7 Spiritual Places To Visit In Sedona Arizona

Looking for the most spiritual places to visit in Sedona? If so, this is the article for you!

Sedona is considered one of the most mystical places in the country.

From the unique red rock formations to the dark night skies, it’s no wonder why it’s become a popular place for peaceful retreats.

Additionally, many new-age spiritualists believe that Sedona has “energy vortexes” amidst the red rocks. These are sites thought to have increased levels of energy, that can be conducive to healing or meditation.

Whether or not you believe in Sedona’s energy vortexes, the natural beauty alone is a reason to visit these vortex sites!

But, vortexes aren’t all that Sedona has to offer.

Keep reading to discover 7 spiritual places to visit on your peaceful Sedona retreat.

Spiritual Places To Visit In Sedona

Sedona’s Energy Vortexes

Sedona is known for having energy vortexes, which are sites many believe have increased levels of energy. These sites are thought to have healing or meditative properties!

You can hike to each of these vortexes, or go on a vortex tour to explore them with a guide. When I visited Sedona, I went on a jeep vortex tour with Arizona Safari tours.

Sedona’s four main vortexes are located at Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Boynton Canyon, and Airport Mesa.

We stopped by two vortex sites to sense the energy, and determine if the vortexes had “upflow” (masculine), or downflow (feminine) energy.

With a guide, you’ll get to learn about the history of the vortexes and visit lesser known sites. Many tours also offer guided meditations, chakra readings, and sound healing sessions at the sites. 

If you prefer visiting on your own, here are directions for visiting each of Sedona’s main vortexes. 

Cathedral Rock Vortex – Sedona’s Most Powerful Vortex

To get to Cathedral Rock, take highway 179 past Oak Creek Village, turn left on Back O Beyond Road, drive west for 1 mile, and the trailhead will be on your left.

Once you hike to the top of Cathedral Rock, turn left, and climb up a rocky trail to the hidden Cathedral Rock Pillar. This is thought to be an upflow vortex site.

Bell Rock Vortex

Drive north on highway 179, pass circle K, then turn into the trailhead parking lot. Hike the Bell Rock Access Trail for about 10 minutes (0.2 miles) until you see the Bell Rock Climb.

Climb all the way to the top where the viewpoint is. This is considered another upflow energy vortex. 

Airport Mesa Vortex

Park in the free Airport Mesa trailhead parking lot. Hike to the top of Summit trail (an easy 0.2 mile trail uphill) and you’ve reached the Airport Mesa vortex.

This is considered another up-flow vortex, and is one of the most popular sites. 

If you cant find parking at the main trailhead, you can park in the large parking lot by the airport scenic lookout for $33.

From here, take the Sedona View Trail (~1.1 miles roundtrip) down to reach the vortex.

Boynton Canyon Vortex

Located in west Sedona, Boynton Canyon is another popular vortex site.

Drive 3 miles on Dry Creek Road, take a left on Boynton Pass Road, then continue until you see the trailhead on the right.

Hike the Boynton Canyon Trail, and turn onto the Boynton Canyon Vista (around 0.5 miles into the hike), and continue to the end of the trail.

The rock to the right of the “end of trail” sign is named the “Kachina Woman rock formation”, and is where the vortex is located.

This vortex is said to be a balanced energy vortex (upflow and downflow). 

Here you’ll also have an amazing panoramic view of the pine forests and mountains in West Sedona.

Tips For Visiting Sedona’s Energy Vortexes

• Purchase a Daily Red Rock Pass ($5) online or take the Sedona shuttle (Thurs-Sun) for easy access to the trailheads (+ free parking)
• Parking can be a hassle during the day, so it’s best to arrive early in the morning. 
• Make sure to bring water, sunscreen, and comfortable hiking shoes.
• Visit during sunrise or sunset for the most spectacular views of the red mountains. 

Amitabha Stuba & Peace Park

Besides Sedona’s energy vortexes, Amitabha Stuba & Peace Park and the Chapel of the Holy Cross are two spiritual places where people seek retreat.

The Amitabha Stuba & Peace Park is a 14 acre park with benches, a medicine wheel, and a Buddhist shrine.

Each morning a volunteer fills the water bowls on the altar with water to represent pure offerings to the Buddha. Many people visit this park to meditate and pray, regardless of their faith. 

Amitabha Stuba and Peace Park: 2650 Pueblo Dr, Sedona, AZ. Open from 8:30am to 5pm or 6pm, depending on the season. Street parking available near the entrance. 

Chapel Of The Holy Cross

The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic Chapel perched in the red rock mountains. 

This chapel was built by the European architect Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who felt the area was calling for a shrine to bring everyone closer to god.

Now, many people consider this chapel to be another energy vortex. You can explore the chapel for free, and it has a gift shop on site. 

Chapel of the Holy Cross: 780 Chapel Rd., Sedona, AZ. Golf carts are available to reach the chapel from parking. Open 9am to 5pm. Closed Christmas and Easter.

Psychic Readings & Crystal Shops

Sedona is surrounded by gift shops that offer psychic readings.

Mystical Bazaar, Crystal Magic, and Center For The New Age are just a few of the many places that you can visit for a psychic reading.

These shops also sell crystals, gemstone jewelry, tarot cards, and many other unique gifts.

You can also visit a practitioner such as Nirup the psychic for psychic readings, past life regression meditations, life path readings, and more. 

Montezuma’s Castle

If you want a glimpse into how ancient tribes lived, Montezuma’s Castle and the Palatki Heritage Site are two sacred spaces worth visiting. 

Located in Camp Verde, Montezuma’s Castle is a national monument with ancient living spaces and cliff dwellings built between AD 1100 and 1425.

You only need to walk a small distance to get a great view of the ancient ruins and cliff dwellings. It also has a gift shop and small museum on site.

Many tribes consider Montezuma’s Castle a sacred place, and it’s only a 30 minute drive from Sedona. 

Montezuma Castle Rd, Camp Verde, AZ. Entrance passes cost $10 USD for adults, and free for children under 15. Open 8am to 4:45pm. 

The Palatki Heritage Site

The Palatki Heritage Site is another fascinating set of ancient cliff dwellings built between AD 1150 – 1350.

You’ll get to see how past cultures lived in the sacred space by seeing messages inscribed in sandstone.

This site has three easy trails that lead up to the Sinagua cliff dwellings, rock art, and pictographs. It has a visitor center and gift shop where you can find a tour guide. It’s around 40 minutes from Sedona, in the Coconino National Forest.

10290 North Forest Service Road #795, Sedona, AZ. Open 9:30am to 3pm. Before you visit, make sure to call (928) 282-3854 to schedule a tour.

Meditation Centers

Visit one of Sedona’s meditation centers for a meditation or spiritual yoga session.

Awakenings Yoga Studio offers outdoor yoga with guided meditations, sound healing sessions, past life regression, and more.

This yoga center is located near Whole Foods in West Sedona. 

Thunderbird Dr, Sedona, AZ 86336. Book a yoga session on their official website. 

Conclusion

Whether you want to visit energy vortexes or do past life regression yoga, Sedona has something for you.

Sedona is considered a deeply spiritual destination, and thousands of people visit each year for that exact reason!

For more ideas on what to do, make sure to see our full list of unique things to do in Sedona!