Chapel of the Holy Cross
Sedona, AZ
A 1956 modernist chapel built into red rock buttes south of Sedona. Entry is free; parking at the top is very limited, so larger vehicles should use the pullouts below.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel set among the red rocks south of Sedona, Arizona. The austere reinforced-concrete building from 1956 is built into a red sandstone cliff, floor-to-ceiling windows open the interior to the landscape, and a 90-foot (27-meter) cross is visible from the road. The chapel stands on Coconino National Forest land and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2011.
Sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude was inspired in 1932 by the newly built Empire State Building. It was built in about 18 months to designs by Richard Hein and August K. Strotz of Anshen & Allen, and Senator Barry Goldwater helped secure the special permit for the forest land.
Practical details: from the roundabout on State Route 179, Chapel Road runs about a mile east. There are roughly 45 roadside parking spaces and the approach is steep, so check parking in advance if you travel by RV. It is an active place of worship, so modest clothing and a quiet voice are expected; check opening and service times before you go.
- Nearest town
- Sedona, AZ
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 34.8325, -111.7667
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Camp AvalonCampsite3 mi from Chapel of the Holy CrossTentsShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Angel Valley Dispersed Camping AreaCampsite7 mi from Chapel of the Holy CrossTentsCaravans
- FR 120A DispersedCampsite7 mi from Chapel of the Holy CrossTentsCaravans
- Javalina Dispersed Camping AreaCampsite7 mi from Chapel of the Holy CrossTentsCaravans
- Fort Tuthill County CampgroundCampsite22 mi from Chapel of the Holy CrossTentsCaravansToilets
- Lakeview CampgroundCampsite22 mi from Chapel of the Holy CrossTentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
All campsites in Arizona · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Chapel of the Holy Cross?
Chapel of the Holy Cross is in Sedona, AZ, at GPS 34.8325, -111.7667. It is about 15 mi from Cottonwood.
Can you camp near Chapel of the Holy Cross?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Chavez Crossing Group Campground, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 57 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Chapel of the Holy Cross?
Chapel of the Holy Cross is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Verde Valley and Oak Creek Canyon: Phoenix to Flagstaff.
What is there to see near Chapel of the Holy Cross?
Places worth a stop nearby: Red Rock Crossing (Crescent Moon) (2 mi), Slide Rock State Park (8 mi), Oak Creek Canyon Vista (12 mi) and Montezuma Well (13 mi).
When is the best time to visit Chapel of the Holy Cross?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)