Most places give you a sunset. Airport Mesa apparently felt that was underachieving. Sharon and I headed up there in the evening to catch the famous Sedona sunset, which on its own would have been worth the trip. The sky started doing that Sedona thing -- layers of orange, pink, and gold spreading across the horizon while the red rocks glowed like they had their own internal lighting system. Just when we thought the show had hit peak beauty, we turned around. And there it was. One of the most majestic moonrises I've ever seen slowly lifting over the horizon like it had been perfectly scheduled to steal the second act. The sunset painting the sky one direction... and the moon rising bright enough in the other that I briefly wondered if I should've brought sunglasses. It felt like Sedona decided to give us the best of both celestial worlds. Sunset in front of us. Moonrise behind us. Nature's version of surround sound. The overlook itself is easy to access and well worth the stop. People gathered quietly, cameras out, everyone sharing that universal look that says, "Are you seeing this too?" Moments like that remind you why places like this are special. Beauty that stops you mid-sentence. The kind that makes everyone pause, breathe, and just take it in. Pro tip: arrive a little before sunset and stay a little after. You never know when the universe might decide to put on an encore. Five stars, no question. read more

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What a beautiful morning for a nice 3 mile hike. A glorious day and my 66th. God is good. The trail is a bit rocky so wear some good hiking shoes or trail runners. The views are fantastic and parking at Airport Mesa is only $3 and they have vendors and a food truck for those looking for Indian jewelry and crafts or a quick bite. The parking lot host also sells bottled water for those in need. Great hike and trail options. The parking at the trailhead is limited so drive up to the airport lot. Highly recommended read more

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Airport Mesa is located near the airport, but has a viewing area to see panoramic views of Thunder Mountain, Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock. It's one of Sedona's vortexes. There is an overlook area and a trail. The trail is moderate and not very difficult. A easy stop in Sedona to see beautiful views. There is parking lot and the fee is $3. read more

Airport Mesa - Hiking Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

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Really some great views from here and apparently sunset is peak viewing time. We went earlier in the day and it was still very crowded so get there early if you're coming for sunset and be prepared for lots of people to be looking at the same view. There are some hiking trails around here we wanted to explore but the day before had torrential rains so everything was a bit muddy. Parking was $3 at the lot at the top. There is a very small parking lot down the mountain that you can use to hike up but it was completely full both times we drove by it. read more

Airport Mesa - Hiking Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

Airport Mesa in Sedona, Arizona, is a popular hiking area with beautiful panoramic red rock views & an energy vortex. The Airport Loop Trail circles the mesa. It was an easy hike but definitely try to go early in the morning as it gets hot. There's not a lot of shade. It wasn't too busy the day I hiked. read more

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I had thought about coming here for sunset, but I was on a roll. I finished an early hike and wanted to keep the momentum going. There was no parking in the small lot that was about halfway up to the top. I went further up and parked in a bigger lot- $3. I ended up doing the Airport Scenic Overlook Trail. The short rocky trail down connects to the main trailhead. From there you can go up to the Summit Trail that leads to the vortex. The trail isn't really a hike, but a short steep scramble at the end with handrails. After enjoying the views there, I headed back. Across the street from the parking lot is the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout, with views overlooking Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte, Bell Rock, Chimney Rock, and Coffee Pot Rock. read more

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Beautiful spot to hike up. Set your intention. Feel and take in the energy of the vortex. Deep breaths in all the red rock wondrous surrounding you. Thank your body for getting up everyday and taking you safely on the journey. Life is short. We are mere particles of all the earth. Create a beautiful start to the day or week. Hot air balloons launched in my view this morning. I almost cried, it was so stunning and instilled me either way vortex vibrations and healing sensations! It's all Sedona today read more

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Beautiful, short hike from parking lot at the top of the butte($3 feet at this writing). Ample parking when we visited on a busy holiday weekend. There's another small parking lot near the base of this mesa, but it was full. Sweet hike either way. There's a vortex here, but I couldn't feel it. I did enjoy the view and people gathering there. Everyone was relaxed and taking in the beauty of this area. Highly recommend, especially as the other hiking / vortex areas are not available due to crowds. read more

The Airport Mesa Trail is relatively an easy hike with stunning views. It's one of Sedona's four vortexes. I would consider it a moderate hike. The trail offers panoramic red rock views. We parked at the Airport Mesa parking lot and walked over to the overlook and then afterwards took the trail. The parking cost $3 and you're welcome to come back throughout the day with that pass. They also have plenty of porta potties in the parking lot which were very well maintained. No running water so make sure you bring some hand sanitizer. We were told this spot is very popular to catch a beautiful sunset, unfortunately we had way to much to do and see before leaving back to our hotel, but next time when we have a little more time I'd love to come back and catch the sunset! read more

