Sedona, Arizona · Lover’s Knoll · Part 6 of a Sedona Series
Not every good viewpoint in Sedona requires a long hike or a pre-dawn alarm. Lover’s Knoll ended up being one of the easiest places we visited, and one we kept coming back to. It sits just off the main road with a wide, open view across the valley, and it became our go-to spot for both sunrise and sunset when we weren’t out on the trails. It was usually quiet too—just a handful of other people scattered around taking in the view.
From the overlook you’re facing Cathedral Rock, with Courthouse Butte off across the wider landscape and the valley floor stretching out below. At sunrise the light comes in low from the side and slowly starts lighting up the rock formations. At sunset the same scene shifts again, with the sandstone turning deeper shades of red and orange as the sun drops behind the ridgeline.
One morning in particular stands out. We arrived before dawn and settled in to wait for the sun to come up. Just as the first light started showing along the horizon—that still, quiet moment right before sunrise—a group of coyotes began howling somewhere out in the valley below.
It caught us completely off guard.
The sound carried across the basin and echoed off the canyon walls for a few seconds before fading out again. Then everything went quiet. It was one of those moments you can’t plan for, and probably couldn’t recreate if you tried.
Lover’s Knoll doesn’t require a hike or any kind of permit. You just show up, find a spot along the overlook, and watch the light change across the valley.
Next in the series: Devil’s Bridge, Sedona — Before the Crowds
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