Boynton Canyon is one of Sedona's most rewarding hikes, a 6-mile out-and-back trail through a deep red rock canyon in the far west of the Sedona area. The Boynton Canyon Vortex site is the first stop — a viewpoint on a ridge above the canyon that gives an extraordinary perspective on the surrounding landscape and is considered particularly strong for meditation.
The canyon itself narrows as you walk deeper in, with the orange and red walls closing in and a series of ponderosa pines providing welcome shade. A Sinagua cliff dwelling sits in a rock alcove about halfway along, dating from around 1100 AD. The trail ends in a natural amphitheatre at the canyon's head, framed by towering walls on three sides. Reach the trailhead from Boynton Pass Road off Dry Creek Road, west of Sedona proper.