Knowing what to wear in Sedona in June is fairly simple once you understand how quickly the desert warms up. The weather was warm, predictable, and well suited for hiking, sightseeing, and eating outside, so I used nearly everything I brought without needing a long list of backup options.
The main thing to plan for is the strong desert sun rather than major temperature changes. Lightweight clothing, comfortable shoes, sun protection, and plenty of water covered most of our trip.
Here is exactly what I wore, what worked best, and what I would include on a Sedona packing list for June.
Sedona June weather can change noticeably throughout the day, but I never found it difficult to dress for. Mornings were slightly chilly, especially around sunrise. Once the sun came up, temperatures warmed quickly.
The middle of the day was definitely hot, but the dry desert climate made it feel much more comfortable than I expected. Hiking was still very enjoyable as long as we carried plenty of water, used sunscreen, and started earlier in the day when possible.
Evenings were my favorite. The temperature was perfect for sitting on a patio, walking around Uptown Sedona, or eating dinner outside without feeling too hot or needing a heavy layer.
Lightweight athletic clothing worked best for every hike we completed.
I wore athletic shorts each day because I think I would have been pretty hot in leggings. On top, I alternated between a sports bra and a moisture-wicking tank top. Both kept me comfortable, even as the temperatures increased later in the morning.
I wore a hat on some hikes for additional sun protection. It was especially useful on exposed trails with very little shade, although I would not consider it essential if you dislike wearing hats.
Sedona hiking clothes for June do not need to be complicated. Clothing that you would normally wear for an outdoor summer workout will work for most casual and moderately difficult trails.
Travelers looking for routes that match this type of clothing and footwear can start with my Best Easy Hikes in Sedona for Beginners.
For most of the hikes I completed, comfortable tennis shoes worked perfectly.
I did not attempt any extremely strenuous or technical hikes, so I never felt like I needed heavy hiking boots. Tennis shoes provided enough comfort and traction for the lower portion of Bell Rock, Raven’s Cave, West Fork Trail, and the other relatively easy trails on our itinerary.
Your footwear needs may be different if you plan to climb higher onto the rocks, scramble, or complete more rugged trails. For typical sightseeing and easier Sedona hikes, a supportive pair of tennis shoes should be sufficient.
I packed water shoes, and they were particularly useful at West Fork Trail.
The maintained portion of West Fork includes multiple creek crossings, although we could complete those without changing shoes. The water shoes became more useful after the maintained endpoint, where we continued directly through a narrow section of the creek.
If your plans include walking through Oak Creek or continuing beyond the main West Fork Trail, I would bring a pair. They take up very little room and are much better than spending the rest of the hike in wet tennis shoes.
My West Fork Trail Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Hiking Sedona's Most Beautiful Trail explains exactly where we used them, how long the hike took, and what the creek crossings were actually like.
Yes. I was glad I packed sandals and would bring them again.
I wore mine while shopping around Uptown Sedona and going to casual lunches and dinners. They were much more comfortable than wearing tennis shoes all day after hiking.
Sandals can also work for some of Sedona’s easiest, flatter trails if you are comfortable hiking in them. I would still choose tennis shoes for rocky or more rugged routes, but sandals are useful for exploring town and filling the gap between hiking shoes and nicer dinner footwear.
Sedona restaurant attire is fairly relaxed, even at some of the nicer restaurants.
I packed a mixture of skirts and blouses, casual dresses, and jeans with a nice top. I never felt underdressed or out of place.
You do not need formal attire, but packing a couple of nicer Sedona vacation outfits is worthwhile if you plan to eat at restaurants such as Mariposa or Cress on Oak Creek. A casual dress, skirt, or nice top is enough.
One of my favorite things about Sedona is that Western clothing fits right in. I wore cowboy boots and a cowboy hat several evenings, and they felt completely appropriate, especially at restaurants with outdoor patios and mountain views.
For help deciding where those dinner outfits will actually be useful, see my Best Restaurants in Sedona: Where to Eat for Every Budget.
For most of the trip, I did not need one.
The only time I wished I had packed a light jacket was during a very early morning hike. It was cool before the sun came up, but within about an hour, the temperature had warmed enough that I would have taken it off anyway.
If you are planning sunrise hikes, pack one lightweight jacket or sweatshirt that you can easily place in your backpack once the day warms up. For the rest of the trip, short sleeves and lightweight clothing should be enough.
A hat was helpful, especially on trails with minimal shade, but I would not call it a required item.
If you already enjoy wearing hats, bring one. The extra coverage is useful during exposed hikes and midday sightseeing.
If you do not like hats, sunscreen and sunglasses should provide enough protection as long as you reapply sunscreen and remain mindful of how much time you are spending in direct sun.
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it.
The clothing was straightforward, but a few accessories made a noticeable difference during our trip.
