Pocket Fire Update: Sedona Is Open — What Visitors Should Know

Last updated: July 7, 2026. The Pocket Fire is burning in the Red Rock–Secret Mountain Wilderness northwest of Oak Creek Canyon, several miles north of Sedona. Here's the latest official update, what it means for your visit — and the short version up front: Sedona is open for business.

The latest official update

As of Tuesday, July 7, fire officials report the Pocket Fire at 26,803 acres with containment up to 51% (from 48% on Monday) and 1,238 personnel assigned; California Interagency Incident Management Team 6 remains in command of the fire, with no break in operations. The growth remains in remote wilderness west of Oak Creek Canyon; containment lines continue to hold along the northern and eastern edges closest to populated areas. Officials caution that while containment is improving, fully extinguishing a fire in this steep terrain may take until the summer monsoon arrives — expect it to stay on the map for a while even as conditions in town stay normal. Crews continue to monitor shifting winds that could complicate containment efforts in the coming days.

Evacuation status as of this update: the "SET" advisory (be ready to leave; not an evacuation order) covers more than just Oak Creek Canyon — it includes Oak Creek Canyon, the Seven Canyons/Enchantment area, and adjacent canyon-corridor zones, while Kachina Village, Forest Highlands, and Pinedale remain downgraded to "READY." The city of Sedona itself is not under any evacuation notice. SR 89A through the canyon remains closed to everyone but area residents. For the full, current list of evacuation zones and their status, check the Arizona Emergency Information Network and Yavapai/Coconino County alerts.

Sedona is open — here's what that looks like

Uptown, West Sedona, Tlaquepaque, the Chapel area, and the Village of Oak Creek are all open and operating normally — restaurants, galleries, tours, and trailheads on the south and east sides included. Both main visitor approaches are open: SR 179 from I-17 and SR 89A from Cottonwood. Favorites on the south and east sides — Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Airport Mesa — are open and unaffected. Note that trailheads on the northwest side, including the Soldier Pass area (the access route to Seven Sacred Pools), are inside the fire closure — see the list below and always confirm on the official sources before you set out.

Smoke is the main day-to-day variable: it tends to settle into Sedona and the Verde Valley overnight and in the early morning, then lifts and clears by midday as winds shift. If anyone in your group is smoke-sensitive, plan indoor mornings and outdoor afternoons, and check current air quality before heading out.

What's closed right now

Closures on an active fire change faster than any blog can keep up with, so treat the list below as orientation and confirm the exact, current closures on the official sources before you go. As of the Coconino National Forest closure order, the closures are concentrated in Oak Creek Canyon and the forest northwest of town:

• SR 89A through Oak Creek Canyon (the Sedona–Flagstaff stretch) is closed to non-residents — take I-17 to reach Flagstaff. Check live road status on AZ511.
• Slide Rock State Park plus the Oak Creek Canyon campgrounds, picnic areas, and day-use sites (Cave Springs, Pine Flat, Bootlegger, Manzanita, Call of the Canyon/West Fork, Oak Creek Vista, Grasshopper Point, Midgley Bridge, and others).
• A number of northwest-side trailheads — Soldier Pass (the access for Seven Sacred Pools), Jim Thompson, Fay Canyon, Bear Mountain, Loy Canyon, Secret Canyon, Sugarloaf, Thunder Mountain, and more — plus Dry Creek Road access points.

For the authoritative, up-to-the-day list, check the Coconino National Forest closure order, AZ511 for roads, and Visit Sedona's Pocket Fire page. Trails on the south and east sides — Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Airport Mesa — remain open.

What this means for Sedona Haven guests

Our West Sedona homes are outside all evacuation and closure areas and are hosting guests normally. Our Top of the World home sits in the Oak Creek Canyon area, which is currently under the "SET" advisory — if you have an upcoming stay there and canyon access affects your plans, contact us and we'll work with you on options.

We're locals, we're watching this closely, and we'll keep this post updated as containment grows. Sedona's red rocks aren't going anywhere — and neither are we. Come visit.

Pocket Fire FAQs

Is Sedona open during the Pocket Fire?

Yes. The city of Sedona is under no evacuation notice. Uptown, West Sedona, Tlaquepaque, the Chapel area, and the Village of Oak Creek are open and operating normally, along with most trails on the south and east sides of town.

Is it safe to visit Sedona right now?

The fire is burning in remote wilderness several miles north of town and containment is growing along the edges closest to populated areas. The main day-to-day effect in town is haze that settles in overnight and typically clears by midday — smoke-sensitive visitors should plan indoor mornings and outdoor afternoons.

Which trails and roads are closed because of the fire?

SR 89A through Oak Creek Canyon (the Sedona–Flagstaff canyon stretch), Slide Rock State Park, the canyon campgrounds, and several trailheads on the northwest side of town (Soldier Pass, Thunder Mountain, Fay Canyon, Bear Mountain, and others). Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, and most other favorites are open. Check AZ511 before driving to Flagstaff.

Can I stay in Oak Creek Canyon right now?

We don't recommend it, and in practice you likely can't: SR 89A through the canyon is closed to everyone except area residents, and Oak Creek Canyon along with the Seven Canyons/Enchantment area and nearby zones are under a "SET" (be-ready-to-evacuate) advisory. Book in West Sedona or the Village of Oak Creek instead — both fully open.

Will the fire affect my Sedona Haven reservation?

Our West Sedona homes are outside all evacuation and closure areas and hosting guests normally. If you're booked at our Top of the World home in the Oak Creek Canyon area, contact us and we'll work with you on options.

For official information: visitsedona.com/pocket-fire · Arizona Emergency Information Network · AZ511 road conditions

Photo: the Pocket Fire smoke column, July 1, 2026 — courtesy Coconino National Forest / U.S. Forest Service (public domain).