Early this summer, I had my sights set on Sedona. It had been on my radar for quite some time, and I was intrigued mainly because of the vortexes. I had read many articles about them with some people swearing by them and others not so moved, so I decided to go and investigate for myself. I set the trip for late September and made it a birthday/girl’s trip with my good friend Carrie.

So, what is a vortex? According to Visit Sedona’s website, “Sedona vortexes (the proper grammatical form ‘vortices’ is rarely used) are thought to be swirling centers of energy that are conducive to healing, meditation, and self-exploration. These are places where the earth seems especially alive with energy. Many people feel inspired, recharged, or uplifted after visiting a vortex.”

Though we had just entered the fall season, Sedona was very warm during the day, so staying hydrated was a must. With temps topping the low 90’s, the heat index made it feel much warmer, especially on challenging hikes with the sun reflecting off the red rocks. I had a full itinerary planned which included trips to four of the more popular vortexes, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Airport Mesa, and Boynton Canyon.

The first hike on my itinerary was Bell Rock. Though there are several trails to access this formation, I chose the shortest route because there were other places I wanted to explore that day and I didn’t want to tire myself out. Plus, I just wanted to experience a vortex for the first time. I did the roughly 1-mile hike from the parking lot at Courthouse Vista.

The trail was well-marked most of the way, but as I ascended further, I had to find my own way. I didn’t climb to the top of Bell Rock and didn’t see anyone else doing it. When I found a nice spot with a view and no one around, I removed my pack and laid on my back to enjoy a moment of peace and solitude. The views from that spot were expansive and awe-inspiring. I could have stayed there all day.

After leaving Bell Rock, I visited the Chapel of the Holy Cross which had been high on my list of places to visit in Sedona. This was, in part, because I already had some connections there. In the weeks prior to my trip, I started following the Chapel on social media. I knew that on Wednesdays and Fridays they held mass and I sometimes tuned in to their livestream. On one day that was particularly rough for me, I saw on their post that they were taking prayer requests and asked for people to leave their requests in the comments.

I wrote my prayer request and then tuned in to the livestream of the mass. When the priest got to the prayer part of the service and mentioned my name and prayed for me, I wept. That prayer deeply touched me, and I could feel the sincerity and empathy coming through on the stream. That is what made my visit to the Chapel of the Holy Cross so much more special and endearing. While there, I spent some time in quiet reflection, lit a 3-day candle and said a prayer, then visited the gift shop and bought some gifts.

Next on the itinerary was Cathedral Rock. According to All Trails, an app that I use faithfully, this hike was rated as “Hard”. It was also supposed to have the strongest vortex energy, which is what intrigued me the most. Perhaps it was the energy of the vortex that drew me there and up that steep, challenging but well-marked path to the end of the trail and beyond. This was probably one of the hardest hikes I’ve ever done, made even more difficult by the brutal heat. Thankfully, I had lots of water, but it was no longer cold. Still, hydration is hydration.

When I reached the end of the trail sign, I noticed a ledge off to the right where people were going to take pictures, so I followed suit and had another hiker take my picture. There was a nice view on both sides of this saddle, but I was curious about the actual location of the vortex. A few text message chimes alerted me that I had cell reception, so I Googled the Cathedral Rock Vortex and discovered that it was up a steep, rocky incline to the left of where I was. I had seen people going that way but wasn’t sure what was there. I made the climb and there it was, at the location of a hidden pillar. There were only a couple of people there when I arrived, but they left shortly, and I was alone for a bit. I sat there quietly, grateful for the moment.

My last stop before meeting up with my friend Carrie at Mariposa Grill that evening was Airport Mesa, the site of another popular vortex. This was a relatively short hike, so I had the time to do it. However, when I arrived, the parking lot was full and only had space for about five or six cars to begin with. I drove down the road about a half-mile and arrived at a larger parking lot with plenty of space, but they charged a $3 fee. This parking lot was directly across from the Airport Mesa Overlook. You could hike the trail from there to the vortex, but from there it was longer, and I wasn’t quite prepared for that. I walked across the street to the overlook and took some pictures but didn’t think the view was much different from what I had already seen that day, so I didn’t linger.

On day two in Sedona, I hiked the West Fork Trail of Oak Creek Canyon. It’s not known for any vortexes, but this hike was high on my list due to all the glowing recommendations from other hikers. The pictures I had seen were enchanting, so I just had to do it. One of the notable things about this hike was the apple trees at the beginning. When I saw the first apple on the ground, I thought someone had discarded their snack. Then I saw more apples and looked up and noticed trees full of them, both green ones and red ones. I later discovered from talking to a park worker at the end of the hike that this place used to be an apple orchard and the ruins I observed just beyond the apple trees were part of it.

This mostly shaded hike was lush, green, and full of running water and life. Walking this beautiful roughly 7-mile out and back trail filled me with wonderful energy that invigorated my senses with every turn. I kept reminding myself to look up because the red canyon walls illuminated by the afternoon sun were so majestic and I felt that no matter how wide I set my camera lens, I just couldn’t completely capture the scope of all that I beheld. At times I just stood in awe, captivated by the views, sounds and scents of the canyon. As the sign at the trailhead said, this was truly the “Call of the Canyon.” I hiked all the way to the pool at the end of the canyon and it was mesmerizing. The water was clear and refreshing.

After leaving that amazing place, I drove back toward West Sedona to hike to Devil’s Bridge from the Mescal Trailhead since I had time to squeeze in another adventure before dinner that night at Elote. Though it was late in the afternoon, it was still hot, and there was minimal shade. The hike was mild initially, but the last half mile or so became more rugged and steep with a bit of a scramble just before reaching Devil’s Bridge.