A small Osprey backpack made it easier to carry water, snacks, electrolytes, sunscreen, and any layers we removed after sunrise.
You do not need a large backpack for most day hikes, but choose one that is comfortable enough to carry for several hours.
A reusable Brita water bottle was one of the items I used most.
Sedona’s dry air can make it easy to underestimate how much water you are losing, especially because you may not feel as sweaty as you would in a humid destination. We carried water on every hike and while sightseeing throughout the day.
I packed LMNT electrolyte packets and was glad I had them.
They were easy to add to a water bottle before or after hiking and were particularly useful on longer, hotter mornings. Water is the priority, but electrolytes were a helpful addition during several active days in the desert.
Carry snacks on longer hikes, even if you expect to eat shortly afterward.
We brought simple, easy-to-carry options that could stay inside the backpack without melting or making a mess. This was particularly useful on West Fork Trail, where we spent around five hours hiking.
Sunscreen is more important than bringing several different layers.
Many Sedona trails have limited shade, and the strong sun can catch up with you quickly. Apply face sunscreen before leaving your hotel and carry body sunscreen to reapply during longer hikes or sightseeing days.
I wore sunglasses constantly.
They were useful for driving, hiking, walking through town, and eating outside. I would bring a secure pair that you do not mind wearing during active parts of the trip.
Many of Sedona’s scenic stops require very little hiking but still have plenty of direct sun. My Best Photo Spots in Sedona: 9 Scenic Locations I Loved can help you plan which viewpoints and outfits make sense for each day.
Honestly, I would pack almost exactly the same way for another June trip to Sedona. I am a pretty efficient packer, and everything I brought was used at some point during the trip.
The warm, predictable weather made it easy to pack light without feeling unprepared or bringing clothes for several completely different conditions.
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I ate chilaquiles while a Cessna taxied past the window, and that’s just a normal Tuesday breakfast in Sedona.
@mesa_grill_sedona sits right beside the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout, so along with your food you get red rock views stretching in every direction and a front-row seat to tiny planes lifting off. Chef Mercer Mohr runs the kitchen, serving up Southwestern comfort food from breakfast through dinner, chilaquiles, elevated diner classics, burgers, steaks, seafood, all of it.
The view is what pulls people in the door, but the food actually holds its own. Good enough that this place stays packed with locals, not just tourists passing through on their way to the lookout. It also picked up the 2025 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice and OpenTable Diners’ Choice awards, so it’s not just me saying it.
Indoor seating if you want the AC, a pet-friendly patio if your dog’s along for the trip. Either way, get there before plane-spotting turns into a wait for a table.
Link in bio for the full Sedona breakfast roundup ✈️🌵
Confession: my newsletter is where the good stuff lives. Not the polished, edited-for-the-grid stuff, the “here’s the hole-in-the-wall I almost skipped” stuff, the packing lists I actually use, the “don’t book this hotel” warnings before you waste your money on them.
The newsletter is basically me texting you before a trip instead of after one. Sign up and you’ll be the first to know where I’m headed next, plus a few things I’ll never post here.
Link in bio if you want in. ✈️
Yes, it’s only July. Start planning anyway. Fall books faster than people expect, and a few of these destinations are worth getting ahead of. Here are five places worth putting on your radar right now.
Ireland: Cooler temps, moody skies, dramatic coastline fall was made for it. Tourist crowds drop, the green stays, and the whole country feels a little more like itself.
Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC: Fall foliage in the Smokies is the real thing. The color peaks mid-October and the views from the ridgelines are hard to argue with. It’s also one of the most visited national parks in the country, so going on a weekday makes a real difference.
New York City: Fall is NYC at its best comfortable temps, the energy of the city shifting into a new season, and every neighborhood doing something worth showing up for. It’s also just a great walking city when it’s not brutally hot.
Japan: Fall foliage season is as good as spring cherry blossoms and somehow less talked about. The colors are dramatic, the temples and gardens are stunning, and it’s worth planning around peak dates by region.
Mystic, Connecticut: Small, walkable, genuinely charming Mystic in fall feels like exactly what a New England autumn is supposed to look like. Easy to pair with a broader New England road trip if you want to extend it.
Full guides linked in bio 🍂
There are two kinds of travelers: people who plan a trip and then figure out where to eat, and people who book a restaurant and then build the rest of the itinerary around it.I am the second kind. I will not apologize for this.
The reservation gets locked in first. The hotel search happens within the same 24 hours. The flights get compared around the restaurant’s hours of operation. The rest of the trip exists to fill the days before and after the table I actually came for.
If this sounds unhinged, I completely understand. It has also resulted in some of the best meals of my life, so I’m going to keep doing it.
Drop a 🍽️ if you plan your trips around food too.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
