The last time we visited Sedona in 2010, we had a downpour and could barely see the giant red rocks. We never expected such rain in Arizona, but it happens. This time we had beautiful weather and clear views of massive red peaks.

Michael’s view from his morning run along the “Airport Trail.” The airport is actually on a cliff above the town.

As in Utah, the red color comes from iron oxide. The top layers of the land here are basalt and limestone that are harder than the underlying sandstone. As water erodes the sandstone, it undercuts the upper layers and whole sections of rock fall, leaving a sheer cliff. Thus the striking formations in Sedona.

Bell Mountain, one of the most photographed spots in Arizona. Note the bell shape. There are actually a couple people on the top in this shot.

It’s very hot here. Late September and the daytime temperature is still over 90F. But it’s a dry heat, so we were able to go for a hike to enjoy some of the rock formations close up.

Selfie with Cathedral Rock rising just beyond Owl Creek.

Oh wait, that isn’t us. It’s Jimmy Stewart and Debra Paget in Broken Arrow. This is us:

Fording Owl Creek to get to the Cathedral Rock trail.

These striking backdrops make Sedona popular for filming movies. Watch a few old Westerns and you may see more.

Burt Lancaster (playing an Apache Indian) in Apache. He’s about to cross Owl Creek, heading toward Cathedral Rock, 1954

Nancy, playing herself, crossing Owl Creek, in front of Cathedral Rock, a little downstream from Burt.

This is the view today of Owl Creek and Cathedral Rock undisturbed by people.

Owl Creek and Cathedral Rock, 2015. Not much different from 1954, except that Indians are now Native Americans and would not be portrayed in films by Caucasians.

Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and several other locations in Sedona are known spots with vortex energy. In 1987 thousands of people gathered around Bell Rock for a Harmonic Convergence. Not much happened. The same for us today; we didn’t notice any special consciousness during our visit, just an appreciation for the area’s beauty.

A majestic view from just south of Sedona.

Sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude was so impressed by the beauty of the area that she commissioned the construction of the Chapel of the Holy Cross church here in 1956. Click on the photo above to enlarge it and see the cathedral in the lower right.

Seemingly carved into the stone, the chapel is a spot of natural peace and spirituality.

From rocks shaped like cathedrals to cathedrals built on rocks, that’s our short trip to Sedona. Sayonara to Sedona and on to Palm Springs.