Airport Mesa - Airport Mesa overlook - Hiking Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

Parking - there was a small lot at the bottom that might fit about 8-10 cars. One spot for handicap. If you drive further up the road towards Sedona airport there is a larger lot. We drove by on Saturday around 3pm. There was no spots open in the small lot but we saw a lot by the airport. We had a reservation at 3:30 pm so didn't think we had time to walk down from the other lot and left. It started raining and we assumed people would now leave. We were right, we drove back and got princess parking at the small lot. The hike up is around 5 minutes. They are steps of rocks going up. We had a beautiful view from the top !! Most people left because of the rain so we were able to get some nice photos but the wind was a little wild. read more

Tons of people here at sunrise and sunset! The parking lot is very small and if there are no spots you'll have to drive up the mountain through a rush hour of cars to park in the $3 lot and hike over to the mesa. The hike from the airport is a narrow path, good for light exercise but nothing too exciting until you start getting closer to the Mesa. It's a slight uphill in the way back and more tiring. The Mesa overlooks a vortex and is a short climb to the top for an insane 360 view, there were always people in top the entire week so you'll have to take your time if you are up there for pictures with minimal people in it. read more

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Very easy hike with beautiful views. Perfect to catch the sunset. There's an overlook area right next to the parking, or you can hike like 20 minutes to the other overlook area which is a much better view! read more

Very nice hike. Beautiful views and a decent hike. It is just a little loud because of the airport but parking is pretty easy and cheap. I'd recommend to friends and anyone who enjoys hiking. Not super difficult or crowded but still good if you want to get your steps in. read more

Airport Mesa - Da nice view - Hiking Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

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This place is a tourist trap. There's a small scenic overlook... But there's plenty around town. You have to pay $3 just to park here. I highly suggest going to dinner at the restaurant in the back and then coming to see the view just to avoid the $3 fee. Hell, it takes only a couple of minutes to look at the view so you can park all the way in the back and be done in just 10 minutes. There's an expensive hotel place in this area along with the airport (it costs $500 a night on weekends). You could pay $500 instead of the $3 to see the view, amirite guyz? Also, this place can get crowded because it is a place with a vortex. Odd that this is the only city that I know that touts that it has multiple vortexes. read more

Parking was full where the mesa is, so we kept driving up and there was a bigger lot with an all day parking of $3. The trail was fun and easy going down, along the airport barriers at times but there were trees and rocks with beautiful views of Sedona as a backdrop. Once we got to the mesa (the boulder), we climbed to the top which was easy, and it felt so unreal. The energy it brings is calming and I felt at peace there. Wished I got to stay longer but it was time to climb back up! read more

Short hike to summit and great views of the entire Vortex. Even in January with no wind clear sunny skies was comfortable in shorts and even short sleeves (although long sleeve sweat shirt best when not moving). read more

Once again, it's ironic reviewing nature but here we are again. This is a very very popular spot and once you go, you can understand why! You drive all the way up to the top and then there is a small $3 parking fee without a timed limit. There is a small free parking lot directly below the Vortex but only fits about 12 cars. We've only ever caught the sunsets here and they have blown us away. You can see all of Sedona from up here and it's definitely worth it. Once you park at the top, there is an overlook that you can stay at. However, there is a trail that leads directly down to the Vortex. It's a small hike and pretty easy. There were a bunch of families with kids and older people hiking it, as well. You can also find some amazing views of Sedona just from this trail alone. The actual Airport Mesa Vortex is a very steep climb with narrow steps so make sure you're careful climbing both up & down. Once you're on top of the Vortex, you have a full 360 degree look of Sedona and the various beautiful rock formations. Soak in the energy and breathe. We slipped away to the side where there were no people and definitely felt the energy and it was a surreal experience. The main thing to keep in mind is to stay quiet and not be too loud because there were some people loudly talking and laughing which took away from the experience. read more

If you want easy access to an AMAZING sunset view, this is the place to come! Drive/parking: Just a short drive up the airport mesa road (or a moderate hike if you prefer that!). There is a parking lot at the top that has plenty of space. If I remember correctly, it was about $3 to park. You could also purchase bottled water there too. Bathrooms: In the very corner of the parking lot (out of site) there are some porterpotties. We didn't use them but noted they were there Crowd: We arrived about an hour ahead of sunset and it was already crowded. It only got more so as the window of time closed. I definitely recommend arriving on the earlier side. Also, as soon as the sun set, there everyone funneled to their cars and left. This created quite a lot of traffic both coming out of parking and down the one-lane road off the hill. I highly recommend going over to Mesa Grill and getting a drink or dinner while the crowd clears. The walk to Mesa grill is very short, but you could also move your car there as they have free parking. Other things to note: BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR!!!! If you get there earlly, you will be standing for a while! read more

