Travel Sedona & the Verde Valley: A Multi-Mode Adventure

On a visit to Sedona and the Verde Valley, forego traditional modes of transportation and instead opt for the unconventional. Soar the sky in a hot air balloon, for example, or trundle through canyons on an historic train. Here, five ideas for a Sedona multimode adventure.

Floats and Flights on the Verde River

If the idea of paddling to a vineyard floats your boat, Sedona Adventure Tours’ Water to Wine tour will be just what the sommelier recommended. After your expert guide provides basic safety and paddling instructions, it’s time to step into your inflatable kayak and spend an hour gliding along the Verde River, navigating the occasional chute or riffle while basking in the riparian scenery. Once you’ve landed on the sandy beach, it’s a short walk through cottonwood trees and vineyards to the Tuscan farmhouse at Alcantara Vineyards for 90 minutes of wine tasting and relaxation — the perfect payoff for your paddling.

Helicopter Tours over the Red Rocks

Sedona Air Tours offers a variety of helicopter trips exploring Sedona’s Red Rocks, but if you want to experience the ultimate adventure, well… you’ll want to reserve a spot on the aptly named Ultimate Adventure tour. This doors-off helicopter experience offers 60 minutes of Instagram-worthy moments at every turn, flying through the Red Rocks and a bucket list of other geographical landmarks, including Boynton Canyon’s Sinagua cliff dwellings, Secret Canyon and Munds and Lee Mountains. Have your camera ready for the fly-by of Cathedral Rock before cruising over Verde Valley wine country and back to home base.

Jeep Rides in the Backcountry

Jeep tours have long been a popular way to get up close and personal with Red Rock Country. Hitting the backroads with Earth Wisdom Jeep Tours on their Outer Dimensions Night Tour puts you in search of Sedona’s unexplored phenomena at Bradshaw Ranch. While there’s no guarantee you’ll see a UFO landing or aliens wandering the desert, you can be confident the tour guides will share the legends passed down through Indigenous tribes as well as modern tales of otherworldly sightings. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours, with a stop at Bradshaw Overlook, about one mile outside the ranch.

Train Rides in Verde Canyon

The four-hour, 40-mile roundtrip ride on Verde Canyon Railroad is a step back in time. The historic rail route from Clarkdale to Perkinsville was built in 1912, with today’s passenger cars pulled by FP7 locomotives built in 1953. The modern accommodations include climate-controlled cars, panoramic windows and an open-air car with 360-degree views of red rock pinnacles, ancient ruins and wildlife. One of the highlights: a 734-foot tunnel carved through solid rock. Check the company’s calendar for themed train excursions such as wine and beer tastings, night trips under the stars and fall color tours.

Balloon Flights through the Sky

Other than the occasional whoosh of a propane heater — and oohs and aahs at the scenery — a hot air balloon ride lets you soar silently over the rugged high-desert terrain. Seven days a week (weather permitting) Red Rock Balloon Adventures launches near Dry Creek Road in Sedona, timed perfectly to see the sunrise. After reaching altitude, it’s all about taking in the expansive mountain and canyon views and wildlife sightings, with flights lasting 60 to 90 minutes depending on the winds. Upon landing, the ground crew will be ready with a celebratory champagne toast, while the pilot regales passengers with stories about ballooning history.