Slide Rock State Park, Sedona

1 more image

In the Arizona heat, a rambling, rapid-moving stream is a magical place indeed. Give in to your inner child and wallow in the natural rock slides at this place. There is a small fee to enter the park then you walk towards the stream. It takes about 10-15 minutes of walking to get to the stream which is at the bottom of a flight of stairs. They're steep so be sure to go slow. No handicapped access.
You can make your way further upstream to the bigger slides. Be sure to wear adequate protection for your "tender areas" as the slides are made of rock and though they're fairly smooth, contact with them may result in some bruising. Bike shorts over your bikini bottom should provide enough coverage or if you have them, bring a shorty wetsuit. That way, you're protected and it also keeps you warmer in the water as it tends to be cold. If you can, try to avoid this spot on holidays & weekends as it can get very crowded. During the hottest summer months (July to August), call ahead or the check the website to make sure the water is safe as sometimes there's E Coli in the water due to animal activity further upstream. As you head further upstream, there will be a spot where people have taken to jumping into the water from a height of about 15-20 feet. Challenge yourself! It's fun!

1 more image

There is a gazebo style kiosk with eight poster boards displaying general Pendley Homestead information and park information. Lots of wonderful information about the history of the park and its surroundings. It is located by the stairways that leads downs to the river.

Park hours:
January – April: 8 am – 5 pm
May: 8 am – 6 pm
Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend: 8 am – 7 pm
September: 8 am – 6 pm
October – December: 8 am – 5 pm

1 more image

Today there are many farming implements on display that the family had used. Just remember these farming equipment can be dangerous because of sharp edges. So respect them and watch your younger ones.

History: This was originallythe Pendley Homestead, a 43-acre historical apple farm located in Oak Creek Canyon. Frank L. Pendley arrived in the canyon in 1907 and acquired the land under the Homestead Act in 1910. He was a very determined gentleman so he establishing a unique irrigation system still in use by the park today.

Slide Rock SP
6871 N. Highway 89A
Sedona, AZ 86336

Park hours:
January – April: 8 am – 5 pm
May: 8 am – 6 pm
Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend: 8 am – 7 pm
September: 8 am – 6 pm
October – December: 8 am – 5 pm

2 more images

The Pendley planted their first apple orchard in 1912 and grew a garden and kept some livestock. Today it is still a working commercial apple ranch producing more than 1,200 boxes of apples in 2007 in the park. Apple Festival guests are encouraged to pick apples from the 13 varieties of trees in the park and take them home. During September: Apple Festival
Pick your own apples and bring them home with you at the annual Apple Festival in Oak Creek Canyon.

Slide Rock SP
6871 N. Highway 89A
Sedona, AZ 86336

Park hours:
January – April: 8 am – 5 pm
May: 8 am – 6 pm
Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend: 8 am – 7 pm
September: 8 am – 6 pm
October – December: 8 am – 5 pm

Just 7 miles (11km) north of Sedona is the Slide Rock State Park which continues to get us entertained whenever we are in Sedona, specially during the summer!

The river/creek that runs through this park is awesomely SLIPPERY! It's a natural waterslide attraction and people from all over jump into the waters and walk on the rocks - thinking that they won't fall, but they will!

Once you get ouside the park, you just pay a small entrance fee for your car ($5), and then you walk through this pathway which has an amazing view of the high Sedona mountains, and then you have to go down the stairs and be amazed by what's below --- the sight and sound of the running water slides is just so inviting!

A warning on top of the slipperiness is the coldness of the water even during the summer! The kids really just love it, but watch out specially for little kids because the current can take them away! My little nephew went down the current and was fortunately caught by a bystander before he fell off any further!

There are three hiking trails in Slide Rock State Park: Pendley Homestead Trail (.25 miles), Slide Rock Route (.3 miles), and Clifftop Nature Trail (.25).

2 more images

After Frank Pendley settled his 43-acre historical apple farm located in Oak Creek Canyon. He wanted to attract tourist, so once the roads were eventually paved in 1938, the Pendley’s built cabins to attract vacationers and tourist alike.

