CairnThe Sedona Index

From the Sedona record

Red Rock Pass Sedona

A Red Rock Pass lets you park at Forest Service fee sites around Sedona, such as trailheads, vistas and picnic areas. An America the Beautiful pass works instead at many of them. On the Forest Service page read October 5, 2026, a Red Rock Pass was $5 a day, $15 a week or $20 a year, sold at kiosks at the sites and online at Recreation.gov. Neither pass covers Coconino Hospitality sites such as Crescent Moon and West Fork, or state parks such as Slide Rock. A pass is not a reserved parking spot; check the Forest Service Passes Program page the week you travel.

Last reviewed . Sources and dates are listed below.

The four fee families, in plain language

Travellers ask the same question many ways: confusion about park passes (including veteran eligibility), confused about Red Rock Pass, Grand Canyon and Sedona passes, and what an America the Beautiful pass can get you. The answer is four families, not one. Red Rock Pass is the Forest Service’s Sedona-area parking pass, valid only on Coconino National Forest sites. America the Beautiful is the national interagency pass; the Forest Service says it can be used in lieu of a Red Rock Pass at many Sedona-area Coconino National Forest sites. Coconino Hospitality is a concessionaire fee at five sites that do not recognize the Red Rock or America the Beautiful pass. The Hospitality Annual Pass, in turn, does not cover sites covered by the Red Rock or America the Beautiful passes. Arizona State Parks — Red Rock State Park and Slide Rock State Park — show State Park Entrance Fee on the Forest Service table. The Forest Service Passes page explains why: passes cover standard amenity fees (day-use fees) at trailheads, picnic sites, and observation areas. Sites not covered by passes include concessionaire-managed sites. So the pass that works at one gate can be the wrong payment at the next. On the dated Forest Service table: Red Rock Pass sites accept Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful; Hospitality sites accept neither; state parks accept neither Forest Service pass.

What a Red Rock Pass is

From the USFS Red Rock & Coconino Passes Program page (read October 5, 2026). Check the official pages before you buy, because fees can change. Daily Red Rock Pass: $5. Weekly: $15. Annual: $20. Who it covers: cardholder must be present; covers everyone in the vehicle. What it does: allows the passholder to park at a Sedona-area fee site managed by the Coconino National Forest. Where it is valid: can only be used on Coconino National Forest sites; it is not valid at other sites such as National Parks or parks managed by the State of Arizona. What it excludes: does not include access to concessionaire-managed fee sites that require the Coconino Hospitality Annual Pass. Recreation.gov showed the same digital tiers on October 5, 2026 (1 Day $5, 7 Day $15, Annual $20). Re-check both before buying. Validity window: Recreation.gov’s Need-to-Know says passes are valid until 11:59 PM of the date listed on the pass, and only for the date(s) and vehicle specified for the pass. Passes are non-transferable and non-refundable. What it is not: a hiking permit, national-park entry, a state-park ticket, or a reserved parking spot.

Does America the Beautiful cover Red Rock Pass sites?

Yes, at the sites the Forest Service lists as Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful. No at the Hospitality sites and the state parks. Forest Service wording: the America the Beautiful Pass can be used in lieu of a Red Rock Pass at many Sedona-area Coconino National Forest sites. However, it does not include entry to the concessionaire-managed fee sites that are covered by the Coconino Hospitality Annual Pass. That Forest Service sentence says four concessionaire sites, but the same page lists five Hospitality sites, including Lower Lake Mary near Flagstaff. Treat all five as not Red Rock Pass and not America the Beautiful. Federal pages agree. NPS Passes says America the Beautiful covers entrance fees and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by agencies including the US Forest Service. The USGS Store says it covers the pass owner and all occupants in a personal vehicle at sites that charge per vehicle. The Forest Service table adds: cardholder must be present. Grand Canyon plus Sedona trips: an America the Beautiful covers national-park entrance and works at Sedona’s Red Rock Pass / America the Beautiful sites. A Red Rock Pass does not work at national parks. Neither covers Crescent Moon, West Fork, Grasshopper Point, or Slide Rock. Compare America the Beautiful types (resident, non-resident, senior, military, access, and others) and their current prices on the NPS Passes page — this guide does not reprint those prices. Veterans and military: the Forest Service table lists military America the Beautiful options as free, and NPS lists a Military Lifetime Pass for veterans and Gold Star Family members. Confirm eligibility on NPS, which says passholders must show valid photo identification with each pass.

