Slide Rock State Park: Visitor Guide, Fees & Tips

Slide Rock State Park has an 80-foot natural sandstone chute that launches visitors to a deep pool of chilled Oak Creek water. It gets its reputation not only from the slide, but also from the Creek being 1/2 mile long and running through a working apple orchard built in 1912, and from the scenic setting of red rock cliffs, which offers hiking, swimming, and history walkers one destination.

It’s perfect for Saturday-afternoon respite from the heat, families with school-age children, and those more interested in hiking; it’s not the best place for the very young or people who aren’t fond of crowds, as the summer weekends are rather full. This guide details everything you need to know to plan a seamless trip to the park, from exact hours of operation, current entrance fees, directions, parking restrictions, trail choices, and safety tips through on-the-ground advice that you can’t find anywhere else on the park’s listing.

Quick Facts

Location	Oak Creek Canyon, 7 miles north of Sedona, Arizona
Hours	8:00 AM daily; closes 5:00 PM (winter) to 6:00 PM (rest of year)
Entrance Fee	$20 per vehicle (Oct–Feb) / $30 per vehicle (Mar 1–May 24)
Best Season	Late spring through early fall for swimming
Typical Visit Duration	2 to 3 hours
Parking	First-come, first-served; lot closes to new entries once full

Where Is Slide Rock State Park Located

Exact Location and Coordinates

Slide Rock State Park is a state park located on the Coconino National Forest in Coconino County, Arizona, in Oak Creek Canyon. Located at a height of about 4,930 feet, the park is cooperatively managed by Arizona State Parks and Trails and the USFS. It is approximately 34.9443 N lat., 111.7528 W long., and covers a 43-acre area of land including a working apple farm established in 1912.

How Far Is It From Sedona and Flagstaff

Located approximately 7 miles north of Sedona and approximately 21 miles South of Flagstaff, the park can be accessed by the scenic State Route 89A, which passes through the Oak Creek Canyon. The ride from Sedona takes about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the time of year and traffic, and from Flagstaff takes about a 30- to 40-minute road trip.

Slide Rock State Park Timings (Opening and Closing Hours)

Regular Park Hours

The hours of operation for Slide Rock State Park are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM (seasonal).

The park is open seasonally, which means that it has extended hours during the warm months and shorter hours during the winter months. The last entry is an hour before closing, and the swim area is one-half hour before the park closes, so be sure to make arrangements accordingly. Holiday Hours

Period	Hours
January 31 – November 21	8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
November 22 – January 30	9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Holiday Hours

Admission and ticket fees.Admission and ticket prices.

Holiday	Hours
Thanksgiving	9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Christmas Eve	9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Christmas Day	Closed

Entrance Fees and Ticket Prices

Seasonal Fee Structure

Entry fee is $10 per vehicle for everyone in the cabin from March 1 to May 24 and $10 per four person/vehicle for anyone over 4 from October to February.

Slide Rock State Park rates entrance admission per vehicle, changes season to season and is not a per-person rate. Vehicle access only – walk-in or drop-off at gate is not allowed. Visa or MasterCard payments are acceptable, and they must have cash if paying with cash, as visitors will not be able to pay by cash order.

Season	Vehicle Fee (1-4 Adults)	Additional Person
March 1 – May 24 (Peak)	$30.00	$5.00
October – February (Off-Peak)	$20.00	$5.00

Children ages 6 or younger are free of charge. Arizona State Parks use the park page to announce fee changes every so often, so see the note about the park page near your trip to ensure you know the current fees.

How to Get to Slide Rock State Park

Directions From Sedona and Flagstaff

Rocky Point is located clearly and not far off State Route 89A from Sedona as you drive up State Route 89A into Oak Creek Canyon. From Flagstaff, head down State Route 89A south through the canyon for about 21 miles. The road trip itself is regarded as one of the most picturesque in Arizona, stretching through wooded walls of canyon and towering cliffs of the red rocks.

Parking Information and New Rules

When parking at Slide Rock is full, early arrivals are served first (“first come, first served”), which is particularly important on summer weekends, and the numbers are limited. In 2026 the policy changed so that in the lot, which was full, the vehicles were no longer allowed to form a queue and wait on the road of the highway 89A. As in the past, there is now no longer a turn lane for cars to stand in when the parking area is full, but the parking is closed completely until cars have left enough spaces.

For parking, make it adhere to a summertime weekend timetable: by 10:00 AM, it’s usually a full day of hassle commencement – and the lot may shut access to new cars quite a bit earlier than midday

History Behind Slide Rock State Park

The Pendley Homestead Story

The event that started the history of the park was the coming of its first settler, Frank L. Pendley, in 1907, followed by an official deed of acquisition (Homestead Act) in 1910. Pendley constructed an irrigation system that remains in operation today and in 1912 planted his first apple orchard, building a working farm later that served as one of Arizona’s most popular state parks. In addition to the orchard, Pendley also established a garden plantation and raised livestock on an area upon which earlier homesteaders in the canyon had failed to prosper, and his pioneer homestead is one of the best-preserved historic land settlements in Central Arizona.

