Slide Rock State Park

Slide Rock State Park in Oak Creek Canyon, 7 miles north of Sedona, Arizona, centers on a series of smooth red sandstone water chutes carved by Oak Creek that function as natural water slides into clear, cold pools. The main slide, approximately 80 feet long, descends through layers of smooth Permian sandstone worn slick by centuries of water flow and human use. The creek water, fed by mountain snowmelt and springs, remains bracingly cold even in midsummer, and the surrounding oak, sycamore, and cottonwood forest provides shade rarely found in Arizona's desert parks. The park encompasses the historic Pendley Homestead, an apple orchard operation established by Frank Pendley in 1907 that remained in family operation until 1987 — the original farmhouse, apple barn, and packing sheds still stand and can be toured along the Pendley Homestead Trail. Approximately 3,000 apple trees remain on the property, and freshly pressed cider is sold on-site from late September through November when the harvest is underway. Four short trails extend from the water slide area: the Pendley Homestead Trail (0.4 miles, easy) tours the historic farm buildings; the Slide Rock Route (0.5 miles) follows Oak Creek downstream through canyon scenery; the Clifftop Nature Trail (0.6 miles) climbs above the canyon for an aerial view of Oak Creek Canyon; and the Telephone Trail (3 miles) leads to a spectacular ridge overlook above the canyon walls. Summer capacity at the park fills by 9am on peak weekends — the park implements a vehicle-count system and may temporarily close when the parking lot reaches capacity. Visitors are strongly encouraged to arrive at the 8am opening to guarantee entry on busy summer days.