Where you need one

The Forest Service rule: if you leave your vehicle while recreating at a fee site on the Coconino National Forest, you must purchase a recreation pass. Recreation.gov repeats it. The operative words are fee site and leave your vehicle. The Forest Service Passes page adds: you will know a site has a fee because it will be listed on each recreation site’s webpage. Sedona-area sites marked Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful on the Forest Service table (read October 5, 2026): Baldwin Trailhead, Bell Rock Pathway/Vista, Bell Trailhead, Bootlegger Picnic Area, Boynton Canyon Trailhead, Bruce Brockett Trailhead, Cathedral Rock Trailhead, Courthouse Vista, Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site, Bear/Doe Mountain Trailhead, Dry Creek Trailhead, Encinoso Picnic Site, Fay Canyon Trailhead, Halfway Picnic Site, Honanki Heritage Site, Huckaby Trailhead, Jim Thompson Trailhead, Little Horse Trailhead, Mescal Trailhead, Midgley Bridge, Palatki Heritage Site, and Yavapai Vista. The table also lists Flagstaff-area rows (Lake Mary Narrows, Upper Lake Mary, Lava River Cave); check them live if your trip runs north. A TripAdvisor Valid Pass thread asked about a map label at Bear Mountain / Fay Canyon. The Forest Service table lists both Bear/Doe Mountain and Fay Canyon trailheads as Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful. Trust the Forest Service page over a map legend. Popular hikes and fee families only — related guides cover access: Cathedral Rock Trailhead is Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful; see Cathedral Rock Sedona. Bell Rock Pathway/Vista is Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful; see Bell Rock Pathway Sedona. Dry Creek Trailhead and Mescal Trailhead both appear as Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful for Devil’s Bridge approaches; see when to hike Devil’s Bridge. Soldier Pass lot is not named on the Forest Service table; nearby Jim Thompson Trailhead is Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful. The Index declares no lot free — see Soldier Pass Sedona. Airport Mesa is not named on the Forest Service table; overlook parking is a separate payment — see Airport Mesa Sedona. Boynton Canyon Trailhead is Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful — a fee fact only. Find the trailhead you’ll park at on the Forest Service table and bring the matching pass. If a lot is not listed, check that site’s USFS page for a fees section rather than assuming either way. Pullouts and just parking: travellers debate whether fees apply when you are only parking and not using facilities. The Index does not settle that debate. The only rule printed here is the Forest Service’s: a pass is required when you leave your vehicle while recreating at a fee site. No claims about pull-offs, shoulders, or unlisted turnouts. Recreation.gov adds that people who park illegally outside designated areas may be fined and towed, with no amount stated on the pages reviewed for this guide.

Where you still pay something else

Coconino Hospitality (concessionaire): Red Rock Pass and America the Beautiful are not accepted. From the Passes Program page (read October 5, 2026). Check the official pages before you go. Daily fees on that dated read: Call of the Canyon Picnic Site / West Fork $15; Crescent Moon Picnic Site $15; Grasshopper Point Swimming & Picnic Area $15; Beaver Creek Day Use Picnic Site $14; Lower Lake Mary Picnic Area $12. Coconino Hospitality pass on that dated read: Weekly $25; Annual $50. Scope: only applies at five specific sites; covers up to five people per vehicle. Does not cover sites covered by the Red Rock or America the Beautiful passes. Where to buy: cannot be purchased online; purchased in person at one of the five sites that require it. Note: Red Rock Pass and America the Beautiful cover everyone in the vehicle; the Hospitality pass covers up to five people per vehicle. Crescent Moon / Red Rock Crossing uses the Hospitality gate; nearby Baldwin Trailhead is Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful — a different approach. See Crescent Moon / Red Rock Crossing Sedona. West Fork starts from Call of the Canyon (Hospitality). See West Fork Trail Sedona. Grasshopper Point is a Hospitality swimming and picnic area; check the USFS site page live. Arizona State Parks: the Forest Service table lists Red Rock State Park and Slide Rock State Park as State Park Entrance Fee. USFS Red Rock Ranger District says Slide Rock sits on Coconino National Forest land but is managed by the State of Arizona under a special use permit, so a Forest Service pass does not carry over. This Index prints no state-park dollars; check the Arizona State Parks schedule directly. See Slide Rock State Park.

