Sedona looks bigger from the air. This Mogollon Rim helicopter tour strings together famous rock landmarks and ancient sites in about 50 to 52 minutes, with all forward-facing seats so you’re not craning your neck.

I especially like the setup for comfort and clarity: you’ll get noise reduction headsets with microphones, which makes it easier to hear the pilot as the scenery changes fast. One catch to plan around: this experience requires good weather, so flexibility helps.

If you’re traveling with a small group, you’ll also like the scale. The tour caps at 6 travelers total, starts and ends at the Sedona meeting point on Airport Rd, and uses a mobile ticket in English.

Key things to know before you go

• Front-facing viewing: You’re set up to watch the sights as you fly, not sit sideways guessing angles.
• Headsets with microphones: Makes the ride calmer and the pilot commentary easier to follow.
• 80+ mile Mogollon Rim route: A lot of Sedona-area icons in a short flight window.
• Many signature rocks in one loop: Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Submarine Rock, and more.
• Ancient ruins appear multiple times: Honanki ruins, Boynton Canyon, Long Canyon, and Sycamore Canyon.
• Small group size: Max 6 travelers keeps the experience feeling personal.

Helicopter time that covers way more than a car tour

A helicopter ride over Sedona is one of the few ways to see the whole story at once: towering cliffs, winding canyon cuts, and those famous red-rock landmarks you normally spot from the road. This tour is built for speed and variety. In just under an hour, you cover an 80+ mile style circuit along the Mogollon Rim region, plus viewpoints tied to canyon country and surrounding wilderness.

The best part for your planning is that you’re not just looking at one highlight. You get multiple “oh wow” moments in different styles—big icons like Cathedral and Bell Rock, plus smaller rock-personality names like Snoopy Rock and the Praying Hands. If you only have a day or two in Sedona, this kind of time compression can be a real value.

What makes the aerial route special: Cathedral, bridges, and ruins

This tour hits the Sedona greatest-hits menu, but from angles ground transport can’t match.

Early on, you fly out of the Sedona Airport overlook area. Then the scenery turns quickly into recognizables. Cathedral Rock shows up as a dramatic aerial landmark as you pass by, and Bell Rock follows with another classic profile. These are the kinds of formations you’ve probably seen from viewpoints below, but up in the air you can appreciate how the rock shapes relate to the surrounding canyon walls.

Then comes the fun “rock zoo” section. From above, you’ll see formations including Submarine Rock, Snoopy Rock, Chicken Point, and the Praying Hands. You’ll also look down on rock formations described as the cow pies, the eagle, and the tea kettle. Even if you’re not the type to memorize names, this portion works because it keeps changing what you’re spotting—more like a photo scavenger hunt than a long, repetitive view.

Next, the route shifts toward bigger geographic themes. Oak Creek Canyon and Midgely bridge appear as major landscape features from the air, and Brins Mesa offers epic panoramic views as you fly over. Then Devil’s bridge shows up again in a way that’s hard to judge from the ground—you can see the span and the rugged drop-offs around it.

Finally, the tour blends scenery with history. You’ll view Honanki ruins from the air, then fly through beautiful Boynton Canyon and Long Canyon where ancient ruins are part of the view. You also get a stop area in Sycamore Canyon Wilderness with many ancient ruins, listed as 10 minutes with admission ticket free for that stop. The aerial perspective matters here: ruins feel more than scenic when you can see their placement in the canyon walls and surrounding terrain.

Front seats and headsets: the comfort details that matter

Helicopter tours can be a mixed bag if you end up in the wrong seat or can’t hear anything. This one is designed around your experience in the cabin.

All forward-facing seats mean you’re set up to look where the pilot is bringing you, instead of dealing with awkward angles that can ruin your photos. You also get noise reduction headsets with microphones. That’s huge for two reasons:

• you can hear the pilot’s direction and explanations while the sights change quickly
• the ride feels less stressful when you’re not fighting the sound

There’s also a clear scale advantage. With a maximum of 6 travelers total, you’re less likely to feel squeezed or boxed in compared with larger shared tours. If you value comfort as much as views, this setup is a big part of why people rate it so highly.

The itinerary, in plain English: what each segment feels like

Below is how I’d think about the flight, stop by stop, so you know what to expect when the scenery starts rolling.

Over Sedona Airport overlook

You begin with views as you fly by the Sedona Airport overlook. This short intro is useful because it helps you get your bearings fast—by the time the famous rocks arrive, you’ll already understand how the route is laid out.

Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock passes

Cathedral Rock appears first as a memorable aerial landmark, then Bell Rock follows. These moments usually feel like a “classic Sedona” photo spree. From above, the formations look even more sculpted, and you can spot how the canyon network organizes around them.

Possible drawback: because these are iconic, it can be tempting to shoot nonstop. If you want your best photos, pause for a second, then take fewer shots at the clearest angle.

Submarine Rock through the Praying Hands

Next you’ll fly by Submarine Rock, Snoopy Rock, Chicken Point, and the Praying Hands. This is one of the most entertaining stretches because the names are so vivid, and the aerial view makes their shapes easier to understand. If you like camera work, this is where you’ll probably want to keep your device ready.

Cow pies, the eagle, and the tea kettle

After that comes another set of rock-formation references: the cow pies, the eagle, and the tea kettle. These aren’t just “pretty rocks.” Up in the air, you can see how each formation sits in relation to neighboring ridges and minor draws, which helps you make sense of the bigger geology picture.

