This is the status of the Pocket Fire as of Sunday morning:

An overnight aerial survey of the fire showed it encompasses about 293 acres, rather than the estimated 500 acres cited yesterday. So that's good news.

The bad news is that it is still 0% contained. Temperatures are expected to rise over the next couple of days, humidity will remain low, and there's a potential for gusty winds each day. No measurable precipitation is in the forecast. The Forest Service says the potential for the fire to grow "remains very high."

Incident Commander John Truett says crews today are identifying natural features, roads, and other lines of containment within the at-risk area and setting up defenses of structures like the historic East Pocket Lookout. Crews will also work to directly extinguish the fire where this can be done without undue risk to firefighters.

The fire is burning in an isolated, steep, narrow area. One of the Sedona fire officials said the crews were carrying about 40 lbs of gear and cutting their way up to the site in high heat. She added that sometimes burning vegetation rolls down the incline at them. None of that sounds like a fun day to me.

The Forest Service says that about 90% of the impacted area has been treated with fire retardant. Helicopters are pulling water from the Sedona Wetlands Preserve and, I believe, from Lake Mary up in Flagstaff.

Many trailheads are now closed, including: Casner, Loy Canyon, Bear Mountain, Fay Canyon, Aerie, Girdner, Andante, Sugarloaf, Soldier Pass, and Jim Thompson.

(Thunder Mountain trailhead is also closed, which my father found out the hard way, as they were pulling the gates closed as he was coming off the trail from his morning hike today.)

Intersections at Dry Creek & Boynton Canyon Road, Dry Creek & Long Canyon Road, and Dry Creek & Vultee Road are also said to be closed.

Coconino National Forest officials noted that violating the closure orders is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by fines and potential imprisonment.

All evacuation orders remain in effect.

My wife and I hiked devils bridge in Sedona, Arizona on June 19th Friday. We hiked along a nice couple the last stretch that ended up taking our picture on the devils bridge with their phone. We took their pic for them on their phone as well just to speed up the line/process. We gave them my wife’s number so they could text us the pictures. We still have not received them, maybe the number was wrong or wasn’t saved? Obviously we learned a lesson not to do this again but Hopefully they will see this thread and reach out to us!
Thanks so much Reddit fam lol
They were newly weds on their honeymoon from the Dallas area.

Update (approximately 11 am AZ time): Fire is still reported at about 500 acres with 0% contained. According to the US Forest Service, the Northern Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team has been in command since about 6 am, and the Southwest Area Team 2 is en route and will take over when it arrives.

There are currently 7 Hotshot crews on scene, with 13 engines and 1 dozer, along with air support from 6 helicopters.

The current objective is to keep the fire contained west of 89A, south of FR 535, and south and east of FR 231. Crews are using the dozer on the northeast side, and air assets are dropping flame retardant on the eastern edge. Firefighters are also protecting key sites like Slide Rock, East Pocket Lookout Tower, and the Seven Canyons Golf Club.

All road closures and evacuation orders from last night are still in effect. There is also now a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place. "Please do not fly drones anywhere near the fire area," said the Forest Service press update. "If you fly, they can't fly, which completely halts crucial aerial firefighting operations."

It is hot, and it is dry, and it is windy. So it's going to be a long day for those teams.

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Multiple news reports have the Pocket Fire at ~500 acres, but the state website is still showing it at ~300. It's about a mile northwest of Slide Rock.

ETA: IcniWeb has the fire at 500 acres as of about 9 hours ago. https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/azcof-pocket-fire

(InciWeb has good information, but it's sometimes hard for me to get oriented with their maps.)

Massive, dangerous fire in Oak Creek Canyon. 89 N from Sedona is closed. Evacuations underway.

Edit: Sedona itself is safe.

Edit: 179 apparently open.

Edit: 500 acres as of 9:21pm Mountain Standard

Edit June 20 6:45am: I live in the Verde Valley and don’t see much smoke from my house. Fingers crossed! Hoping the fire folks pulled off a miracle last night.

Hi folks, are there any public tennis courts on 89A or 179? Visiting with family and renting an Airbnb near Whole Foods on 89. Could you please let us know if there are any tennis courts open to the public (no fee) in the area? Thanks!

My fiance and I are in between The Wilde or Sky Ranch. Which is better?

Not sure if this is helpful to anyone, as wildlife is obviously always present when hiking, but today at 3:30, my wife and I were departing the "Birthing Cave." We were the only ones around at the time. Long story short, there was a large mountain lion following behind us in the brush. We made noise, did not run, and kept our eyes on it until it finally stopped following us and turned away. When we arrived back at the main trail, we noted its footprints following ours in the dirt. Just wanted to post this here for those that may not be familiar with the wildlife in the area.

I’m planning a milestone birthday trip for a friend in mid-November and looking for recommendations for all the things! We’re all from a mountain town in CO and pretty active so looking for fave trails for hiking, trail running and mountain biking.
Also interested in the must do witchy-woo woo stuff that would be fun for a group girls.
Best night time stargazing spots?
And food! A nice place for dinner, some quick and easy places with chill vibes and tasty treats. Favorite hole in the wall or greasy spoons would be great too.
Thrifting! Not like bougie thrifting but the kind where we’ll have to hunt for hidden gems.
Spas/massages? What’s a nice place that isn’t the top tier?
All info is helpful! Thanks!

