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Airport Mesa

4.4 (146 reviews)

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George U.

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

Sarah T.

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.

Hot air balloons launch around 6-630am East side
Shay K.

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

Helen H.

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.

Airport Mesa overlook
Tina A.

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!

Da nice view
Braden F.

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.

There were people on top of airport mesa every time we drove past
Jay P.

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.

Mary G.

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!

Neema B.

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.

Christian C.

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.

Nina H.

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!

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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.

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Oak Creek Canyon

Oak Creek Canyon

4.8(9 reviews)
1.7 mi

Oak Creek Canyon is the gateway to Sedona. Take SR89A for a scenic tour of the beautiful red rock…read moreformations and into the town of Oak Creek. You will ohhh and ahhh at the view that is just breathtaking. Pull outs along the way.

Every summer we come up north because Phoenix is just too hot for my mother after her heat stroke…read morein 2024. We were parked off the side well away from the road and had just eaten a lovely lunch when 3 vehicles(2 trucks. One was black and one was silver. An SUV dark gray with a man and woman) with Nevada plates pulled off and blocked the road and the flow of traffic and practically on top of us. I'm beginning to see and understand the very real complaints from people who live in Sedona when they talk about entitled and aggressive behavior from tourists. My mother exited the vehicle and spoke to the small man in the SUV(around 4'2 and he was very aggressive) I didn't hear that conversation and was on the phone when all of the sudden the small angry man popped up in front of my window spouting off about delusional scenarios where I'm taking pictures of his kids(I saw no children) and acting unhinged. I verbally ripped into the person because I don't respond well to unhinged weirdos standing right next to my window. He kept rambling incoherently about his delusions and then mentioned the litter box for the cat(yes, I bring my cat when I leave for 6 months). Apparently the lunatic thought depriving a cat of a bathroom while traveling seemed reasonable. His delusions were all over the place because he was mad for being called out for dangerously blocking traffic, being entitled and acting like an unhinged lunatic because they said they just needed to take a minute. And that's another thing I'm tired of is tourists peeing all over this area when there are bathrooms and rest stops!! Definitely the weirdest behavior I've seen up north and that's saying a lot. But!!! They are from Nevada so this can't be blamed on Arizonans. But the scenic drive is still spectacular.

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Oak Creek Canyon
Oak Creek Canyon
Oak Creek Canyon

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Bell Rock - Daily Pass

Bell Rock

4.7(237 reviews)
4.6 mi

I'm not saying Bell Rock called my name... but if you'd heard it too, you probably would've shown…read moreup. There's something about Bell Rock that pulls you in. Maybe it's the shape. Maybe it's the energy. Maybe it's just that classic Sedona magic. Whatever it is, I felt it. Now let's start with the one challenge: parking. Limited spots and a bit of patience required. It took a while to find a place, but I decided to call that my warmup. Pro tip: arrive early or later in the afternoon if you want better odds at a spot. Once you hit the trail, everything changes. The path is wide and welcoming. No punishing climbs. No technical scrambling. Just an easy walk surrounded by those famous red rock views that make Sedona feel like another planet. And the quiet. That's the part that sticks with you. Step onto the trail and the noise of the world fades away. You're left with open sky, towering rock, and that peaceful stillness that reminds you why people come here in the first place. Whether you're a seasoned hiker chasing summits or someone who just wants a beautiful walk through nature, this trail delivers. Put this one on your Sedona list. Because sometimes the best hikes aren't the hardest ones... they're the ones that simply make you stop, breathe, and look around. Some places you visit... and some places feel like they were waiting for you. Bell Rock might just be one of those.

Bell Rock is the best place to hike in Sedona. It's a flat and easy trail for about half way up,…read moreand the signage makes it's easy to follow the path. The views are absolutely spectacle from all angles and places on the mountain and trail. There's truly nothing more beautiful than the red rocks in Sedona and Bell Rock is a place to see the true beauty. Parking can be tricky but patience is key, as people are always coming and going. Whether you're an avid hiker or a true rock climber, this mountain is for you!

