Slide Rock State Park Arizona Day Trip

Slide Rock State Park is an Arizona State Park in Oak Creek Canyon, north of Sedona. The park earns its name from the natural rock water slide and is one of ‘America’s top 10 swimming holes’.

In addition to the famed rock water slide, the park is renowned for the famous red rocks and desert scenery surrounding the park. This area of Northern Arizona has been popularized in the many Western movies filmed here.

Things to do in Slide Rock Park

Take a Cool Dip in Oak Creek

Slide Rock Park offers all the fun of a water park amid beautiful scenic surroundings. Oak Creek is open for swimming, floating, wading, and sunbathing. The park’s highlight is 80 feet long rock slide located within half a mile of Oak Creek that is open to visitors for swimming and wading.

Oak Creek Red Rock Water Slide

The cool-to-cold waters of Oak Creek ensure the constant water flow down the chute. Algae growth on the rocks gives it a slippery effect, making it an even more fun ride. Sliding down the chute into a pool of waist-deep cool water is a fantastic experience that provides visitors with lots of fun and excitement.

Oak Creek Natural Pools

Swim a few feet downstream to reach a ledge about 6 feet above the pool, from which you can even jump into the water for the experience of a bit of cliff jumping. The deeper pools are great to wade in, and the ledges are perfect spots to sunbathe, stretch out or even jump off into the pools below.

Hiking Slide Rock State Park

The park is home to plenty of short hiking trails and a nature trail, and this is a great way to explore the park. While the park is a former homestead and orchard site, it offers access to Oak Creek and numerous hiking trails along the bank and in the vicinity. Check out the Pendley Homestead Trail, about a quarter of a mile, the Slide Rock Route, and the Clifftop Nature Trail.

Fishing in Oak Creek Arizona

Oak Creek features rainbow trout, and if you have the necessary fishing licenses, set aside a few hours for angling at the park. Head over to the creek during fishing season to try catching one. Oak Creek is closed to fishing above Slide Rock Park, and the trout in the stream are all small. Try Sedona’s Rainbow Trout Farm, a few miles from the park, for a sure catch.

Camping at Slide Rock State Park

It’s fun to camp out overnight when visiting Slide Rock State Park. There are three campgrounds along Oak Creek, making for a perfect overnight adventure trip. The Manzanita Campground is about half a mile south of the park, while the Cave Springs Campground is the largest in the area but a little further away. The third campground in the area is the Pine Flat campground, about a mile from the Cave Springs Campground.

The Canyon Wren Cabins

For an overnight experience with most of the comforts of home, you can rent a cabin from Canyon Wren. Located adjacent to the park Canyon Wren offers unique cabins for two. Rates start at about 200 dollars a night and average about 500 square feet of living space. Reservations are recommended. Canyon Wren Cabins 6425 N State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336canyonwrencabins.com

Orchard Canyon at Oak Creek

One mile north of the park, deep in the canyon, Orchard Canyon offers a cabin set on a ten-acre site next to Oak Creek features 17 cozy cottage-style cabins, beautiful gardens, an apple orchard, and an excellent restaurant. Orchard Canyon at Oak Creek reservations are limited, and you can book up months in advance: 8067 AZ-89A, Sedona, Arizona.

Getting to Slide Rock State Park

The park is less than one drive from Flagstaff and a two-hour drive from Phoenix, Arizona. There are numerous dining options and places to stay in nearby Sedona. The park address is 6871 AZ-89A, Sedona, Arizona. Website.

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