Bell Rock, Sedona — A Rock Worth Returning To

A close-up view of Bell Rock in Sedona glowing under a clear morning sky.

Sedona, Arizona · Bell Rock · Part 1 of a Sedona Series

My wife and I spent a few days in Sedona this past week, and the landscape really does live up to the hype. Bell Rock was one of the first formations we saw driving into town, and it ended up being a place we kept coming back to.

One morning we got there before sunrise. It was quiet and cold, with that soft blue light just starting to hit the red sandstone. Later in the week we stopped again in the late afternoon, and the whole place looked completely different. The low sun turned the rock a deep amber color and the shadows stretched across the desert.

We also came back after dark. Arizona’s skies are the real deal when it comes to stargazing. The Milky Way was stretched out above Courthouse Butte, and even though it was freezing, it was hard to leave. We happened to be in town during the lunar eclipse too, which made the night even better.

The Bell Rock trailhead is right off AZ-179. You can take an easy walk around the base, or scramble a bit higher if you want a wider view out over the Verde Valley.