Chapel of the Holy Cross

A Roman Catholic chapel built directly into the red rock of Twin Buttes, rising from a 200-foot spur with a 90-foot concrete cross forming its entire front facade. Commissioned by sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, and completed in 1956, it is one of the most photographed pieces of architecture in Arizona and a defining Sedona landmark visible from SR-179.

The interior is intentionally spare: a narrow nave, a floor-to-ceiling window behind the altar, and framed views of Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Courthouse Butte. No regular services are held, so it functions primarily as a place of quiet reflection — and as one of the best easily accessible viewpoints in town. A small gift shop sits below the chapel.

Practical notes: Admission is free (donations welcome). Parking is the main friction point — the small lot up the ramp fills by mid-morning; arrive before 9:30 or park below and take the free golf-cart shuttle. The final approach is a short but steep paved ramp. No restrooms at the chapel itself.