Red Rock Magic Trolley Hi-Points Tour

The Hi-Points Tour is the sightseeing tour for visitors who want to see Sedona's headline views in one sitting. Run by the Red Rock Magic Trolley company, which also operates the Boynton Canyon trolley ride, it lasts roughly two hours and is built around three stops that appear on nearly every first-time itinerary: Bell Rock, the Chapel of the Holy Cross and Airport Mesa. Each is a place where the town's red rock skyline opens up in a different way, and each is notoriously awkward to visit by car at peak times because parking is tight and the access roads are narrow. The tour is suited to all ages. A guide shares the geology, film history and Native American background of the area between stops, so the ride is as much an orientation talk as a transport service. It typically starts from the operator's base in Uptown Sedona (confirm the meeting point when you reserve), and if you travel without a car or simply prefer not to drive, it is one of the easiest ways to cover the south side of town and the mesa in a single morning or afternoon.

The three highlights. Bell Rock, on Highway 179 south of town, is the bell-shaped butte that many people picture when they think of Sedona; its smooth, stepped slopes make it one of the most photographed formations in the area, and it is often described as a vortex site. The Chapel of the Holy Cross, built into the rock in the 1950s, is a modernist landmark with a cross-shaped facade and a window that frames the valley; it is free to enter, but parking can be difficult.

Airport Mesa, a flat-topped rise near the center of town, offers a wide panorama of the buttes, and it is a favorite for sunset. A trolley tour lets you see all three with a guide and without managing three separate parking situations.

How the day works. Check in at the operator's base on State Route 89A in Uptown Sedona; the Boynton Canyon tour from the same company asks guests to arrive about half an hour before departure, so allow similar time here, and confirm when you reserve. The Hi-Points circuit runs about two hours, which is long enough to get out at the viewpoints and take photographs, yet short enough to leave the afternoon free for lunch, shopping at Tlaquepaque or a trail.

Departures run through the day, and reservations are recommended, especially in spring and fall. Wear sun protection and comfortable shoes, because you will step off at the viewpoints and may walk a few minutes on uneven ground.

Is it worth it? Travelers with a rental car can reach all three stops on their own and may prefer to linger longer at each. The trolley is the better choice for people who want commentary, who dislike mountain roads or parking lots, or who are staying in Uptown without a vehicle. It is also a smart first-day activity: after two hours you will know which of the formations you want to return to for a hike, which sunset viewpoint to book for another evening, and which areas are best left for another time.

Families with older children usually enjoy the stops, though very young children may tire of the length.

Pairing ideas. Follow the tour with lunch at Tlaquepaque, then use the afternoon for a short hike such as Bell Rock Pathway, or add the shorter Boynton Canyon trolley ride on another day for a different slice of the red rock country. If you want to go deeper into the backcountry rather than stay on paved roads, a jeep tour covers rougher terrain that a trolley will not.