Oak Creek Canyon and Midgely bridge

Then the tour transitions into water and infrastructure vibes: Oak Creek Canyon and Midgely bridge appear as you fly along. This segment helps break up the “rock icon” rhythm with a canyon-and-route view you can’t fully replicate from most overlooks.

Brins Mesa panoramas

Brins Mesa brings epic panoramic views as the helicopter moves through open sightlines. If you’re the type who likes wide-angle shots, this is a good time to switch from close-to-the-rock framing to bigger context shots.

Devil’s bridge fly past

Devil’s bridge shows up next as you fly past. From above, you get a better sense of how the bridge area sits in rugged terrain—how dramatic the canyon edge looks around it.

Honanki ruins, then more canyon ruins

Honanki ruins appear as you fly by. Then you move into Boynton Canyon and Long Canyon, both with views of ancient ruins. The aerial angle makes these feel less like isolated artifacts and more like part of a whole canyon system.

Sycamore Canyon Wilderness stop: 10 minutes and ticket-free admission

Sycamore Canyon is where you get a short stop listed at 10 minutes, with admission ticket free for that stop. The tour notes many ancient ruins in the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness area. Even with limited time, this stop can be a strong “down closer to the human story” moment compared with the fly-by segments.

You’ll likely want quick, practical camera etiquette here. Keep your photo burst short, then enjoy the view rather than rushing everything.

Cottonwood Airport departure/arrival: Tuzigoot National Monument, Verde River, and more

As you depart from and arrive to the Cottonwood Airport, the route includes views of Tuzigoot National Monument. You’ll also see the Mingus Mountain and Woodchute wilderness area as you move toward Jerome, then catch views of the Verde River as the flight continues.

Jerome itself is part of the view as you fly towards Sycamore Canyon. For many people, this is a nice contrast: towns and waterways below, deep canyon walls around you.

Price and value: is $712.93 worth it?

At $712.93 per person, this isn’t a casual add-on. You’re paying for helicopter time, a route that covers a lot of named features, and the cabin comforts that make the experience easier to enjoy—like forward-facing seating and noise reduction headsets with microphones.

So here’s how I’d judge the value for you:

• High value if you’re short on time and want big-name Sedona icons plus ruins in one outing.
• High value if you’re into photography and want different angles on the same formations without hiking between viewpoints.
• Lower value if you’re flexible and prefer to drive to overlooks. You can see a lot from the ground, but you won’t get the same “whole system” view.

Also consider your comfort needs. Helicopters are quick, but it’s still a confined ride. If you’re sensitive to noise or motion, the headset setup helps, but you’ll still want to think through whether flying feels like your kind of adventure.

Weather, body limits, and who should choose this tour

This experience requires good weather. That matters because even the best itinerary won’t happen if conditions aren’t right. The good news is that a weather cancellation generally means you’re offered another date or a full refund, so you’re not stuck.

There are also clear participation rules:

• You can participate if you’re pregnant.
• It’s prohibited to fly if sick.
• There’s a total passenger weight limit of 269 lbs.

Group size is also important. With a maximum of 6 travelers total, you’ll experience a more controlled, less crowded vibe than larger shared tours.

Who it suits best:

• couples and small groups wanting a “big wow” Sedona activity without spending all day
• travelers who want iconic rock formations plus ruins without hiking
• anyone who values comfort details like headsets and forward-facing views

Practical tips so you get the most from the flight

You don’t need to overthink it, but a few practical steps can make the ride smoother.

First, plan your camera like it’s a shoot with changing scenes. With many named formations—from Cathedral Rock to the tea kettle—you’ll have chances for photos, but angles will shift fast.

Second, dress for comfort and quick temperature changes. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, but once you’re in the air, you’ll still feel shifts. Light layers are a simple way to avoid being stuck in one temperature.

Third, if you’re prone to anxiety with heights, don’t white-knuckle it. This is a thriller-style helicopter experience, and it’s short enough that you can decide to focus on enjoying the views rather than fighting your thoughts for hours.

Should you book the Mogollon Rim (80+ Mile) Sedona helicopter tour?

If you want a fast Sedona experience that hits the famous rocks, the canyon country, and ancient ruins from the sky, this tour makes a strong case. The small group size, front-facing seats, and noise reduction headsets with microphones are the kinds of details that quietly separate a good flight from a frustrating one.

I’d skip it only if you know weather disruptions would ruin your schedule, or if the price feels too steep for you compared with spending your day on the ground. If you’re ready to trade driving time for a higher view of the whole region, Apex Air Tours is the kind of outing that earns its reputation.

FAQ

How long is the Mogollon Rim helicopter tour?

It runs about 50 to 52 minutes.

What’s the meeting point for the tour?

The tour starts at 1225 Airport Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336, USA and ends back at the meeting point.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $712.93 per person.

What’s included in the tour?

It includes an air-conditioned vehicle, all forward-facing seats, and noise reduction headsets with microphones.

Are the seats forward-facing?

Yes, all seats are forward facing.

What languages is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

How many people are allowed on the tour?

The activity has a maximum of 6 travelers.

Is there a weight limit?

Yes. Total weight per passenger is 269 lbs.

Do I need good weather for this to operate?

Yes. The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Is it okay to fly if I’m pregnant or sick?

It’s okay to fly if pregnant. It’s prohibited to fly if sick.