Okay, I've been reading up on these and will, of course, visit at least one or two, but I'm wondering if it's preferable to do alone or with a guide?

I mean, being a bit of a skeptic, will I feel the energy on my own or do I need a guide to tell me? What experiences have people had with these? TIA.

wife and I are more 'sensitive' but they do exist and we always go on our own..
you can get a map off of google by searching 'Sedona vortexes'.
We find that the Airport vortex, Bell Rock and Boynton Canyon are the strongest for us.
When you hike uphill to Bell Rock, you are not winded whatsoever and realize when you are hiking back that you were going uphill..
classic of a vortex.
You will have a sense of well being for several days and you can see a lot of the trees are spiraled at the trunk because of the energy that is swirling around.
We have lunch at Enchantment resort at Yavapai which is excellent and then we hike a block away from the resort and this is a very powerful vortex and very sacred as well.
we just got back in mid Feb from Sedona which we go to several times a year and it does wonders for us.
Kauai and Tahiti are other known places in the world with vortexes.
personally, I have never seen a guided tour but I'm sure one exist but its great to be on your own and to explore and hike and be out there on your own.
please report back.
some people it doesn't effect and others its profound.
my wife's crown chakra was like pop rocks but she is very intuitive since birth, so these things seem to awaken her soul more than others who just laugh and say we're nuts.

Thanks, ksucat. I was leaning toward doing it on my own. It will be very interesting to see what, if any, effect they have on me.

I will definitely report back.

We just loved Sedona and I don't think you have to go to a vortex to experience the wonder of Sedona-it is all around.
Have a great trip.

I had some sort of experience in Boynton Canyon a few yrs back, 6-7 yrs ago. At the time there was a little meadow in the canyon off to the side of the trail (about half way into the canyon) where people had constucted little rock cairn sculptures all over in this one area; I assumed it was the vortex area. It was pretty moving, I stayed there a long time, couldn't pull myself away to get going on the trail again. But on my next visit a few months later, the park rangers had taken it all down and had a sign up saying not to disturb the surroundings and trail area, not to construct anything, or something like that. Bah Humbug. That was the only time I've felt anything like that while hiking in the Sedona area.

Not sure you need a guide. There are maps everywhere that lead you to the vortex areas; for the most part they are not hard to get to. Not sure a guide is going to help or make it more enjoyable.

love that emd!
There are several 'New Age' places and they are fun to walk into and talk to people in the store..2 by the creek, that are pretty good.
Sedona is one big vortex!

We loved all of Sedona each time we've been there. But, we tried the vortex thing and...nothin'...But it might work for you.

I was in Sedona three years ago and visited all four vortex sights. Not because they're vortex sights (I felt nothing) but because of their location and the scenery.

Crescent Moon Picnic Area with a view of Cathedral Rock across Oak Creek. I was there on a Saturday evening for the sunset and saw four weddings taking place there.

The Boynton Canyon Vista. This is not the full Boynton Canyon hike (which passes Enchantment Resort and I would skip) but a short detour right near the start of the hike. Excellent scenery and some very interesting cairns.

Bell Rock area. Extremely scenic and distinctive shape.

The view from the Airport at sunset. Pretty good but nowhere near as spectacular as Cathedral Rock.

You can see my photos of that trip at:

www.travelwalks.com

Select the 2007 trip to Bryce, Zion, GC and Sedona. Also some photos of Antelope Canyon there.

Thanks, everyone. I love all these responses. Can't wait for my own vortex experience -- or not.

Myer, great info and wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing. The Cathedral Rock reflections were just beautiful.
Re photo # 99, Boynton Canyon Vista, was that a natural formation? It almost looked man-made, like a snake getting ready to strike!

Myer, they are all great photos, but the last photo is priceless!

panecott,

Thanks. I'm sure that cairn is man-made. But how long has it been there? Any meaning to it?

emd3,
I had never seen a cactus in real life. When I asked they said you've got to be below 2,500 ft elevation.

When I left Sedona for Phoenix and my return flight home I went off the highway a few times to take some cactus photos.

This was one spot and there were many behind that little shack. If you look closely at the bottom right side of the photo there appears to be a concrete slab. That was probably a service station in a previous life.