CairnThe Sedona Index

From the Sedona record

Crescent Moon / Red Rock Crossing Sedona

Crescent Moon Picnic Site, also called Red Rock Crossing, is the Forest Service day-use area for the classic view of Cathedral Rock reflected in Oak Creek, with picnic tables, wading and swimming (read October 5, 2026). Drive in from Sedona on paved Upper Red Rock Loop Road and pay the Coconino Hospitality daily rate at the gate or show a Hospitality Annual Pass; the Forest Service says the Red Rock Pass and America the Beautiful pass are not accepted here. Hours change with the season, the site is day-use only and vehicles over 24 feet are not allowed, so check the Forest Service page the morning you go. The Forest Service says it can become quite crowded and suggests early morning or a weekday; have a backup if the lot is full or the creek is high. Baldwin Trailhead, across the creek with no drive between them, takes a Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful pass instead; our Red Rock Pass guide explains the pass.

Last reviewed . Sources and dates are listed below.

Two approaches, two fee systems

(A) Crescent Moon / Red Rock Crossing park entry: from Sedona, take Upper Red Rock Loop Road (FR 216), follow signs to Red Rock Crossing, and enter at the Hospitality gate. Access is paved. Fee family on this dated reading is Coconino Hospitality day-use at the gate or a Hospitality Annual Pass — Red Rock Pass and America the Beautiful are not accepted. Confirm on the USFS Crescent Moon page and the Passes Program page. (B) Baldwin Trailhead / Templeton–Baldwin approach: Verde Valley School Road corridor; trail access toward the creek and Cathedral shoulder. The Forest Service Baldwin Trail No. 191 page says the trail starts across from the south side of the Red Rock Crossing (Crescent Moon) area, with no drive across the creek. Fee family at Baldwin Trailhead on the Passes Program list is Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful; check before you go. For approach facts, see Templeton Trail and Baldwin Trail.

Site facts (USFS Crescent Moon Picnic Site)

Prefer the Forest Service page for site rules. From Crescent Moon Picnic Site (read October 5, 2026 PT; page “Last updated June 20, 2026”): picnic area at the iconic Cathedral Rock–in–Oak Creek reflection at Red Rock Crossing; fishing, swimming, wading, picnic, and photography. Crowds: the Forest Service wording is that at times it can become quite crowded, with an early-morning or weekday tip on the page; this page publishes no lot-fill clocks. Seasonal hours on that page: April 1–September 30, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; October 1–November 30, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; December 1–March 31, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. The exit gate stays open till dusk on days the site is open. Day-use only — camping is not permitted. Maximum vehicle length 24 ft enforced; no RVs, trailers, buses, or other oversized vehicles. Passes: Coconino Hospitality Annual Pass or daily rate at the gate; Red Rock Pass and America the Beautiful Pass are not accepted. Pets on leash at all times; horse and pack animals are not allowed. Elevation about 3,958 ft; vault restrooms; potable water; picnic tables. Contact: Coconino Hospitality — phone on the USFS page. Directions (USFS): west from Sedona on 89A; south on Upper Red Rock Loop Road (FR 216) about 1.5 miles; follow signs to Red Rock Crossing; all roads paved. Re-check hours and fee language on the USFS page the morning of — seasonal tables change. Amounts for day-use, weekly, annual, and walk-in live on the Crescent Moon and Passes Program pages; this guide points there instead of pasting dollars.