The arduous, sweaty climb was rewarded with stunning scenery and the bridge was every bit as grand as it looked in the pictures I saw. From the angles of the pictures, the bridge appears narrow and scary, but I found that wasn’t the case at all. The bridge is wide, but it’s all about perspective.

On the last full day in Sedona, I hiked Boynton Canyon to the Subway and the Boynton Canyon Vortex. But first, I stopped at Sedonuts, a famous donut and coffee shop in town. I love donuts and consider myself a connoisseur, so I wanted to give them a taste test to see if the donuts really lived up to the hype. My verdict: a resounding YES! I ordered three donuts, regular glazed, a chocolate covered one and one called Cookie Monster. Each donut was fresh and pillowy soft, the perfect pick me up for my Boynton Canyon hike. The hazelnut latte I had was excellent, too.

Fueled by a sugar rush, I headed over to the Boynton Canyon trailhead where the parking lot was completely full by mid-morning. I had to park a little way down the street, but the walk wasn’t too far, and the walk was pleasant due to the good weather and scenery. The hike was moderate and there were some rocky parts, but not too steep. It was a warm day, so brought my ultralight hiking umbrella for shade, which helped a ton. Other hikers marveled at the idea and said they wished they had done the same. Keeping my pack shaded also kept my water cool in my pack, which I appreciated.

The Boynton Canyon trail gently climbed and meandered beside the Enchantment Resort, which I will have to visit at some point, perhaps during a future stay in Sedona when I really want to splurge. What I found interesting about this hike was that although the trail was very well marked, there were no signs whatsoever for the Subway Cave, even though it’s a very popular destination. The Subway Cave was the main attraction to that hike for me. There was an unmarked turnoff for the trail leading to the cave and had I not encountered another hiker at that point who directed me, I would have kept walking deeper into Boynton Canyon and totally missed it. I’m sure many hikers did miss it as it’s kind of hard to describe where the turnoff is.

The trail to the Subway Cave is well traveled but gets more rugged and steeper as the climb progresses. There are quite a few patches of shade, which provide a bit of relief from the unrelenting Arizona sun, but you must be careful. I got jabbed in the forehead by a protruding branch when I wasn’t paying attention. Though it was painful, there were no bruises, thankfully.

The remainder of the hike to the Subway Cave was uneventful until I reached the actual climb to the cave’s entrance. I had to store my cameras to use both of my hands to climb up this crack that became narrower the higher I climbed. With gravity working against me, I had to lean forward as much as possible while strategically placing my feet and hands. A year ago, I wouldn’t have even been able to fit into the little crevasse.

At the time I entered the cave, there were only a few people hanging out, so there were ample opportunities for good photos. The cave was just as I had seen it in pictures on social media and I felt so blessed to have made it there. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get down, but figured I’d address that when it was time. I took all the pictures and videos I wanted and then heard some commotion down below. I looked down and observed a huge group assembling at the base of the cave. That completely killed the peaceful vibe, so I and others fled the scene before the herd took over. Getting down wasn’t as challenging as I thought it would be. I took the marked trail to the Boynton Canyon Vortex on the return and spent a little time there before heading back to the car.

On the way back into town, I stopped at the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park to have a look around. I had read about it and seen pictures prior to my trip and was fascinated, so I wanted to see it in person. It was serene and peaceful, up on a hill and surrounded by red rock walls with prayer flags strung from the trees. I wish I could have spent more time there to explore more of the park. It seemed expansive as there were trails leading to other points of prayer and meditation. I did a bit of research on the park and discovered that a stupa is known by Buddhists as a “Wish Fulfilling Jewel.” They consider a wish equivalent to a prayer. The stupa is said to work for people of all faiths and the park is open and welcoming to such.

Afterwards, I met back up with my friend Carrie and we went on a Pink Jeep tour which was a super fun and bumpy ride. We did the Scenic Rim/Broken Arrow combo tour, and it was one of the best off-road experiences I’d ever had. Our guide, Geoff, was knowledgeable, fun, and engaging, which made the experience that much more memorable. I highly recommend this tour if you are ever in the Sedona area. It was a great way to cap off my celebration of another trip around the sun.

One of my cousins had asked me during a conversation before this trip if I was celebrating a “milestone” birthday. I told her not necessarily but explained how I look at every birthday as a milestone. Each year that I get to make it to another birthday is cause for celebration. I’ve been through enough things in life to know that nothing is guaranteed and literally anything can happen in the blink of an eye, be it good or bad. I used to cry on every birthday, and not for good reasons. I hated the idea of growing older, not having reached the place in life I had most dreamt about and prayed for. Now, I choose to celebrate. And if any tears are shed on that special day, they are tears of joy.

As for the vortexes, I can’t honestly say whether they had any tangible effect on me or my well-being. I did everything I could to try and feel something, but I didn’t feel anything that I could directly attribute to the mystical powers of a vortex. I will say that I left Sedona feeling a lot better than I did when I first arrived. I felt more creatively inspired with a renewed spirit of hope and adventure. I felt rejuvenated in my faith and a deeper connection with God. Did the vortexes have anything to do with that? Circling back to the second paragraph of this post where it says, “Many people feel inspired, recharged, or uplifted after visiting a vortex,” I believe it’s a real possibility.

There is something remarkably special about Sedona. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but people that I encountered did seem happier and relaxed. They were very open to engaging in conversation and I even felt that some of the walls I unknowingly but habitually put up when meeting new people had come down. Maybe the vortexes had something to do with that. I encourage you to visit Sedona and embark on your own journey of self-discovery. You will undoubtedly leave a better person than when you arrived.