Sedona at a Glance – A Guide to Sedona’s Community Areas

Why Visit Sedona? The Views & Activities. Why LIVE in Sedona? The Lifestyle!

Locals like to call Sedona “The Grand Canyon You Can Live In”. Surrounded by quite simply the most spectacular scenery on earth, we live close to the land here in Sedona. Whether you love hiking, mountain biking, plein-air painting, enjoying an outdoor festival, or simply hanging out and enjoying Sedona’s galleries and unique culture, there is always something here for you. This is more than just another “tourist town”; it is also the people that make Sedona special. This is more than just a place to play. It’s an interesting and diverse community of people – from all over the country, and all over the world – who live and work here and call it home.

Sedona real estate offers a great deal of variety, and continues its tradition as an excellent investment, as well.

Each of these communities in the greater Sedona area offers its own feel and charm:

Uptown Sedona

The heart of Old Sedona lies here, at the base of Oak Creek Canyon. Uptown Sedona offers some of our oldest neighborhoods, with home styles ranging from historic red rock cabins to the latest in Southwestern architecture. Hilly terrain makes for some of the most dramatic views of our famous Red Rocks. The Uptown shops are always a big draw for tourists, and locals will come to enjoy the world-class restaurants, galleries and Sedona Art Center, too.

West Sedona

This popular area offers a wide variety of neighborhoods and styles, everything from large elegant homes in exclusive gated communities to more modest homes. Most of our banks, grocery stores, and other businesses are clustered along the main route, West State Route 89A. Very convenient to everything (Sedona Urgent Care, Sedona Medical Center, Red Rock High School, restaurants, shopping, and more). West Sedona is about a 20 minute drive to the City of Cottonwood, where you will find a full regional hospital and a wider variety of shopping.

Oak Creek Canyon

The terrain changes rapidly from high-desert red rock country as you leave Uptown Sedona to drive through the cool green riparian habitat along Oak Creek, winding your way up into the tall Ponderosa Pines of the High Country. Northern Arizona is home to the largest contiguous stand of Ponderosa Pine forest in the world (no, Arizona isn’t just about the desert)! Most of the Canyon is Coconino National Forest or National Park Service land, but there are some private homes nestled in among the trees. You will find modest little vacation cabins, year-round homes and a few rare private country estates on the creek.

Red Rock Loop

West Sedona yields to the Red Rock Loop area at Upper Red Rock Loop Road, which makes a large lazy loop through stunning red rock vistas to the south and east of West State Route 89A. It runs along Oak Creek and comes back out onto the highway at Lower Red Rock Loop Road as you travel towards Cottonwood. This area is more rural, riparian and laid-back. You will find cozy vacation homes, horse properties, private estates and some real “Old Sedona” homes. Still just minutes from the heart of town, it feels worlds away. Surrounded by National Forest, it is also the home of world famous Red Rock Crossing and Red Rock State Park. Hiking trails are everywhere, and with the stunning views of Cathedral Rock it is a photographer’s dream.

Chapel / Little Horse Park

Locals call this area between Uptown Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek the “Chapel Area”, after the renowned Chapel of the Holy Cross, which is the perfect complement to the Red Rocks it rises from. Expect inspiring scenery and gracious homes. Like most neighborhoods in the Sedona area, it has grown slowly over the years, and offers a mix of older and newer homes. Some neighborhoods border Oak Creek as it meanders south from the canyon. Conveniently located, this is a great spot to call home.

Village of Oak Creek & Big Park

Sited just outside of the Sedona City limits, this community takes its name from the Village of Oak Creek Homeowners Association (VOCA), and was originally called Big Park. The two names are now used mainly to distinguish between those neighborhoods that are VOCA members, and those that are not – but you will hear most folks refer to this entire area as “The Village”.

Once again, you will find quite a wide variety of housing prices, ages and styles. Your dollar can go a bit farther than in Sedona ‘proper’, though the Village has a wide variety of luxury properties as well as a good selection of townhomes, condos and more modest homes.

Home to some of the most prestigious of the Verde Valley’s golf courses, the Village lifestyle is relaxed and centered around the outdoor activities that abound here. Golfers can choose one of the two 18 hole Champion courses – Sedona Golf Resort or the Oak Creek Country Club, or the 9-hole executive course at CanyonMesa Country Club. There are Tennis courts at the Oak Creek Country Club and also at the Hilton Spa & Racquet Club at the Ridge. And it goes without saying that hiking trails are always close at hand in the surrounding Coconino National Forest Service Lands.

When you’re ready to dive in deeper to any of these areas, visit their comprehensive Community page. And I’m always happy to share my personal insights with you, so please feel free to ask!