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Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, AZ

Photo: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicFreeDate Night

Chapel of the Holy Cross

780 Chapel Rd · Sedona, AZ

Why you should go…

The Chapel of the Holy Cross is built into the red rock buttes of Sedona, at the base of a 1,500-foot cliff just off State Route 179. Sculptor and rancher Marguerite Brunswig Staude commissioned it in honor of her parents, and it was completed in 1956 around a 90-foot cross. Inside, smoky gray glass at each end of the small sanctuary cuts the glare. Parking on Chapel Road is limited to about 45 spaces, and a gift shop run by the local Catholic parish is on site.

  • #chapel
  • #red rock views
  • #architecture
  • #historic landmark

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Chapel of the Holy Cross, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Cathedral Rock

    Under $25

    Scramble a short, steep trail up a red sandstone butte to saddles between its spires with wide views over Sedona's red rock country.

    1.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Tours
    Iconic

    Guidance Air

    $50+

    Helicopter tour and charter operator based in Sedona offering scenic flights over red rock country and the Grand Canyon.

    1.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Apex Air Tours

    $50+

    Jet-powered helicopter tours over Sedona's red rock canyons, departing from Sedona Airport.

    1.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Montezuma Castle National Monument

    Under $25

    Look up at a five-story Sinagua cliff dwelling set about 90 feet up a limestone wall above a short paved trail.

    16 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Flagstaff

    Free

    A high-elevation Arizona city on Route 66 serving as a gateway to the Grand Canyon, ponderosa forests and ski country.

    26 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    Arcosanti

    $25–$50

    Take a guided tour of Paolo Soleri's experimental desert town, with its cast concrete vaults and bronze bell foundry.

    39 mi awayMore like this