Head out on Sedona's backcountry trails in an all-terrain vehicle — one of the most visceral ways to experience the red rock landscape up close. Local providers supply all necessary safety equipment including goggles, helmets, and trail maps. Choose from a single-seat ATV to a six-passenger vehicle, and rent for a half or full day. Guided ranger-led tours are available for narrated commentary, and sunset ATV rides offer a genuinely memorable way to end an adventure day.

Sedona's desert terrain conceals one of Arizona's most exciting waterways — the Verde River, running 170 miles through the state and reachable by car in about 30 minutes. Verde Adventures rents kayaks and rafts for self-guided or group tours lasting 2–3 hours, through wildlife-rich wilderness home to deer, bald eagles, beaver, and otter. The signature Water to Wine Tour includes a mid-river stop at a nearby winery to sample local blends — one of the most distinctive outdoor experiences in Arizona.

There is no more serene or spectacular way to experience Sedona's landscape than from a hot air balloon at dawn. Northern Light Balloon Expeditions launches groups of up to six or seven passengers at first light, when the red rock formations glow their deepest hues and the desert is perfectly still. Rides last approximately one hour, with snacks and champagne served by request. Larger groups can book the expanded fleet accommodating 12 to 36 passengers.

With over 20 years operating in Sedona, Sedona Air Tours offers customizable helicopter experiences ranging from 25 to 75 minutes. The Hog Wild Tour takes you over Cathedral Rock and iconic landmarks at close range, while the Ancient's Way Tour reveals the cliffside dwellings where Sinaguan Indians once lived — a perspective that reframes Sedona's red rocks as living history rather than mere scenery.

For a more kinetic aerial experience, soar over the lions and exotic animals at Out of Africa's Predator Zip Line — one of the most thrilling zip experiences in the Southwest. Alternatively, the Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course offers zip lines woven through the forest canopy just 45 minutes north, with multiple difficulty levels to match your comfort with heights.

Sedona has become one of the world's most recognized healing destinations — and outdoor yoga here is a genuinely different experience from anything you'll find in a studio. Multiple studios including Yoga Love Sedona offer outdoor classes from March through October. The annual Sedona Yoga Festival launches outdoor season each March with a four-day event featuring over 200 workshops in yoga, meditation, sound healing, Ayurveda, and mindfulness.

There is something deeply right about experiencing Sedona's landscape on horseback — the pace, the perspective, the connection. Horsing Around Adventures pairs scenic landscape rides with dinner and wine tasting as the sun sets over the red rocks. A Day in the West delivers a full cowboy immersion including riding and a Western theater performance. M Diamond Ranch offers hay wagon rides, cookouts under the stars, and multiple riding programs for all experience levels.

One of the most scenic races anywhere in the American Southwest, RunSedona takes place on the first Saturday of February each year inside Coconino National Forest. Runners choose from a 5K, 10K, or half-marathon, racing past red rock formations on hilly terrain that challenges even seasoned runners. The views are extraordinary — the kind that make you forget you're racing at all.

Sedona's trail system is world-class for mountain biking — technical enough to challenge experts, varied enough for casual riders, and beautiful enough to make every mile memorable. Thunder Mountain Bikes and Absolute Bikes both offer guided tours and rentals with safety equipment provided. The annual three-day Sedona Mountain Bike Festival in early March brings the community together with a main expo, bike demos, shuttled rides, live music, and a beer garden.

For first-time visitors, a jeep tour is one of the most iconic and thoroughly satisfying introductions to Sedona's backcountry. The famous Pink Jeep Tours have become synonymous with Sedona's identity — expertly guided open-air tours that reach terrain no standard vehicle can access. Arizona Safari Jeep Tours offers guided experiences in purpose-built jeeps, Barlow Jeep Rentals provides self-drive options, and Sedona Hummer Tours brings a more rugged vehicle to the same spectacular trails.

Imagine a round of golf played against the backdrop of Sedona's red rock formations — a setting that redefines what a golf course can be. Seven Canyons is widely considered one of the most beautiful private courses in the Southwest. Sedona Golf Resort and Canyon Mesa Country Club offer excellent public access options, while Oakcreek Country Club — designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr. — draws golf enthusiasts from around the world for both its pedigree and its extraordinary setting.

For a relaxed, unhurried introduction to Sedona's most beloved landmarks, a trolley tour delivers excellent value for first-timers. Sedona Trolley takes visitors past all the major hot spots and drops guests at popular restaurants. Red Rock Magic Trolley offers a slightly longer experience in vintage trolleys with complimentary snacks and a historical narration of Sedona's most notable sites — an elegant way to orient yourself before choosing which landmarks to explore more deeply.