The Village of Oak Creek is the southern gateway to Sedona, and it announces the red rock country with a flourish. Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte stand right beside the road, glowing orange and rust against the blue sky, their layered sandstone forming tilted sheets of colour. The village is a collection of resorts, golf courses, galleries and shops at around thirty-nine hundred feet, with the dry, bright air of the high desert and the green line of Oak Creek running through it.
Sedona's rocks were laid down over hundreds of millions of years as sand, mud and ancient seas, and iron oxide in the sandstone gives them their colour. Over time, erosion carved the layers into buttes, spires and mesas. The area is also known for a belief in energy vortexes, places where the earth is said to hold special power, and Bell Rock is one of the best known. Whether or not you believe, the setting has drawn artists, hikers and seekers for decades, and the scenery is good for the soul.
State Route 179, the Red Rock Scenic Byway, runs north for about seven and a half miles from the village to Sedona, through sandstone country. It is a smooth, easy road with gentle curves, passing the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a modern church built into the rock in the 1950s, and a series of pull-outs for views of Cathedral Rock, one of the most photographed formations in the state. A series of roundabouts keeps traffic flowing, though in busy seasons it can crawl. Hikers and cyclists share the road, so go slowly.
Fuel, food and everything you need are available in the village and in Sedona, with a wide range of restaurants and cafes. Prices are high, as this is a major tourist destination. The best times to ride are early morning, when the light is soft and traffic is light, and the evening, when the rocks glow. A Red Rock Pass is needed for parking at many trailheads. Summer can be hot, with thunderstorms in July and August, while winter days are mild and sunny, with the occasional dusting of snow.