Now they are very much part of the history of the park and you can still see them. Although, they do have them fenced off for our safety.

There are some of nicest picnic areas with huge beautiful covers. There are fifteen open air picnic areas for small groups are available near the entry station and parking lot on a first-come, first-served basis.

Propane grilles, charcoal and wood fires are prohibited at all times!

3 more images

I enjoyed taking pictures, while the boys and my sister hiked ahead following the river. Myself and John took our time, just exploring some old structures along the way and some pretty spectacular formations. So enjoy yourselves and stay on the trails for your safety.

They even had the foresight to install a restroom along the rock slide river so people didn’t have to hike back out to the other restroom facilities.

Pendley Homestead Trail: 0.25 mile trail with a difficulty rating of easy. This paved, level trail is suitable for all visitors and travels through a portion of the historic Pendley Homestead of Slide Rock State Park. Features along the trail include some of the original apple orchards, Pendley Homestead house, tourist cabins, apple packing barn, various farming implements that were used historically in the homestead, a new orchard of semi-dwarf apple trees, and spectacular views of the canyon walls of Oak Creek Canyon.

Slide Rock Route: This is a 0.3-mile trail with a difficulty rating of moderate. This primitive route along Oak Creek is the main access to the Slide Rock Swim Area. This is extremely popular area features a natural water slide along Oak Creek.

Clifftop Nature Trail: This is a 0.25-mile trail that begins near the apple barn and offers scenic views of the Slide Rock Swim Area.

Slide Rock SP
6871 N. Highway 89A
Sedona, AZ 86336

Park hours:
January – April: 8 am – 5 pm
May: 8 am – 6 pm
Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend: 8 am – 7 pm
September: 8 am – 6 pm
October – December: 8 am – 5 pm

1 more image

This was originallythe Pendley Homestead, a 43-acre historical apple farm located in Oak Creek Canyon. Frank L. Pendley arrived in the canyon in 1907 and acquired the land under the Homestead Act in 1910. He was a very determined gentleman so he establishing a unique irrigation system still in use by the park today. The Pendley planted their first apple orchard in 1912 and grew a garden and kept some livestock.

Slide Rock SP
6871 N. Highway 89A
Sedona, AZ 86336

Park hours:
January – April: 8 am – 5 pm
May: 8 am – 6 pm
Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend: 8 am – 7 pm
September: 8 am – 6 pm
October – December: 8 am – 5 pm

2 more images

Slide Rock State Park sprung up from simple beginnings. It was first a homestead by the Pendley Family who developed over 43 acres into a succesfull apple farm. Once the roads were eventually paved in 1938, the Pendley’s built cabins to attract vacationers and tourist alike. Not only did the river provide a wonderful source of water, but supplied the power to produce some electricity to run the ranch. Yet, one factor this park provides is the natural smoothness of the rocks form a natural water chute that children and adults alike enjoy, especially during the hot summers months. Even when we were here during November, a family in wet-suits, were enjoying the wonderful natural rocks, sliding down the river giggling away.

Web site: “The park is named after the famous Slide Rock, a stretch of slippery creek bottom adjacent to the homestead. Visitors may slide down a slick natural water chute or wade and sun along the creek. The swim area is located on National Forest land which is jointly managed by Arizona State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service. Together these areas have seen the making of many Hollywood movies such as "Broken Arrow" (1950) with James Stewart, "Drum Beat" (1954) with Alan Ladd and Charles Bronson, "Gun Fury" (1953) with Rock Hudson and Donna Reed, and a scene from "Angel and the Badman" (1946) with John Wayne.”

Park hours:
January – April: 8 am – 5 pm
May: 8 am – 6 pm
Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend: 8 am – 7 pm
September: 8 am – 6 pm
October – December: 8 am – 5 pm

Park Entrance Fees:
Per Vehicle (1-4 Adults): $8.00
Individual/Bicycle: $2.00