Jim Thompson Trail Sedona: The Easy Desert Walk the Crowds Miss

Jim Thompson Trail doesn’t have an arch at the end. There’s no vortex marker, no famous formation to photograph, no summit to stand on. What it has is 3 miles of flat, quiet desert walking through some of the most beautiful red rock scenery in Arizona, and almost nobody on the trail.

That’s exactly what it’s for. Not every hike needs a destination that fits on an Instagram grid. Sometimes the right call is a wide trail, a slow pace, Steamboat Rock in the morning light, and the sound of no one else around.

Trail Overview

Jim Thompson Trail follows the historic road route of Sedona’s early settler Jim Thompson, who built and used this road in the early 1900s to access his homestead on the far side of the Sedona mesa. The road grade is why the trail is flat: it was built for wagon passage, which means gradual grades and wide, clear terrain.

At 6 miles round trip with only 267 feet of elevation gain, it’s one of Sedona’s easiest full-length hikes. The trail is wide enough for two hikers to walk side by side, clearly marked, and difficult to lose. It’s also an official equestrian trail, which means you’ll occasionally share it with horses. On weekend mornings in spring, that’s not unusual.

The trail connects at its upper end (around mile 3) to Brins Mesa Trail (#119), which climbs 600 feet to the mesa rim. If you want to convert the flat walk into a half-day hike with views, the Brins Mesa connection is the straightforward way to do it.

Getting There

The Jim Thompson Trailhead sits near the end of Jim Thompson Road, off Jordan Road in west Sedona. From the main SR-89A and Jordan Road intersection, drive north on Jordan Road and turn left on Jim Thompson Road. Follow it to the trailhead parking area near 100 Jim Thompson Road, Sedona, AZ 86336.

Free street parking. No Red Rock Pass required.

The trailhead can also be reached by walking from the Jordan Road area if you’re staying in west Sedona. The street walk from the Jordan Road and Jim Thompson Road intersection to the trailhead is short, about 5 minutes on foot.

GPS: 34.8944° N, 111.7958° W.

From Phoenix, it’s about 2 hours north via I-17 to SR-260 or the direct I-17 to SR-179 route into Sedona. From Flagstaff, about 45 minutes south on SR-89A through Oak Creek Canyon.

Parking fills slower here than at Forest Service trailheads because the trail doesn’t have a dramatic endpoint that draws guided tours and first-time visitors. On weekends in March, early arrival is still smart, but 8am is typically fine rather than the 7am arrival required at Soldier Pass or Devil’s Bridge.

Trail Description

Miles 0 to 1.5: Open Desert Section

The trail starts from the parking area on a clear, wide path heading northeast into open desert. The first stretch is flat, with scattered juniper, cliffrose, prickly pear, and the occasional young agave on both sides. The red rock formations are visible above and to the north from the start.

Within the first half mile, the trail’s character as a historic road becomes clear. The width, the gentle grade, and the packed surface are the evidence. You’re walking where wagons moved a century ago. The desert has grown back around the edges, but the road grade hasn’t changed.

At mile 1, the first clear views of Steamboat Rock appear to the east. Steamboat Rock is a long horizontal red butte that sits south of the Brins Mesa formation, its flat top and vertical sides making it look exactly like what its name suggests. Morning light from the east hits its north face cleanly. This is worth stopping for.

The trail continues through open scrub with periodic views north toward Capitol Butte. This is the most sun-exposed section of the hike. Early morning or late afternoon gives you the best experience here. Midday in April turns this stretch into a heat check.

Miles 1.5 to 3: Toward the Brins Mesa Junction

After mile 1.5, the terrain shifts slightly. The trail moves through a broader wash area with more vegetation on the margins, which means more shade than the open stretch behind you. Cottonwood and willow show up in low spots where seasonal water runs after winter rains.

The canyon walls to the north close in a little, giving the middle section of the trail a more enclosed feel. You’re still walking a wide, flat grade, but the scenery moves from open bajada to mild canyon approach.

At around mile 2, there’s a short section where the trail passes near a dry wash crossing. Nothing dramatic in terms of terrain, but the wash area has good bird activity in the morning. Phainopeplas (the glossy black bird with a crest) are common in the juniper here. Canyon wrens call from the rocks above. This section slows most people down simply because the bird activity is worth watching.

At mile 3, the Brins Mesa Trail junction. A clear junction sign marks the connection. If you continue straight, you’re on the Jim Thompson Trail upper section. If you turn right (north) and start climbing, you’re on Brins Mesa Trail heading toward the 600-foot switchback ascent.

For a simple out-and-back, most people turn around here. For the Brins Mesa loop option, continue north up the switchbacks, cross the mesa top, and descend the far side back to Jordan Road. That version is described in the Brins Mesa trail guide.

