Arizona - Slide Rock Park

Outside of Sedona at Oak Creek Canyon is Slide Rock State Park, which we'd never visited before.  So, we decided it was a "must see" before we left town.

Slide Rock State Park takes its name from a natural slide formed by the slippery bed of Oak Creek.  Tall red rock formations that are typical of the region also surround the park which contains a 43 acre working apple farm.

The land was first developed by Frank L. Pendley, who arrived in the canyon in 1907 and acquired title to the land under the Homestead Act in 1910.  The state completed a road through the canyon in 1914, and Pendley built rustic tourist cabins in 1933 that, in part, survive today.

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Tourist Cabin

The Pendley Homestead Historic District was accepted onto the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.  In 2014, Slide Rock was named one of Fordor's Travel top 10 state parks in the country.  Most recently, USA Today readers voted Slide Rock as the fifth best swimming hole in the country.

The walk was easy but if we'd needed water, it was just waiting for us.

This place is absolutely incredible - I can see why people vote it as "the best".

I thought I was going to DIE watching Ron posing on top of this wall.  While the area is stunning, it's not the best for someone with a fear of heights.

We met a nice couple from Ohio and they were kind enough to take a photo of us - it was our 50th wedding anniversary!

We had to pick just the right spot so we weren't too close to the edge.  YIKES!

We made our way back to the entrance and it was time to walk the other direction to see the pool.  Um, no, not gonna do it.  So I stayed up top and sent Ron down to take some photos.

I love the reflections of the clouds in this photo.

Not too many people swimming today - it was COLD - although we did pass a couple walking back to their car in wet swim suits as we arrived.

We began the walk back to the truck and took in some beautiful views as we walked.

Of course, you know what came next - lunch!  We decided to explore a different part of Sedona and ended up here.

It might have been the best Mexican food I've ever had.  

We split the margarita

A beautiful view of the area as we left.  

See you next time, Sedona!