Best Things To Do In Sedona In September

September in Sedona offers plenty of clear skies to explore the natural wonders of Sedona to the fullest. Colorful trails, cool streams and much more await you.
Best Things To Do In Sedona In September

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    Sedona is one of the most important cities in Arizona that holds natural desert spaces of unique beauty. Because of its proximity to the famous Grand Canyon Park , this area receives many visitors each year, and September is an ideal time of year for those looking to avoid the crowds.

    Outdoor experiences will not be lacking during your visit to Sedona in September. You can visit some of the many hiking trails, venture into the red desert on foot or in a jeep, and feel the energy in the Rocky Mountains during a meditation session are just some of the best things to do in Sedona in the fall of September.

    1. Attend the Sedona WagFest & Fair and enjoy a dog show

    People enjoying the park|©North Shore Bank
    People enjoying the park|©North Shore Bank

    During the days of September, dog lovers have a must-attend Sedona WagFest & Fair, an annual event that brings together dozens of canines and their guardians for a fun time doing a variety of activities.

    This festival highlights the beauty of man's best friend through bonding experiences. You will appreciate the samples of paintings made by the canines, gathered in an exhibition. Also, several products for the care and entertainment of pets are offered.

    In case you travel with your pet, the fun will increase, since you can not only be a spectator but also be part of the event by participating with your pet in some of the activities. You can compete in the costume contest, talent show, group games, etc.

    Since this activity will only take a short time out of your itinerary, you can easily join other plans in the city, such as a bus tour of Sedona or an excursion in the surrounding area.

    Tour Sedona on a bus tour

    2. Take advantage of the pleasant September weather and explore the Sedona Canyon by ATV

    Man and boy on an ATV|©Kerri Thompson
    Man and boy on an ATV|©Kerri Thompson

    September in Sedona is characterized as the beginning of fall, which means leaving the summer days behind, but still retaining pleasant temperatures that are neither too hot nor too cold. This weather is perfect for exploring the Sedona Canyon.

    In this quad tour it is possible to appreciate the geological beauty of Arizona, through the huge red rocks that make up the region. The excursion through this desert area offers beautiful views where the arid mixes with traces of vegetation and rocky soils.

    You will tour the West Sedona Canyon in a two-seater vehicle and the guide will teach you its operation and tips for safe driving. Take the opportunity to stop at the viewpoints, see the local wildlife and the most emblematic formations, such as Cathedral Rock.

    The best thing is that this type of Sedona Canyon ATV tours can be done during the morning or afternoon, so including it in your itinerary will not be a problem. Also, access to the area is easy, as it is only a few miles from the city.

    Information of interest

    • Price: from 198 €.
    • Duration: 4 hours approximately.

    Book a quad tour in Sedona Canyon

    3. Be part of a jeep tour through the western canyons of Sedona

    Jeep tour|©Gary L
    Jeep tour|©Gary L

    The sunny days and cooler temperatures of September are ideal for a jeep tour of Sedona's western canyons. This tour is one of the most popular 1-day tours in Sedona, as it is a very complete outdoor experience.

    If you are an adrenaline lover, this activity is ideal for your visit to Sedona, as you will explore the wild west aboard a jeep, from where you can enjoy the reddish atmosphere with green traces of the area.

    After the jeep ride, which lasts about 2 hours, the adventure continues with a horseback ride. You will visit the area of Valle Verde, a cozy wine area where you will have a more direct contact with the environment. You may even spot some of the elk, jackrabbits and coyotes that inhabit the area.

    Depending on your itinerary, you can combine this experience with an excursion to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, which also offers a unique tour of the canyon region of the American West.

    4. Go stargazing and UFO spotting in the Sedona desert

    Sedona stars|©Christopher Cox
    Sedona stars|©Christopher Cox

    Sedona is one of those strategic places on the planet loaded with spirituality and open skies, suitable for activities such as stargazing and UFO viewing. In September, this plan is ideal because the clouds disappear and the firmament is available to observe beyond.

    This experience is one of the favorite things to do in Sedona at night for tourists. You will go into the Arizona desert accompanied by a guide, until you reach the Cultural Park Place, which is the location that offers the best panoramic view.

