10 Things to Do in Sedona in February

During the second month of the year you can participate in annual events like the Sedona Marathon and Film Festival, celebrate Valentine's Day or visit the less crowded theme parks and trails - read on to find out what you can do!

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

10 min read

10 Things to Do in Sedona in February

Oak Creek Canyon |©Ron Drew

The city of Sedona is part of the geological complex of Arizona, the famous western state that is home to the Grand Canyon. This city offers its visitors a variety of activities in February, which is a winter month, but offers temperatures that allow outdoor or indoor experiences .

You can take advantage of the fact that the influx of tourists is low, to visit the small themed towns like Blazin 'M Ranch or Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, participate in the Sedona Marathon or the Film Festival, ride a hot air balloon and take some tours on the trails. You can also celebrate Valentine's Day with a wine tour in Valle Verde and many other things to do in Sedona that I'll tell you about next.

1. Join Sedona's annual Sedona Marathon

Sedona Marathon|©Verde Valley School
Sedona Marathon|©Verde Valley School

In order to warm up during the February days in Sedona, you can join the annual marathon held in the city on the first days of the month. This event brings together dozens of people who are encouraged to run the trails surrounded by rocks and vegetation in a recreational and competitive way.

The RunSedona Marathon brings together not only local athletes but also national and international athletes. The event is held in 5k, 10k and half marathon modalities , to adapt to the performance of each person. To participate as a runner, you just have to register in advance from their website.

Besides, you don't necessarily have to run to be part of this event, since you can simply be a spectator in the activity, where the landscape will be one of the great protagonists.

The best thing is that you could take advantage of being near the hills area to join one of the Sedona Canyon ATV tours, take a hiking route or visit a viewpoint to appreciate the landscape from above.

Book a Sedona ATV tour

2. Take a Verde Valley wine tour and celebrate Valentine's Day in Sedona

vineyard view|©runningdog
vineyard view|©runningdog

If your visit to Sedona coincides with Valentine's Day, one of the plans that the city offers to celebrate this date is to take a wine tour through the Verde Valley and experience a unique moment full of good taste and scenic beauty.

To do this route, you must go to Verde Valley Wine Trail. Once there, you can opt for the wine tasting experience and tour the facilities of this site. You can also enjoy some snacks in the company of your partner.

Due to its location, this site offers exceptional scenery. You can sip your glass of wine while appreciating the natural surroundings and, if you do the activity at night, you might get a good view of the sky.

In fact, you can add a touch of romance and mystery to your Valentine's Day celebration by joining one of the stargazing and UFO tours in Sedona, which is one of the favorite things to do in Sedona at night for visitors.

Book a stargazing and UFO viewing tour

3. Be part of a guided bus tour of Sedona and discover some interesting destinations

Bus with visitors in Sedona|©Mircea Goia
Bus with visitors in Sedona|©Mircea Goia

Although February is a cold month in Sedona, the sun continues to make an appearance, and whether it's cloudy or not, this month is a good time to tour the city by bus so you can keep warm by not exposing yourself too much to the outdoors.

For this Sedona bus tour, you will meet with a guide who will teach you a little about the culture and history of the sites you visit. This type of experience is usually done in small groups of no more than 13 people, at different times of the day, so you can add it to your itinerary of 2 days in Sedona or more.

Among the places you will visit is the famous viewpoint of the airport, where you can see a beautiful sunset, as well as various points of the city. You will also visit the 7 canyons, an area composed of several rock formations that offer a special view of reddish tones and attracts hiking enthusiasts.

You will also pass by the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a striking structure erected on the rocks that serves as a lookout point.

Information of interest

  • Price: the value of this experience starts at 110 € per person, approximately.
  • Duration: this exercise can last approximately 5 and a half hours.

Book tickets for the bus tour of Sedona

4. Take a walk on the trails of Sedona and contemplate the natural scene of the region

Woman walking on dirt road|©Ben Cappellacci
Woman walking on dirt road|©Ben Cappellacci

Although February is the winter season in Sedona, you should know that this is one of the months with fewer people, which translates into peace and quiet and space for activities such as a hike on the nature trails. This way, you can warm up a bit and have some special time for reflection.

The best thing is that the options for your hike are not few, as there are many popular trails, such as:

  • Devil's Bridge, a natural arch formed by sandstone that offers unparalleled views of the canyons and is usually very crowded to have your picture taken on it.
  • Cathedral Rock Trail, another of the most famous trails of approximately 1.2 km each way, with some rocky sections but offering a panoramic view of the rock formations.
  • West Fork of Oak Creek, a longer trail, with approximately 10 km, whose route is oriented inside the canyon.

If you want to explore much more of the state of Arizona, then you can opt for a getaway to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend from Sedona, a favorite day trip among users.

5. Get up close and personal with the Sedona International Film Festival

Sedona International Film Festival|©monterey media
Sedona International Film Festival|©monterey media

If you like movies, you should know that in February you have an unmissable date to see films in Sedona, since the Sedona International Film Festival takes place, an event that brings together professionals and amateurs of the seventh art during the months of February and March.

The event, which in 2023 celebrated 30 years and usually extends for 9 days, includes the screening of independently produced films. You will be able to see documentaries, animated films, student projects and much more.

The festival also includes other activities such as panels and debates on the film industry and its protagonists, question and answer sessions with the participants of the event and some workshops on topics of cinematographic interest.

In short, a perfect event to go alone, with children or with family and friends. Just buy your pass, bring your coat and get ready to watch films in one of the theaters and screening stages designated for the festival.