Miles 3 to Return: Upper Section and Turnaround

If you continue past the Brins Mesa junction rather than turning back or heading up, the trail continues north into terrain that gets more remote-feeling with each quarter mile. Fewer visitors reach this section. The trail eventually ties into the broader Sedona trail network and loses its maintained character.

Most hikers use the Brins Mesa junction as the natural turnaround for a 6-mile out-and-back. The return is the same trail in reverse. The views shift, which matters on a trail this flat. Capitol Butte and the Brins Mesa formation are now in front of you on the return rather than to your side, and afternoon light on the return trip hits differently than morning light on the way out.

What to Bring

Water first. The trail is flat, but flat desert in Sedona is still fully exposed sun for most of its length. Carry 1.5 liters per person on a mild day (under 65°F). Carry 2.5 liters when temperatures climb above 70°F. There’s no water on the trail.

This is one of Sedona’s more sun-exposed trails despite the low elevation gain. A sun hoody with UPF 50 handles the open sections far better than sunscreen reapplication mid-hike. The light fabric also keeps you cooler than a cotton shirt in late morning warmth.

Footwear requirements here are lighter than most Sedona trails. The road grade surface is packed and relatively smooth. Trail runners handle it fine. A light hiking shoe works well. Stiff technical boots are overkill. Our desert hiking footwear guide covers what each type of shoe actually does differently on flat desert trails versus technical terrain.

A hydration reservoir is convenient for a 6-mile flat trail because you drink more consistently when water is accessible without stopping. On longer flat walks, consistent small sips prevent dehydration better than big drinks every 30 minutes.

If you plan to add the Brins Mesa loop, add 600 feet of climbing to your gear calculation: more water, real hiking shoes rather than trail runners, and plan for 4.5 to 5 hours total instead of the 2.5 to 3 hours the flat Jim Thompson section takes.

Photo Spots

Steamboat Rock at mile 1, morning light: The north face of Steamboat Rock catches direct light from the east between 7:30 and 9:30am in winter. Shoot from the trail looking east-northeast with the juniper scrub in your foreground. The butte’s horizontal profile and vertical walls look different from this angle than from the Sedona valley. Less photographed, more interesting.

Wash crossing at mile 2, bird photography: If you carry a long lens (or a phone with optical zoom), the wash area at mile 2 has reliable bird activity from November through April. Phainopeplas, Gambel’s quail, and canyon wrens in the rocks above. Morning, before 9am.

Capitol Butte on the return, afternoon light: Looking northwest from around mile 1.5 on the return, Capitol Butte is directly in your line of sight. Afternoon sun in fall and winter turns the butte deep rust and orange. The flat open trail gives you a clear foreground leading toward the formation. This is the shot most people don’t plan for because it requires timing your return at the right hour.

See the desert golden hour photography guide for specific timing advice on Sedona’s formations in different seasons.

Safety Notes

The main risk on Jim Thompson Trail is sun exposure. The open desert sections have limited shade, and the flat terrain makes it easy to keep moving past the point where you should stop and rest in heat. Drink water consistently throughout the hike, not just when you feel thirsty.

If you add the Brins Mesa loop, the risk profile changes. The switchback section is moderate terrain with loose rock in places, and the open mesa top is fully exposed with no shelter. Read the Brins Mesa trail guide before committing to the extended loop.

Horse traffic is real on this trail. When you see or hear horses coming, step to the downhill side of the trail, stand still, and let them pass. Sudden movement spooks horses. Speak calmly so the horse registers you as a human, not a predator. The rider will guide the horse past. Don’t approach from the rear.

Cell signal is intermittent but better here than on ridge and canyon routes. Download an offline map before leaving Sedona as a precaution. AllTrails works fine for this with a free account.

For any trail emergency, call 911. Yavapai County Search and Rescue serves this area.

Our heat management guide covers the early warning signs of heat exhaustion that are easy to miss on a flat, moderate trail where you feel fine until you don’t.

Related Trails

Brins Mesa Trail connects at mile 3 and adds 600 feet of climbing plus the mesa top views. If Jim Thompson Trail is your warm-up hike and you want more, the Brins Mesa connection is the natural next step.

Soldier Pass is the best nearby option if you want more geological interest. The Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole and Seven Sacred Pools are more dramatic destinations than anything on Jim Thompson, though you’ll pay for it with the Soldier Pass parking situation.

Jim Thompson Trail is the right starting point if you’re new to Sedona hiking, bringing young kids, or want a relaxed morning walk with red rock scenery and almost no one around. It earns its place precisely because it doesn’t try to be a destination trail.