Sedona

Why should it be a National Park?

It might surprise most people to learn that Sedona is not a National Park. Its scale and appearance make this landscape an obvious candidate for park status, but the red rocks and surrounding hillsides are actually a combination of national forest, state parks, and private lands. Despite the local population and the number of visitors brought in by the resorts, shops, and restaurants, most of the area remains in its natural state.

Arizona has three National Parks; the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Saguaro. None of these parks focus on the iconic visual identity of red rock buttes and mesas that many people associate with the state. Sedona has similarities to Monument Valley with its red rock features. However, Sedona's buttes are situated between a notable base of greenery rather than an arid landscape. This contrast is fairly unique to the Colorado Plateau.

Along with its stunning natural beauty, the Verde Valley where Sedona is located is filled with historic structures and artifacts. Human habitation can be traced back as far as 11,500 BC. Extensive rock art, pueblo ruins, and cliff dwellings dot the surrounding areas. The most famous ones are Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments. These are National Park Service sites in neighboring towns, but Palatki and Honanki Heritage Sites are two sister ruins within Sedona itself.

Coconino National Forest is the single biggest manager of the local public lands. The forest extends to 1,890,000 acres throughout the region, surrounding both Sedona and Flagstaff to the north. Between these two cities are some notable landforms such as Oak Creek Canyon and Slide Rock State Park. Several other state parks are in the immediate vicinity of Sedona, ranging from historic forts, ranches, and mines to spectacular natural landmarks.

This array of landscapes and history is often missed by tourists who visit the town of Sedona in search of resorts, spiritualism, and day-hikes that have made the area popular.