5 Sedona Swimming Holes: Cool Off in the Red Rocks

Sedona’s natural beauty is stunning, which is why it’s become so crowded.  Oak Creek flows through the iconic red rocks, creating several great swimming holes along the way.

While you won’t get much peace and quiet at them, the individual sites have cliff jumping and natural rock waterslides.  Some are “easy access,” while others require a hike.

Slide Rock State Park: Sedona’s Natural Water Slide

Slide Rock State Park is the most popular swimming spot in Sedona, known for its long, slick sandstone chute that creates a natural waterslide along Oak Creek.

It’s easy to access and family-friendly, but the large parking lot fills to capacity on hot summer days.

A line often forms on Highway 89A (north of Sedona) before the gates open.

Location:

• 10 miles north of Sedona, on the west side of Highway 89A.

What to Expect:

• A 0.3-mile walk from the parking lot leads to multiple swimming areas, shallow pools, deep spots for wading, and the famous slide section.
• Water levels rise and fall through the seasons.  If the water level in the creek is lower, adults will have a harder time sliding.
• In addition to the slide, there are deeper swimming holes and flat rocks where people set up chairs and coolers to spend the day.

Fees & Hours:

• February – November:  Open 8:00am – 6:00pm
• May – September:  $30 per vehicle
• October – April: $20 per vehicle
• Arrive early in spring and summer. The parking lot regularly fills, and the gates close when the lot is full.

Best Time to Visit:

• Late spring through early fall for warm water and swimming.

Good to Know:

• There are restrooms, a small store, and shaded picnic areas above the creek.

Slide Rock State Park began as the Pendley Homestead, a 43-acre apple farm established in the early 1900s. Frank Pendley acquired the land in 1910 and built an innovative irrigation system that made his orchards thrive.  Many of the apple trees are still growing today.

Hike to “The Crack” at Wet Beaver Creek

It’s a 4-mile hike from the Bell Trailhead to “The Crack” at Wet Beaver Creek.

While this swimming hole isn’t technically in Sedona, it’s close by and still includes red rock surroundings.

Location

• The Bell Trail Parking Lot, on Highway 179 (turns into FS Road 618) east of the I-17

What to Expect

• A relatively easy 4-mile hike to the swimming hole, which is hot without much shade for much of the way.
• There are places to cliff-jump into a deep swimming hole along Wet Beaver Creek.
• The surrounding rocks get crowded in the summer, as people lounge around for the day before hiking back out.

Fees and Hours

• There’s a main Bell Trailhead parking lot, and an overflow lot nearby.
• You’ll pay a $5 fee to park at a kiosk.

Best Time to Visit

• Summer and fall are great for swimming, but get there early in the morning to ensure parking.

Good to Know

• Make sure to save enough water for your 4-mile hike *out* at the end of the day.
• There’s no overnight camping (though I’ve seen tents set up there).

Swim in Oak Creek Under Midgley Bridge

Midgley Bridge is best known for its dramatic red rock views, but it’s also another spot to reach Oak Creek for a refreshing dip down below.

Located at the north end of Sedona on 89A, the trails beneath the bridge lead to the creek, where you can set up to wade through the shallower waters, lounge creekside, and cool off in the shade.

Location

• Just north of Sedona on Highway 89A
• Minimal parking during the busy season (which is most of the year these days)

What to Expect

• From the parking lot, short but rocky trails drop down into Oak Creek Canyon.
• Follow the Huckaby Trail down about half a mile to the creek.
• Alternatively, the trail here also connects to Grasshopper Point.
• The creek below Midgely Bridge is shallow in most spots, with small pools, shaded banks, and plenty of smooth rocks to relax on.

Fees and Hours

• Limited parking in the lot on the side of the bridge
• Red Rock Pass is needed for parking
• Cost:  $5 for the day, or $15 for the week 

Halfway Picnic: Swim Along 89A

Halfway Picnic is a USFS national recreation area in the Coconino National Forest north of Sedona.  There’s a very pretty swimming hole here, if you can find parking to visit.

Location

• 7 miles north of Sedona, along Highway 89A
• North of Slide Rock State Park

What to Expect

• Limited parking in the picnic areas next to the highway
• BBQs available
• Down a short, steep set of rock steps, you’ll get to the swimming hole in Oak Creek

Fees and Hours

• Day use, from 6:00am – 10:00pm
• Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required for parking
• $5 per vehicle per day
• $15 per week
• There’s a payment kiosk on site

Good to Know

• You can fish at Halfway picnic (catch and release)
• Pets are allowed, on a leash

*Not* a Sedona Swimming Hole: 7 Sacred Pools

While it may sound like the ideal Sedona swimming hole, the hiking trail to the famous “Seven Sacred Pools” is not a great spot for a dip.

The “pools” are actually small natural ponds, naturally carved over time in the rock.

What to Expect

Access from the Soldiers Pass Trailhead has been restricted due to popularity. Neighborhood parking is forbidden, and they’re strict about it.

There’s room for around 20 cars in the trailhead lot when it opens at 8:00am.

Much of the time, the Soldiers Pass Trailhead is closed or full, so visitors can take the shuttle from the Posse Grounds lot in Sedona.

Alternatively, you can park in the lot and walk the one mile to the trailhead.