Hospitality ≠ Red Rock Pass ≠ America the Beautiful

Keep these as separate fee families. Mixing them in one breath is the common traveller mistake this section answers (“Confused about red rock pass” · “Permits” · “Do I need to purchase passes for the following trails?”). Coconino Hospitality (day-use at the gate or Hospitality Annual Pass) is the concessionaire system for this gate — it covers Crescent Moon and other concessionaire sites listed on the Passes Program page. Red Rock Pass (USDA Forest Service / Coconino National Forest) is not accepted at Crescent Moon on this USFS reading; it covers many Sedona-area trailhead lots, including Baldwin Trailhead. America the Beautiful (interagency) can stand in for Red Rock Pass at many Coconino National Forest fee sites and does not cover Crescent Moon or other Hospitality concessionaire sites per the Passes Program. Arizona State Parks entrance (for example Slide Rock or Red Rock State Park) is a third family — not Hospitality and not Red Rock Pass. From the Red Rock & Coconino Passes Program page (read October 5, 2026 PT): Crescent Moon sits on the Coconino Hospitality list with Call of the Canyon / West Fork, Grasshopper Point, Beaver Creek, and Lower Lake Mary. Baldwin Trailhead sits on the Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful list. Confirm on that page — not a forum thread. Hospitality Annual Passes are purchased in person at one of the five concessionaire sites and cannot be purchased online on this reading. For an online Red Rock Pass purchase path, see Recreation.gov Red Rock Pass (check before you buy) — that pass still does not cover Crescent Moon. Visit Sedona’s Red Rock Pass Q&A is secondary; prefer the Forest Service. Older “Big Three” / “Grand Annual” naming maps to current Coconino Hospitality; check live. Three fee families in one sentence, with no dollar figures pasted here: (1) Red Rock Pass / America the Beautiful at many trailheads, (2) Coconino Hospitality day-use / annual at Crescent Moon and other concessionaire sites, (3) Arizona State Parks at Slide Rock / Red Rock State Park — confirm on the linked official pages before you drive.

Reflection, picnic, swim, and sunset

The Forest Service opens the Crescent Moon page with one of the most photographed scenes in the Southwest: Cathedral Rock reflected in Oak Creek at Red Rock Crossing. People come to fish, swim, wade, picnic, and photograph. Crescent Moon / Red Rock Crossing means creek-level reflection, picnic, wade or swim, and sunset views of Cathedral; check the USFS Crescent Moon page before you go. The Cathedral Rock scramble means hiking up the formation, with trailhead and Route 15 logistics on Cathedral Rock Sedona — a separate guide. Travellers talk about afternoon sun angle and sunset from the creek; there is no published “best minute” clock. Plan exit around the live seasonal hours and dusk exit-gate note on the Forest Service page; this guide does not describe after-hours or overnight stay at the picnic site. Creek depth and crossability (“How deep is red rock crossing right now?”) is a recurring ask. The Index will not publish depths, stepping-stone counts, bridge claims, or “safe to cross” guarantees. Check conditions live; turn around or stay out of high water. For a rainy day or flood risk, see what can you do in Sedona on a rainy day? and verify the Forest Service pages and AZ511 — this is not medical advice.

Crowds, weekends, and backups

The Forest Service says the site can become quite crowded and suggests early morning or a weekday for a quieter visit. Traveller questions about beating October crowds, weekend hiking, and weekend sunset parking treat parking and gate timing as the headache. Expect company on weekends and holidays; this page publishes no lot-fill clocks. Have a backup if the lot is full or the gate is closed when you arrive. Backups use different fee systems — keep them straight. Same fee system, canyon hike: West Fork Trail Sedona and West Fork Trail — same Hospitality family at Call of the Canyon, a different canyon visit; confirm on the USFS Call of the Canyon page. State-park fee family: Slide Rock State Park. Easy views / pathway: Bell Rock Pathway Sedona and Bell Rock Pathway. Iconic hike alternate: Soldier Pass Sedona and Soldier Pass Trail. Drive-up / landmark: Airport Mesa and Chapel of the Holy Cross. Season and holiday stack: best time to visit Sedona, Thanksgiving in Sedona, and Christmas in Sedona. Day pacing when stacking reflection with other stops: Plan a Sedona trip.

Templeton and Baldwin trails

Templeton Trail (USFS Templeton Trail No. 156): Easy; Cathedral-area corridor; creek descent; ends at Baldwin; mostly unshaded; Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful at the trailhead — confirm miles and elevation on the Forest Service page. Baldwin Trail (USFS Baldwin Trail No. 191): Easy family-type hike; starts across from the south side of Red Rock Crossing (Crescent Moon) near the end of Verde Valley School Road; no drive across the creek; swim-spot side trails language on the Forest Service page; Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful at the trailhead — confirm the Forest Service page and Passes Program. If you meant the full Cathedral scramble day, use the Cathedral Rock guide — do not mash Baldwin, Templeton, the scramble, and Bell Rock into one unrealistic stack.

