The Red Rock Pass is a parking permit, not a trail access fee, and that distinction matters more than any other sentence in this guide. You’re paying for the right to leave your car at one of 19 designated day-use sites on the Coconino National Forest in the Sedona area. If you don’t park — because you took the shuttle, walked, or biked — you don’t need the pass. If you park for fewer than 15 minutes (a quick photo stop at a scenic pullout), you don’t need it either. But if you park for longer than 15 minutes at a signed fee site, and you don’t have a valid pass displayed or registered, you will receive a federal citation starting at $75.
This is not a suggestion. Coconino National Forest law enforcement patrols the trailheads daily, checking dashboards and running plates. The $5 daily pass is cheaper than the cheapest citation by a factor of fifteen.
What is the Red Rock Pass?
Understanding the Day-Use Parking Fee System
The Red Rock Pass is a recreation parking permit issued under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. It applies to 19 specific day-use sites managed by the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest.
What it covers: Parking at designated fee sites — primarily trailheads, scenic viewpoints, and picnic areas within the Red Rock Ranger District.
What it does not cover:
- Concessionaire-managed sites (Crescent Moon Ranch, West Fork/Call of the Canyon, Grasshopper Point, Beaver Creek, Lower Lake Mary) — these require the separate Coconino Pass or per-vehicle day-use fee
- Arizona State Parks (Slide Rock State Park, Red Rock State Park, Dead Horse Ranch State Park) — these have their own admission fees
- National monuments (Montezuma Castle, Montezuma Well, Tuzigoot) — these require separate federal entrance fees or the America the Beautiful Pass
- City of Sedona municipal parking (Uptown meters, Jordan Road lot) — city-managed, different system entirely
When it’s triggered: The pass is required when you leave your vehicle while recreating at a fee site. Quick stops under 15 minutes for a photo or scenic vista do not require the pass. Anything beyond that — hiking, picnicking, meditating, exploring — requires it.
Funding the Coconino National Forest Maintenance
The revenue from Red Rock Pass sales stays in the Red Rock Ranger District. It funds trail maintenance, restroom upkeep, erosion control, signage, and ranger services. The 19 fee sites are among the most heavily visited in the entire Coconino National Forest, and the pass revenue directly supports their maintenance.
Purchasing Your Pass: Costs and Locations
Red Rock Pass Cost: Daily, Weekly, and Annual
| Pass Type | Cost | Valid For | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | $5 | 1 calendar day | Day-trippers doing 1–2 hikes |
| Weekly | $15 | 7 consecutive days | 3–7 day vacations |
| Annual | $20 | 12 months from purchase | Frequent visitors, Arizona residents |
The math: If you’re hiking two different trailheads on two different days, two daily passes cost $10. A weekly pass costs $15. For a 3+ day trip with multiple hikes, the weekly pass is always the better deal. For Arizona residents who visit Sedona more than once a year, the $20 annual pass is essentially a rounding error.
Red Rock Pass Where to Buy: Kiosks, Online, and Retailers
Option 1 — At the trailhead kiosk (most common):
- Most Red Rock Pass fee sites have self-serve kiosk machines at the parking area.
- Credit/debit card only — no cash.
- Select daily, weekly, or annual. The machine prints a pass to hang from your rearview mirror.
- Buy the pass before you hike, not when you get back.
Option 2 — Online at Recreation.gov:
- Go to recreation.gov/sitepass/74387
- Purchase daily, weekly, or annual.
- Enter your vehicle’s license plate number — this is your pass. No printed receipt needed; no dashboard display needed. Enforcement officers scan plates and can verify online purchases.
- Best for: pre-trip planning. Buy it the night before at your hotel and never touch a kiosk.
Option 3 — Local retailers and visitor centers:
- Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (331 Forest Rd) — daily, weekly, and annual
- Red Rock Visitor Center — daily and weekly (not annual)
- Gas stations and convenience stores: ARCO AM/PM (1990 S. State Rte 89A), Circle K (Village of Oak Creek), Speedway (2960 W. State Route 89A)
- Bashas’ supermarket (160 Coffee Pot Dr, West Sedona)
- Some hotels sell them at the front desk — ask when you check in
The “where NOT to buy” advice: Don’t plan to buy your pass at a crowded trailhead kiosk at 7 AM on a Saturday morning. The line at Cathedral Rock or Devil’s Bridge trailheads can be 10+ people deep. Buy online the night before, or pick one up at Circle K or Bashas’ on your way out of town. Treat it like buying gas — do it before you need it.
Display instructions: If you bought a physical pass at a kiosk or retailer, hang it from your rearview mirror or place it face-up on the dashboard, visible through the windshield. If you bought online at Recreation.gov, your license plate is your pass — nothing to display.
When is the Red Rock Pass Required in Sedona?
