Photo courtesy Red Rock Skydiving Tandem freefall, Red Rock Skydiving

Cheaper than New Zealand and more Elysian than Eloy, Sedona is a cushy launchpad for soft adventure sports. Well, soft-ish.

Sedona is 10,500 feet below – wrinkled, beige and reddish, like satellite photos of Mars. Karl Priggee is trying to distract us from the fact that we’re in a seatless biplane that feels as aerodynamic as a tin can and that, even more worrisome, we won’t be landing in said plane but falling out of it face first.

He’s not doing badly, actually, pointing out Tuzigoot, Cathedral Rock and snow-capped Mount Humphreys, crisp against the horizon. But then, inevitably, he straps me to him, tightens my couldn’t-be-tighter goggles and opens the plane door.

My mind fast-forwards through the choreography of arm movements and back arches I’m supposed to do when he shoulder-taps me in midair. The reassurance that this is Karl’s 4,068th jump acts as a mental buffer between me and the ground, and I don’t feel fear but rather determination and…

“Feet out!” Karl shouts.

I swing my feet onto the step outside the plane.

And look way, way down.

This is a big deal.

Photo courtesy CenterFocus Experiences Rock climbing

Then, before I know what’s happening, the air is roaring around us, and the thoughts rush past as fast as the freefall: Wow, you really can appreciate scenery while hurtling toward it – mountains, fields, blue sky, oh my God we’re falling toward the ground, this isn’t natural, no, it’s OK, there’s a parachute and an experienced skydiver on your back, enjoy the experience, this is so fun, are you kidding the ground is coming closer, no it’s fine, this is great!

With a jerk, the chute opens, and suddenly: pure silence. Karl loosens three of the straps that fasten us together (um, is this wise?) and I experience the strange sensation of floating/flying/falling above the world, mixed with awe and triumph and an ardent wish I had taken Dramamine beforehand.

And then we land – alight, really, it’s so soft – and I have just skydived in Sedona.


Turns out, this spa-loving, tree-hugging town is a mecca for adventure sport beginners. In just a few days, you can cross hot air ballooning, skydiving, rock climbing, ATVing and mountain biking off your bucket list, no prior experience required. The fact that these high-octane activities are backdropped by breathtaking scenery, and that you can ease your muscles between adventures with spa treatments and surprisingly delicious local wines, makes you wonder why you’d ever venture further.

Hot Air Ballooning
If the idea of jumping out of a plane is jarring, ease into it by first floating in a balloon. These gentle giants lift you into the sky so smoothly it’s like rising to the surface of a pool. Red Rock Balloon Adventures takes about 18 passengers at a time, regaling them with cheeky humor, ballooning lore and sightseeing commentary.

Unlike other methods of aviation, hot air balloons can only move with wind currents, which means there’s no turbulence. “We’re traveling at about 16 mph,” the pilot assures us, though it feels like we’re stock-still. We top out at 4,000 feet, where it’s cold and quiet – save for occasional bursts of fire – and Sedona sleeps far below in the lavender morning light.

Everyone agrees the highlight of the trip is flying low, buzzing Sedona’s mansions so closely we ask the owners if they can spare hot coffee. Even the acrophobe in our group feels at ease, and those of us who relish altitude have fun and are now prepped for something more challenging. Which isn’t hard to find.