Sedona, Arizona is one of the few places that both struck and stayed with me, alongside Montana (Montana: The Most Beautiful State in America.) and Estonia (Tallinn, Estonia: The Friendly Russia.). Many people claim to have similar experiences at Sedona, possibly due to the alleged vortexes and ley lines that run throughout the area. These vortexes are: Airport Mesa Vortex, Boynton Canyon Vortex, Cathedral Rock Vortex, and the Bell Rock Vortex. Known as places in nature that are extremely “alive” with energy, along with the ley lines intersecting them, these vortexes seem to bring a special magic to Sedona. I didn’t know about these vortexes when I first visited Sedona, and yet… I found myself smack dab in the middle of Bell Rock Vortex, like I was drawn to it.

Note – The pictures in this blog are from two different trips, one in 2018 and another in 2019.

Located in central Arizona, slightly north, the drive from Phoenix is relatively easy, taking approximately 1.5 hours depending on traffic. Sedona is an extremely popular tourist destination, so during the weekend it can be quite crowded. I’ve gone to Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, which are very close to one another, and both times it was quite busy. The first time, the parking lot was packed, with people circling around like vultures. Also, you must pay to park – if you don’t have an annual Arizona park pass, you’ll have to obtain a day pass. The locations to get one are easily found on Google.

The path to Courthouse Butte initially starts off easy, wide, and smooth, and packed tight with red dirt. However, the further into the wilderness you go, the narrower, rockier, and tumultuous the path becomes. Instead of being wide and flat, it starts to shrink, as well as dip and rise, requiring some uphill effort. It’s not terrible, but those with leg or breathing issues might experience some difficulty the farther along you go. I eventually found myself close to the bottom of the butte, with Bell Rock behind me and slightly to the side. I climbed up through the rock hill and onto a large, flat rocky area. I was well above the path and could see out for miles. 🙌🏼

As dorky as it sounds, it was almost a spiritual experience. I was 100% alone the entire time I was in this spot, with nobody walking by on the trail, and I heard absolutely nothing expect nature – the wind, birds, animals, and the natural silence in between. It was surreal and relaxing. I even lost track of time and I couldn’t tell you how long I sat there – 20 minutes? 30 minutes? 45 minutes? The only break in the silence was the sight-seeing helicopter that would periodically zoom by. There are multiple helicopter tours available, with prices ranging from $120 to $395 per person. They’d zoom by quickly enough, disappearing behind the rocks and taking the sound with them.

If you want to stay in Sedona, you’re in luck, because there is a plethora of hotels available. Depending on the desired pamper level, you can find hotels from $80 per night to $830 per night. It’s best to book as far in advance if possible, as Sedona heavily attracts typical sightseers, New Age groupies, and those into mystical healing, so it’s usually very full.

The second time I came to Sedona, we chose Bell Rock trail. It unfortunately quickly turned regrettable, because almost immediately the Bell Rock Pathway became very rocky, tumultuous, and required a lot of energy. It’s not that it was too difficult, we were too tired for it from our previous days adventures at Sandy Canyon (Sandy Canyon: A Picturesque Portion of the Arizona Trail.), plus the rocks were very slippery due to rain. We got about ½ a mile in before turning around, deciding to walk along the Courthouse Butte Trail.

When you get to the point of the Courthouse Butte Trail that becomes rocky and hilly, there is another trail that splinters off called the Baby Bell Trail. I really liked this trail, as it had enough variation to be interesting, while also giving a great lookout point to the Sedona desert. There were also rocks you could climb. If you cut across the rocks, the trail is about 2 miles long; however, it can go much longer. I highly suggest it!

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Overall, I can’t wait to come back to Sedona, as there is still so much to see and experience. I’ve never given much thought to vortexes, ley lines, or other spiritual and natural geographical phenomenon, however, Sedona is one of the few places that makes me a believer. It’s a place I think everyone should experience at least once, although I’m sure it’ll pull you back far more that. ❤️