Airport Mesa - Hiking Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

The views offered at this mesa are amazing! There's a short drive up to the overlook and there is parking across the street. There's a $3 fee for cars which is a reasonable price. Stunning stunning views of Sedona!! I didn't want to leave, but the temperature was lower than expected so I was too cold to stay. There's a well marked 2 lane road with guard rails on the way to the top. If you want to hike, you can do that too. read more

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I went to the overlook park. I thought the view and sunset was just ok. It does get really crowded for sunset. Nice place to get a picture of all of Sedona. read more

What a fun hike. We originally wanted to stop here to watch the sunset but we had so many things on we wanted to do that were around by the time sunset came. The views you'll see hiking the trail are very breathtaking! I believe it connects to another trail as we we came to a little intersection that let you turn right or left. There were many other people here in hiking as well. I'd of course recommend some comfortable shoes and water as you stroll up and down the trail. You can never really get enough of seeing the red socks and overall scenery and Airport Mesa is a good starting and stopping point to get some great views or Sedona. read more

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I was intent on going to a vortex in Sedona and we visited Airport Mesa overlook on our last night in town. If you're new to desert vortexes, it's a spot in nature providing healing energy within its sacred grounds. This definition was pulled from visitsedona.com. "A vortex is believed to be a special place on earth where energy is either entering into the Earth or projecting out of the earth's plane." Skeptics might find this laughable or hokey but you won't really know what its about until you're actually there. If you do find yourself here and still didn't reap its positive effects, then that's on you. Plan on getting there early if you want to catch the sunset. I would arrive at least an hour before sunset because with nearly a hundred other folks trying to catch some nature/positive energy feels, real estate is limited. Although it was a full crowd, people were respectful of space. As sunset approached with a growing crowd, everyone was just super chill and kind. They even had an on-site guitarist which helped set the calm mood. Airport Mesa is a beautiful spot providing gorgeous views of the Red Rock landscape. You can catch all of Courthouse Butte, East Twin Buttes and Lee Mountain (and I'm sure I forgot more) in one viewing section. Everyone is going to have a different experience but as we stood there waiting for sunset, I felt zen and happy to have been in the presence of such a majestic landscape. All in all, the positive energy is real folks. Come on down if you're in town and get your woo-sah on! read more

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Just stunning. Recommend hiking up the highest point to capture some breathtaking pictures and views. It's a climb! But there is some railing of cabling that you can grab onto that helps. I'm petrified of heights but made it up. I didn't go near the edge like my daughter however this was tolerable for me. There is limited parking available at the beginning of the entrance otherwise you can drive to the top of the road where there is a parking lot where you can pay to park. However keep in mind that if you park in the lot, you'll have to hike down to get to the Airport Mesa and where I captured these shots. And it's quite a way down. The hike down is ok but the hike back up is Whoa exhausting. Be sure to pack plenty of water. The lot is good for viewing the Sedona overlook. Came back this evening to watch the sunset. There was light showers while we were up there which made for a triple rainbow! Absolutely breathtaking views! As the sun goes down, it shines onto the mountains and they just glow! Stunning event. Recommend making the trek for the sunset. We headed up around 6:30-6:45ish for the sunset around 7:45. read more

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It's weird to pay to watch the sunset, but I was already here and decided to take the easy way out instead of hiking. It was great to see the Red Rocks with the glow of the fading sun, but the sunset itself was not much to rave about. If you just want the Red Rock views there are plenty of other spots to admire it. It was nice t have a musician playing soothing music in the background. The summit is very popular so expect large crowds. So parking... The base has very few spots. I ended paying $3. at the summit to park in the large lot. If you want an evening view, the collection booth was closed so you can enjoy the cityview for free. read more

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Fantastic service (Jose aka Smiley) Phenomenal food! Kudos to the kitchen team! Awesome ambience @ the airport! One of our favorites everytime we visit Sedona. read more

Airport Mesa - Airport! - Hiking Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

