Things to do nearChapel of the Holy Cross

The Chapel of the Holy Cross was completed in 1956, the vision of sculptor and Sedona resident Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who had long dreamed of building a church that grew organically from the landscape rather than sitting apart from it. Inspired by the Empire State Building and guided by architect August K. Strotz, Staude anchored a ninety-foot concrete cross into a natural spur of red rock between two towering buttes, creating one of the most photographed structures in Arizona. The chapel is a Roman Catholic parish under the Diocese of Phoenix, though it functions primarily as a non-denominational spiritual destination open to the public throughout the week.

Inside, the space is spare and deliberately simple, with plain wooden pews, modest statuary, and a large picture window behind the altar that frames the canyon and sky as a living altarpiece. The absence of ornament focuses attention outward onto the geology and inward toward quiet contemplation.

The surrounding terrain is classic Sedona red rock country, layered with Permian-era sandstone formations that glow amber and crimson in late afternoon sun. The short drive up Chapel Road passes century plants, juniper, and prickly pear, and the parking area sits just below a trailhead that connects to the broader red rock trail network. There are no restaurants at the chapel itself, but the Village of Oak Creek nearby offers cafes and casual dining a short drive away.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross endures as one of the American Southwest's most thoughtful examples of architecture shaped entirely by its natural setting, and a visit leaves a lasting impression on nearly everyone who makes the climb.