50 Min Sunset Helicopter Tour of the Mogollon Rim

There is a window of time each evening in Sedona when the light does something extraordinary. As the sun drops toward the horizon, the iron oxide in the sandstone ignites - deep reds deepen further, orange walls turn amber, and the entire landscape seems to glow from the inside out. That window lasts roughly 45 minutes. This flight is built around it.

This isn’t a simple hop over red rocks; it’s a deep dive into Sedona’s wildest reaches. From Sedona Airport, you’ll board a sleek chopper outfitted with forward-facing seats and noise-reducing headsets. As the rotors lift you, Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock shrink beneath, replaced by the sprawling Sycamore Canyon, Secret Mountain, and Munds Mountain Wilderness areas.

Your pilot banks into narrow passes, weaving you through sandstone towers carved by ancient waters. Look down to spot grazing mule deer and cliffside Sinagua dwellings clinging to ochre walls—ruins untouched by foot traffic for centuries. The cabin slows at vantage points for uninterrupted photo ops, accompanied by live commentary that weaves geology, local lore, and ancestral stories into every sweep of the landscape.

What separates this from the daytime version of this flight is pure light. The same formations you'd see at noon look completely different at golden hour. Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and the canyon walls along the Mogollon Rim catch the evening sun at an angle that flattens the shadows and saturates the color in a way no photograph fully captures and no ground-level viewpoint replicates. Fall is particularly remarkable — the combination of autumn color in the pines below and the warm light on the red rocks above creates a two-toned landscape that photographers travel from around the world to see. If you're visiting Sedona in September, October, or November, this is the flight to take.

Over 80 miles in just under an hour, you’ll experience Sedona’s grandeur without breaking a sweat. Air conditioning keeps the cabin cool as sunlight shifts across towering pinnacles. Whether you’re a shutterbug chasing golden-hour hues or a history buff hungry for hidden ruins, this small-group tour (max six passengers) delivers front-row access to landscapes few ever see. Land back at the airport with a fresh perspective on Sedona’s secret wilderness—no hiking boots required.

The sunset premium reflects the rarity of the timing and the caliber of the experience. There are hundreds of ways to see Sedona from the ground. There is exactly one sunset per day from above it.

Choose this tour if you want:

• The most visually dramatic aerial experience available in Sedona — the red rocks at golden hour from above
• A 50-minute flight covering over 80 miles including the Mogollon Rim, Colorado Plateau, and three wilderness areas
• Forward-facing seats with unobstructed views and noise-reducing headsets throughout
• Aerial views of Sinagua cliff dwellings unreachable on foot — history and landscape in the same frame
• The perfect way to close out a day or a trip to Sedona — nothing follows this well
• Fall visits especially — September through November offers the most dramatic combination of sunset light and autumn color
• Better per-person value the more seats you fill, ideal for couples, families, and small groups

Skip it if you're looking for:

• A daytime flight with maximum flexibility on timing (our Mogollon Rim Helicopter Tour departs every 10 minutes throughout the day)
• A shorter aerial experience
• A tour with landings or time outside the aircraft
• A rugged ground adventure (our Jeep tours cover Sedona's backcountry at every intensity level)