Last updated: September 26, 2026
Sedona’s Best Quick Answer
Slide Rock State Park is fully open, and its swimming and sliding area reopened on September 17, 2026, after the Forest Service lifted the Oak Creek closure. Arizona State Parks is not recommending swimming for now, because heavy rain on September 16 washed ash and debris from the Pocket Fire burn scar into the creek; swimming is allowed at your own risk. Nearly all Oak Creek Canyon recreation sites are open again. West Fork Trail and the West Fork drainage stay closed through October 31, 2026. Crescent Moon at Red Rock Crossing is open when weather and creek conditions are safe.
Is Slide Rock State Park Open?
Yes. Slide Rock State Park is open, and the swimming and sliding area reopened on September 17, 2026, in coordination with the revised Forest Service closure order for Oak Creek.
State park officials are not recommending swimming right now. Michelle Thompson, spokeswoman for Arizona State Parks and Trails, told the Sedona Red Rock News on September 24 that heavy rain on September 16 left “a lot of ash, some tree limbs, some just churned up dirt and remains from the Pocket Fire in the water,” and that water quality may not return to normal until spring. Swimming is allowed at your own risk.
Fall pricing is in effect: $20 per vehicle for up to four people, plus $5 per additional person. Park hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with entry and the swim area closing at 5 p.m. Pets are banned from the park through September 30 and from the creek year-round. Admission is by vehicle only through the entry station.
Which Oak Creek Canyon Areas Are Still Closed?
The Coconino National Forest lifted its Oak Creek Temporary Area Closure on September 17, 2026. Grasshopper Point, Banjo Bill, Bootlegger, Encinoso, Halfway, Manzanita Campground and the creek itself are open again.
Two closures remain:
- West Fork Trail No. 108 and the West Fork drainage: all forest land within 100 feet of the West Fork of Oak Creek, from Forest Road 231 east to the wilderness boundary, is closed through October 31, 2026 under Forest Order 03-04-00-26-007 because of rockfall and flood debris hazards. This takes in the Call of the Canyon trailhead area.
- Pocket Fire trails: Bear Sign, David Miller, Dry Creek, HS Canyon and Secret Canyon trails are closed through September 30, 2026 under Forest Order 03-04-06-26-003.
The Forest Service asks visitors to check the weather before swimming or recreating in the creek and warns that trails in the burn area may be washed out and hard to follow. Check the current Coconino National Forest alerts before leaving.
Where Can You Go Instead? Crescent Moon at Red Rock Crossing
A beautiful alternative is Crescent Moon Picnic Site at Red Rock Crossing, often called Crescent Moon Ranch.
Located southwest of West Sedona beneath Cathedral Rock, Crescent Moon is one of Sedona’s classic creekside destinations. Visitors come for picnicking, photography, fishing, wading and water play, and the reflection of Cathedral Rock in Oak Creek is one of Sedona’s most recognizable views.
Unlike Slide Rock, Crescent Moon does not have a natural water slide. Think of it as a more relaxed Oak Creek experience with shady picnic areas, creek access, easy walking and spectacular views.
Crescent Moon Logistics
Current day-use information:
- Day-use fee: $15 per vehicle
- Standard reservations: Not required for regular day use
- April 1 through September 30 hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- October 1 through November 30 hours: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- December 1 through March 31 hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Activities include picnicking, water play, fishing, wildlife watching and photography. Arriving early is recommended because Crescent Moon is popular and can become crowded. See Recreation.gov’s Crescent Moon details before your visit.
Do You Need a Red Rock Pass at Crescent Moon?
Crescent Moon is handled differently from the standard Sedona Red Rock Pass trailhead sites.
Visitors should plan on the current $15 day-use vehicle fee unless they have the appropriate pass covering Crescent Moon. The Coconino Annual Pass is currently $50 and is valid at Crescent Moon Ranch as well as Grasshopper Point, Call of the Canyon and West Fork, Beaver Creek and Lower Lake Mary.
In other words, do not purchase a regular Red Rock Pass specifically for Crescent Moon and assume it covers your entrance. Crescent Moon is one of the separately managed day-use fee sites.
Can You Swim at Crescent Moon?
