Oak Creek Canyon Pavement Jeep Tour — Scenic Sedona Drive on Route 89A
Difficulty
easy
Duration
1–1.5 hours
Fitness Level
Minimal fitness required—tour is seated and suitable for most travelers
Overview
Drive Route 89A through Oak Creek Canyon in a comfortable, pavement-only Jeep and watch the canyon ratchet up 2,000 feet to the South Rim. This 90-minute tour blends geological storytelling, cultural context, and carefully timed viewpoints for photographers and casual sightseers alike.
Oak Creek Canyon Pavement Jeep Tour — Scenic Sedona Drive on Route 89A
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The Jeep hums and the canyon opens — a ribbon of pavement carving between red-rock cliffs that rise like walls of baked sandstone. Oak Creek threads below, daring you to look down as the road climbs: by the time the tour reaches the south rim of the Colorado Plateau you’ve gained roughly 2,000 feet and are looking at cliffs that tower 1,500 feet above the creek. It’s a drive that moves with purpose but lets the landscape do the talking.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Check-in early
Arrive 30 minutes before the tour at the Uptown Sedona office (corner of Jordan & Apple) to complete paperwork and load the Jeep calmly.
Bring a refillable water bottle
Bottled water is provided but a refillable bottle saves waste and keeps you hydrated on sunny stretches.
Sun protection is crucial
Sunscreen, a wide-brim hat, and sunglasses make the difference during midday light and on exposed rim views.
Plan restroom stops
No public restrooms onsite at the office—use facilities before check-in or plan a stop in town.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Mule deer
- Red-tailed hawk
History
Route 89A follows corridors used by Indigenous peoples and later early settlers; the modern road traces the canyon’s natural path through the Colorado Plateau uplift.
Conservation
Stay on designated pullouts and avoid disturbing riparian vegetation—Oak Creek’s narrow riparian habitat is sensitive and essential for local wildlife.
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Adventure Hotspots in Sedona
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Refillable water bottle
Keeps you hydrated and reduces single-use plastic during the 90-minute tour.
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Protects against high desert sun exposure on exposed canyon rims.
summer specific
Light jacket or windbreaker
Temperatures can drop on the plateau; a thin layer is useful for late-afternoon tours.
fall specific
Compact camera or phone with extra battery
The tour offers many photo opportunities—extra power keeps you shooting through the route.
spring specific