Sedona, Arizona is one of the few places that both struck and stayed with me, aside from Montana (Montana: The Most Beautiful State in America.) and Estonia (Tallinn, Estonia: The Friendly Russia.). Many people have similar experiences at Sedona, which is likely due to the alleged vortexes and ley lines that run throughout the area. These vortexes are: Airport Mesa Vortex (not an actual airport), 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 throughout them, the vortexes seem to bring a special magic to Sedona. I wasn’t aware of these vortexes when I first visited Sedona, and yet… I found myself smack dab in the middle of Bell Rock Vortex, almost as if I were drawn to it.

I went alone, as I was in the Phoenix visiting a friend who had to work that day. I didn’t mind going alone, as this is somewhere I’ve wanted to visit for years. The drive to Sedona from Phoenix is relatively easy, taking about 2 hours. This is as long as you can find yourself on the 17 when it’s either a weekday or accident-free. This highway connects people to many places within Central Arizona, aside from Sedona, including Flagstaff, the meteor crater, Walnut Canyon National Monument., Antelope Canyon, Bearizona: Bison, Wolves, and Bears, oh my!, Agua Fria National Monument, Montezuma Castle National Monument., Winslow, the Coconino National Forest, Sandy Canyon: A Picturesque Portion of the Arizona Trail., and Grand Canyon National Park (it’s really grand).

With no particular spot in mind, I found myself being pulled towards two rock formations, Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, which are right next to one another. The parking lot was packed, with people circling around like vultures, waiting for a spot (I call this “The Hunger Games”). But as luck would have it, a spot opened almost as soon as I arrived. You also must pay to park. If you don’t have an annual Arizona park pass, you’ll have to go to one of the various locations in Sedona or Oak Creek to obtain a day pass. These locations are easily found on Google.

I ended up choosing Courthouse Butte, and the initial path started off easy, wide, and smooth, packed tight with red dirt. The farther into the wilderness you go, however, the narrower, rockier, and tumultuous the path gets. Instead of the wide, flat path, it starts to dip and rise, requiring some uphill hiking. It’s not terrible by any means, but those with leg or breathing issues might experience some difficulty the farther you get. 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. 🙌🏼

Truthfully, it was almost a spiritual experience. It sounds insane, but I was 100% alone the entire time I was in this spot, with nobody walking by on the trail. I heard absolutely nothing expect nature – the wind, birds, animals, and the natural silence in between. It was surreal, yet so 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 annoyance and break in the silence was the sight-seeing helicopter that would periodically zoom by. There are multiple helicopter tours you can take, 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 your wanted pamper level, you can find hotels from $80 a night to $830 a night. It’s best to book in advance if possible, as Sedona heavily attracts tourists, New Age groupies, and those into mystical healing, so it’s usually heavily trafficked.

The 2nd time I came to Sedona, we chose Bell Rock. This unfortunately quickly turned into a regrettable moment because almost immediately the Bell Rock Pathway became very rocky, tumultuous, and required a lot of energy. It’s not that it was difficult, just that we were too tired for it from our previous day adventures, plus it was rainy and wet, making the rocks very slippery.

We got almost about ½ a mile in and turned around, deciding to walk along the Courthouse Butte Trail until it became rocky.

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, even though I’ve been twice, there is still so much to see and experience in Sedona, that I must go back! I’ve never given much thought to vortexes, ley lines, or other spiritual and natural geographical phenomenon, however, Sedona started to change my mind. The jury is still out on that stuff, but I really do feel like I left a piece of my heart and soul there. Not because Sedona “took it”, but because I purposely left it there… guaranteeing that I must come back and retrieve it. ❤️