Same fee system: Call of the Canyon / West Fork

Same fee family, different visit. From Call of the Canyon Picnic Site (read October 5, 2026 PT): Hospitality Annual Pass or daily rate at the gate; Red Rock Pass and America the Beautiful are not accepted; day-use only; camping is not permitted. The fee exception is answered inside this guide; for the canyon hike, see West Fork Trail Sedona. Confirm amounts and hours on Call of the Canyon and the Passes Program.

Ramada (separate Recreation.gov reservation)

Group-shelter asks map to the Crescent Moon Ramada, not a private takeover of the whole park. The Recreation.gov Crescent Moon Ramada listing (read October 5, 2026 PT) describes a day-use group shelter and notes no overnight camping. Confirm capacity, parking language, and wedding-versus-ramada rules on Recreation.gov — this guide does not paste dollar figures or capacity caps. Weddings are by reservation only per the Forest Service; follow links on the Crescent Moon page and Recreation.gov.

Heat, kids, dogs, and light side notes

The Templeton and Baldwin Forest Service pages flag mostly unshaded summer heat. For hot midday ideas, see cool things to do on a hot day in Sedona — this is not medical advice. Kids and picnic patience: Sedona with kids. Dogs: the Forest Service requires leash at Crescent Moon; see Sedona with dogs — this page states no fuller dog policy. After your visit: Sedona coffee shops. Vortex sites, with no spiritual claims: Do you need a guide for Sedona vortex sites? Light DIY-versus-tour: How bumpy are Sedona jeep tours?

If you want a different shape of day

View-of / scramble: Cathedral Rock Sedona and Cathedral Rock Trail. Same fee system, canyon: West Fork Trail Sedona and West Fork Trail. State-park fee: Slide Rock State Park. Easy pathway: Bell Rock Pathway Sedona and Bell Rock Pathway. Iconic hike: Soldier Pass Sedona and Soldier Pass Trail. Drive-up / landmark: Airport Mesa, Airport Loop Trail, and Chapel of the Holy Cross. Stack pacing: When to hike Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, Devil’s Bridge Trail, best time to visit Sedona, and Plan a Sedona trip. Heat / rain / kids / dogs: cool things to do on a hot day in Sedona, what can you do in Sedona on a rainy day?, Sedona with kids, and Sedona with dogs. Approach trails: Templeton Trail and Baldwin Trail. Holidays and light side notes: Thanksgiving in Sedona, Christmas in Sedona, Do you need a guide for Sedona vortex sites?, How bumpy are Sedona jeep tours?, and Sedona coffee shops. Hospitality versus Red Rock Pass versus America the Beautiful is answered inside this guide.

Next steps

Decide which visit: creek reflection / picnic / wade at Crescent Moon, or the Cathedral scramble — different guides. Decide approach: (A) Hospitality gate via Upper Red Rock Loop Road to Red Rock Crossing Road, or (B) Baldwin Trailhead / Templeton–Baldwin with Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful at Baldwin — no drive across the creek. Check the Forest Service Crescent Moon Picnic Site page: seasonal hours; day-use only; camping not permitted; 24 ft vehicle max; leash pets; Red Rock Pass and America the Beautiful not accepted. Confirm fee family on the Passes Program — Hospitality here; Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful at Baldwin and many other trailheads; Slide Rock equals state park. Amounts live on those official pages. Crowds, swim, and picnic interest come up often; the early-morning or weekday tip is Forest Service wording — no lot-fill clocks; have a backup. For creek depth, check conditions before you go; this page publishes no depths or “safe to cross” claims. Group shelter? Check the Recreation.gov Crescent Moon Ramada listing — separate from whole-park day-use. For approach facts, see the Templeton Trail and Baldwin Trail pages. Other options: Cathedral Rock Sedona (view-of), West Fork, Slide Rock, Bell Rock Pathway, Soldier Pass, Airport Mesa, Plan a Sedona trip, and best time to visit Sedona. Have a backup if the lot is full or the gate is closed. This page does not deep-link a car-free guide. Corrections are free and need no account.