    Once you receive the night vision goggles included in the tour, you will begin the observation of astronomical phenomena and try your luck to see what comes through the lens. If all goes well, your eyes will perceive the glow of various stars in space.

    Also, some unidentified flying objects may appear in your sights. At the end of this tour, you will learn more about UFO stories and the spiritual energy in Sedona.

    Information of interest

    • Price: the price of this activity is usually 111 €.
    • Duration: about 2 hours.

    Book a stargazing and UFO observation tour

    5. Take advantage of local seasonal products and delight your palate in Sedona

    Sedona Farmers Market|©Valerie Campos
    Sedona Farmers Market|©Valerie Campos

    As the transition from summer to winter marks the start of a new harvest season, it's a good idea to go in search of a gourmet experience to delight your taste buds and maybe do a little shopping.

    One of the favorite choices for visitors is the Sedona Community Farmers Market, a place where you'll find mainly organic seasonal produce, such as cabbage, peas, onions, potatoes and more.

    There are also packaged artisan products such as jams, pickles, fermented vegetables. If you wish, you can get a jar of pure honey, locally made almond butter, essential oils and more.

    Depending on the time you have available, this visit can be done before starting other tourist activities on your itinerary, such as signing up for one of the Grand Canyon tours.

    Information of interest

    • Price: There is no fee to enter the market.
    • Location: 2201 W State Route 89A, Sedona AZ 86336.

    6. Enjoy the stunning fall scenery at Red Rock State Park

    Tourists in Red Rock|©Toni and Sonja
    Tourists in Red Rock|©Toni and Sonja

    If you love adventure and nature, then Red Rock State Park is one of the must-visit destinations, whether you spend 3 days in Sedona or less. You will see the imposing autumn panorama where the reddish tones of the rocks are also tinged with the vegetation and the rest of the landscape.

    In this park, a nature reserve crossed by a creek and made up of various trails of rocky, sandy and mixed soils, you can do a series of activities, such as:

    • Archaeological hikes, where you will discover the history of this natural enclosure through data about the pre-Columbian community that inhabited the place. In addition, as you go along the tour, you will be able to identify various distinctive archaeological features.
    • Guided walks, a kind of hiking trails led by a volunteer guide. During the walk, you will learn about plant life, wildlife, archaeology and how the different life zones of this imposing environment are distributed.
    • Bird watching walks, an experience that combines physical activity and relaxation. As you walk along the trails, you will see various species of birds, including some unique to the region.

    Information of interest

    • Price: admission for children from 0 to 6 years old is free. Youngsters between 7 and 14 years old pay 4 €, while adults pay approximately 7 €.
    • Hours: every day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, with the entrance of the last group at 4:30 pm.

    7. Connect with your spiritual side in the energetic vortexes of Sedona

    Sedona Medicine Wheel|©Katherine Lash
    Sedona Medicine Wheel|©Katherine Lash

    The Sedona region is loaded with spirituality. If you want to take advantage of your visit to develop this area of your life, you should know that September is an ideal month, since the influx of people is low, so you will have more time and space to connect with these places.

    The idea of this experience is to visit the energy vortexes of Sedona in order to take advantage of its energy for meditation, healing and transformation. It doesn't matter if you stay only 2 days in Sedona, as the activity has an average duration of 2 hours.

    For many people it is enough to sit on the mountain and contemplate the surroundings. However, you can have a more immersive experience with the help of a native who will teach you meditation, relaxation and healing practices performed by the Native Americans who populated these lands hundreds of years ago.

    In this way, the experience proposes that participants have a greater sense of peace, well-being, transformation and achieve the longed-for balance.

    8. Spend a different moment swimming in the creek under the Midgley Bridge in Sedona

    Midgley Bridge|©WenDem
    Midgley Bridge|©WenDem

    Adventurers find Sedona a perfect place for their experiences. This is because plans involving contact with nature are plentiful. For example, in the month of September, as in July in Sedona, you can take advantage of the pleasant water temperature to swim in the creek under the Midgley Bridge.

    There is no specific schedule for this experience, but if you drive, it is recommended that you arrive early to find a parking space. Once at the bridge, just go down to the creek and explore the area to choose the area where you will dive.

