Surrounded by massive multicolored boulders in a spectacularly beautiful landscape, Slide Rock State Park in Oak Creek Canyon provides you with one of the most scenic and relaxing recreation areas in Arizona.
This natural water slide is lined along one side with a naturally formed sandstone shelf sitting area and the other side has a rock that is a safe height to jump off of into the pool below. The rocks and boulders throughout the natural chute have been worn smooth by flowing water through Oak Creek Canyon. There are basically two slides, one a little above the other. If you get a good ride, you can shoot down both of them in one long ride. The water is brisk and it drops you into an even colder pool below.
Be sure to wear water shoes or old sneakers with some tread. Don’t forget, the rocks are slippery smooth. Take a short hike up the canyon for more stunning scenery. The park includes picnic benches, barbecue grills, volleyball courts, restrooms and a small market. There is a large grassy field and apple trees in the distance.
The park was originally the Pendley Homestead. Frank Pendley, the homesteader, established the irrigation system still used by the park today. After he established his orchards and a reliable road was built to the location, Mr. Pendley added vacation cabins along his land.
If you want to leave zipping through a water chute to the kids, there is bird watching, hiking trails and fishing along the creek. The trails are rated easy to moderate, and if you decide to do some fishing be sure you have the proper licenses. Brown trout is the most common fish in this area.
Slide Rock is nearby to several Coconino National Forest Campgrounds and the scenic city of Sedona, Arizona is just 8 miles south. If you are coming from Phoenix, take the I-17 west through Sedona to Hwy 89A north. If you are coming from Flagstaff, take Hwy 89A, 20 miles south. This drive has been rated by Rand McNally as one of America’s Most Scenic Drives.
This is the perfect spot to spend a fun-filled day either on your way to Sedona or even the Grand Canyon. Though you won’t have time for both in one day, definitely make it a leg of your trip if you are nearby. It is a memorable spot.
Slide Rock is nearby to several Coconino National Forest Campgrounds and the scenic city of Sedona, Arizona is just 8 miles south. If you are coming from Phoenix, take the I-17 west through Sedona to Hwy 89A north. If you are coming from Flagstaff, take Hwy 89A, 20 miles south. This drive has been rated by Rand McNally as one of America’s Most Scenic Drives.
This is the perfect spot to spend a fun-filled day either on your way to Sedona or even the Grand Canyon. Though you won’t have time for both in one day, definitely make it a leg of your trip if you are nearby. It is a memorable spot.
