Chapel of the Holy Cross
Free to enter, no hiking required, and one of the most striking buildings in the Southwest — a Catholic chapel completed in 1956, set directly into the red rock at 780 Chapel Road.
The only real problem is parking. The lot is small and it fills through the middle of the day, especially at weekends. Arrive near opening or in the last hour and it's straightforward; turn up at noon on a Saturday and you'll be circling.
It's a working chapel, not a museum. Visitors are asked to be quiet inside, and donations are welcomed rather than required.
The facts
- Cost
- Free — donations welcomed
- Hours
- Published as 9:00am–5:00pm daily, last entry 4:45pm — see the note below
- Pass required
- None — this is not a Forest Service fee site
- Sedona Shuttle
- Not served by the Sedona Shuttle
- Parking
- Free on-site lot, small; fills midday, especially at weekends
Getting there
780 Chapel Road, Sedona, AZ 86336
Get directions →A note on the hours
We hold ourselves to citing an official source for opening hours, and in this one case we couldn't reach it — the chapel's own website blocked our checks. The 9:00am–5:00pm figure above is consistent across several independent sources, but it isn't something we verified at the source the way we do everywhere else on this site.
So: treat it as reliable-but-unverified, and if you're making a special trip or arriving near closing, check the chapel's own site first. It's also a working chapel, so service times can affect visiting.
The same applies to the parking capacity. "About 45 spaces" is the number in circulation; no official source publishes one.
Visiting well
Timing: first hour or last hour. The lot turns over slowly between about 10am and 4pm, and there is no overflow — the access road is narrow and residential.
The walk up: a short, steep paved ramp from the lot to the chapel. It's manageable for most people but it is a real gradient, worth knowing if mobility is a consideration.
Inside: a single quiet space with a wall of glass looking out over the red rocks. Most people spend ten or fifteen minutes. It's a place of worship and signage asks for quiet, which mostly holds.
Pair it with: the Bell Rock Pathway or Bell Rock, both a short drive south on SR 179, or the Chapel Trail if you want to arrive on foot from the Broken Arrow area.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chapel of the Holy Cross free?
Yes. There's no admission charge and no Red Rock Pass required — it isn't a Forest Service site. Donations are welcomed.
What are the Chapel of the Holy Cross hours?
Widely published as 9:00am to 5:00pm daily with last entry at 4:45pm. We weren't able to verify this against the chapel's own site directly, so check with them before a special trip.
Is parking difficult at the Chapel?
Yes, in the middle of the day. The lot is small with no overflow, and the access road is narrow and residential. Arrive near opening or in the final hour.
Do you have to hike to the Chapel of the Holy Cross?
No. There's a lot at the base and a short but steep paved ramp up to the chapel itself.
Can I attend a service?
It's an active chapel, so service times can affect general visiting hours. Check the chapel's own website for the current schedule.
Facts on this page last verified July 28, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.