Four Days, Four Icons: Grand Canyon, Saguaro, Petrified Forest & Sedona
- Karen Israel
- Mar 23
- 7 min read
Arizona offers some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the United States. From its iconic national parks to charming towns like Sedona. If you only have a few days to explore, it’s crucial to plan carefully to see as much as possible. I recently took a trip to visit Arizona's 3 national parks and Sedona but only had a few days to do it in and want to share a practical itinerary and tips to help you make the most of your short trip.
Day 1: Denver to Petrified Forest National Park
Our adventure started early (5 am early!) as we hit the road to drive from Denver to Petrified Forest National Park. This drive took about 9 hours getting us there around 2 pm. We started with a quick stop at the visitor center to learn a little more about the park we were about to explore. From there, we set out on the scenic drive, stopping at various viewpoints along the Painted Desert, famous for its vibrant layers of red, orange, purple, and blue rock. Hiking the 1 mile Blue Mesa trail allows you the opportunity to get a close of look of the stunning colors in the rock. After driving through the Painted Desert, we stopped to hike a few more short trails where we could see the petrified wood up close! Trails like Crystal Forest Trail and Giant Logs Trails are perfect for this. This park is less crowded but offers unique landscapes filled with colorful petrified wood and the Painted Desert’s vibrant hues.
Highlights
Blue Mesa Trail: This 1-mile loop trail offers a close-up look at the blue and purple badlands.
Crystal Forest Trail: Named for the presence of beautiful crystals that can be found in the petrified logs, this short 3/4 of mile trail offers one of the best opportunities to view the petrified wood up close.
Painted Desert Drive: Drive along the scenic route and stop at overlooks to admire the desert’s layers of red, orange, and pink.
Tips
Allocate about 3-4 hours to explore the park.
Bring a camera with a good zoom lens to capture distant rock formations.
The park road is only open from 8am to 5pm
Day 2: Grand Canyon National Park – South Rim Exploration
Day two started by driving from Holbrook (the town we stayed in near the Petrified Forest) to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, the most accessible and popular area of this natural wonder. The drive is about two and a half hours and there are two options for where you can enter, the Desert View (East entrance) and the main entrance (South entrance). We chose the desert view entrance as it is less busy and allowed us to drive the desert view drive along the south rim and take in the sights. We took our time driving along the desert view drive, stopping at several viewpoints along the way and arrived at the South Rim Visitor Center in time to grab a quick lunch before catching the shuttle to the South Kaibab Trailhead. There is no public parking at the South Kaibab Trailhead, so you will want to park at the Visitor Center and take the 9 minute Kaibab (Orange) Route shuttle bus to the trailhead. Check the NPS page for the most up to date information.
Did you know the majority of visitors to the Grand Canyon never even go below the rim! I think that is such a shame. While the views from the rim are spectacular, hiking even a little below the rim allows you to view the canyon from a whole new perspective. There are a few different trails that will take you below the the rim such as the South Kaibab Trail or the Bright Angel Trail. We opted to hike part of the South Kaibab Trail (the Bright Angel Trail was closed at the time anyway). This well-maintained trail will take you to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, however, most only go part way down. Ooh Aah point is is 1.8 miles (roundtrip) and offers spectacular views as the name implies! Cedar Ridge is 3 miles (roundtrip) and Skeleton Point is 6 miles (roundtrip) if you want more of an adventure. Hiking below Skeleton Point is not recommended by NPS as a day hike due to the long distance, extreme temperature changes, and an approximately 5,000-foot (1,500 m) elevation change each way. It is best to consult a park ranger before heading down for safety tips and overnight permits. I only planned to hike to Ooh Aah Point but Justin wanted to go further so we decided to head down to Skeleton Point. Since this was February, we didn't have a lot of daylight left and had to hustle to get back to the top before dark! This hike generally takes 4-6 hours but somehow that extra motivation pushed us to complete in under 4 hours!
What to Do at the South Rim
Mather Point: This viewpoint is a must-see for first-timers. It provides a sweeping view of the canyon and is just a short walk from the visitor center.
Rim Trail: Walk a portion of this mostly flat trail to enjoy different perspectives of the canyon. You don’t need to hike the entire trail; even a couple of miles will give you a great experience.
Visitor Center and Museum: Spend some time here to learn about the geology and history of the canyon.
Sunset at Hopi Point: End your day watching the sunset at Hopi Point, known for its panoramic views.
