Arizona's Little Hollywood
February 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Between the 1920s and 1970s, Sedona was Hollywood's go-to filming location for Westerns. Over 60 movies were shot here among the towering red rock formations, earning this small Arizona town the nickname “Arizona's Little Hollywood.” From John Wayne to Jimmy Stewart, Elvis Presley to Robert De Niro, some of cinema's biggest stars rode horseback through these very canyons.
Today, you can visit the same locations where those iconic scenes were filmed. The red rocks haven't changed — they look exactly as they did when cameras first rolled here nearly a century ago. Walking through Sedona's landscape is like stepping onto a living movie set.
The Golden Age of Sedona Westerns
It all started with Zane Grey. The prolific Western novelist set many of his stories in Arizona's red rock country, and when Hollywood came calling in the 1920s and 1930s to adapt his books for the screen, there was only one place to film them. Riders of the Purple Sage was shot in Sedona three separate times, each version drawn back by the landscape's unmatched drama.
By the 1940s, Sedona had become a full-fledged film industry destination. Major studios — Republic Pictures, Columbia, Universal, and Warner Bros — all sent production crews to the red rocks. The area offered something no Hollywood backlot could replicate: towering sandstone buttes, winding creeks, forested canyons, and wide-open desert, all within a few miles of each other.
The peak years ran from the mid-1940s through the 1960s, when it seemed like every other Western coming out of Hollywood had Sedona's distinctive red formations in the background. Local ranches doubled as frontier homesteads. Oak Creek stood in for every river crossing in the West. And the red rocks themselves became as recognizable to moviegoers as any leading man.
The town embraced its role. Locals worked as extras, wranglers, and location scouts. Ranches like the Bradshaw Ranch maintained standing sets that could be dressed for different productions. For decades, the movie business was woven into the fabric of daily life in Sedona.
Famous Films Shot in Sedona
From Golden Age classics to modern blockbusters, these are some of the most notable films that used Sedona's red rocks as their canvas.
Broken Arrow
1950Jimmy Stewart, Jeff Chandler
Filmed throughout Sedona's red rock landscape, this groundbreaking Western was one of the first major studio films to portray Native Americans sympathetically. The sweeping canyon vistas became iconic backdrops for the story of peace between Apache and settlers.
Angel and the Badman
1947John Wayne, Gail Russell
John Wayne's first film as producer was shot at various Sedona locations. The Duke handpicked the red rock scenery for its dramatic grandeur, establishing Sedona as a premier Western filming destination for years to come.
3:10 to Yuma
1957Glenn Ford, Van Heflin
The original classic (remade in 2007) used Sedona's buttes and mesas as the Arizona Territory backdrop. The tense cat-and-mouse story played out against some of the most dramatic desert scenery ever captured on film.
Riders of the Purple Sage
1925, 1931, 1941Multiple casts across three versions
Zane Grey's beloved novel was filmed in Sedona no fewer than three times across two decades. The story's depiction of the rugged frontier felt authentic against Sedona's towering sandstone formations.
Johnny Guitar
1954Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden
Joan Crawford starred in this unconventional Western with iconic scenes shot against vivid red rock backdrops. Now considered a cult classic, the film's bold visual style was amplified by Sedona's striking natural scenery.
Flaming Star
1960Elvis Presley, Barbara Eden
Elvis traded his guitar for a six-shooter in this dramatic Western, with parts filmed in the Sedona area. The King of Rock and Roll riding through red rock country remains one of cinema's more unexpected pairings.
Midnight Run
1988Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin
While not a Western, this beloved buddy comedy featured famous chase scenes winding through red rock country. De Niro and Grodin's bickering road trip through Sedona's landscape gave the area a new generation of fans.
The Quick and the Dead
1995Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Leonardo DiCaprio
Sam Raimi's stylish revisionist Western used Sedona locations for portions of its filming. A young Leonardo DiCaprio and an all-star cast brought a modern edge to the classic frontier setting.
Drum Beat
1954Alan Ladd, Audrey Dalton
This frontier drama set during the Modoc War showcased Sedona's canyon lands as a stand-in for the rugged Oregon-California border. The production made extensive use of Oak Creek Canyon's dramatic cliff faces.
