Majestically overlooking the land and Oak Creek, Cathedral Rock is revered by Native Americans as a home of gods and birthplace of the first man and woman. Rising toward the sky from a red sandstone base, the spires of Cathedral Rock inspire wonder and awe. Cathedral Rock is a natural landmark on the Sedona, Arizona skyline, and is one of the most-photographed sights in Arizona. The summit elevation of Cathedral Rock is 4,967 feet. Oak Creek, where it runs next to Cathedral Rock, is called Red Rock Crossing and considered a strong vortex as well as a sacred area in Native American history.
Coal Mine Canyon sits at the edge of the 120 mile wide Painted Desert, a sparsely settled region without many roads but covered by extensive areas of exposed, weathered rock. On the border between the Hopi and Navajo Indian Reservations in the vast desert of northeast Arizona, Coal Mine Canyon is a long way from any famous attractions. The canyon is not signposted in any way yet has become quite well known because of the amazingly colorful formations that line the upper end of the ravine. Coal Mine is one of many remote, little-visited sites in the Southwest where the main interest comes from the detail of the rock - the colors, forms and textures of the eroded sandstone.