6. Enjoy a meditation practice in the vortexes of Sedona

Sedona Vortex Yoga & Hiking|©Heidi
Sedona Vortex Yoga & Hiking|©Heidi

With February's low visitor traffic and cool weather, the invitation to a meditation practice in Sedona's vortexes is open. This city is known for its concentration of spiritual energy, with several natural vortexes in its interior. Thus, it is an ideal region for meditation.

This type of activity can be done on your own or with the guidance of a specialist in the area. You could sign up for a healing and healing session, or simply go to one of the strategic points and enjoy the desert silence of the space.

In either case, you can go to Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park or Buddhist Stupa, a magical place that functions as a kind of Buddhist temple, park and relaxation space surrounded by rocky mountains and arid vegetation.

Besides being a convenient activity in February, you can also do it in other months of the year, for example, if you are in Sedona in April. In short, this practice will give you the feeling of renewal, transformation and balance.

7. Go to Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village in Sedona

Tlaquepaque arts and crafts village|©Julie Strietelmeier
Tlaquepaque arts and crafts village|©Julie Strietelmeier

The cold weather may make you look for activities in more enclosed spaces, so I suggest you visit the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. This place is a kind of village full of art and culture, but it also functions as a shopping and event center .

Inside this space, you will find:

  • Art galleries, with a diversity of objects, sculptures and pieces of high aesthetic value.
  • Restaurants, offering a wide variety of traditional dishes from Mexican culture and other latitudes. Also, a range of wines, beers and other liquors.
  • Stores, offering clothing, accessories such as blouses, hats and more.
  • Traditional celebrations and private events. You will be able to witness the celebration of some traditional Latin festivities such as the Day of the Dead, May 5th, Candlemas or a particular event such as a wedding.

The visit to this picturesque place can be done during various times of the day, so it is possible to incorporate it seamlessly into your itinerary of 3 days in Sedona or more.

8. Watch the sunrise in Sedona from a hot air balloon

Hot Air Balloon Ride - Sedona|©Thales
Hot Air Balloon Ride - Sedona|©Thales

The rising of the first rays of the sun is a spectacle in Sedona from any point, but you should know that in the month of February you can take advantage of the partially clear sky to be a first-hand witness of the appearance of the red orange and yellow colors on the firmament. All this, through a hot air balloon ride.

To carry out this activity, you must go to the launch site on Dry Creek Road, in the early hours of the morning. In February, sunrise occurs between 6 and 7 a.m., so you will have to leave much earlier from your lodging place.

You will fly over the canyon area for approximately one and a half hours. During the tour, you will see how the minerals present in the rocks help to reflect the sun's rays, creating vibrant tones perfect to be captured in photographs.

Keep in mind that for this activity, you should dress comfortably but warmly enough, even though the heat of the balloon will keep you comfortable. Also, if you go in a group, you can organize to ride together, whether you are 5, 8 or 10 people. Since you will be doing this activity early in the morning, you can easily join other tours and day trips in Sedona.

Information of interest

  • Price: this experience can be found for a price of approximately $350 per person.
  • Duration: the average total time of this activity is between 3 and 4 hours.

9. Walk across the Midgley Bridge in Sedona and get a different view of Red Rock

Bridge in Sedona|©Logan Selinski
Bridge in Sedona|©Logan Selinski

The Midgley Bridge is an iconic spot in the city and a perfect destination for February days, because the crowds of visitors decrease, so you can go there for a hike, take amazing panoramic pictures and, if you are more daring, swim in the cold waters of the creek.

To do this hike, you can go at any time of the day, depending on the experience you want to have. Plus, it's a free activity, so you can fit it into your itinerary without difficulty.

If you want to take a slightly longer hike, you can opt for one of the hiking trails near the bridge, including:

10. Have a fun time at the Blazin 'M Ranch in Sedona

Blazin 'M Ranch|©lorliw
Blazin 'M Ranch|©lorliw

Sedona afternoons in February can be more fun if you travel to the Blazin 'M Ranch, a place where you can take a trip back in time and feel like you're in the Old West. This activity is ideal if you are traveling with children, friends or family, as it offers a variety of options, with tractor rides, museums, stores, restaurants and much more.

Just 20 minutes from Sedona you will find this small town, which opens its doors from 5 pm, with a varied program full of games alluding to the old west, delicious traditional food and live shows.

You will live extreme experiences such as axe throwing or climbing the mechanical bull. You will also listen to great musical hits from the old west, presented by a live band. You will also enjoy a delicious dinner, which is usually chicken with hot sauce, accompanied by prickly pear coleslaw and baked potatoes. This, with beverages such as iced tea, lemonade and water.

Temperatures in Sedona in February

Cathedral Rock in winter|©Patricia Anderson
Cathedral Rock in winter|©Patricia Anderson

February in Sedona is part of the winter season, so cold temperatures ranging from 8°C to -1°C are recorded. Also, a few snow days are likely to manifest , while rainfall is less expected, but it will still be relatively cold and wet.

However, despite this chilly panorama, the days have approximately 11 hours of sunshine, which provides a mild climate that allows outdoor activities without great difficulties. In any case, it is advisable to be prepared to take shelter from the cold and always be aware of the day's forecast.

What to pack for a visit to Sedona in February?

open suitcase view|© Surface
open suitcase view|© Surface

According to the above, your suitcase should be packed with warm clothes. Include all the clothes you usually wear for cold days and dress in layers to better adapt to the conditions of the moment. Jackets, sweaters, pants, hats, gloves, etc. should not be missing. If possible, try to have thermal garments for better preservation of body heat.

Regarding footwear, you should wear sturdy shoes or boots with a good level of traction, especially if you will be hiking. Keep in mind that there may be snowy or even rainy days and that the ground will be wet. Don't forget sunscreen either , because even if you can't see the sun, the sun's rays can still reach your skin.