Where to buy

All Forest Service quotes below are from the Passes Program page (read October 5, 2026). Red Rock Pass on site: kiosk fee machines at the recreation site that requires it, where one can choose between the Daily, Weekly, or Annual versions — buy at the trailhead you are using. Red Rock Pass at the Sedona Chamber of Commerce: the Forest Service says the Chamber also sells these passes; check its hours before you go. Red Rock Pass at the Red Rock Visitor Center: sells the Daily and Weekly versions (not Annual), per the Forest Service. Red Rock Pass online: can be purchased at Recreation.gov (sitepass 74387). If purchased online, a printed copy of the pass will not be made available; instead, your license plate number will be recorded. America the Beautiful online: USGS Store (the Forest Service notes requesting expedited shipping if you need your pass within 10 days or less). America the Beautiful digital: NPS says you can get a digital America the Beautiful Pass through Recreation.gov; your digital pass can be saved to a mobile device and used immediately. America the Beautiful in person: the Forest Service says one of our offices or at many locations around the Village of Oak Creek, West Sedona, East Sedona, and Uptown Sedona. This Index does not name vendors beyond Forest Service wording. Hospitality Annual: in person only, at the five Hospitality sites — cannot be purchased online. Multiple cars: passes are valid only for the date(s) and vehicle specified (Recreation.gov), so buy one per car, online with each plate or at a kiosk or seller above. Changed plates? The Forest Service says contact the Recreation.gov Help Center for a modification. America the Beautiful timing: NPS says USGS mail orders may take up to three weeks and order receipts may not be used in place of a physical pass. Travelling soon? NPS points to a digital pass or an in-person purchase.

Sedona Shuttle and parking fees

Travellers ask whether using a shuttle means parking is free and a Red Rock Pass is not required. Two official sources address the fee question. City of Sedona News 5528 (fetched October 5, 2026; the release itself is dated March 30, 2022, from the shuttle launch): both parking and the shuttle ride are free; a Red Rock Pass is not required at the trailhead. USFS Red Rock Ranger District (fetched October 5, 2026): using the Sedona Shuttle lets you avoid paying the pay-to-park pass fees. That is all this guide says about the shuttle — no routes, days, frequencies, or lot-closure calendars. The City line is from 2022, so current operations may differ. Check the City and official Sedona Shuttle pages the morning you ride. Access questions about parking before shuttle hours for sunrise at Bell Rock or Cathedral Rock live in Cathedral Rock Sedona, Soldier Pass Sedona, and Bell Rock Pathway Sedona. The shuttle does not change Hospitality day-use or state-park entry.

Display and common worries

I bought online — what do I show? For online Red Rock Passes, the Forest Service says a printed copy of the pass will not be made available; instead, your license plate number will be recorded. Recreation.gov: your license plate number will be used to confirm compliance. Double-check the plate you entered. I bought at a kiosk or the Chamber. Recreation.gov describes vended and hangtag formats. Follow the instructions on the pass you get; this Index does not guess placement rules. My America the Beautiful is on my phone and I cannot display it on my car. A frequent ask. NPS confirms a digital America the Beautiful can be saved to a mobile device and used immediately. This dated reading found no Coconino-specific rule on showing a phone-only America the Beautiful at an unstaffed Red Rock Pass lot, and this Index will not guess. Read the digital-pass guidance on Recreation.gov and NPS Passes, and ask the Red Rock Visitor Center before relying on it. Does someone in the car need to be the America the Beautiful holder? The Forest Service table says cardholder must be present for both America the Beautiful and Red Rock Pass. What if I get a ticket? The official sources reviewed give no citation schedule or amount for a missing pass. This Index prints no fine figures. Are there fee-free days? The Forest Service Passes page says the Forest Service waives day-use fees at many recreation sites on certain days that may vary by forest. Remaining Coconino dates on the dated reading (October 5, 2026; Recreation.gov matches): October 12, October 27, November 11, November 26 (Thanksgiving), December 25, and January 1, 2027. That is many sites, not all. Do not assume Hospitality sites or state parks waive fees. Check the official pages before you go. What is the Grand Annual I keep reading about? Recreation.gov’s Need-to-Know describes a Grand Annual hangtag. The Forest Service Passes Program (updated June 17, 2026) describes the Coconino Hospitality Annual Pass, which does not cover sites covered by the Red Rock or America the Beautiful passes. The two descriptions do not match, and this Index will not merge them or price a combined product. Treat the Forest Service page as authority and ask at the point of sale. Does a pass guarantee a spot? No: passes do not guarantee parking availability (Recreation.gov).

