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We can think of no better way to spend the day than hanging out by the creek and looking up at Cathedral Rock. The Vibe: The swimming hole at Red Rock Crossing wins for having the best view. If you’re starting from the the turnout on 89A, follow the trail down towards and across the bridge. All the popular swimming areas are upstream from the bridge.
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How to find the spot: If you’re starting from the Slide Rock Parking Lot, then follow the paved and extremely well marked path down to the bridge. There is a trail that leads parallel to the road, down the to bridge. About 0.5 miles north of the park entrance, on the west side of 89A, there is a large turnout that can accommodate four to five cars. Again, this park is very popular during the summer, so parking might be limited.īut if you’re like us, and want to avoid paying for parking at all costs, there’s a secret access point. Parking: Slide Rock State Park has it’s own dedicated parking lot which cost $10 per vehicle (cash only). There are many shallow areas for children as well as a few deeper sections if you’re looking to get fully submerged. Underneath the bridge, there are cliffs of varying heights that can be jumped off of, depending on the water level. The red rocks closes in tight around Oak Creek, creating narrows with mini cascades and water slide chutes. This area is heavily frequented by tourists and for good reason: it’s absolutely beautiful. Vibe : Perhaps the most popular and well-known swimming hole in Sedona, we couldn’t leave this classic off the list. Chances are there will already be a bunch of people over there. Follow the stream, passing the bridge on your right, until you see the large red rock “beaches”. This will lead you down to Oak Creek, but the swimming hole is actually further downstream.
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Follow Midgely Bridge Trail and then take a right onto Huckaby Trail.
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Just underneath the bridge there is an overlook, where you can see the swimming area to the south. How to find the spot: From the parking lot, there is a trail that leads down underneath the bridge called the Midgely Bridge Trail. We’re not sure if this is entirely legal, but we saw dozens of cars parked along the side of the road on a Saturday. If this parking lot is filled up or you’re unwilling to pay the fee, you can attempt parking to the north of the bridge, on the west side of 89A. There is a pay kiosk located at the end of the parking lot that takes credit cards, across from the vault toilet. A Red Rock Pass ($5 per day / $15 per week) or a valid National Park Interagency Pass must be displayed. If you plan on parking here, we suggest arriving very early. Where to Park: There is a comically small parking lot at the north end of Midgely Bridge, which can hold about 20 vehicles. This section of Oak Creek has some deep sections for swimming, but the main attraction are the large red rock “beaches” that are perfect for laying out.
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This spot definitely had a “Spring Break” vibe to it, which can either be a plus or a negative, depending on what you’re looking for. The Vibe : If you’re visiting this swimming hole on a weekend during the academic year, there’s a good chance you’ll be sharing the trail with more than a few college kids, as they drag their ice-filled coolers and intoxicated friends down to the creek. There ara e variety of different sections along the creek, some of which might require a little bushwhacking to get to, but most of them are within a ¼ mile of the parking lot. How to find the spot: From the parking lot, the swimming holes are just a short walk up Allen’s Bend Trail, which can be picked up at the north end of the parking lot. However, the fee can be avoided if you park along the side of 89A and hike down on Midgely Bridge Trail. There is a $8 day pass fee per vehicle (5 people) and $2 for a walk-in, bicycle, extra person. Parking: There is a small parking lot that can fill up quickly during the summertime and on weekends. So if one area is busy, then it’s easy to move to another. There are couple of different spots within walking distance from the parking lot, including a few deep sections for swimming, red rock terraces for laying out, and a variety ledges to jump off of. It’s located along a bend in Oak Creek, which means it can remain shady until midday: a positive if it’s hot, a negative if it’s chilly. The Vibe: This fairly popular day use area offers a wide range of swimming, sunbathing, and cliff jumping options.