Oak Creek Canyon, Canyon in Coconino County, Arizona, United States

Oak Creek Canyon is a 12-mile (19 km) river gorge between Flagstaff and Sedona, cut by Oak Creek along the Oak Creek Fault. Its walls expose Coconino Sandstone and the red Schnebly Hill Formation, rising 800 to 2,000 feet; the west rim stands about 700 feet higher than the east. State Route 89A descends into the canyon by hairpin turns and runs along the creek for about 13 miles.

The canyon formed over millions of years as flowing water slowly carved through rock layers, revealing the red and orange hues visible today. Later, the passage became an important route for early inhabitants crossing the region.

The name comes from the creek's oaks, and the canyon floor is a corridor of campgrounds, picnic areas and recreation sites run by the United States Forest Service within Coconino National Forest. Slide Rock State Park, with a natural water slide on Oak Creek, lies inside the canyon. After the 2014 Slide Fire, the Sedona Fire District installed nine outdoor warning sirens in the canyon, tested each summer.

Several hiking trails lead through the canyon, with access points from the main road and smaller parking areas along the route. Water flows year-round, so the trail can be muddy during wet seasons.

The West Fork Trail requires hikers to cross the creek repeatedly along the path, making wet feet part of the adventure rather than an accident. This constant interaction with water sets it apart from most canyon trails in the region.