AZ-179 + AZ-89A — the two All-American Roads of Sedona, narrated end to end. Bell Rock to the canyon rim, with Tlaquepaque, the Chapel detour, and Midgley Bridge between.
Sedona is one of the few American towns where the road itself is part of the destination. AZ-179 and AZ-89A both hold federal All-American Road designations — the highest tier of scenic byway recognition. The pullouts were engineered. The sight lines were planned. Driving the route is the experience, not just transportation between hikes.
This tour narrates 24 miles of road across 5 stops: Bell Rock at the southern entrance, Cathedral Rock from the most photographed pullout, the Y junction at Tlaquepaque and the Chapel of the Holy Cross detour, Midgley Bridge at the canyon entrance, and the CCC switchback overlook 1,800 feet above the canyon floor. Each stop's audio includes the geology, the history, the logistics for that specific pullout, and the orientation you need for the next leg.
Designed for the drive in from Phoenix (northbound) or the descent from Flagstaff (southbound). Audio plays either direction.
The 5 Stops
1
Bell Rock Vista PulloutFree Preview
34.7912, -111.7720
AZ-179 mile 309. Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte from the southern entrance to Sedona's basin. The All-American Road designation explained, geological context for the Schnebly Hill sandstone, and AZ-179 driving logistics through the six roundabouts.
2
Cathedral Rock View — Yavapai VistaFree Preview
34.8275, -111.7900
AZ-179 mile 311.5. The postcard view of the most photographed formation in Arizona, plus the alternative Crescent Moon Picnic Area angle. Light timing strategy for the late-afternoon glow window.
3
The Y Junction — TlaquepaquePaid
34.8650, -111.7647
Where AZ-179 meets AZ-89A — the geographic center of Sedona. Tlaquepaque Arts Village (1971), the Chapel of the Holy Cross detour (1956 cliffside chapel), Twin Buttes, and Uptown driving strategy.
4
Midgley BridgePaid
34.8851, -111.7390
1939 single-span steel arch bridge over Wilson Canyon, 124 feet above the canyon floor. Wilson Mountain history (last grizzly fatality in 1885), geological layer cake of the Mogollon Rim, and the entrance to Oak Creek Canyon proper.
5
Oak Creek Canyon Vista OverlookPaid
35.0125, -111.7345
AZ-89A milepost 391 at the top of the CCC switchbacks. 6,400 ft elevation, climate boundary between Sedona's high desert and the ponderosa pine plateau toward Flagstaff. Civilian Conservation Corps history and the sanctioned Diné jewelry trading post.
Stops 1 and 2 (Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock) play free — no purchase required to preview.
What's Included
✓GPS-triggered audio guide — 5 stop narrations (21+ minutes total) that auto-play when you arrive at each pullout
✓Stop transcripts — full text of every narration for offline reading or accessibility
✓Pullout and parking notes — exact mileposts, parking strategy, and which pullouts have restrooms
✓Bidirectional — works equally well northbound from Phoenix or southbound from Flagstaff
✓Optional detour notes — Chapel of the Holy Cross, Crescent Moon Picnic Area, Slide Rock
✓Lifetime access — buy once, use the tour every time you drive the corridor
How It Works
1
Purchase the tour$2.99 one-time. You'll receive a link to the tour player immediately after checkout.
2
Connect to your car speakersBluetooth, AUX cable, or CarPlay/Android Auto all work. Audio plays through your phone — the tour player is web-based, no app required.
3
Drive the corridor — audio cues at each pulloutGPS triggers each stop's narration when you arrive within range of the pullout. Pull over to listen, or keep moving and replay the audio later from your account.
4
Use the optional detour notesEach stop's audio names side trips that are worth the extra time. Chapel of the Holy Cross from Stop 3 is the highest-value detour on the route.
The Red Rock Scenic Drive is the combined route along AZ-179 (from the Village of Oak Creek through Sedona) and AZ-89A (from the Y junction up Oak Creek Canyon toward Flagstaff). Both are designated All-American Roads — the federal government's highest scenic-byway designation. The full route covers about 24 miles and passes Sedona's most iconic formations, the Y junction in Uptown, Midgley Bridge, and the CCC switchbacks.
Can I do this tour without leaving my car?
Yes — this is designed as a driving tour. Each stop is a designated pullout or parking area where you can pause briefly without leaving the vehicle. Optional get-out moments are noted in each stop's audio for visitors who want a longer pause. The Vortex Circuit tour is the walking-and-scrambling counterpart if you want full trail engagement.
Which direction should I drive — north or south?
The tour is designed for the northbound direction starting at the Village of Oak Creek (Bell Rock Vista) and ending at the Oak Creek Canyon Overlook near the Flagstaff side of the canyon. This is the natural sequence if you're arriving from Phoenix. If you're driving south from Flagstaff, the tour also works in reverse — start at Stop 5 and work toward Stop 1. The audio narrations flow either direction.
How long does the full drive take?
About 2 hours of driving and audio listening if you stop briefly at each pullout, or 3 to 4 hours if you take the recommended Chapel of the Holy Cross detour, walk the Midgley Bridge rim trail, and spend 20 minutes at Tlaquepaque. The Oak Creek Canyon section between Stops 4 and 5 is slow — 35 to 45 minutes to cover 14 miles due to two-lane road and RV traffic.
What's the difference between this tour and the Vortex Circuit tour?
The Red Rock Scenic Drive is a driving tour focused on the road itself, the formations as seen from designated pullouts, and the geographic and cultural anchors of Sedona — Tlaquepaque, the Y junction, Midgley Bridge, and the CCC switchbacks. The Vortex Circuit tour is a walking-and-scrambling tour focused on getting onto the formations themselves: the trail to the Cathedral Rock notch, the Airport Mesa overlook, Boynton Canyon. Many visitors do both — scenic drive in the morning, vortex hikes in the afternoon.