Grand Canyon Day Trip: Ruins, Lava Fields & Peaks from Sedona

Summary

Walk ancient ruins and volcano trails before Grand Canyon views

You’ll travel from Sedona or Flagstaff in a small group with a local guide, walking ancient ruins at Wupatki, crunching over lava fields at Sunset Crater, tasting Navajo tacos at Cameron Trading Post, and finally standing on Grand Canyon’s rim as afternoon light shifts across endless cliffs. It’s more than just sightseeing — it’s layers of history you can actually feel.

What’s the experience like?

“You ever seen a volcano up close?” our guide, Mark, grinned as we bumped along the road out of Sedona. I hadn’t — not really — so when we stepped out into the sharp morning air at Sunset Crater, I just stood there for a second. The ground was crunchy under my boots, all black and strange like burnt toast, and the pine trees smelled sharper than usual. Mark explained how this whole place erupted less than a thousand years ago. It’s weird to think about how new that is in earth time. I kept picking up little pieces of lava rock until my pockets got heavy.

Later at Wupatki National Monument, the wind was louder than our voices. We wandered through these old stone rooms where Hopi and Sinagua people lived — you can still see fingerprints in some of the bricks if you look close enough (I tried). There was this moment when everyone went quiet except for a raven croaking somewhere above us. I don’t know why but it made me feel small in a good way. Our group was only seven people, so it never felt rushed or crowded; Mark always had time for questions or random facts (he told us about how kids used to play ball games here).

Cameron Trading Post came next — Navajo tacos are messy and delicious, by the way — and then the drive up towards the San Francisco Peaks. The sky turned this pale blue behind snow patches on the mountains. By the time we reached Desert View Drive and finally saw the Grand Canyon open up beneath us, someone actually gasped out loud (not me… okay maybe it was). The colors changed every few minutes as clouds moved over the cliffs; I kept trying to take photos but none of them looked right compared to what my eyes saw.

I didn’t expect to care so much about everything before the canyon itself — but honestly, those ruins and lava fields stuck with me almost as much as that first view over the South Rim. Maybe it’s just something about seeing so many layers of history stacked together in one long day. Anyway, I’d do it again just for that feeling when you step out of the van and smell pine mixed with desert dust.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore ruins, volcano, and Grand Canyon

• Visit Wupatki National Monument ruins
• Stop at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
• Shop and eat at Cameron Trading Post
• Tour Grand Canyon South Rim views
• Enjoy shopping and views at Grand Canyon

Top questions

How long is the Grand Canyon day trip from Sedona?

The tour lasts around 11 hours from Sedona, including pickup and drop-off.

Is lunch included on this Grand Canyon tour?

No, lunch is not included; there’s free time to buy food at Cameron Trading Post.

What sites are visited besides Grand Canyon?

You’ll visit Wupatki National Monument ruins and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument before reaching Grand Canyon.

How big is the group on this tour?

The group size is usually no more than 10 guests for a more personal experience.

Does this tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included from Sedona or Flagstaff hotels.

Are children allowed on this day trip?

Yes, but Arizona law requires children eight years or younger to be in a car seat/booster seat provided by guests.

What should I wear for this tour?

Closed-toe shoes are recommended; bring layers for changing weather plus sunscreen and a hat.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Sedona or Flagstaff, all entry fees to Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monuments, guided stops along Desert View Drive with plenty of photo opportunities at both East and South Rims of Grand Canyon, plus time to explore Cameron Trading Post for lunch before heading back in the evening.