Why I'll Never Waste My Time With "Best Of" Lists Ever Again

My whole life I'd always heard about the magnificent colors that fill Arizona's wide open skies at sunset. The orange glow of the canyons against a cyan sky. The lavender colored mountains to the west, backlit with a magenta haze that deepens to the perfect shade of maroon as dusk slowly approaches. An Arizona sunset is Shakespeare in vibrant color- and I wanted to experience it the best way I knew how… completely on my own, in the middle of (basically) nowhere. And so, as I passed through the "Welcome to Sedona" road sign at 3pm, I knew my afternoon hiking destination would soon become a canvas for my first ever Arizona sunset.

Destination: Robbers Roost Trail

Listed as a moderate 3-mile out-and-back hike on AllTrails, I knew this would be the perfect place to watch the sunset in solitude, as it was far from the more commonly known hikes and other "tourist traps" and was nowhere to be found on any "Best of" lists strewn across the internet.

I was warned by other travelers on AllTrails that in order to get to that trailhead, you really need a 4x4 vehicle and exceptionally high-clearance to boot. Lucky for me (sarcasm), my car rental company accidentally gave away my reserved SUV, but generously upgraded me to a premium sports car. "This is fine." I thought in the moment, imagining myself zipping around those curvy canyon roads in a BMW.

This wasn't fine.

My little rental car made it to about 2.7 miles from the trailhead, turning my 3 mile hike into 8.4 miles. "This is fine." I thought again to myself. And so, after some careful repacking of my day pack to account for a dark and arduous walk back, I ditched my car in the middle of the desert and began to walk. I noticed the dirt road ahead seemed to snake around the desert so I took a chance and decided to cut straight through in hopes of shaving off some milage. Without too much trouble, I finally made it to the trailhead and could see my destination off in the distance.

The trail itself was simple but stunning. A picturesque herd of cattle grazed alongside the edge of the trail and seemed to follow me towards the canyon, which felt comforting since (as far as I could tell) I was the only human for miles around. Although the marked trail will take you to a secret cave about half way up the massive red rock, my curiosity led me to the top of the plateau, where I was met by untouched terrain giving way to 360 degree views of the desert. I took some time exploring, and even let my inner child dance around the beautiful sapphire pools of water which seemed to magically exist in the dry desert air.

While planning my trip to Arizona, I knew I had to plan for at least a few days to explore some of the iconic sites in Sedona. After 6 weeks of careful research and planning, I finally built my itinerary to visit some of Sedona's most loved hikes, and found (what I had hoped would be) a hidden gem amongst dozens of Sedona's Airbnb rentals.

However, like most good travel stories, I got a lot more than I had bargained for.

My first 24 hours in Sedona will forever change the way I select hiking destinations and accommodations, and there is really no better way to explain what I mean by this other than to just tell the whole story. So, here I go…

I took some time to drink in the beauty there. I listened to the wind tickle the long grass that poked out of the cracks in the rock floor, the birds singing as they danced around the sky, and the sound of the cattle as they shuffled in the distance looking for their next meal. After capturing a few photos while that hot Arizona sun began to set, I slowly started to make my way back towards my rental car.

One second I was snapping a photo of an orange and pink streaked sky, and the next I was walking a path in complete and utter darkness, with nothing but a few lumens from my headlamp lighting my way. Until suddenly, not long after the stars had come into full view, a bright light coming from behind me caught my eye.

"Headlights" I thought to myself, as I started to panic. The only thing more terrifying to a female solo hiker than a mountain lion is another human - especially when they're in a vehicle. I held my breath as I slowly turned towards the light.

Headlights? No. It was the moon - just peeking over the plateau that I had just descended from. But this wasn't just any moon. I would find out later that the epic moonrise I had witnessed was a lunar occultation of Mars, an extremely rare phenomenon where Mars is hidden behind the full moon for a short time as the moon begins to rise. I also came to find out that this exact day marked the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 17 mission, the last time a human set foot on the moon.

I knew in my gut that something about this moment was incredibly special. I had never seen the moon shine so beautifully and bright. As it rose higher into the sky, it seemed to light up the desert all around me. I stopped to enjoy it for a bit and capture a photo before finishing my long walk back to my car.

Destination: Glamping Yurt

After a short drive though dark winding canyon roads, I arrived at a small unassuming house on a quiet road. My new home for the next three nights was a small "glamping" yurt hiding somewhere just around the back of the house. Since it was already nearing 8pm, I was grateful for the automatic lights which helped guide my way around the yard and led me to a beautiful glowing Yurt/Tent that seemed almost ethereal.

Pulling back the zipper entrance, I was welcomed with warm glowing fairy lights, soft (faux) fur blankets and pillows and an impressive collection of healing crystals and gemstones adorning an electric fireplace, beverage station and side tables. "When will this lucky streak run out?" I thought as I jumped into the king sized bed and slowly began to melt into a deep, blissful slumber while listening to the gentle rush of a neighboring brook.

"It can't get better than this." I thought as I gently awoke the next morning to the soft glow of the white canvas walls surrounding me. I was (once again, as I had been after witnessing my first Arizona sunset) wrong.

As I stepped out of the yurt on my way to my private bathroom located on the back of the main house, I was met with another surprise. The water that I had fallen asleep listening to was only a stone's throw away, and with the help of a few mature trees, perfectly framed a stunning view of Cathedral Rock in the distance- an epic stage for the morning sun about to make her debut. I stood in complete disbelief as the sun rose over the canyon. My eyes filled with tears and I shook my head. How did I ever get so lucky as to (by pure accident) witness not only the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen, but also the most epic moonrise and sunrise, one after another, after another?

My remaining days in Sedona were wonderful. I visited a few of the top "must see" spots, and endured one grueling 9+ mile hike. I passed by some of the top-rated hotels and resorts and ate a few "note-worthy" restaurants. All were nice in their own right, but also crawling with tourists and lacking in spirit and authenticity. None of which could hold a candle to my experience at Robber's Roost or the Yurt Airbnb.

Although I could never promise the same experience I had heading back from Robbers Roost Trail, or waking up just in time to catch to the sunrise over Cathedral Rock after a peaceful night sleep in this gorgeous Glamping Yurt, I do know one thing for certain: there is so much more to Sedona than the tourist attractions listed online.

I encourage anyone who visits this magical place to look beyond the "Top 10" lists, and search out those places less traveled to enjoy some moments of solitude. If you do, you will see- the beauty of Sedona runs much deeper than the colors of red and golden layered sandstone underfoot. Her beauty is splashed across the sun-soaked sky at dawn and dusk. It's in the symphony conducted by the smooth desert breeze. And perhaps most of all- her beauty is the indescribable yet overwhelming sensation of vibrational energy that will continue to call you back to her for years to come.

With Love, Peace, and Wine,

Molly