Updated: February 26, 2026
Sedona winters offer a magical mix of desert hiking and snowy mountain thrills. This guide highlights red rock trails, skiing in nearby Flagstaff, and local snow tubing. Wrap up your chilly adventures by a warm fireplace or in a bubbling hot tub at your cozy seasonal retreat.
A winter vacation in Sedona is destined to be filled with even more magic than you might expect, and even though it doesn’t snow that often or that heavy in our red rock town, there are options for enjoying the sports that are primarily completed in the snow.
Sedona.Org doesn’t just offer the most comfortable vacations in all of Arizona, we provide fun guides to Sedona activities that will take your Sedona journey to the next level of fun and excitement. And just as a reminder, all roads lead home to our Sedona.Org seasonal sanctuaries, where guests can relax, recharge, and start all over again the next day of your stay.
Contents
- Hiking the Red Rocks
- Road Trip to the Slopes With These Sedona Activities
- Cross Country Skiing
- Snowtubing in Williams
- Snowball Fights
- Hot Tubbing and More
Hiking the Red Rocks
No snowshoes are needed for a fun filled hike through the red rocks, and as you explore panoramic views from atop Devil’s Bridge, take stunning photographs of your family posed in front of Cathedral Rock, and make your way to the most powerful vortexes in the nation, you may forget it is winter in the afternoon hours, as the temperatures will remain mild and warm and the snow that dusted the landscape when you awoke in the morning will have melted away. Still considered a snowy adventure, your winter getaway to Sedona will not be complete without this fun activity.
Road Trip to the Slopes With These Sedona Activities
The city of Flagstaff, located just about 50 miles outside of Sedona, is known for being the home to Northern Arizona University, for being the gateway to the Grand Canyon, and every winter, it is famous for its ski resort, Arizona Snowbowl. It often surprises visitors that one state can offer such a variety of extreme temps, with the summer heat of the desert competing with the winter snowfall in Flagstaff, and during your Sedona adventures, you are perfectly situated to enjoy both.
It’s the skiing we are talking about here, a magical experience that somehow doesn’t feel all that cold until you are riding the lifts back up to the mountain top after too many falls. Snowboarding is also popular in Snowbowl, and whichever version of mountain fun you enjoy most, the short road trip there and back will encourage you to return more than once.
Cross Country Skiing
While you are in Flagstaff, you may want to explore the Scandinavian sport of cross country skiing in Arizona Nordic Village. The skis for this type of sport are longer, narrower, and lighter than downhill skis, and the poles are longer as well, but it is equally fun and actually offers more aerobic benefits if you are concerned with the amount of calories you have been intaking during your tour of Mexican restaurants! Snowshoeing is also popular at the Arizona Nordic Village, and equipment for both can often be rented at many of our outdoor sporting stores.
Snowtubing in Williams
About 10 miles north of Flagstaff and still only about 65 miles away from the front door of your Sedona.Org seasonal sanctuary, the town of Williams lies directly on Route 66. Offering a drive through “zoo”, Bearizona, the Grand Canyon Railway, and Canyon Coaster Adventure Park which offers snow tube lanes and the longest alpine coaster in the state. Open November through Easter and costing $35 for small children and $50 for day sessions, the park offers four snowmakers, two conveyor lifts, and a cool time for all who participate!
Snowball Fights
Can you really consider a snowball fight a snow sport? Well, you burn calories, can build muscles with each ball that you throw, and in our minds, we consider that sports-like behavior. And even though it may not snow very hard or very often in Sedona, there’s guaranteed to be at least one dusting that will encourage you to gather your troops, get outside, and let the snowballs fly! Looking like a certain scene from that certain Will Ferrel movie, your inner child will be as delighted as your actual children as you engage in snow warfare with your favorite people.
Hot Tubbing and More
Although we doubt it will ever make the Olympics, hot tubs are a vital part of winter sports, soothing achy muscles and warming frosty bodies after a long day of snow sports. Many of our Sedona.Org winter retreats offer bubbling hot tubs, tucked away on decks under open skies and when the snow falls, the moon rises, and a glass of Arizona wine miraculously appears in your hand, your favorite winter memories will be created.
Of course, snow is cold, and another favorite snow sport is trying to figure out all the ways to stay warm; the fireplaces in our seasonal sanctuaries will win you the gold medal for relaxation! Standing in front of frosted windows, watching the snow fall gently on the landscape as the flames warm your back, watching skiers, bobsledders, and snowboarders on state of the art televisions will show you that sometimes the best sports are spectator ones and the best sanctuaries are the ones provided by Sedona.Org. Reserve your favorite today!
If you want a change from the red rocks, find sunnier shores at Emerald Coast Retreats in Panama City Beach. Relax by the ocean after your mountain trek and enjoy the coastal warmth of our beautiful Florida rentals.