Tips
Parking can fill up quickly, so arrive early or use the shuttle service.
Bring plenty of water and snacks, as services inside the park can be limited.
Day 3: Sedona’s Red Rock Country
Sedona, famous for its striking red rock formations and vibrant arts scene, is somewhere I've been dreaming of going for years. While I know I need to plan a longer trip to explore the stunning landscapes, I was happy to at least get a taste of what Sedona had to offer. After exploring the Grand Canyon, we stayed overnight in Flagstaff, which made the drive to Sedona the next day just an easy hour through some really beautiful scenery. There were so many trails I wanted to hike but I had to narrow it down to just one... I landed on Soldier Pass Trail but had read that the parking lot was closed on the weekends and I didn't want hassle with the shuttle. Many of the trails in Sedona intersect so I found that we could park at the Jim Thompson Trailhead and only add about a mile each way to our hike. Parking here requires either a Red Rocks pass or American the Beautiful Pass. The Red Rocks pass can be purchased on site. We had the American the Beautiful Pass which made everything very easy!
Since we had an early start to the hike, there weren't too many people on the trails yet. It was wonderful taking in the view of the red rocks while listening to the hum of nature. Eventually we made it to Soldier Pass Cave. We could see people up in the cave but weren't quite sure how to get up there. Turns out you have to go under the cave and climb up the rock to get there! I was a little nervous going up and down but the experience of being inside the cave made it worth it!
After the hike we headed to Tlaquepague for lunch. We ended up at The Secret Garden Cafe - I can't remember what I ate there now (it was good) but what really stuck was the Prickly Pear lemonade. I still dream about the lemonade and want to go back for more!
What to See and Do
Cathedral Rock Trail: This moderate hike offers incredible views of the red rocks and the surrounding valley.
Chapel of the Holy Cross: Visit this unique chapel built into the red rocks for a peaceful experience.
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village: Spend some time browsing local art galleries, shops, and cafes.
Sunset at Airport Mesa: This viewpoint provides a stunning panorama of Sedona’s red rocks as the sun sets.
Tips
Start your day early to avoid crowds on popular trails.
Sedona’s elevation is around 4,500 feet, so stay hydrated and take breaks if needed.
Day 4: Saguaro National Park
After Sedona yesterday, we drove to Phoenix to have dinner with friends so the drive to Saguaro National Park the next day took less than 2 hours. This park is split into two districts on each side of Tucson. The West side, Tucson Mountain District, is known for dense saguaro forests, while the East side, Rincon Mountain District, features higher elevations and pine forests. Since we only had the day to explore, we chose to focus our time on the West side. We started at the Visitor Center to ask the rangers for hike suggestions. As we are avid hikers and comfortable with elevation gain, they recommended a route that would take us up toward Wasson Peak via the Sendero Esperanza and Hugh Norris Trails. We didn't go all the way to the peak but the climb was still high enough to get great views over the park. After the hike we headed into Tucson to check into our hotel an grab dinner before going back to the park to watch the sunset from the Valley View Overlook.
Key Experiences
See the Giant Saguaros Up Close: Walk among towering saguaro cacti, especially along the Valley View Overlook Trail (West) or the Cactus Forest Loop Drive (East).
Drive the Scenic Loops: Both the Bajada Loop Drive (West District) and Cactus Forest Loop Drive (East District) offer easy-access views if you're short on time.
Catch a Desert Sunset: Golden hour here is unreal. The saguaros silhouetted against a pink and orange sky are peak Arizona vibes.
Hike Through the Sonoran Desert: Trails range from easy desert walks to more challenging mountain hikes like Wasson Peak for panoramic views.
Tips
Start Early (especially in summer) – Desert heat is no joke. Morning hikes are cooler, safer, and offer the best light for photos.
Look, Don’t Touch – Saguaros and other desert plants are protected (and some are surprisingly sharp). Respect wildlife and stay on designated trails.
Download Maps Ahead of Time – Cell service can be spotty, especially on longer hikes.
Bring More Water Than You Think You Need – There’s very limited shade and few water refill stations on trails. Hydration is essential year-round.
Final Thoughts on My Arizona Adventure
Four days in Arizona’s national parks and Sedona, while hectic, is enough to experience a variety of landscapes, from the vast Grand Canyon to the colorful Painted Desert and the dramatic red rocks of Sedona and the towering Saguaro cactus. Planning your route carefully and starting early each day will help you avoid crowds and maximize your time in these diverse and beautiful locations.
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