Airport Mesa is known as the best place in Sedona to watch the sunset - and after visiting, I can see why. It definitely provided wonderful views of the sun setting amongst the red rocks. I highly recommend checking out Airport Mesa for the sunset views. We learned about Airport Mesa by a local who recommended that we should check out this trail for sunset as it has some of the best views for it. We made a plan to do so, and learned that there was a parking lot area where people could go to watch the views. However, along the way to the parking lot was the trailhead for Airport Mesa, which I highly recommend you do instead of drive to the parking lot. The hike is super short and is more rewarding than driving to the top since you clearly get your exercise in AND there's less of a crowd at the trail. Just note that the parking area for the trail itself is very limited, with only a handful of spots for cars. Airport Mesa at sunset was crowded since it's so popular. Get here early if you want the best seat in the house. But it doesn't matter much since there was plenty of room to see the views and the parking lot at the top where most people go to watch the sunset is plentiful. If you do plan to drive up instead of hike, there is a small fee for parking. We enjoyed our time here and if you're in Sedona then you know just how beautiful the sunsets are in the area, so why not have the best view of it? read more

Airport Mesa - Airport Mesa View - Hiking Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

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I did a lot of research on which trail to take mother who's in her 70s that's not so difficult, short in distance, and where you can get the panoramic view. That would be at Airport Mesa. Few things you need to know: 1. The trailhead parking lot only has 10 spaces. 2. Go straight to park at Airport Vista Overlook lot. This will cost $3 and add on about 0.6 more miles to the trailhead. 3. Airport Loop is 3.2 miles 4. Summit trail is 0.6 miles from trailhead. 5. Sedona view is 0.6 from Airport Vista Overlook lot to trailhead. 6. Very rocky. Need sturdy shoes and recommend hiking poles. Start early due to the heat and bring water. We arrived at 6:30am and no spots so we parked at the overlook lot. There's a machine for you to pay $3. There was nobody there until we got back. You can by water and ask questions. There's also portable bathrooms for your convenience. Follow the trail along the fence then you get to a gate that says "Sedona View". It's actually heavy so be careful when you swing it open. Go through that and follow along the fence. The next mark would be a bench, great photo spot. I believe this is why they call it Sedona View? There's a second bench as you keep walking but it's not so visible on the trail. We didn't see this until the way back. It took us 30 mins to get the the trailhead and it was 7am, lots of cars left after they saw the sunrise. Half the parking spaces were available. Once at the trailhead, soak up all the views then you'll see signs to the summit. Very well marked. You go up the steep steps and hold on to the wire railing. It was windy at the top. The way down is the same, go down the steps while holding on to the wire railing. You're back at the trail head and follow the signs to Sedona View which will take you along the fence back to the lot. Took us two hours total for 2.4 miles round trip but that's with my elderly mother with hiking poles. I would recommend parking at the overlook lot because across the street, is also another nice photo op area. We didn't do the loop because it took us 2 hours for 2.4 miles and I read that it looks nice one way but the return way is just residential view. read more

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Great views! We can twice during our trip (yes, there is a parking fee). And it's perfect at sunset. There's also a short hike from Airport Mesa views down to the vortex (but it's not a pretty hike, so you can opt to just drive down if that's easier - also going back up would be a straight uphill climb, do not recommend). Parking near the vortex is tougher as there are only a few spots, but parking at Airport Mesa is plentiful. read more

We wanted an easy walk/hike since it was our first day and we had come from the airport. We came 1-2 hours before the sunset and the parking lot had plenty of space! The walk over to the view was pretty easy and took about a mile. The spot provided an expansive view and it was a great introduction to Sedona's sights. There are big rocks to sit on and take in the view. It starts getting very crowded right at sunset so I would recommend planning on getting there earlier! read more

Airport Mesa - Hiking Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

No, I would not recommend this place. It get so crowded because it is so popular. It is so popular because it has this huge parking lot to accommodate so many people. But this is NOT the best place for a sunset or sunrise. Honestly. WIth the crowds, it is noisy and everyone is elbowing each other for the best picture. If you have ANY sort of reasonable ability to hike, DO IT. There are so many trails around the area with BEAUTIFUL and BETTER views of Sunrise/Sunset. I get why some people have to come here. They are older, physically declined, or have distractions that make it difficult to climb trails (i.e. kids). The drive up here though...so annoying. The drive into the lot ALSO crosses with the cross walk to the viewing spot so of course traffic backs up. There is a reason they recommend you get there early. We drove up and immediately decided to go back down. It was just not worth it. Despite what all the books say, there are way better spots for viewing elsewhere. However, this is definitely the easiest to get to. read more

Having been to Sedona, AZ thirty years ago, I wanted to find the same spiritual energy and enlightenment that I found back then. Unfortunately, it has gained a lot of tourists, and so the purpose of visiting a place that is supposed to have a vortex is a mute point. We came at about sunset, which is nice, but we were the only ones who had the same idea. Fortunately, we found a parking spot, and during a holiday to boot. The hike is minimal if hardly a hike at all. The views are nice, however I found Red Rocks scenic byway spectacular compared to this place, and perhaps took better pictures there as well. We did find this magical energy spot someplace else, away from crowds, and in a secluded, but rather private hike near Camelback Mountain, and just after sunset, where in the distance we felt the electricity from a thundercloud in the distance, and that was powerful. read more