Filming Locations You Can Visit
The best part about Sedona's film history? You can walk, drive, and hike through the actual locations where these movies were made. Here are the key spots.
Red Rock State Park
Multiple Westerns from the 1940s–1960s
The Oak Creek crossing at Red Rock State Park appeared in dozens of films. Cowboys on horseback splashing through the shallow creek with red cliffs rising behind them became one of the most repeated shots in Western cinema.
Schnebly Hill Road
Chase scenes and panoramic establishing shots
The winding, dramatic road up Schnebly Hill provided the perfect backdrop for stagecoach pursuits and horseback chases. The panoramic vista at the top was used for sweeping landscape shots in numerous productions.
Bradshaw Ranch (now USFS land)
One of the most used filming locations in Sedona
This working ranch served as a ready-made set for countless Westerns. Its corrals, barns, and open range with red rock backdrops made it the single most popular filming location in the area. Now managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Oak Creek Canyon
Canyon scenes in dozens of films
The steep, forested walls of Oak Creek Canyon doubled as frontier wilderness in film after film. The canyon's lush vegetation and towering cliffs provided a striking contrast to the open desert sequences.
Cathedral Rock Area
Iconic backdrop in countless productions
Cathedral Rock's unmistakable twin spires appeared in the background of more Westerns than perhaps any other single formation. Its dramatic silhouette became synonymous with the American frontier on screen.
Dry Creek Road Area
Wide desert establishing shots
The open desert landscape along Dry Creek Road, with distant red rock formations on the horizon, was used for the wide establishing shots that opened many classic Westerns — the lone rider approaching across an endless frontier.
The Sedona International Film Festival
Sedona's love affair with cinema didn't end when the Western genre faded. Every February, the town hosts the Sedona International Film Festival, a week-long celebration of independent and international cinema that draws filmmakers and movie lovers from around the world.
The festival screens over 160 films across multiple venues, hosts workshops and panel discussions, and features celebrity appearances. It's a fitting tribute to a town that helped build Hollywood's most enduring genre — and proof that Sedona's connection to the silver screen is still going strong.
Why Hollywood Left (and Why It Matters)
By the 1970s, the stream of film crews arriving in Sedona had slowed to a trickle. The Western genre itself was falling out of favor with audiences, and states like New Mexico, Utah, and Georgia began offering generous tax incentives that lured productions away from Arizona.
But the legacy never faded. The roads, ranches, creek crossings, and canyon viewpoints you visit today are the very same ones that John Wayne rode through, that Jimmy Stewart gazed across, and that Elvis walked along. Every red rock formation you photograph has likely appeared on the silver screen.
That's what makes Sedona's film history so special — it's not locked away in a museum or demolished for a parking lot. The “set” is still standing, preserved by millions of years of geology and protected by National Forest designation. When you stand at a Sedona overlook, you're seeing exactly what the cameras saw decades ago.
Self-Guided Film Location Tour
Hit Sedona's major filming locations in a single day with this suggested driving route. Allow 4–6 hours depending on how long you linger at each stop.
Sedona Heritage Museum
Start here for exhibits on Sedona's film history, including photos and memorabilia from major productions.
Schnebly Hill Vista
Drive up Schnebly Hill Road for the panoramic views used in dozens of chase scenes and establishing shots.
Red Rock State Park
Walk the trails to the Oak Creek crossing featured in classic Westerns. Rangers can point out specific filming spots.
Cathedral Rock Viewpoint
Pull off at the Cathedral Rock vista on Back O' Beyond Road to see the formation that appeared in countless films.
Dry Creek Road
Drive out toward Boynton Canyon for the wide desert vistas used in sweeping frontier shots.
Oak Creek Canyon Overlook
End your tour at the canyon overlook on Highway 89A for views of the canyon that doubled as frontier wilderness.
Tour Tips
- Best time: Start in the morning when parking is easiest and the light is golden on the red rocks.
- Bring water & snacks: Several stops are remote with no services nearby.
- Red Rock Pass: You'll need one ($5/day) for Red Rock State Park and most trailhead parking.
- Schnebly Hill Road: The first mile is paved; beyond that, a high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
Stay Where the Stars Stayed
Our Sedona vacation rentals are minutes from the filming locations that made Hollywood history. Explore red rock country by day and relax under the stars at night.