Webcam of the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona
Panoramic View of the Chapel Among the Red Rocks
This online camera is positioned in the southwestern part of Sedona, Arizona, and captures one of the most photographed architectural landmarks of the American Southwest. The Chapel of the Holy Cross is literally embedded between two sandstone spires — massive red-orange rock formations that rise on both sides of the building. The camera operates in real time and covers not only the structure itself but also the surrounding desert landscape with sparse shrubs, a parking area, and the footpath that visitors use to climb up to the chapel.
Sedona is renowned for its red rocks — sandstone cliffs that shift in hue from soft pink to deep crimson depending on the sun's position. It is this dramatic contrast between the chapel's pale concrete and the vivid color of the rock that makes the live stream especially striking at sunset and dawn.
Mid-Century Modernism in the Desert
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a remarkable example of mid-20th-century architectural modernism. The structure was built in 1954–1956 through the initiative of local sculptor and rancher Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who considered this project her greatest artistic achievement. The architectural design was developed by Richard Hein of Anshen & Allen, with August K. Strotz serving as project architect.
The chapel walls and cross are constructed from reinforced concrete 1 foot (0.3 m) thick with large aggregate. The foundation was poured in 9 stages of 8–10 feet of concrete at a time and measures 12 inches (30 cm) in thickness. The concrete walls were sandblasted to expose the natural texture of the aggregate. Smoky-gray glass was used for glazing, reducing glare and creating soft, diffused interior lighting.
Recognition and Awards
As early as 1957, the chapel received the AIA Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects — a recognition bestowed by the entire professional architectural community of the United States. And in 2007, the residents of Arizona voted the Chapel of the Holy Cross onto the state's list of Seven Man-Made Wonders — alongside the Grand Canyon and other iconic landmarks.
More than 4 million people visit the chapel annually — pilgrims, tourists, architects, and photographers from around the globe. It is one of the most visited destinations in Arizona outside the Grand Canyon.
Location in Coconino National Forest
The chapel sits on the grounds of Coconino National Forest — a vast protected area in northern Arizona. The forest spans over 1.8 million acres and stretches from high alpine meadows to desert plateaus. The chapel is located at an elevation of approximately 4,300 feet (1,300 m) above sea level, in a transition zone between the desert and the foothills of the Colorado Plateau.
The surrounding landscape is typical of the region: red-orange sandstone ledges of the Schnebly Hill Formation, scattered junipers, yuccas, and cacti. The rocks around the chapel are the very "red rocks of Sedona" that have became the region's calling card and draw millions of tourists here.
How the Chapel Fits Into the Landscape
The uniqueness of this site lies in the fact that the building does not merely stand against the backdrop of the rocks — it is organically woven between two sandstone spires. The chapel is wedged between two sandstone spires in such a way that it appears to have grown right out of the rock itself. It is not an eyesore dwarfed by nature but a natural extension of it. The pale concrete of the walls echoes the color of the sandstone, while the massive cross on the facade reaches skyward, repeating the vertical lines of the rock formations.
The webcam clearly shows how the architecture defers to the terrain: the building does not dominate but rather emphasizes the scale of the surrounding rock. It is precisely this principle — harmony with nature rather than opposition to it — that has made the chapel a textbook example of organic architecture.
Best Time to Watch the Live Stream
Sedona's red rocks are famous for their color transformations throughout the day. At dawn, the rock takes on a soft pink-peach hue; at midday, a vivid orange; and at sunset, a deep crimson-red. The webcam lets you observe these changes in real time without having to climb the steep trail.
In winter, snow sometimes dusts the rock summits — a rare sight for a desert region, when white stripes contrast with the red sandstone. In summer, temperatures in Sedona can exceed 100°F (38°C), and the shade of the rock formations becomes a respite for visitors. Spring and fall are considered the most comfortable seasons, when the parking area at the chapel is full of cars and the footpath is busy with tourists.
How to Get to the Chapel
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is located at 780 Chapel Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. It is roughly 3 miles (5 km) southwest of downtown Sedona. You can reach it by car via State Route 179, then turning onto Chapel Road. A parking area has been built at the base of the rock, from which a winding footpath with an incline leads up to the chapel.
Admission to the chapel grounds is free. It is open to visitors daily, except on major Catholic holidays. Catholic Masses are held inside, but most guests come here for the architecture and the panoramic views of the Sedona valley.
What the Camera Shows
The online camera streams a panoramic view of the Chapel of the Holy Cross — a modern concrete structure set between red-orange sandstone cliffs. The foreground reveals a desert landscape with vegetation typical of the Southwest: low shrubs, yuccas, and scattered junipers. On the right, massive red sandstone ledges tower above.
The frame shows the parking area with visitors' cars and the footpath that people use to climb up to the chapel. The chapel building, with its enormous cross on the facade, sits higher up the slope, organically nestled between two rock spires. Depending on the time of day and weather conditions, the lighting changes — the rocks shimmer in tones ranging from pale pink to rich terracotta. The stream runs in real time, allowing you to watch visitor traffic and the play of light across Sedona's red rocks.