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Great place to see the view! There might be a fee. Depends when u go. Parking is across the street. read more

Airport Mesa - Hiking Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

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The best place to see the sunset over Sedona. For just $3/car at the lookout, you can see the town set against the red rock mountains, and an endless sky above. The road up here is well-maintained as well. No complaints here. Take the drive up! read more

Airport Mesa - View from Airport Mesa IG: @ohmyono - Hiking Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

This is a hot spot for stunning views, especially at sunset at the vista point! Airport Mesa is part of the local Red Rocks trail systems & require a pass to use the parking lots. You can acquire a parking pass for the week at several locations including ranger stations. If you have a Annual National Parks pass- that will work too. If you park without one, you may be ticketed or towed. I did see someone checking in another lot on another trail. Sunset at the vista- expect crowds of selfie taking couples & families. And the odd ball trying to move a tripod around with an expensive camera attached. The sun lights up the mesas across the valley in stunning colors. I advise to get in, enjoy & get out. You're not taking pictures of the sunset, but of the glowing red rock. The trail parking lot halfway up the hill gives you access to several trails. If you go straight up just 70 feet you're in "the saddle" and this is where the vortex is said to be felt. We went first thing in the morning & that was a mistake. The blinding sun made for no good picture taking. We still enjoyed the quiet & the nature, but I would recommend going a little later to enjoy views more! read more

The Airport Mesa in Sedona, Arizona is a short trail from a small parking area to a fairly limited view of Munds Mountain and East Twin Butte. Although it is very close to the AMAZING view at Airport Scenic Lookout, they face totally opposite directions (or so I first thought). The elevation gain between the parking area and Mesa viewing area is about 35 feet, so not terribly difficult for anyone of any age. However, if you want more amazing views, you can take the short Summit Trail with an additional 50 feet of elevation gain to a much more scenic 360° view! The parking area has 10 dedicated spaces + one handi-capable space, but there is a slight bit of room for 1 additional car if parked parallel with the road. I only visited the lower viewing area and not the summit because I was not aware of it, but I would highly encourage making the trek to the summit. Based on pics I've seen online, it is absolutely worth the extra effort. If time is not a problem, there is a connector trail from the Mesa to the 3.2 mile Airport Loop Trail. It walks you around the outer ridge of Table Top Mountain and puts all of Sedona within bird's-eye view. A clear day should net you some AH-mazing photos. Also, if parking is full, you can also use the parking area @ the Airport Scenic Overlook. There is a 1/2 mile trail that connects the parking lot to the Mesa Overlook. SIDENOTE: There is currently a $3 fee to park at this lot. [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] I wish I'd been more aware of this cool location and all of it's features. I would have likely spent more time here. I only stopped last minute because I had a little extra time before our Pink Jeep Tour was to begin. Don't make the same mistake I did. Even if you don't explore the Airport Loop Trail, don't miss the views from the summit! 2022 / 12 read more

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As easy-to-reach Sedona overlooks go, this takes the cake! One of my fav Sedona spots. If you were only here a few days, this is a simple must. It gets a little busy around sunset, but is a nice place to wrap up after a great day of working out on the wondrous Sedona trails. read more

Airport Mesa - Hiking Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

The parking at the summit fills up quickly. We parked at a private parking lot with $3 fee. The place gets really crowded about 1 hour before sunset. The views from this spot are spectacular! read more

It's a beautiful view! However, the parking midway up was full and had to go to the top where there's no hiking trails simply an overlook that they charge you three dollars to utilize. You cannot use that parking pass anywhere else so three dollars for a five minute view is a little excessive. There are many other places around Sedona with gorgeous views that you can check out and hike. This is a hotspot for watching a sunset, but again incredibly crowded and just not worth the trip in my opinion. It's right directly on the road so you hear the people driving over the guard rail. It's too noisy to get any peace and real meditation in. Very touristy read more

Killer view, worth the small fee to park (about $3 if I remember correctly). It had incredible views of the area! read more

Airport Mesa - The view! - Hiking Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

We stopped at Airport Mesa to check out the views at the summit but we didn't have enough time to do the loop trail as I would have liked to. This is a great spot to take in all of Sedona. I'd recommend it in nice weather, such as very early in the morning with coffee and brekke packed to take in the sunrise or later in the evening. We snagged a spot in the parking spots right below. read more

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