Buddha Beach in Crescent Moon | Best Waterhole in Sedona, Arizona

Buddha Beach in Crescent Moon Park with views of Cathedral Rock in Sedona is magical. It's a different side to Sedona. A side that is still mystic and beautiful but with less red rocks, more whispy, shady trees, and cool streaming water.

Buddha beach is probably my favorite water hole in Sedona.

Buddha Beach is located inside of Crescent Moon Picnic Site. The cost of entry to the site is $11 per vehicle, and it is worth every penny. Be aware, though, that the Crescent Moon Picnic Site parking fills up quickly on weekends, and once the parking lot is full, they will not allow entry until cars begin to clear out.

We were very fortunate this trip; we arrived right when they were reopening the gates for a second wave of vehicles. However, if the parking lot is full another option is to find parking at the top of the hill or nearby and walk into the park. They allow walk-ins. The cost for walk-ins is $2 a person.

Once you park, you will see a paved path heading north with beautiful views of Cathedral Rock; follow that path until it becomes gravelly and then continue to follow the path through the wispy trees along the stream.

The Buddha Beach stream water was cold yet refreshing when we visited in April, and plenty of people set up chairs and canopies to enjoy the stream at the entry, but I recommend continuing North until the trail opens up to the most beautiful views of Cathedral Rock.

From parking inside of Crescent Ranch to where we set up to enjoy the water was about a half-mile walk.

The water we played in was shallow, but it gets deeper the further upstream you go, and the further upstream you go, the more stacked rocks you see, which is a popular attraction for this area.