A GUIDE TO HIKING AND GOLFING IN SEDONA, AZ
From the Jordan Trail to Oak Creek Country Club, here's how to spend a perfect few days in the Arizona desert town.
KENDRA LITTLE
Visual storyteller at Lie + Loft
Sedona, Arizona: a place I’ve heard a lot about, yet have never been. Finally the opportunity to explore this sacred land was offered to me byway of a family vacation with my partner. We spent all winter with eyes ahead to May for when this trip was scheduled, and such is everything in life, it was here before we knew it. THE day arrived and a 4am wake up call to head to PDX was the only thing between us and the Sedona sun.
This was a trip that neither Hannah nor I put any planning into, as it was a holiday gift from her family. All we had to do was buy our plane tickets and meet her family down there– rough deal, right? Going into the trip I was just looking ward to physically being in one is high regarded as one of the most energetically charged areas on the planet. Hiking, golfing, and some quality time with Hannah’s family were the top things in mind that we were looking forward to. But simply just being in this majestic location was enough to get me excited.
With my camera in hand, we arrived at the airport at 5am ahead of our direct flight to Phoenix. Stumptown Coffee on the other side of security was calling my name…
It was a long travel day, but eventually getting to Sedona proved to be refreshing in of itself. The warmth of the sun, the views of the red rocks, deep breaths. We are in the vortex!
Among many things we wanted to do while we were in Sedona, golf and hiking were among the top two. Thanks to AllTrails, we found some stunning hikes that were less than a mile away from our house. We started out on the Jordan Trail that would eventually lead us to views of the glorious Sedona mountain ridge line.
The Jordan Trail is a beautiful + diverse walk through undulating terrain offering views in all directions at times, as well as tree and succulent lined tunnels. Be sure to check out our trail map art of this must-do Sedona hike here:
A few weeks leading up to the trip, we began searching the Sedona area for a golf course that we’d be able to get out on. The obvious choice in the area is Seven Canyons, a pristine, higher end private club that would require the utilization of a reciprocal club. As we kept searching we stumbled upon a golf course that was a little closer to town, a little cheaper, and still provided a desert golf experience with beautiful views of the red rocks. That course was Oakcreek Country Club, a semi-private club just south of Sedona. We looked up photos online, spoke with the pro shop, and opted to book tee times here. It ended up being a great decision and one we would definitely make again. Check out L+L’s Oakcreek Country Club golf course map here. We might have to squeeze in Seven Canyons next time though!
As do all of our trips with Hannah’s family, this one flew by. It’s always a great sign at the end of the trip when you’re wishing you had booked 1 or 2 nights more. We spent 3 full days and 2 half days in Sedona, I think generally speaking that is enough to see and do a lot in the local area. But if you can swing it, I recommend staying an additional night or two to be able to explore out into Jerome and Flagstaff. We unfortunately weren’t able to this time around (just a good excuse to come back, right?)
Unlike many other places, I felt like Sedona truly lived up to its name and brand of being a place to come to reset physically and mentally. It’s hard to put into words the way you feel when you’re in this special landscape. But it’s a feeling of relaxation, reflection, and an ability to be in the moment. If nothing else, I will take that away from the trip. Lastly, I’m extremely grateful for my partner’s family for being so inclusive and fun. We were up early without a single second of the day wasted. They’re always open to seeing and trying new things– what else can you ask for?
Thanks for taking the time to re-live this adventure with me. Holler if we can ever help with Sedona recs!
PS. If you’re craving more, we recorded a little LIE + LOFT podcast about the round of golf at Oakcreek.
lieandloft.com // #golfishome