Plan the day around the fee families

Pass questions usually come down to the shape of the day. Trailheads only (Cathedral, Bell Rock, Devil’s Bridge approaches, Boynton, Fay, and others on the Forest Service table): buy the Red Rock Pass tier that matches your dates (valid only for the date(s) and vehicle specified, per Recreation.gov), or bring an America the Beautiful with the cardholder present. Trailheads plus a creek day at Crescent Moon or West Fork: Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful for the trailheads, plus Hospitality day-use or a Hospitality pass for the concessionaire site. Trailheads plus Slide Rock: Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful plus the state-park entrance fee; check it with Arizona State Parks before you go. Shuttle days: City and USFS say riders avoid the trailhead pass fee. Check current service on the official shuttle and City pages. Season and pacing: best time to visit Sedona and plan a Sedona trip. No parking or crowd promises on this page.

If you want a different shape of day

Related fee and access guides only — no ranking and no guessed shuttle page. Hospitality creek / picnic: Crescent Moon / Red Rock Crossing Sedona. Hospitality canyon: West Fork Trail Sedona. State-park fee: Slide Rock State Park. Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful trailheads: Cathedral Rock Sedona, Bell Rock Pathway Sedona, when to hike Devil’s Bridge, Soldier Pass Sedona. Separate overlook payment: Airport Mesa Sedona. Season and stack pacing: best time to visit Sedona and plan a Sedona trip. This page answers Red Rock Pass versus America the Beautiful versus Hospitality versus state parks. It does not deep-link a car-free guide and does not link a Sedona shuttle guide that is not live.

Next steps

List the exact lots you will park at and find each on the Forest Service Passes Program table. For Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful sites: Red Rock Pass (Daily $5 / Weekly $15 / Annual $20 on the dated read; check before you buy) or an America the Beautiful with the cardholder present. For Hospitality sites: daily fee or Hospitality pass, in person. Red Rock Pass and America the Beautiful are not accepted. For state parks: state-park entrance fee, confirmed with Arizona State Parks. Bought online? Your plate is the pass; one pass per car. Digital America the Beautiful or shuttle fee questions: check the official pages the morning you go. Corrections are free and need no account.

What this page will not say

It will not treat Coconino Hospitality, Red Rock Pass, America the Beautiful, and Arizona State Parks as interchangeable. It will not reprint America the Beautiful tier prices, Arizona State Parks entrance dollars, or citation fine amounts. It will not guess digital America the Beautiful dash or lot-display rules beyond what the dated read found. It will not guess pull-off, shoulder, or unlisted-turnout parking rules beyond the Forest Service leave-your-vehicle-at-a-fee-site wording. It will not guess shuttle routes, days, frequencies, or lot-closure calendars, deep-link a car-free guide, or link a Sedona shuttle guide that is not live. It does not link Boynton Canyon or Brins Mesa as guides from this page. It will not merge Recreation.gov Grand Annual naming with the Forest Service Coconino Hospitality Annual Pass or guess a combined price. Fee figures for Red Rock Pass and Hospitality are dated from the Forest Service pages; if those pages change, trust those pages.

About this page

As of October 5, 2026 that is 24 trail records, 6 jeep tour records and 2 trolley tour records. A Red Rock Pass lets you park at designated Coconino National Forest fee sites around Sedona: trailheads, vistas, picnic areas, and heritage sites. At many of those sites, an America the Beautiful interagency pass works instead. Neither pass covers the five Coconino Hospitality concessionaire sites, which include Crescent Moon / Red Rock Crossing, Call of the Canyon / West Fork, and Grasshopper Point. Neither covers Arizona State Parks such as Slide Rock and Red Rock State Park. Those charge their own fees. That gives Sedona four separate fee families — Red Rock Pass, America the Beautiful, Coconino Hospitality, and Arizona State Parks. Most pass confusion comes from treating them as one. The USFS Red Rock & Coconino Passes Program page is the fee authority (last updated June 17, 2026 on the dated reading used here). Re-open it the week you travel. This guide is not a receipt, permit, or parking guarantee. This page maps the four fee families travellers mix up when asking about Red Rock Pass, America the Beautiful, Grand Canyon plus Sedona trips, and whether a pass covers Crescent Moon or Slide Rock. Dollar figures for Red Rock Pass and Coconino Hospitality below come from the Forest Service Passes Program page and a Recreation.gov cross-check read on October 5, 2026. Check the official pages before you buy — fees can change. This page does not reprint America the Beautiful tier prices, Arizona State Parks entrance dollars, or citation fine amounts. It does not guess shuttle routes or a car-free guide. After the fee map, related guides cover Crescent Moon, West Fork, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock Pathway, Devil’s Bridge timing, Soldier Pass, Airport Mesa, Slide Rock, best time to visit, and plan a Sedona trip. 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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