Towering red rock formation, part of the Cathedral Rock Trail.

This 1.8-mile hike will lead you to Sedona’s iconic sandstone arch, where you’ll get breathtaking views of the surrounding valley and rock formations. Get there early to beat the crowd or expect to wait for up to a couple of hours for a photo op. Walk about a mile along the Dry Creek dirt road to reach the trailhead, but if you can’t find a spot at the Dry Creek Trailhead parking lot, park along the highway instead. Otherwise, Sedona offers a free shuttle service from downtown to two of the five trailheads, Mescal and Dry Creek Vista. – Tripadvisor

This state park in Oak Creek Canyon is one of Arizona’s most visited tourist attractions. Apart from the abundant plant and wildlife, Slide Rock State Park is also home to a 43-acre working apple farm, one of the few homesteads preserved in the canyon. Tackle the hiking trails to enjoy great views of sandstone bluffs, explore rustic cabins from the 20th century, and cool off by swooshing down the 80-foot-long natural water slide that the park is named after. If you're planning for a swim, note that temperatures in Oak Creek can drop to near-freezing in winter and spring. – Tripadvisor

Red Rock State Park is a 286 acre nature preserve and environmental education center with stunning scenery. Trails throughout the park wind through manzanita and juniper to reach the rich banks of Oak Creek. Green meadows are framed by native vegetation and hills of red rock. The creek meanders through the park, creating a diverse riparian habitat abounding with plants and wildlife. This riparian habitat provides the setting and the opportunity for the park to offer a focus on environmental education. Red Rock offers a variety of special programs for school groups and private groups. There are a number of daily and weekly park events. The park offers a visitors center, classroom, theater, park store, ramada and hiking trails.

Trail that follows a creek at the bottom of a 1,000-foot canyon.