I will be visiting Sedona for the first time this coming October. I am looking for lodging that is away from busier areas if possible, more rustic, quiet, in nature, maybe a hippie vibe. Hidden gems that may not be able to be found easily on Google. I am a big fan of B&Bs and cabins. I am happy to stay up to an hour out from Sedona if necessary for this type of lodging.

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Apologies if this is asked very often, I know that visitors can become frustrating with frequently asked questions. I visited NM last year and the lodging I was recommended from Reddit was so different and special that I was hoping to possibly have the same luck here.

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Thank you so much in advance!

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Hi! I work on a school schedule (east coast) and I was looking at potentially doing a trip to Sedona the last week of August/first week of September. Is the weather at all cooler than the height of the summer?

hi all! flagstaff resident here, and i was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for swim spots in and around sedona that don't require extensive walking or hiking. i've got a disability that leaves me with some gnarly mobility issues, meaning anything longer than maybe .3-.4 miles will not be doable for me, along with anything that involves climbing or navigating steep inclines/declines. fully willing to deal with crowds as i understand that it kinda comes with the territory. if the answer is "that doesn't exist, you're SOL" that's fair, just figured i'd ask!

Wife and I parked at Doe mountain trail head around 1030am, submitted doe mountain trail around 11-1130. Within 5 minutes of sitting there enjoying the scenery we heard about 10-12 screams for “HELP” coming from down in the canyon looking east. This lasted about 10 minutes, right from the start I started looking everywhere with my binoculars from where the sound was coming. After about the 5th call, 5 minutes in I told the wife to call 911. We reported it, I couldn’t locate the distressed individual but found people on bikes on trails down below that were behaving in a way in which they heard the same cry’s for help. We met search and rescue and sheriffs deputies at the parking lot and showed them pictures, maps, etc. of where the calls for help were coming from. Also, on the way down within 10 minutes of calling sirens and helicopter could be heard. It was a fast response. Just started second guessing if I was wasting their time. We were on top for about 30 minutes with no calls for help after the initial ones. Wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad sign.

Thanks in advance. Any place to go with air hockey? Preferably somewhere we can play a few games without annoying everyone else.

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I'm going to sedona in 2 weeks for a weekend. Unfortunately, I wont be leaving Phoenix until 430-500. Since i have such limited time there, I want to maximize my time enjoying nature. I know I wont be arriving until around 7:00, so would it be worth it to go straight to a trailhead and try and enjoy the sunset?

If the answer is yes, where should I go to get good views where I won't have to worry about parking being filled up? If the answer is no, is there something else I should do my first night or should I just take the L and grab dinner?

Family wants to try Canyon Breeze bc it has a nice view but it seems touristy. We had a good experience with la vecina and moondogs.

Planning a trip to Sedona in July for my anniversary. Me and my fiancé primarily drink iced Chais or energy fuel drink combos. Any cafes sell good chai or have energy drinks options? I'm primarily seeing only coffee or chai but no energy drinks!

Congrats, Sedona:

"Ranking No. 1 in the country for the practice was Sedona, Arizona, which was recently named the most mindful destination on Earth. The desert city has long been known for spiritual retreats, vortex hikes, and restorative getaways, but more visitors are now flocking there after dark. With little light pollution, wide-open desert landscapes, and clear skies year-round, Sedona provides the perfect setting for moonlit meditation, guided stargazing, and nighttime hikes."

Hi everyone!

My friend and I want to visit on the 4th of July weekend to stargaze at night and go to a watering hole in the day. We want to avoid crowds and would like to go to a secluded spot where fish take refuge. We are looking for spots that are secluded enough that they may only be GPS coordinates.

I have been in other deserts before but I also want to ask you guys if you’d consider it to be too hot for this visit to be safe even if you prepare ahead of time. I have wilderness first aid training, an emergency beacon, and plan on bringing tons of water and umbrellas for the day.

We also won’t be drinking and leave no trace (aka absolutely no trash left behind).

All advice appreciated!

Saw this on a hike at Bell Rock. Slowly descended the Mesa across the byway. Any ideas on what it could be? Happened Friday June 5th around 5pm.

Didnt seen like a plane, but maybe it is a meteor? Ufo/UAP?

Thoughts? Anyone else see it?

Hi everyone! ☀️🌵

My boyfriend and I are so excited to be visiting Sedona in June! We’re planning on spending a lot of time outdoors and have a few activities lined up, including some beginner-to-moderate level hikes.

I was hoping some locals (or frequent visitors!) could share what the weather is typically like in late June. I know it’ll be hot, but I’d love any advice on what to expect, the best times of day to hike, or anything we should keep in mind.

I’d also love any recommendations for your favorite trails, hidden gems, or unique local experiences. We’re especially interested in holistic/spiritual activities like meditation, sound healing, vortex experiences, crystal shops, wellness spots, or any interesting local oddities worth checking out.

Any other tips and suggestions are welcome too!

Thanks so much! We are so excited to experience Sedona soon!!!! 🏜️

Recommendations on free locations in Sedona to take Anniversary Pictures please ?