This Small Town Is An Even Quieter Alternative To Sedona

Abstract

• Sedona could also be common, however Clarkdale is a quieter different with lovely hikes and pure environment.
• Clarkdale receives far fewer guests and affords a peaceable expertise in comparison with bustling Sedona.
• The city serves as a gateway to the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Space, with luxurious railroad choices.

Arizona is stuffed with must-visit locations whereas touring by means of the Southwestern United States. It holds some of the country’s most scenic road trips with some of the most charming towns and really spectacular pure magnificence. A kind of locations is well-known Sedona, Arizona. Sedona is without doubt one of the state’s final attracts, receiving around 3.4 million tourists every year.

Whereas this, after all, is with good purpose, contemplating Sedona’s spectacular pure magnificence, charming downtown and other-worldly energy vortexes, Arizona is stuffed with underrated cities that present guests with the possibility to expertise the quieter aspect of Arizona. Clarkdale is known to be an underrated alternative to Sedona, however this is why quieter Clarkdale is the perfect, low-key vacation spot for guests skipping Sedona.

Clarkdale Is A Quieter Various To Sedona, Arizona

55.5% of vacationers visiting Verde Valley go to Sedona, the place solely 11% go to Clarkdale

The Verde Valley is a 1 1,0000-mile area of Arizona which the Verde River runs by means of. It consists of a handful of cities and cities, together with Sedona, Cottonwood, Jerome, in addition to the modest Clarkdale. This area is stuffed with a few of Arizona’s most scenic magnificence, plentiful wildlife and out of doors actions.

Throughout the Verde Valley, Sedona has grow to be probably the most well-known and most visited vacation spot of all of the cities and cities on this area and sees 55.5% of the region’s annual visitors, where Clarkdale only sees 11%. Sedona’s recognition is, after all, fully justified by its gorgeous pure magnificence, the charming downtown filled with boutique retailers, eating places and spas, and it’s a great place for a spiritual reset.

• Sedona sees round 3.4 million vacationers yearly, which comes out to round 8,219 guests a day.

Whereas Sedona could also be a metropolis, it is a small metropolis, and on prime of Sedona’s 9,763 inhabitants, that’s loads of exercise…and site visitors and full eating places and pricier accommodations. Discovering out the precise variety of vacationers Clarkdale receives wasn’t as clear. Nonetheless, it may be mentioned, it is nowhere shut. The inhabitants alone is round half that of Sedona at 4,635.

There are just a few indicating elements that can give vacationers an concept of the distinction in quietness between these two locations. The primary being Clarkdale’s Tuzigoot National Monument, which receives around 100,000 visitors per year. That may be a lot, however in comparison with over three million, it is comparatively not a complete lot.

One other clue on Clarkdale’s quietness — within the realm of tourism — is predicated in town’s Verde Canyon Railroad. A 40-mile scenic practice journey, weaving alongside the Verde River which sees about 90,000 vacationers yearly. These numbers ought to put into perspective the variety of individuals visiting Clarkdale on an annual foundation.

Typically in search of out the smaller, more underrated alternatives to Sedona can enable guests to find these hidden gems.

Discover Quieter Issues To Do in Clarkdale

Mountain climbing trails and the gateway to the secluded Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Space are highlights

What makes Clarkdale the right vacation spot for these searching for a quieter getaway, is the gorgeous countryside that surrounds the modest —but historic and traditional western model — downtown. The encircling space of Clarkdale has some wonderful hiking trails by means of a few of Verde Valley’s most gorgeous pure surroundings.

What makes Clarkdale an incredible climbing vacation spot is the doubtless likelihood of minimal site visitors guests will run into on the paths. It is the right vacation spot for these trying to get out into nature and take in the pure environment in peace and quiet.

Clarkdale is also referred to as being the gateway into the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Area, and is residence to Arizona’s second-largest canyon within the redrock nation. Sycamore Wilderness space is a lesser identified vacation spot, that means it’s certainly underrated, contemplating the gorgeous pure magnificence that makes up the world.

This additionally means there’s a good likelihood of a serene and peaceable expertise. Whereas Clarkdale is the gateway to this distant space, Sycamore Canyon is a one-hour drive from city, making Clarkdale the right residence base for a day journey within the wilderness space.

The traditional hilltop pueblo ruins of Tuzigoot Nationwide Monument, whereas it might be one of many busier spots in Clarkdale, continues to be a must-visit and shall be on no account as busy as Sedona. Tuzigoot isn’t solely residence to a 110-room pueblo destroy and traces of pottery and relics, however has nice trails to hike with gorgeous panoramic views of the encompassing Verde Valley.

Tuzigoot National Monument

• Entrance Price: $10 per particular person
• Deal with: 25 Tuzigoot Highway, Clarkdale, AZ
• Hours: Mon – Fri 8 am – 4:45 pm

Clarkdale’s Verde Canyon Railroad could get 90,000 passengers a 12 months, however the expertise can nonetheless be customized and intimate. The four-hour practice journey winds its means alongside the Verde River, by means of Verde Valley’s untouched, pristine pure surroundings.

The Verde Canyon Railroad gives luxurious class seating with appetizers, champagne and limitless views of Arizona’s lovely panorama. Whereas there could also be others on board, that is positive to be probably the most enjoyable and satisfying experiences whereas visiting Clarkdale.

Verde Canyon Railroad

Getting To Clarkdale From Sedona

Clarkdale is a 30-minute drive southwest of Sedona

For individuals who are new to Arizona, it will likely be arduous to withstand not visiting Sedona as a primary time customer to the state, and it truthfully should not be missed. Nonetheless, perhaps after an evening, guests will really feel like heading to a quieter place to get pleasure from Arizona’s pure magnificence in all of its deserved glory. That’s the place Clarkdale is available in.

Clarkdale is a simple 33-minute drive southwest, down route 89A. The drive will not be a boring one, as vacationers shall be cruising although the guts of redrock nation, and the additional down the highway, away from Sedona, the quieter it can get as Clarkdale comes into view.

Arizona is thought for its majestic magnificence, and to really expertise that, some peace and quiet is a quintessential side of the expertise. Nonetheless, let’s face it, the world is stuffed with individuals, folks that need to journey and see all of the world’s magnificence, and rightfully so.

Nonetheless, typically the crowds may be overwhelming for these in search of the quieter aspect of issues, and for vacationers who need to discover northern Arizona’s Verde Valley and really feel the essence of Sedona, with out the crowds, head to Clarkdale, and all shall be effectively.