mekemson
He’s tough. 🙂
Dina
Absolutely fabulous impressions, Curt. Aren’t Sedona simply stunning? Love the photo of you, my regards to Peggy! 🙂 x
Curt Mekemson
Thanks, Dina. Imagine waking up each morning to that view. I don’t think one could ever get tired of it. It was a fun photo. 🙂 I’ll pass your regards on to Peggy. –Curt
Andrew Petcher
I stayed in Flagstaff one time when visiting a factory that manufactured refuse trucks. On a day off we drove to Grand Canyon and I remember how red the rocks were along the way. Sadly, although I have lots of pictures of Heil trucks I didn’t take many of the rocks!
Curt Mekemson
I’m sure that the refuse trucks were big, handsome fellows, though, Andrew. 🙂 –Curt
Animalcouriers
Lovely photos. Especially like the one of you as Buddha 😀
Curt Mekemson
Laughing. It was fun, AC. My tummy wasn’t quite big enough, however! –Curt
spanishwoods
Breathtakingly beautiful.
greatbasinbaroque
Wow! What an incredible place! Tha ks for sharing. Pehaps the chapel would make a great performance venue. Have to check that out. Thanks for sharing! -Loren
Curt Mekemson
Interesting… I don’t know remember whether they do performances there on not. It is impressive inside. Thank you for visiting. –Curt
ralietravels
We visited for the first time in 2016 and loved the formations. Alie, however, has what I call “chic-aphopia”, and we found the town a bit pretentious now.
Curt Mekemson
The town is that. Nothing like a few million tourists to encourage fancy shops and expensive restaurants. –Curt
gerard oosterman
I just wonder where the entrance was for the chapel. I would have to be a bit of a climb, I suppose.
Amazing rock formations showing erosions and its incredible power.
Curt Mekemson
A road led up to the other side, Gerard. 🙂 It was impressive inside but not nearly so much as out. Erosion and red rock country go together! –Curt
M.B. Henry
Very beautiful photos. I went to Sedona once back in 2010 or so. I would love to go back again! Thanks for sharing – can’t wait to see more!
Curt Mekemson
Thanks MB. It’s pulled me back several times. More photos coming on next Wednesday! –Curt
Gunta
Love your Buddha impression! I’ve wanted to go to Sedona since a friend came back with pictures sometime in the 70s. Somehow never made it. Wish I had back then before it got too posh or popular. That tends to ruin the experience for me. Looking forward to the rest of the visit.
Curt Mekemson
Definitely posh and popular. But as always, that’s easy to get away from, Gunta. Three miles down any trail and 99% of the people disappear. –Curt
Gunta
I think I was spoiled back in the early days when I didn’t have to plow through mobs to get to any trails. I/we just avoid the more popular Nat’l Parks and tourist spots these days.
Curt Mekemson
Or trips up the Oregon Coast in summer. 🙂 But there is never any lack of beautiful places to visit. –Curt
Gunta
Come summer it’s time to head up into the hills. So far a well kept secret is that summer is the worst weather on the coast. Those nasty winds coming out of the north can make it far worse than any winter storm, but we don’t tell the tourists. 😉
Curt Mekemson
And the fog! 🙂
allentimphotos2
It is a beautiful location.
Curt Mekemson
Photographers dream…
Alison and Don
Love that shot of you on the rock, halo and all!
Alison
Curt Mekemson
Me on my best behavior. Giggle. –Curt
Yvonne
That is startling scenery!
Curt Mekemson
Yes it is, Yvonne. Special. –Curt
JoHanna Massey
They are indeed some beautiful photographs, Curt. Around 1987 some New Age Entrepreneurs sold tickets in anticipation of the beautiful Bell opening… and a spaceship being liberated and out and off it would fly. Lots…I mean lots of tickets were sold, many gathered and waited, but alas it was a no go, and telling the story remains a favorite to anyone who was not holding a cancelled ticket stub.
My best to You and Peggy- JoHanna
Curt Mekemson
Wow, and I thought land scams were bad. Pretty funny. But I guess if people keep buying the end of the earth stories, not too surprising! 🙂
JoHanna Massey
I was never quite clear on exactly where the ticket holders thought the space ship would take them to.
Curt Mekemson
Off to lala land we go! 🙂
Agness of a Tuk Tuk
Such a great travel destination and an excellent place for hiking, Curt! The scenery is breathtaking. Are there lots of hiking trails?
Curt Mekemson
Yes, Agness, there are a number of trails! Thanks for commenting. –Curt
A Random Blogger
That is an interesting blog you wrote! Mind if you stop by my blog and review it?
The Photos are beautiful. Sedona is indeed beautiful
Curt Mekemson
Thanks. Checked out your post. I’m in complete agreement on the potential impact of AI.
Oh, the Places We See
We’d love to visit Sedona again — oh, those red rocks. But somehow we missed the chapel in the rocks. (Oh, darn. Another excuse to go back!) And I love how you shared it in black and white also. The architecture and simplicity of the cross seems even more interesting embedded in the rocks.
Curt Mekemson
It really is the combination of the architecture and the rocks that makes the church so special, Rusha. But it is also interesting from inside. –Curt