Facilities available at Slide Rock State Park

This gorgeous northern Arizona park sits comfortably within the red rock escarpments of Oak Creek Canyon, just north of Sedona, AZ. There’s so much to do at this park on the creek, and plenty of facilities to help you enjoy your visit! The park store has a decent variety of items and besides park specific souvenirs, might just carry something you’ve forgotten to bring on your trip! There are plenty of picnic areas amid the lush vegetation, meandering trails through wildlife habitat, great trout fishing upstream of the park, and of course the world-famous natural slide in Oak Creek! Check out what the park has to offer below, then plan a trip to this little slice of northern Arizona beauty!

Gift Shop/Park Store

The Slide Rock Market is open year-round with seasonal hours of operation and offers ice, snacks, water, sunscreen, other limited necessities and Slide Rock State Park memorabilia and souvenirs. The store is located on your right, just off of the main paved path trough the park. Stop off on your way down to the sliding area for last minute items to help accentuate your trip in this beautiful Oak Creek Canyon location.

Hours:

November through March: Weekends only from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

April through October: Weekends from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday - Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Exhibits

Gazebo-style kiosk with eight poster boards displaying general Pendley Homestead information and park information. Frank Pendley homesteaded the land here in the early 1900s and developed a large (still standing) apple orchard in 1912.

The historic Pendley Homestead is located along the main paved trail and gives visitors a great glimpse into the past! When you check out the view in this gorgeous area, you’ll understand why the Pendleys decided to build in this location!  Historic farm implements are displayed along the Pendley Homestead Trail and offer awesome insight into the past while providing fun photo opportunities.

Group: Day Use Areas

There are two covered ramadas with electrical outlets and picnic bench seating. Each ramada will hold approximately 50 people. Ramadas may be reserved for $75 apiece. Fees will not be refunded if canceled 30 days or less prior to reservation. Contact the park for further information or to make reservations for the designated months. Charcoal fires are permitted in designated grills only. No wood fires allowed in grills. Propane grills and stoves are allowed. Smoking allowed in vehicles only.

NOTE: Slide Rock does not take ramada reservations between the Friday before Memorial Day and Labor Day Monday.

Picnic Areas/Shelters

Fifteen open-air picnic areas suitable for small groups are available near the entry station and parking lot on a first-come, first-served basis. Charcoal fires are permitted in designated grills only. No wood fires allowed in grills. Propane grills and stoves are allowed. Smoking allowed in vehicles only.

Restrooms

Two modern, ADA accessible restroom buildings with sinks and a drinking fountain are located above the creek with flush toilets. A flush-free, waterless vault toilet is available near the creek. The vault toilet is not ADA accessible.

Activities and Experiences

Natural Water Slide

Slide Rock is 80 feet long and 2.5 to 4 feet wide, with a seven percent decline from top to bottom. Algae on the rocks creates a very slippery ride. The entire swimming area is nearly 1/2 mile long, but most of the attention is focused on the natural water slide.

There's plenty of room to lounge around on the shore of the creek and watch the other water enthusiasts swim, jump, and slide in one of Arizona's most scenic settings. Bring a towel, some shade, and kick back while enjoying the sounds of good times in this natural northern Arizona playground.

There is no lifeguard on duty so please watch your kids and use the slide and swimming area at your own risk. Please also remember to bring plenty of drinking water and sunscreen to the park and use them appropriately during your visit. Shoes are also recommended to help with your grip when navigating the slippery, algae covered sandstone.

Wildlife and Bird Watching

Although the water feature gets most of the area attention, there's a huge variety of birds and other wildlife that call the park home. These native (and seasonal) inhabitants are like beautiful live ornaments amid the striking colors of Oak Creek Canyon. Coues whitetail deer can be seen throughout the park on a very regular basis. They like to lounge and feed within the apple orchards there and even approach close to the main trails from time to time. Javelina are also a common sight in the park. They tend to frequent the thick brushy areas of the main picnic area near the parking lot. 

A huge variety of colorful birds can also be seen in the park. The vibrant blues of Stellars Jays contrast very nicely with the red rock escarpments surrounding the park. Numerous hummingbirds can be seen busily zooming around the park too! On your next visit, don't forget a pair of binoculars to help you see the area birds and wildlife easier and more clearly. And by all means, if you get the opportunity for a photo, please share it with us on social media!  

Trout Fishing

When you think of Slide Rock, scenes of sunbathing visitors and thrill seekers careening down the natural water slide come to mind. Upstream of the park, trout fishing enthusiasts can experience some fantastic action for both wild brown, and stocked rainbow trout. Generally, between the West Fork confluence and Slide Rock State Park offers the best area fishing for both species. There’s no fishing in the park itself, but feel free to enjoy the slide, maybe hang out on the shore for a bit, then take a little hike north into the good fishing areas. No glass bait containers and keep only what you can eat, otherwise please practice catch and release to ensure the future of this special fishery. Learn more about fishing this awesome trout resource before your trip, and good luck out there!

Park Rules

Slide Rock State Park is a very popular recreation site that attracts many visitors throughout the year. Due to limited parking and a need to protect the precious resources, we ask the following of our visitors:

• We ask that every visitor carpool when possible and keep traffic moving on the roadway for safety and to comply with Title 28 A.R.S. 28-873.
• To find public parking at Uptown, visit https://walksedona.com
• Slide Rock State Park will be re-vegetating along the banks.  There is no foot access on these banks down to Slide Rock State Park. These banks will be marked with multiple signs prohibiting access for re-growth purposes. The park can be accessed at the entry station and bridge using Master Card or Visa. 
• For safety for all visitors, coolers will be checked for glass bottles, which are prohibited at the park.
• No amplified music is allowed so make sure you bring your ear buds! 

Please protect this special park by observing the following rules:

• No pets or glass containers in the swim area.
• Pets are not to be left in a vehicle.
• Pets must be kept on a leash and attended to at all times.
• Charcoal fires are permitted in designated grills only. No wood fires allowed in grills. Propane grills and stoves are allowed. No grilling is allowed in the swim area.
• Smoking allowed in the parking lot only.
• Littering is unlawful.
• Damaging or removing rocks, vegetation, or public property is prohibited.
• This area contains many natural hazards. Please enjoy with caution.
• Rocks and creek beds are slippery when wet or icy.

Agency Rules & Regulations 

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