Arizona has many state parks, but the Red Rocks State Park in Sedona, Arizona is a nature preserve as well as an educational facility. The park has two hundred and eighty six acres and has many beautiful trails that take hikers through Manzanita and juniper to the shores of Oak Creek.
The meadows in the park are green with native vegetation and the impressive red rocks for which the park is named. There are many special programs for school children and private groups to attend. The picnic areas and classrooms can be used by the public or reserved for private functions. Red Rocks State Park also holds many daily and weekly events.
Facilities at Red Rocks State Park include a visitor's center, classroom, theater, gift shop, picnic tables, ten developed trails and restrooms. The group area has a Ramada and facilities. Restrooms are all handicap accessible. Unlike some of the State Parks in the area Red Rocks doesn't have any camping facilities.
The land for the park was bought in 1986 and opened in 1991 to the public. The land that encompasses the park once belonged to the Smoke Trail Ranch. Oak Creek wanders through the property and is home to a riparian habitat that has many plants and various wildlife within its borders.
Daily programs happen at 2:00 pm led by a guest speaker or ranger/naturalist. The programs last about forty five minutes and might be a nature hike or a video.
Visitors to Red Rocks State Park can ask for the movie "The Natural Wonders of Sedona Timeless Beauty'' to be played.
Guided nature walks begin daily at 10:00 am. Visitors will be joined by a naturalist for a one and half hour to two hour walk. During this time they will learn about the riparian ecosystem of Oak Creek as well as other things about the park. Subjects that have been discussed include: wildlife, plants, history, geology and archaeology.
On Wednesday and Saturdays there are guided bird walks in the Red Rocks State Park. Times will vary from season to season so visitors will need to contact the park for starting times. Guests of the park should bring binoculars and bird lists as there are only a few at the Visitors Center.
Sunset walks are held June through August on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:00 pm. The summer months have visitors joining a naturalist on a guided hike that ends with a view of the sun dipping below the red rocks. The second Sunday of each month at 2:00 pm except June through August will give visitors the opportunity to learn the geology of the park. The geology walk lasts about two to two and half hours and climbs 250 feet in elevation.
April through October the park has moonlight hikes. The times will vary so visitors are asked to contact the park for times. The hike lasts from 2-2/12 hours and climbs between 200-250 feet in elevation. Comfortable clothing, shoes, water bottle, insect spray and a flashlight are recommended. This hike is only for one night each month and reservations are needed.
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