Good Vibes and Vortexes in Sedona, AZ

There was just something magical about Sedona, Arizona. I can't explain it. It was golden and warm, peaceful even. Everything seemed to work out perfectly while we were there - we found parking spots in the busiest places, had locals sharing stories and tips with us, ate some amazing food, and of course, experienced many gorgeous views.

Immediately as we drove into the town, we were oohing and aahing at the little street of shops, greeted by signs offering psychic readings and alien tours. We knew from the get-go that our 30 hours in Sedona were going to be great.

After a quick stop to pick up a map, we headed out, intrigued by the little explanation we had read about Sedona's mythical vortexes. What are these vortexes? Apparently they are rumored centers of super concentrated, creative energy, possibly due to the rocks in Sedona that have a high iron content.

Our first hike was around Chimney Rock. The dirt under our heavy boots was soft and red, the air was warm, but not oppressive, and the sunshine felt like it was filling us up with light. Everyone was ecstatic as we embarked on the trail. 

Clearly feeling those vortex vibes! 

After around fifteen minutes of gentle hiking, we took a detour onto another trail and climbed to the top of a Sugar Loaf Hill. At the top, we kind of joked about how we were experiencing a vortex. But jokes aside, we felt incredible. We spent another twenty minutes up there basking in the sunshine and staring out at the views. 

Our next stop was a hike to Devil's Bridge, another beautiful journey through Sedona's nature, and a great photo-op.

The views were breathtaking.

The walk onto the bridge was more nerve-racking than expected! Notice no one else on the bridge with us.. it was too dangerous. You had to be pretty careful walking out, the bridge was slightly wider than my arm-span in the middle, and it was a loooooong way down to the ground.

We also saw a couple propose on the bridge! Another perfect thing that happened in Sedona.

After our two hikes, and previous 5 full days without showers, we rushed to our camp site to experience the joys of running water and soap, and then had dinner at this super cute little restaurant. 

The next morning, we awoke early (very early) and drove to Crescent Moon Ranch, a state park, specifically to visit a more documented vortex phenomenon.  

It was so early, there was hardly anyone else there. We were quiet as we entered the little wood, listening to the birds song, the chatter of water over stones, and the rustling leaves and twigs crunching beneath our boots with each step we took.

As we walked through the hushed trees and along the gurgling creek, suddenly, there was no question, we knew exactly where the storied "vortex" was located.

 There were hundreds and hundreds of rock towers placed on the ground between the two creeks. According to a local, who told us about this park and this vortex in particular, it's difficult to knock these towers down. It only happens when someone purposefully pushes the rocks to the ground. A kind of magnetic pull is said to hold them up against nature's forces.  Sure, this sounds a little wish-washy, but honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if it held true. There was just something about this place!

We rounded off the trip with a visit to a psychic shop, and then, we literally had to tear ourselves out of Sedona. It was absolutely my favorite place we visited on our road trip. I wish we could have spent more time there!

The weather was already pretty hot mid-March, so I'd reccommend visiting in months other than May-August. We also had a difficult time finding a place to camp in Sedona. There were tons of hotels available, but in the end we found an RV park in a town close by with a tent area, where we stayed for a total of $20 for one night, and it included the use of a real shower! Definitely not bad when split between four people.

Sedona is a great place for any hiker, and for any level of hiker at that. The locals were so friendly, everyone was willing to answer our questions and point us in the right direction. It reminded me a lot of Austin, just with a few more mountains, and less traffic!