    One of the best things about this option is that it is free. Also, if you don't want to go in the water, you can simply lie down on the rocks to sunbathe. You can also enjoy the beautiful view of the orange-tinged rocks in the background and, if you have more time, choose one of the nearby hiking trails such as Wilson Mountain Trail, Huckaby Trail or Wilson Canyon Trail.

    9. Take a hike along the iconic Devils Bridge in Sedona

    Devil's Bridge|©Derrick Nguyen
    Devil's Bridge|©Derrick Nguyen

    Although September is not summer in Sedona, this month offers plenty of dry days ideal for hiking Devils Bridge. This is one of the must-see places during your visit to the city, as it is one of the most famous and photographed.

    This tour can be done by a guided tour or on your own. You just need to have a good GPS, maps of the area and the previous orientation of a specialist to avoid mishaps. During the experience, you will see the imposing rock formations and enjoy their characteristic colors.

    In the same way, according to your physical capacity, you can choose to rent a jeep or experience the hiking route in all its splendor by walking a little more than the 6 km that make up the route.

    Regardless of the option you choose, the panoramic views of the place are fascinating and will allow you to make enviable captures. Finally, keep in mind that Devils Bridge is a fairly busy area, so it is recommended to choose strategic times where the influx of people is not so high to take pictures of you on the arch.

    Information of interest

    • Price: to do this activity you must pay the Red Rock pass, which usually costs 5 €, plus the price set when connecting with a guided tour, if you choose that option.
    • Distance: you will cover 3.21 km if you opt for the jeep and 6.75 km if you do the whole tour on foot.
    • Duration: it can last between 2 and 3 hours.

    10. See Sedona's rock formations as the crow flies from a helicopter

    Sedona Helicopter ride|©dawgfanjeff
    Sedona Helicopter ride|©dawgfanjeff

    The clear September sky in Sedona is conducive to explore its natural riches in every possible way. A very original and at the same time comfortable way to do it is to take a helicopter ride to contemplate the rock formations from a bird's eye view.

    If you want to delight your eyes with the pleasure of contemplation from a distance, this activity is ideal for you. You will be flying over one of the desert areas of the American West and you will also be able to see the Anasazi cliffs from above.

    In case you are interested in photography empirically or professionally, the opportunity is perfect to get a series of unparalleled images and put into practice your knowledge of image capture.

    You will be able to capture scenery such as Devil's Bridge, Secret Canyon and Boynton Canyon. Add to this the fact that you will relax contemplating the reddish landscapes with brownish green and orange tones typical of the area.

    Information of interest

    • Price: approximately 4,922 ¤ per person.
    • Duration: the tour usually lasts a maximum of 25 minutes.

    Temperatures in Sedona in September

    Sedona - September|©Barbara Ann Spengler
    Sedona - September|©Barbara Ann Spengler

    September in Sedona corresponds to the fall season, which is a colorful time with warm temperatures reaching a maximum of 25°C (77°F). September marks the end of summer for good and some signs of winter's arrival can be seen by the end of the year.

    Thus, it is possible to find slightly cooler or cooler days, with a minimum temperature of 13°C (55°F). It may rain some days, as the estimated rainfall for September is approximately 8 days. In any case, the tendency is to have drier days, suitable for outdoor activities.

    What to pack to visit Sedona in September?

    women's suitcase|© Rui Silvestre
    women's suitcase|© Rui Silvestre

    Considering that temperatures will be relatively warm, your suitcase should not be without sunscreen. Also, hiking shoes in case you do any hiking and sandals for a short hike. It is also advisable to include some shoes with more protection, in case you encounter a little colder days or precipitation.

    Regarding clothing, put a coat for the coldest days and many breathable garments such as T-shirts, jeans, sweaters and blouses. Consider dressing in layers, so that you can adapt to the weather conditions of the moment.

    Reviews from other travelers

    4.5
    · 2106 Reviews
  • K
    K.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    We thoroughly enjoyed the experience of searching for UFOs in the Sedona night sky.
  • L
    L.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The tour was very well organized and the tour guide made sure that everyone in the group had an amazing experience.
  • S
    S.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    We learned a lot about UFO sightings in the area and the culture of ufology during the tour.
  • I
    I.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    It was a great way to experience the beauty of the Sedona night sky.
  • A
    A.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    The tour guide was very professional and made us feel comfortable throughout the tour.