Oak Creek at Crescent Moon is popular for wading and water play, and Recreation.gov identifies swimming among the activities visitors enjoy there. However, there are no guarantees that creek conditions will be safe simply because the recreation site itself is open.
This is particularly important during Sedona’s summer monsoon season. Heavy rain may be falling upstream even when the sky directly above Crescent Moon appears clear. Creek levels and currents can change, and flash flooding is one of northern Arizona’s major monsoon hazards.
Always check current weather and forest alerts before entering Oak Creek. If storms are threatening, stay away from creeks, washes and low-lying areas.
Skip the Creek and See Sedona From the Air
If swimming is not an option, why not experience the red rocks from an entirely different perspective?
Take a scenic helicopter flight with Guidance Air Helicopter Tours. From the air, visitors can see some of Sedona’s most famous formations, including Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, along with Oak Creek Canyon and the surrounding Verde Valley.
A helicopter tour is an especially good alternative when you would like to experience Sedona’s dramatic scenery without spending the day around a swimming hole or on a strenuous trail.
Sedona Monsoon Safety Tips
- Plan hiking and outdoor activities earlier in the day when possible.
- Watch the sky as well as the weather forecast.
- Avoid creeks, washes and low-lying areas when thunderstorms are developing.
- Remember that rain upstream can affect a creek even when it is not raining where you are.
- Never walk or drive through flowing floodwater.
- If you hear thunder, seek shelter in a substantial building or enclosed vehicle.
- Check current Coconino National Forest alerts before heading into recreation areas.
Conditions can change quickly, so today’s plans may need to be different from yesterday’s.
What Else Can You Do If Swimming Is Not an Option?
A change in swimming plans does not have to change your Sedona vacation.
- Visit Crescent Moon and Red Rock Crossing for scenery and photography.
- Take a Guidance Air helicopter tour.
- Explore the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
- Visit Sedona galleries and shops.
- Book a spa or wellness experience.
- Enjoy lunch or dinner with a red-rock view.
- Take an early-morning hike in an open area.
- Plan an evening of stargazing or star bathing.
Sedona offers much more than any single swimming hole.
Sedona’s Best Tip
Crescent Moon at Red Rock Crossing is one of the best alternatives to consider while Slide Rock’s swimming area and the affected Oak Creek Canyon recreation sites are closed.
Go early, expect a $15 vehicle day-use fee unless you have the appropriate Coconino pass, and always check current weather and creek conditions before entering the water.
If monsoon weather changes your plans completely, consider seeing Sedona from above with Guidance Air or let Sedona’s Best help you discover another adventure. Use the Sedona’s Best AI Trip Planner to create a day around current conditions and your interests.
You Dream It. We Plan It.
Frequently asked questions
Is Slide Rock State Park open?
Yes. The park is fully open and the swimming and sliding area reopened on September 17, 2026. Arizona State Parks does not recommend swimming for now because of ash and debris from the Pocket Fire burn scar in the creek; swimming is allowed at your own risk.
Which Oak Creek Canyon areas are still closed?
West Fork Trail No. 108 and the West Fork drainage are closed through October 31, 2026 (Forest Order 03-04-00-26-007), and the Bear Sign, David Miller, Dry Creek, HS Canyon and Secret Canyon trails are closed through September 30, 2026. Grasshopper Point, Banjo Bill, Bootlegger, Encinoso, Halfway and Manzanita reopened on September 17.
Where else can I get in the water?
Crescent Moon at Red Rock Crossing, beneath Cathedral Rock, is open for wading, water play, fishing and picnicking when creek conditions are safe. There is no natural slide there.
What does Crescent Moon cost and when is it open?
per vehicle for day use, no reservation needed. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April through September, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in October and November, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. December through March. The Coconino Annual Pass covers it; a regular Red Rock Pass does not.
Is it safe to swim in Oak Creek right now?
The creek is open, but state park officials do not recommend swimming at Slide Rock until the ash and debris from the burn scar clear, possibly not until spring. Rain upstream can raise the creek under clear skies, so check forecasts and forest alerts and stay out of creeks and washes when storms threaten.
Keep exploring: best hikes in Sedona