This All-natural Red Rock Waterslide Is Cooler Than Anything at a Theme Park

"When warmer days arrive I head to Slide Rock State Park in Sedona's Oak Creek Canyon for spectacular desert views, cool swimming holes, natural pools and red-rock beaches. The park's gently sloping natural slide—about an 80-foot run, 2.5 to 4 feet wide with roughly a seven percent decline—is kept slippery by the current and algae and launches you into a large pool where you can swim to your heart's content. I also enjoy lounging along the creek to watch wildlife, picnicking, hiking the many trails, playing volleyball on the park's court, and exploring the historic 43-acre Pendley Homestead with its orchard of more than 300 apple trees, which hosts an annual apple festival every September. Park entrance fees vary from $10 to $30 depending on the season so I check online or call ahead; the water can get cold in winter so I dip a toe first, and lifeguards are not on duty so I always put safety first." - Andrea Romano Andrea Romano Andrea Romano is a writer and editor in New York City. For the last eight years, she has been a lifestyle journalist for Mashable, Brit+Co, Reviewed, Bustle, and Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines