A different kind of New Years trip to cap off a different kind of year. Unwinding and recharging with Sedona NYE hiking. Getting high on altitude instead of distilled liquids. Well maybe a bit of the latter but mostly the former.
Sedona, AZ is gorgeous and inspiring. See for yourself….
Road Tripping Sedona Style
First order of business to prepare for Sedona was to rent a car at the PHX airport. You have to go Jeep for this mission and we got an upgraded version. The Rubicon Gladiator was on point.
They were not kidding when they said trails are for off road vehicles only. After honing my skills on the potholes of my local roadways, I was ready. Nevertheless a spirited debate and near mutiny occurred between captain and navigator when we approached the largest rock climb. The captain won out with the tried and true wisdom of “its a rental”.
PSA: While no damages to the Rubicon were assessed at drop off, don’t buy that one from the rental car fleet
Update: I actually ended up purchasing one like this shortly after I returned home. Must have been the Sedona vibes thing that made me fall in love with the vehicle. Thank goodness I didn’t rent a Ferrari
Sedona NYE hiking trip.
Lodging and Relaxing
A huge shout out to Adobe Grand Villas. Awesome boutique hotel and one of my favorite places I have stayed. It calls itself a B&B but I don’t do B&Bs. Each villa has its own theme and private entrance. So its not the normal B&B experience where you bump into Bob and Martha from Des Moines walking down the hall in their bathrobes. I’m not a fan of that but I’m a fan of Adobe.
Our villa had two fireplaces. Jacuzzi. Kitchenette with fresh baked bread prepped for you each day.
The common areas include a hot tub and small pool. I’ll be back
Don’t let the looks deceive you . She’s a little mountain goat
A pro hiker and her apprentice
Sunrise hike to Devils Bridge. Gotta get there early to avoid the crowds…even if you ain’t a morning person
Sedona New Years Eve hiking.
The Hikes
Devils Bridge is a must see spot and profile pic. Required by statute under the terms of use for your IG and Facebook accounts.
The early morning wake up and chilly temps were worth it to beat the crowds.
Props to those who do handstands and such for their pic. Not for me as detailed in my climbing experience.
Early mornings and early nights. We did manage to stay out past midnight on NYE. Had a blast at some local dive near the hotel. Jan 1 hike started a little later
I would say relaxing and enjoying the view but I am stuck to that rock like a suction cup
Never get tired of seeing these scenes and colors. Good for the soul
Cathedral Rock is another must see spot and of course photo op. I didn’t see anyone doing handstands on this ledge.
Sedona AZ NYE hike
Back in town means the obligatory cat pic.
None to dine with this time tho
Sedona and Beyond
Drove out to a funky town called Jerome. The famous biker bar, Spirit Room, was only open for T-shirts due to covid. Hmm. Not exactly Hells Angels like. Oh well might have saved me from an arse whoopin
His and hers drinks. Can you guess.
Note: beverage choice would have been different had the biker bar been open
The Clinkscale Restaurant. What a great little find and pleasant surprise in Jerome.
As a Southerner I can proclaim this as next level biscuits n gravy. Included buffalo fried chicken. Best ever
Back at Sedona NYE hiking headquarters contemplating the last day’s hike plans. His and hers drinks again. Same answer
sedona NYE hike guide.
Last day of hiking and she’s smiling as she finally gets to a rare restroom err outhouse. Was not smiling upon exit.
Experts tip: In winter hold ya breath. In summer, I imagine you better just squat behind a cactus. Behind, not on
Sedona New Years Eve hiking
Sadly it was time to head south back to Phoenix. We needed some lunch on the go and had to see what all the Western fuss was about for this outfit. Ehhh.
In full disclosure that crowded burger stop pressed us for time on return to the airport. Dropped the Jeep off with half a tank of gas which apparently justifies a $110 fuel charge. Soooo those In-N-Out Burgers were fifty bucks each by my math. Grrrr
Thanks for the inspiring energy and positive start to the New Year. Sedona NYE hiking was exactly what the mind and body needed. A chance to close out a year hanging over cliffs instead of just hanging over.
Tips from the ‘Fool
Travelers Tips for Sedona NYE Hiking
- Make a hike plan. Study directions
- Leave super early for the hot spots. Especially Devils Bridge. Else you will be waiting 2 hours to get that profile pic. Sedona NYE hiking is popular and can get crowded
- Off road trails are no joke around Sedona. If you damage your rental, clean the dirt off of it thoroughly so you have a fighting chance to argue that you didn’t take it off road. If you roll it, save the car wash money. Contact your credit card and insurance
- When hiking in warm season bring lots of water. In winter go with Irish coffee
- If you aren’t capable of the scrambling and climbing part of a hike…don’t attempt the scrambling and climbing part of a hike
