Sedona Wetlands Preserve

The Sedona Wetlands Preserve is one of the most unexpected nature experiences in Sedona — a lush riparian wetland fed by treated wastewater from the city's water reclamation facility, creating a bird habitat that is remarkably productive in the middle of an arid red rock landscape. The preserve has recorded over 100 bird species seasonally, making it one of the most species-rich birding locations in northern Arizona.

For families, the preserve offers an easy, flat walk through cattail marshes, willow thickets, and cottonwood groves that feel dramatically different from Sedona's typical desert scenery. The contrast is half the appeal: stepping from a parking lot on AZ-89A into what feels like a miniature Louisiana bayou, complete with red-winged blackbirds singing from the cattails and great blue herons wading in the shallows, is genuinely surprising.

The wildlife density is considerably higher here than on most Sedona hiking trails, which is why children tend to stay engaged even on what is essentially a flat, easy walk. Ducks, geese, herons, egrets, kingfishers, and dozens of songbird species are present year-round, with spring migration (April-May) bringing an additional wave of warblers, flycatchers, vireos, and shorebirds that don't typically occur in the Sedona area.

The trails are flat, paved or well-packed dirt, and suitable for strollers. The preserve is open from 7am to 7pm daily and is completely free. Bug spray is recommended in summer — the wetland environment attracts mosquitoes, particularly in the evening.

For families who want to introduce children to bird watching or nature observation, the Sedona Wetlands Preserve delivers more wildlife per mile of walking than almost anywhere else in the region.