The red rocks of Sedona, Ariz., are a natural wonder, a geological manifestation of the passing of time on Earth. The striated lines of sand-turned-rock were formed over millions of years, as a miles-deep sea swirled and receded, then flowed back and retreated, over and over, and over again.
Standing beneath these rocks, their rich, burnt color contrasting the blue sky, I was entranced. My eyes followed the ridge, surprised by intrepid pinon pines growing from rock and dark streaks painted by rainfall. There’s a magical, captivating energy here; indigenous clans felt it and treated the area as sacred, as do many locals and visitors today.
And should clients want to feel this energy for themselves, there’s no better place to stay in Sedona than Enchantment Resort.
Things to Do in Sedona: Experience the Vortex
Like Sedona itself, Enchantment Resort is a transformative destination. Set in Boynton Canyon, just a few minutes’ drive from Sedona proper, the luxury property rests in a vortex, or natural energy source. All of Sedona is a vortex, giving off measurable electromagnetic energy, but within that space, Boynton Canyon is specifically believed to emit some of the strongest vibrations.
"If you believe that the Earth is alive, then it has a memory,” said Carina Leveriza, an expert hiking guide who’s been with the resort for more than 10 years. “The vortexes here are a memory of the swirling sea that once was present. These rocks are full of energy. Whatever you bring to the vortex is magnified.”
If you believe that the Earth is alive, then it has a memory … These rocks are full of energy. Whatever you bring to the vortex is magnified.
This magnification is a means of transformation, Leveriza explained. People come to Sedona for pause, for reflection, to heal, to find and feel power within themselves. If you’re reading this through a lens of doubt, you wouldn’t be the first. But at Enchantment Resort, nearly everyone on staff has a personal story about how the vortex has moved them. And they’re skilled at helping you feel the vortex, too.
In my four days on-site, I felt emotional just watching the light dance on the rocks. But I was also moved by a number of bookable experiences designed to guide guests with inward reflection.
During the Cathedral Rock Vortex Experience, a moderate hike to the base of one of Sedona’s more famous formations, our group walked toward our midpoint as Leveriza taught us about the flora and history of the place and pointed out archaeological remnants of indigenous life.
Expert hiking guide Carina Leveriza leads a group on a trek to Cathedral Rock.
Credit: 2022 Chelsee LoweWe also enjoyed stretches of silence in the vortex and paused alongside Oak Creek for a meditation under a magnificent oak tree. Leveriza treated us to what felt like spoken-word poetry; our inner reflections and sense of gratitude manifested as tears flowed, and the scent of burning white sage and the gurgling river added to the sensory experience.
Our Cathedral Rock hike required a 40-minute drive to the trailhead, but resort guests can have moments of mindfulness just steps from their accommodation.
What to Do at Enchantment Resort
On-site guided offerings are numerous, from contemplative labyrinth and canyon walks to qi gong classes, a meditative art program and mindful breathing or chakra-balancing lectures.
Special events dot the hotel calendar, too. On the day of the summer solstice, veteran Enchantment staffers Kim McDermott and Wendy Lindahl led a group meditation in appreciation of the season’s bounty, and they aimed to awaken our child-like spirit through song and dance. We felt silly and sheepish until we let that instinct go, then we pranced on the lawn for all to see. It was an unexpected restorative moment — Enchantment is rich with those.
In 2020, Enchantment Resort opened Trail House, a modern on-site adventure hub with all the bells and whistles. There’s a 3D topographical map of the resort’s surroundings, walls are adorned with top hiking trails (and what you’re sure to see while on them), and top-of-the-line Pivot mountain bikes are ready for a spin. This is where the outdoorsy folks hang out on the 70-acre property, readying themselves for high-desert excursions and cycling adventures.
It was inspiring to be in the midst of the experts who work here. This is where we first met Leveriza, who drove our group in a sprinter van to our vortex hike trailhead. Another day, we talked further-flung options with Jim Foss, director of outdoor adventures and activities for the hotel; private tours of the Grand Canyon have been a hit with guests, he said, and include breakfast and a picnic lunch. Moonlight hikes, bird-watching excursions and archaeological ruin hikes are among other bookable options.
Enchantment Resort offers mountain biking for all levels.
Credit: 2022 Enchantment Resort
Some of my group opted to explore the desert via mountain bike. Steve Tedrick, our fearless guide, helped us “suit up” with helmets, icy water bottles to beat the heat and bikes we felt comfortable with. None of our party had been on a mountain bike in years, so Tedrick’s positivity and charming turns of phrase lightened the mood.
“Just find your golden roll,” he said, as we experimented with our trigger shifters and pedal tension. Tedrick’s cadence reminded me of a surfer’s, calm and collected when others are sweating bullets of anxiety. I laughed my way through most of our “moderate” ride, pushing my bike up hills I couldn't conquer and thoroughly enjoying being surrounded by red rocks. This wasn’t my comfort zone, surely, but Sedona is the right place to grow, and growing is often uncomfortable.
Where I did feel perfectly at ease was a hiking path just steps from my casita. The Vista Trail, great for all levels of hikers, snakes along the base of the red rocks toward Kachina Woman, a towering rock formation sacred to Native Americans.
Kachina Woman is a protector, a spirit embodied in the mountain, and this was a nice place to pause and go inward, under her watch. On my next visit, I’ll save half a day for Boynton Canyon Trail, a 6-mile, out-and-back path that takes you deep into the canyon itself — it’s the setting in which many say they feel the power of the vortex most.
Red Rock Relaxation in Enchantment Resort's Guestrooms
After a day full of hiking and biking, winding down in my casita suite felt so luxurious. The property offers various room and suite configurations; mine could have easily slept four guests, with a king bed, a living room with a hidden Murphy bed, plus a kitchenette and dining space. All lodging options have Southwestern decor and dreamy views of Boynton Canyon. Each morning, I made myself a cup of coffee and perched on my patio to watch the sunrise over the rocks, all to the tune of buzzing cicadas and whistling warblers.
The living space of a Junior Suite
Credit: 2022 Enchantment Resort
My other preferred relaxation spot was the main pool deck, where I sipped margaritas turned pink with prickly pear syrup and — you guessed it — relished more red-rock views.
Intention Setting at the Enchantment Resort Spa
Spa treatments are another way to melt into the Sedona way of life. Intuitive healer and therapist Cara Nalin led a private sound bath for my group in the Spa Suites (a temporary setup until beloved destination spa Mii Amo reopens in 2023).
My ears played tricks on me as Nalin rang her crystal bowls; it was a first for me, to meditate on sound and not thought. I also enjoyed an Intentional Aromatherapy massage in the Spa Suites. My therapist loosened my shoulders with a blend of lemon, cedar, spearmint and lavender oils as I meditated on my selected intention: “My vision is clear; my path is steady.”
What to Eat at Enchantment Resort's Restaurants
Another layer of luxury is in Enchantment’s dining experiences. I savored every bite of huevos rancheros at breakfast at Che Ah Chi, an all-day dining space that overlooks Boynton Canyon. At dinner here the next night, my group delighted in gnocchi made with Arizona-foraged mushrooms; when possible, Enchantment restaurants source ingredients locally, including from Native American growers Ramona Farms.
And when Chef Alex Barnes treated us to a cooking demonstration, he highlighted the beauty of simplicity, making an incredible gazpacho with just a handful of colorful ingredients.
It was stripped down and unfussy, nature at its best. Just like Sedona.
