The
city of Sedona is located approximately 30 miles south of Flagstaff, 2 hours
south of Grand Canyon, and 2 hours (120 miles) North of Phoenix.Some facts about Sedona:
- The Sun shines about 300 days a year, which is more than most places!
- Sedona is centrally located by most of the National Parks in Arizona.
- Sedona has a more Mountainous countryside than Switzerland!
- Sedona is adjacent to the largest stand of Ponderosa Pines in the world.
Sedona is known around the world as a spiritual energy center and as a powerful place for undergoing profound personal transformations and mystical awakenings. Ancient Native Americans have always believed the Sedona area was a sacred land. A high percentage of the visitors, and many of its residents, have come for spiritual reasons. They take leisurely hikes in the natural healing atmosphere of the red rocks, meditate at the energy vortexes, attend classes and workshops, seek personal psychic and spiritual counseling and visit the metaphysical centers, New Age bookstores and shops throughout the area.
Sedona’s
resorts, retreats and training centers are host to some of the biggest names
in the human potential and higher consciousness fields. Sedona is also famous
for its many professional resident healers, counselors and teachers who offer
spiritual and metaphysical techniques and guidance. Sedona is also famous as an artist’s community, being among the country’s top five art destinations. Dozens of galleries display the paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints, jewelry, and other unique artwork of world-renowned artists.
The area has been the setting for over 60 movies since the 1920’s and continues to attract movie and television projects.
Accommodations range from a quaint bread and breakfast, time-shares, and home rentals to world-class hotels and resorts. And there is swimming, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking for outdoor enthusiasts.
Sedona’s altitude contributes to its four mild seasons. It has breathtaking photo opportunities as the sun rises over the Mogollon Rim, a backdrop of crisp blue daytime skies, magnificent sunsets and clear starry nights. Its high desert environment is enhanced by the combination of a large variety of desert plants, the beautiful red rock soil and the many varieties of evergreens. Its lush green appearance is partly due to the ample ground water supply as well as the water running through Oak Creek and West Fork. Sedona receives approximately 14 inches of rain and averages over 300 days of sunshine each year. The average annual snowfall is only 8 inches, and it usually melts the next day or so, yet remains atop the higher red rock formations surrounding the town a little longer creating a picturesque effect. Fall and spring usually have highs in the 70’s. The winter lows are usually in the 40’s and it is not unusual to see people in light shirts or Tee shirts by the afternoon on many winter days. (Link: weather)
Geological Formations:
This area of beauty and majesty was created over 350 million years. Its about 5000 feet above sea level high and 150,000 square miles wide called the “Colorado Plateau.” There are 3 main beautiful formations: Schnebly Hill, Hermit and Supai. The Supai Formation was named after the Havasupai Indians and is the softer, pale-pink to reddish-brown sandstone. Sedona’s unusual and distinctive scarlet color comes for the red iron-oxide stain that formed when flood plain deposits of iron minerals mixed with oxygen. Faulting helped form the Majestic Canyons, via the creek waters breaking through the lava cap.
Although Mountain Lions, Black Bears and Bobcats generally stay in more remote areas or up in the higher elevations. It is not unusual to see an array of animals as you drive the more residential areas of town such as; Javelina, Coyote, Road Runners, Rabbits, Quail, and a wide variety of birds – including humming birds.