Trailheads That Require the Pass (Highway 179 and 89A)
The Red Rock Pass is required at 19 designated day-use sites. These are the most popular trailheads and recreation areas in the Sedona region:
Highway 179 corridor:
- Bell Rock Vista / Courthouse Vista
- Little Horse Trailhead
- Cathedral Rock Trailhead (closed during shuttle hours Thu–Sun; no pass needed if using shuttle)
- Red Rock Crossing / Templeton Trailhead
- Back O’Beyond Trailhead
Highway 89A / West Sedona:
- Soldier Pass Trailhead (closed during shuttle hours Thu–Sun; no pass needed if using shuttle)
- Jordan Trail / Coyote Ridge
- Midgley Bridge / Wilson Canyon
Dry Creek Road area:
- Dry Creek Vista Trailhead
- Vultee Arch / Sterling Canyon Trailhead
- Fay Canyon Trailhead
- Boynton Canyon Trailhead
- Doe Mountain Trailhead
- Bear Mountain Trailhead
- Long Canyon Trailhead
Other areas:
- Mescal Trailhead
- Chavez Crossing
- Grasshopper Point (Coconino Pass site — Red Rock Pass NOT valid here)
- Crescent Moon (Coconino Pass site — Red Rock Pass NOT valid here)
Note: At shuttle-served trailheads (Cathedral Rock, Soldier Pass, Dry Creek Vista, Mescal, Little Horse) during shuttle operating hours (Thu–Sun), the trailhead parking lots are closed to private vehicles. You use the free shuttle from a park-and-ride lot. No Red Rock Pass needed when using the shuttle. Outside shuttle hours, the lots reopen and the pass is required.
Where the Pass is NOT Valid (State Parks and Concessionaire Sites)
The Red Rock Pass works only at Coconino National Forest fee sites. It is NOT valid at:
| Site | What You Need Instead | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Slide Rock State Park | Arizona State Parks admission | $20–$30/vehicle |
| Red Rock State Park | Arizona State Parks admission | $7/adult |
| Dead Horse Ranch State Park | Arizona State Parks admission | $7/vehicle |
| Crescent Moon Ranch | Coconino Pass or day-use fee | $50/yr or $11/vehicle |
| West Fork / Call of the Canyon | Coconino Pass or day-use fee | $50/yr or $15/vehicle |
| Grasshopper Point | Coconino Pass or day-use fee | $50/yr or $10/vehicle |
| Beaver Creek Day Use | Coconino Pass or day-use fee | $50/yr or site fee |
| Montezuma Castle NM | National monument fee or ATB | $10/adult |
National Parks Pass Interoperability
Red Rock Pass vs America the Beautiful
| Feature | Red Rock Pass | America the Beautiful (ATB) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $5/day, $15/week, $20/year | $80/year |
| Coverage | 19 Sedona-area sites only | 2,000+ federal sites nationwide |
| Coconino NF trailheads | Yes | Yes (works in lieu of Red Rock Pass) |
| Concessionaire sites | No | No |
| State Parks | No | No |
| National Parks / Monuments | No | Yes |
| Purchase | Kiosks, Recreation.gov, local retailers | USGS Store online, federal offices, visitor centers |
The decision: If you already have an America the Beautiful Pass (from a national park visit, military service, senior discount, or volunteer service), you do not need a Red Rock Pass. Your ATB covers all 19 Red Rock Pass sites. Display it on your dashboard exactly as you would the Red Rock Pass.
If you only visit Sedona and don’t travel to other national parks or federal recreation areas, the Red Rock Pass ($5–$20) is far cheaper than the $80 ATB.
Interagency Pass Accepted Rules and Display Instructions
When you see a brown USFS sign that says “Interagency Pass Accepted” at a trailhead, it means you can display any of the following in lieu of a Red Rock Pass:
- America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80)
- America the Beautiful Senior Pass ($20 annual / $80 lifetime)
- America the Beautiful Access Pass (free, for permanent disabilities)
- America the Beautiful Military Pass (free, for active duty and dependents)
- America the Beautiful Volunteer Pass (earned through 250+ volunteer hours)
Display the pass face-up on your dashboard. Enforcement officers check for any valid interagency pass.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need a Red Rock Pass if I’m just driving through Sedona?
No. The Red Rock Pass is a parking permit, not a road toll. You can drive Highway 179, Highway 89A, and all Sedona roads without any pass. The pass is only required when you park your vehicle at one of the 19 designated fee sites and leave it for more than 15 minutes.
Do I need a Red Rock Pass if I have a National Parks pass?
If your “National Parks pass” is the America the Beautiful Interagency Pass ($80/year), then no — you do not need a separate Red Rock Pass. The ATB covers all Red Rock Pass sites. Display it on your dashboard. If your pass is specific to a single national park (like a Grand Canyon annual pass), it does not cover Sedona trailheads — you’ll still need the Red Rock Pass.
Are there fee-free days?
Yes. The Coconino National Forest waives Red Rock Pass fees on select days each year. The 2026 fee-free days include Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend (January 17–19) and others announced by the Forest Service. Fee-free days do not apply to concessionaire sites (Crescent Moon, West Fork, Grasshopper Point, Beaver Creek, Lower Lake Mary) or State Parks.