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Bell Rock - Banana yucca flowers/ Bell rock trail

Banana yucca flowers/ Bell rock trail

Bell Rock - Parking Lot View (05/22/25). #BellRock #CourthouseButte @VisitSedona #Sedona #Hiking #Traveling

Parking Lot View (05/22/25). #BellRock #CourthouseButte @VisitSedona #Sedona #Hiking #Traveling

Bell Rock

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Broken Arrow Trail

Broken Arrow Trail

4.8(62 reviews)
1.7 mi

Another trip up and back on the famous Broken Arrow Trail. This is my 4th time running this trail…read moreand it never disappoints. It's a short trail but a really fun trail. We saw a stock Tacoma and a stick Jeep getting dirty today. Nit recommend but they made it. I was in a Raptor today with 37" tires and I think we bottomed out two or three times. Keep in mind that if your vehicle is stock make sure you have a short wheel base and absolutely must have 4 wheel drive.

Overall a delightful hike-…read more We arrived early, so parking was easy (they had about 14 set spots)- however when leaving we noticed the lot was beyond packed & people were circling for spots (bit of advice) As we walked along the bumpy trails there was an element of rock climbing & inclined spots Also note- watch out for the Pink Jeep Tours; professional intense driving (they look like a great time) but their roads intersect with the trail a fair amount & they drive up certain viewpoint walks- The trail started off well marked, then hit a viewpoint area, and signage dropped off-while we thought we were scrambling up Chicken Point, we discovered we were just scrambling for fun & were able to view the real Chicken Point from the top of our mountain Then we wanted to take Hog Wash trail back-but couldn't find the loop connect at the end of Broken Arrow I still rate the trail very high because our random scrambles were quite challenging & entertaining- it's a great area to explore based on your capability- and offers many varying side paths

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Broken Arrow Trail - Ford Raptor made it with no problems

Ford Raptor made it with no problems

Broken Arrow Trail
Broken Arrow Trail - Ford Raptor made it with no problems

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Ford Raptor made it with no problems

Boynton Canyon Trail

Boynton Canyon Trail

4.6(99 reviews)
6.1 mi

We hit Boynton Canyon Trail early. And I mean early enough that the air still had a chill to it and…read morethe light was just starting to spill over the rock. That's not a suggestion, it's the move. Give this place a head start on the day or it'll make you pay for it later. The trail opens gently, almost deceptively so. Wide path, easy footing, a kind of calm that makes you think you're in for a casual walk. Then the landscape starts to shift. The canyon walls rise, the color deepens, and the space narrows just enough to pull your attention forward. It's not a straight shot either. The trail has a rhythm to it. It bends, it reveals, it hides just enough to keep you moving. What stands out is how the environment changes as you go. You're not just walking toward a viewpoint. You're moving through layers. Open desert gives way to pockets of shade, then back out into sun where the red rock feels almost alive under that early light. The contrast is constant, and it keeps the whole thing interesting without needing anything artificial. We went as a group, mixed pace, different levels of enthusiasm, and it worked. Some pushed ahead, some took their time, but nobody felt like they were struggling to keep up or being held back. That's a rare balance. It's approachable without being boring, and it gives you just enough challenge to feel like you earned the views. And the views are worth it. There's a moment where the canyon really opens up, and you get that full Sedona effect. Towering formations, deep reds, shadows cutting across the rock in ways that change minute by minute. It's the kind of scene that makes people stop mid-conversation and just look. Phones come out for a second, then go right back into pockets because you realize it doesn't translate. Silence shows up out there in a way that's hard to find. Not total silence, but a kind of quiet that feels intact. Wind moving through, the occasional bird, footsteps on the trail. That's it. It clears your head whether you planned on it or not. By the time we were heading back, the temperature was climbing fast. That early start paid off. You could feel the shift, the desert reminding you who's in charge once the sun gets high. If you go later in the day, it's a different experience entirely, and not in a good way. A few practical things. Bring more water than you think you'll need. Wear real shoes. This isn't the place to test your balance in something flimsy. And pace yourself. It's not a race, and the trail is better when you let it unfold. There are a lot of hikes around Sedona that get attention, and for good reason. This one earns its spot. It's not just about the destination. It's the progression, the way the landscape pulls you in and keeps revealing itself piece by piece. Get there early, take your time, and let it speak for itself. Five stars without hesitation.