What this page will not say

It does not hard-code day-use, weekly, annual, or walk-in dollar figures — those live on the Forest Service Crescent Moon and Passes Program pages. It does not publish lot-fill clocks, creek depths, stepping-stone counts, bridge claims, or “safe to cross” guarantees. It will not describe after-hours access or overnight camping at the picnic site. It will not mix Coconino Hospitality, Red Rock Pass, and America the Beautiful as if interchangeable, and it will not treat Slide Rock state-park admission as the same system. It will not link a Baldwin loop trail page that is not live, or create a Crescent Moon operator page on this Index. It will not name lodging, restaurants, unofficial shuttle brands, Uber guarantees, or shoulder-parking advice. Fee, hour, and site figures are dated from the official pages; if those pages change, trust those pages.

About this page

This page covers visit logistics from the Forest Service Crescent Moon Picnic Site page, the Red Rock & Coconino Passes Program page, Templeton Trail No. 156, Baldwin Trail No. 191, Call of the Canyon Picnic Site (also Coconino Hospitality), and the Recreation.gov Crescent Moon Ramada listing, not lodging or restaurants. Every dated site fact below was read from those pages on October 5, 2026; check them the morning you go. It does not publish lot-fill clocks, creek depths, medical advice, or unofficial shuttle brands. For approach facts, see Templeton Trail and Baldwin Trail. Crescent Moon Picnic Site — also called Crescent Moon Ranch and Red Rock Crossing — is the Forest Service day-use area where travellers come for the classic Cathedral Rock reflection in Oak Creek, plus picnic tables, wading and swimming, and afternoon or sunset views from creek level. Confirm current hours, vehicle limits, and day-use rules on the Forest Service Crescent Moon Picnic Site page before you drive. This page is not a fitness, water-safety, or medical receipt. Entrance here is Coconino Hospitality — pay the day-use rate at the gate or use a Coconino Hospitality Annual Pass. Open the USFS Crescent Moon page and the Red Rock & Coconino Passes Program page the morning you go. On this dated reading, the Forest Service states plainly that the Red Rock Pass and America the Beautiful Pass are not accepted at this site. Do not assume the pass you bought for a trailhead lot covers this gate. Amounts live on those official pages — this Index guide does not hard-code dollar figures. This is the view-of-Cathedral visit: creek picnic, reflection photos, easy creek access. It is not the Cathedral Rock scramble. If you want the hike up the rock (and the Route 15 shuttle lock that goes with that trailhead), use Cathedral Rock Sedona and Cathedral Rock Trail. There are two approaches with different fee systems. (A) Upper Red Rock Loop Road to Red Rock Crossing Road equals the Hospitality gate. (B) Baldwin Trailhead / Templeton–Baldwin off Verde Valley School Road is typically Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful at Baldwin — verify on the Passes Program. Pick one before you leave; the Forest Service Baldwin page says there is no drive across the creek. Crowds, swim and picnic interest, and pass confusion come up often — this page does not publish lot-fill clocks, creek depths, or “safe to cross” claims. Bring a backup if the lot is full or the creek is high. The dated counts this page can honestly print are jeep, trolley and trail records this index already holds for a Sedona day — they are not Crescent Moon day-use fees, which come only from the Forest Service: As of October 5, 2026 that is 24 trail records, 6 jeep tour records and 2 trolley tour records. The comparison pages below are the lists.

What this index currently holds

Trails
24 trail recordsChecked via: Count of compiled, non-sample records in this index
as of October 5, 2026
Jeep tour
6 jeep tour recordsChecked via: Count of compiled, non-sample records in this index
as of October 5, 2026
Trolley tour
2 trolley tour recordsChecked via: Count of compiled, non-sample records in this index
as of October 5, 2026
Last reviewed
October 5, 2026
as of October 5, 2026

More long-form answers and the comparison pages this page points at. Figures on those pages come from the records, not from this map. The full shelf is on guides; the compact list is on traveller questions.

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