Crescent Moon Picnic Area

Directions

From Sedona, Arizona, drive west on AZ-89A. Turn left on Upper Red Rock Loop Road. Turn left on Chavez Ranch Road. Follow the road right for Red Rock Crossing Road and turn left into the Crescent Moon Picnic Area. Entrance to the park is $10 per vehicle.

Photo Spot Details

Sedona, Arizona, has a past as colorful as its world-famous red rocks.  At one time it billed itself as “Arizona’s Little Hollywood” due to the dozens of B westerns and other Hollywood classics filmed there.  My wife and I have visited Sedona several times, and while I always enjoy photographing the scenic landscape, one of my favorite subjects is Cathedral Rock.  Crescent Moon Picnic Area is a great place to photograph Cathedral Rock.  There is a path along Oak Creek or you can hike up the hill to the north.  The trail to the top of the hill starts just north of the entrance to the park off of Red Rock Crossing Road.  For best lighting, visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Bring a tripod, and if you photograph down near the creek, you will want to have a graduated neutral density filter as well since it will be shaded in the morning and late afternoon.