United States, North America

Sedona in December

Quiet and clear, with holiday lights at Tlaquepaque. Christmas week fills hotels.

GoodCool, highs near 57F (14C), cold nights

Sedona red rocks, United States — SedonaPhoto: Ernst Krenger, CC BY 3.0

The straight answer

December is a good month to visit Sedona. Quiet and clear, with holiday lights at Tlaquepaque. Christmas week fills hotels.

Weather: Cool, highs near 57F (14C), cold nights
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What December is like in Sedona

December is quiet and clear, with highs near 57F (14C) and cold nights. Days are short but sunny, and trails are much calmer than in fall. Tlaquepaque puts up holiday lights, giving evenings a festive feel. Prices are moderate most of the month, but Christmas week fills hotels quickly.

December suits couples, families on holiday break and hikers who like cool, uncrowded trails. Pack warmly for mornings and evenings. If you want warm hiking days, choose April or October. If you are coming for Christmas, book your room early, since that week sells out.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Sedona this month.

Holiday lights at Tlaquepaque

The arts village glows with holiday lights, a nice evening stroll after a day on the trails.

Quiet trails

Early December is one of the calmest stretches of the year on popular hikes.

Clear winter skies

Crisp, dry air means sharp views of the red rocks by day and bright stars by night.

What to pack for December

A warm jacket, hat and gloves for cold evenings
Layers for sunny afternoons
Hiking shoes with good grip
A headlamp, since it gets dark early

Our timing tip

Come in the first two weeks of December for the quietest trails and best rates, before Christmas week crowds arrive.

Book Sedona for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Sedona
Opens a hotel search for Sedona in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Sedona
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Sedona
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Sedona for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

Things to do in Sedona

Full guide

Cathedral Rock

A short, steep scramble to a saddle with huge views. Go at sunrise and use the free Sedona Shuttle where it serves the trailhead.

Tickets and tours →

Devil's Bridge

Sedona's largest natural arch and most popular hike. Expect a line for the photo; weekday dawn is best.

Tickets and tours →

Slide Rock State Park

A natural water slide in Oak Creek, best in summer and extremely busy on warm weekends. Arrive early.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Red Rock State Park

Easy trails along Oak Creek with views of Cathedral Rock and ranger-led walks.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Chapel of the Holy Cross

A chapel built into the red rocks in 1956, with views across the valley. Parking is limited.

Tickets and tours →

Airport Mesa sunset

The classic sunset spot over West Sedona. Parking fills early; walk the loop trail instead of fighting for the overlook.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Start hikes at sunrise. Popular trailheads like Cathedral Rock, Soldier Pass, and Devil's Bridge fill early on busy days.
Use the free Sedona Shuttle to reach the busiest trailheads instead of circling for parking.
Visit midweek in October or November for the best weather with far fewer people than spring.
Head to quieter trails like Boynton Canyon's side trails, Fay Canyon, or the Brins Mesa area to escape the busiest routes.

Know before you go

Many trailheads on national forest land require a Red Rock Pass or a federal interagency pass to park.
Some trails and parking areas close temporarily after heavy rain, during fire restrictions, or when lots are full.
Slide Rock State Park is open year-round but gets extremely busy in summer; it can close when capacity is reached or when water quality issues arise.
Summer fire restrictions in the Coconino National Forest can limit campfires and some activities, typically in late spring before the monsoon.