Top Landmarks to See by Helicopter in Sedona

Sedona has a reputation as one of the most beautiful places in the American Southwest. Its famous red rock formations rise above the desert floor like natural monuments, each with its own story, history, and presence. Travelers come from around the world to hike the trails, visit the art galleries, and marvel at the colors that change with the light. Yet one of the most unforgettable ways to experience these landmarks is from above.

A helicopter tour of Sedona does more than shorten the distance between sights. It weaves them together, showing how the formations relate to each other and to the vast desert landscape. From the air, Sedona’s most iconic landmarks come alive in new ways. Here are some of the top sights you can expect to see on a flight with Apex Air, along with a guide to what makes each one special.

Cathedral Rock

Cathedral Rock is perhaps the most photographed formation in Sedona, and for good reason. On the ground, it rises like a gothic structure carved by nature, with soaring spires and dramatic curves. From a trail, you feel the weight of its scale as the cliffs tower above you. But from a helicopter, Cathedral Rock reveals a new side.

The aerial view shows its unique spire formations in full, creating natural windows that open to the valley beyond. You can see how the sandstone layers stack upon each other, forming a cathedral-like silhouette that seems even more fitting from above. Flying past Cathedral Rock gives you the rare chance to look into spaces that are hidden from the ground, capturing the play of light on its ridges and the green contrast of Oak Creek below.

Bell Rock

Named for its bell-like shape, Bell Rock is another of Sedona’s most iconic landmarks. Hikers often climb its base, but the aerial perspective highlights its symmetry in ways you simply cannot see on the ground. The concentric layers of sandstone spiral upward, and from above, the formation looks like a massive sculpture set against the desert backdrop.

Flying over Bell Rock also gives context to its position in the landscape. You can see how it aligns with nearby Courthouse Butte, almost as if the two were placed side by side to balance each other. The patterns of erosion are clearer from the sky, making Bell Rock not just a symbol of Sedona, but also a textbook of natural design.

Courthouse Butte

Courthouse Butte stands tall and commanding, often described as one of the most massive formations in Sedona. From the road, it is impressive, but from above, its scale becomes even more apparent. The flat top stretches out like a mesa, while its walls drop steeply to the desert floor. The aerial view also shows the textures carved by wind and water over centuries, revealing natural striations that are less noticeable from the ground.

From a helicopter, Courthouse Butte is more than a single landmark. You see how it anchors the surrounding terrain, acting like a guardian over the valley. It feels less like a solitary formation and more like a keystone in Sedona’s geological story.

Oak Creek Canyon

While red rock formations are the main draw, Oak Creek Canyon is a landscape that deserves equal attention. Driving through it gives you glimpses of towering cliffs and winding roads, but from above, the canyon becomes a sweeping ribbon of green cutting through the desert. Its curves and bends are visible in full, and the way the water has shaped the land becomes strikingly clear.

A helicopter ride reveals hidden alcoves, shadowed cliffs, and small clearings that remain unseen from the highway. The mix of red rock and lush vegetation creates a contrast that looks even more dramatic from the air. Oak Creek Canyon is not just a scenic drive. From above, it is a masterpiece of natural design.

The Secret Spires and Hidden Formations

Sedona is known for its big names like Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock, but the aerial view brings to light formations that are often overlooked. Smaller spires, unnamed ridges, and hidden valleys reveal themselves as you fly. Many of these areas are inaccessible by trail or road, which makes seeing them from a helicopter even more special.

Hovering above these formations, you gain an appreciation for the way Sedona’s landscape is layered with both the familiar and the hidden. The secret spires may not appear on postcards, but from the air, they add richness to the story of Sedona.

Why Helicopter Tours Showcase Sedona Best

On foot or by car, each of these landmarks tells a story. But together, from the air, the story becomes complete. A helicopter flight with Apex Air connects the dots. Cathedral Rock is not just a spire. It is part of a pattern that includes Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and the wider Verde Valley. Oak Creek Canyon is not just a road to drive, but a vein of life weaving through the desert.

The aerial view also adds a sense of motion and perspective. Instead of standing still and looking up, you move with the land. You see the way light shifts across entire ranges, the way shadows lengthen into valleys, and the way colors deepen as the sun drops lower in the sky. Every moment feels alive.

Planning Your Flight

For travelers, the chance to see Sedona’s top landmarks from the air is more than sightseeing. It is an experience that deepens your connection to the land. Consider combining a flight with your favorite ground activities. Hike to the base of Cathedral Rock, then see its full silhouette from the sky. Photograph Bell Rock from the trailhead, then capture its perfect symmetry from above. Drive through Oak Creek Canyon, then trace its entire length with one sweeping look from a helicopter.

Apex Air flights are designed to highlight the very best of Sedona. Routes are planned to circle key formations, follow the paths of canyons, and provide unobstructed views of the most iconic landmarks. For visitors short on time, a helicopter tour allows you to see in minutes what would take days of hiking and driving. For those with more time, it adds a perspective that makes every ground-based adventure even more meaningful.

Seeing Sedona in a New Way

Sedona has always been about perspective. Artists, hikers, and travelers come here to see the land in their own way. Yet the aerial perspective adds a dimension that is difficult to match. It turns landmarks into part of a broader landscape, showing how they relate to each other and to the desert that surrounds them.

From Cathedral Rock’s soaring spires to the hidden curves of Oak Creek Canyon, a helicopter tour reveals Sedona in its fullest form. With Apex Air, you are not just visiting landmarks. You are experiencing them from the vantage point that nature intended: above it all, where every formation tells its story in the open air.