Enchantment Resort

A 218-room red-rock resort at the closed end of Boynton Canyon, ten miles northwest of downtown Sedona. The destination here is the canyon itself — a box canyon in the red-rock country, surrounded on three sides by 1,000-foot cliffs, with the Mii amo destination spa woven into the property. The resort dates back to the late 1980s; the spa, opened in 2001, is the program's distinctive feature and one of the better-known destination spas in the American West.

It is the rare Sedona property where you don't really need to leave — and where the setting is unrepeatable, because the canyon can't be developed any further.

The setting

Boynton Canyon is one of the four major Sedona vortex sites, on the northwest side of town. The drive in winds through pinyon-juniper woodland and ends at the resort's gate, with the canyon walls already visible. The resort sits on the canyon floor, with hiking trails leading directly into the canyon and Boynton Canyon trail itself running 3 miles to the closed end. The drive into Sedona town is fifteen minutes; to Flagstaff, an hour north.

The view in every direction is red-rock cliff. Cellphone service is patchy, by terrain.

The building

The original buildings date to 1987, with stone-and-timber construction designed to disappear against the cliff walls. The casitas — single-story, low-slung — are scattered through the canyon floor among the pinyons. Public spaces include the main lodge with its large stone fireplace and a wall of glass facing the canyon, multiple restaurants, the Mii amo spa building (a separate complex), and the Tii Gavo casual restaurant. Materials are stone, timber, stucco, with native landscaping throughout.

The rooms

Two hundred eighteen casitas in multiple categories — Casita Suites with private patios, Junior Suites with private decks, and the larger Spa Casitas adjacent to Mii amo. Beds are kings; bathrooms are tile and stone, several with deep soaking tubs. Many casitas have wood-burning fireplaces and outdoor patios with canyon views. From-rates open around $695 in season; Mii amo programs run higher and include all meals plus treatments.

Food & drink

Three on-site restaurants. Che-Ah-Chi, the formal dining room, runs contemporary American with strong local sourcing. Tii Gavo is the casual room. The Mii amo dining room is a separate program for the destination-spa packages. Non-guests can book some venues with planning. The wine list is solid; the bar has serious mezcal and tequila.

On the property

The Mii amo destination spa — full-day spa packages with multi-day plans, a meditative-spa philosophy, hydrotherapy, an outdoor pool, treatment rooms set into the canyon walls. Two outdoor swimming pools (separate from Mii amo's), tennis courts, hiking trails directly off-property. Yoga and meditation programming. A culinary program running cooking classes.

• Mii amo destination spa
• Two outdoor pools, hot tubs
• Tennis, hiking trails into Boynton Canyon
• Three restaurants
• Yoga, meditation programs
• Open year-round

Who it's for

• Travelers planning around the Mii amo destination-spa program
• Couples on a milestone trip who want a single property to handle the full week
• Hikers — Boynton Canyon trail and Fay Canyon trail leave directly from the resort
• Anyone for whom red-rock canyon walls are the deciding factor

Who it's not for

• Travelers who want a small intimate inn — this is a 218-room property at full resort scale
• Anyone allergic to wellness-spa programming and culture
• Pet owners (verify policy with the front desk)

Nearby

Boynton Canyon trail begins on-property and runs into one of the most-visited Sedona vortex sites. Fay Canyon trail is a short, easy hike a mile from the gate. Cathedral Rock trail and Bell Rock are twenty minutes south. Tlaquepaque Arts Village is fifteen minutes east in town for shopping and Elote Cafe. The Chapel of the Holy Cross is twenty minutes south. Slide Rock State Park up Oak Creek Canyon is thirty minutes north.