How the Park Got Its Name

The park was named after the natural water slide in the park, which is created in Coal Harbor as the Sandstone of Oil Creek becomes slippery over time due to algae. The canyon road was completed in 1914, paved in 1938, and aids in making the area a popular recreational area, and Pendley self-built rustic tourist cabins in 1933, some of which remain.

Things to Do at Slide Rock State Park

The Natural Water Slide

The highlight of the site is the 80-foot-long, 2.5 to 4-foot-wide sandstone flume with a 7 percent gradient down which visitors slide to a cool natural pool filled with algae. Just about one-half of Oak Creek is available for wading, swimming, and fishing without the hustle of the slide.

Practical tip: BOATERY is spring-fed and is cold in the summer, so it’s not that hot outside the canyon like people are led to believe, and will surprise you the first time you step into it!

Hiking Trails Inside the Park

Slide Rock State Park has a few short walks for families,s complete with a few awesome swimming spots.

Trail	Length	Highlights
Pendley Homestead Trail	0.25 miles	Historic orchard, homestead house, tourist cabins
Clifftop Nature Trail	0.25 miles	Scenic overlook views of the swimming area
Slide Rock Route	0.3 miles	Direct access to the water slide and creek

What to Bring for Your Visit

Essential Items Checklist

Wear water shoes or sneakers with a strong grip as the rocks are covered with algae and very slick to walk on.

A sufficient supply of drinking water, in an appropriate container (no glass containers). Swimwear, sun cream, hat, towels for protection, sun enjoyment and comfort

Safety Rules and Restrictions

Slide Rock does not have a lifeguard on duty, so be careful when swimming at any time, especially when children are nearby. Pets are not allowed in the park from about May to September (except dogs that are on a leash), and magazines, books, etc., in glass containers are prohibited within the park. The park is a pack-it-in/pack-it-out, visitors are strongly encouraged to dispose of their cigarette butts and garbage as is typical, but cigarettes and trash should be disposed of properly as the environment in the canyon is particularly susceptible to fire.

Packing Advice by Season

Be sure to bring additional drinking water, reef-safe sunscreen, and a fast-absorbing, lightweight towel for your summer visits ass it is likely you’ll be getting in and out of the creek a few times. The ideal jacket for the spring and fall is a light jacket that will keep the wearer warm during morning snows and showers. In winter months, the top priority is to wear warm layers and waterproof boots or gloves to specific sections of the trail that may be icy or muddy, and not swimwear!

Best Time to Visit Slide Rock State Park

Best Season to Visit

The favourite season is the late spring and early summer when the water is at its highest level and warm enough in Oak Creek for people to relax and engage in swimming and sliding. Creek temperatures can get into the freezing range in winter and early spring, so hikes and sightseeing are best done during that time.

Best Time of Day

By mid-morning, the park gets to be quite crowded, particularly on summer weekends and holidays, so parking later is more difficult; the earlier you arrive, the closer to 8:00 AM, ng the better access you’ll have to parking and a quieter stay.

Nearby Attractions Worth Visiting

Attractions Close to Slide Rock

There are other wading pools and fishing areas in the one-half mile stretch of the creek located within Oak Creek Canyon. Outside the door, there is a local market and coffee shop selling food and provisions to visitors. These uptown shops, galleries, and points of interest featuring interesting rock displays are conveniently just a 15-to-20-minute drive south from Sedona, making it simple to take a day trip through Sedona Canyon. A full day or half-day canyon drive is well worth also visiting Flagstaff, which has other lodging and dining choices located in the same corridor of Route 89A that travels further north.

Weather and What to Expect Each Season

Summer Conditions

Slide Rock is as busy and popular as it is in the summer when air temperatures can be in the 90s, and Oak Creek remains wonderfully cool so that the water is even more fun to slide down during the summer’s hottest months. Also during this period, parking fills up faster, and the new lot-closure policy is likely to be implemented more; therefore, arriving early is important from June to August.

Spring and Fall Conditions

Spring snowmelt can generate more runoff and cause the creek to flow at a higher rate than expected,and fluctuation in water temperatures, so caution is advised, despite the spring water slide being a popular attraction. The fall season has fewer crowds and milder weather, and is a good time to hike, which is why it helps to have a lot of people who aren’t looking to spend the season in front of the pool.

Winter Conditions

The beaches are quieter and all about hiking and photography in winter when the temperature in the creeks can go near freezing. The hours are shorter in the winter, and if there is ice on the canyon road, it is worth checking advisories on the roads and the weather.

Accessibility and Facilities

Restrooms, Picnic Areas, and Amenities

Restrooms and a grassy meadow where you can enjoy a picnic are located near the main parking area, as well as places to park in the shade for lunch or dinner before or after a swim. UUUnfortunately the park doesn’t have any food stalls within the gates, so most people bring food in from their own kitchens or go over the gate to the market.

Accessibility Considerations

The ground around the creek and slide may have some smooth, sloped rock surfaces which can make it harder for wheelchair users to access the grounds. While not paved or wheelchair accessible, the Clifftop Nature Trail is a less difficult walk for visitors who want to see the Canyon without walking in the Canyon itself.

Slide Rock vs Other Sedona Spots

How It Compares to Oak Creek and Cathedral Rock

Sedona’s top outdoor attractions are often a parlor game where visitors debate a comparison before selecting a location to spend their day at. .

Feature	Slide Rock	Oak Creek (General)	Cathedral Rock
Swimming	Yes	Yes	No
Hiking	Short (under 0.3 mi)	Varies by access point	Moderate to strenuous
Good for Kids	Excellent	Good	Limited (steep climb)
Entry Fee	$20–$30 per vehicle	Free at most access points	Free (Red Rock Pass may apply)
Best For	Swimming + short walks	Quiet wading spots	Views and photography

Ideal Itinerary and What to Avoid

A Simple Half-Day Plan

A comfortable visit will include spending the first hour on the water slide and swimming areas before the crowds, walking the Pendley Homestead and Clifftop Nature Trails mid-morning, and having a picnic lunch before departing by early afternoon. Buyers will need between two and three hours to walk the trail, view the slides, and enjoy a lunch.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Staying after 10 AM on aa Saturday or Sunday in the summer when the parking lot may be fufulland no one can come in. Arriving after 10 AM on a summer Saturday or Sunday when the parking lot may be full and nobody will come in.

Do not have glass bottles or coolers filled with glass jars in the park (No glass bottless or coolers filled with glass jars in the park).

Avoid water shoes, as bare feet on rock strewn with algae qualify for the worst injuries section. This one is an informal rule: No water shoes: bare feet on the algae-covered rock is the most common injury that happens in the water.

Related Sedona and Arizona Guides

Continue Planning Your Trip

The attractions in Sedona are a perfect complement to more general ideas of visiting other swimming and fishing opportunities in Oak Creek Canyon, updates on fees at Arizona State Parks, and day trip options for visitors taking the two cities for a canyon road trip to Flagstaff.

Photography and Current Park Status

Best Photo Spots

Some of the best photographs of the entire swimming area and the canyon walls can be taken from the Clifftop Nature Trail; the creek bed can be used for close-ups of the flume filled with sandstone and the cliffs of red rock above it. It’s often when it’s first light of the morning right after the opening time of 8.00 am,, with a smaller number of people and tourists in the canyon.

Checking Current Conditions Before You Go

Slide Rock is located on a live creek in a flash-flood-prone canyon, so the swim area may be closed without much advance notice while the rest of Slide Rock, such as the trails and picnic areas, remain open, and may have been affected by wildfire. The Arizona State Parks site or a call ahead is not a bad idea, especially if travelling a great distance just to come for the water slide.

Tips for First-Time Visitors

Making the Most of a Short Visit

If the time of opening is during summer, arrive there at the right time so as not to wait too long and risk parking-lot closures.
Avoid wading over the rocks, even if you are only going to wade – rocks are very slippery out from the main slide area.
Be sure to look at the park’s fee and hours page close to your arrival – hours and fees may change throughout the year.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Slide Rock State Park open?

The park opens at 8:00 AM year-round, with closing times varying by season.

How much does it cost to enter Slide Rock State Park?

Entrance is $30 per vehicle in peak season and $20 per vehicle in the off-season, plus $5 per additional adult.

Is Slide Rock State Park good for kids?

Yes, the shallow wading areas and short trails make it a popular family destination, though there is no lifeguard on duty.

Are pets allowed at Slide Rock State Park?

Pets are prohibited inside the park roughly from May through September and restricted near the creek year-round.

How far is Slide Rock State Park from Sedona?

The park is about 7 miles north of Sedona, roughly a 15-to-20-minute drive.

Do I need to make a reservation to visit?

No reservation is required, but the park only accepts vehicle admission and closes entry once parking is full.

Can you swim at Slide Rock year-round?

Swimming is allowed year-round, but the creek gets cold enough in winter that most visitors only wade or skip the water entirely.

Is Slide Rock State Park worth visiting in winter?

Yes for hiking, photography, and quieter crowds, though it is less appealing if swimming is the main goal.

How long should you spend at Slide Rock State Park?

Most visitors spend two to three hours, enough time for the water slide, a short trail, and a picnic.

Is there cell service at Slide Rock State Park?

Cell service is spotty throughout Oak Creek Canyon, so download directions and information before you arrive.

Can you picnic inside Slide Rock State Park?

Yes, picnic tables are available in a grassy meadow near the main parking area.