Started this hike a little later than planned (around 10AM), but it still turned out to be such a…read moregreat experience. If you're heading to the Subway Cave, I highly recommend downloading AllTrails beforehand. Once you're on the trail, it's not very clear where to turn off. We saw a few people along the way, but no one nearby when it actually mattered... which led to a little confusion. I only went off track for a few minutes, but my friends ended up going about a mile too far before turning back The hike is about 5 miles round trip. You'll spend roughly 2 miles on the Boynton Canyon Trail before reaching the turnoff for the Subway Cave. Overall, it's a pretty easy and enjoyable hike - mostly flat and shaded through beautiful forest scenery. The final stretch up to the Subway Cave involves some rock scrambling, but it's manageable. Once you're there, you've got a couple options: you can climb up to the left for an incredible view or head to the right and climb up a different way for another great vantage point. I saw some people (even toddlers!) navigating around the rocks, but personally that part felt a little nerve-racking for me. Parking fills up quickly so plan ahead. That said, there's plenty of street parking nearby off the street, and they run shuttles on weekends, which helps a lot. Definitely bring water. It can get hot, especially later in the day. Even though this is a popular hike, I didn't have to wait at all for photos. People were hanging out and soaking in the views, but it never felt crowded or rushed. Total time for me was about 2.5 to 3 hours, including time spent relaxing and exploring at the cave. Overall, such a beautiful and rewarding hike. Just don't miss that turn!

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Boynton Canyon Trail
Boynton Canyon Trail
Boynton Canyon Trail

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Red Rock State Park

Red Rock State Park

4.4(182 reviews)
3.9 mi

Red Rock State park was the passport to our Sedona adventure. I didn't realize there was such an…read moreextensive trail system. On my list now is to figure out how to stitch all these trails together and come back and do a mega hike. Please come and create your own adventure.

We took the whole family out to Red Rock State Park, and it ended up being one of the most balanced…read moredays we've had out here. Not overwhelming, not chaotic, just... right. If you've spent time around Sedona, you know how quickly things can feel crowded and overrun. This place is the opposite. It feels more intentional, more preserved. You're still surrounded by those iconic red rock formations, but here they're framed by open meadows, clusters of trees, and the steady presence of Oak Creek winding through the park. We set out as a group, a mix of adults and kids, and found trails that worked for everyone. That's the beauty of this place. You don't have to be chasing a summit to enjoy it. The trails are well-marked, manageable, and still interesting enough to keep you engaged. You're moving through changing terrain the whole time. One minute you're walking through sunlit grass, the next you're tucked into shade near the water, then you turn a corner and the red rock rises up again like it's been waiting for you. The creek pulls you in. There's something about moving water in the desert that makes you slow down without realizing it. We stopped more than once just to sit for a minute, let the kids explore a bit, listen to the sound of it moving over rock. No rush, no pressure to keep pushing forward. Wildlife shows up if you're paying attention. Birds moving through the trees, the occasional lizard darting across the trail, subtle signs that this isn't just a scenic backdrop, it's a living system doing its thing. What stood out most was the pace. This isn't a place that demands anything from you. It lets you take it in at your own speed. Some of us pushed a little farther down the trail, others hung back and soaked it in. Nobody felt like they were missing out. It's also one of those rare parks that feels curated without feeling artificial. You can tell it's cared for. Trails are maintained, signage is clear, and there's a quiet respect for the environment that seems to carry over to the people visiting. By the time we looped back, nobody was checking the time. That's usually a sign you picked the right place. If Sedona at its busiest feels like a spectacle, this feels like a conversation. Same landscape, different tone. And sometimes that's exactly what you want.

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Red Rock State Park
Red Rock State Park - Nightshade

Nightshade

Red Rock State Park - Snoopi

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Snoopi

Airport Mesa - hiking - Updated May 2026

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