Wilson Mountain Sedona Hike: The One Trail That Puts You Above Everything

Every other trail in Sedona puts you inside the red rock formations, looking at them from ground level. Wilson Mountain does something different. You climb 2,600 feet to the top of the highest point in the red rock country, and then you look straight down at the formations you usually stand beside. Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, the whole Sedona valley laid out 2,600 feet below you.

That perspective shift is worth the work.

Trail Overview

Wilson Mountain rises directly above Midgley Bridge and Oak Creek Canyon, topping out at 7,122 feet. The south trailhead at Midgley Bridge starts at roughly 4,500 feet, which means the climb covers 2,600 vertical feet over 5.8 miles. Out and back is 11.7 miles total.

Most people don’t hike the whole thing. That’s fine. The trail has two natural stopping points that offer their own payoff.

First Bench sits at mile 3, around 1,400 feet of gain from the trailhead. You climb through pinyon-juniper on sustained switchbacks, then suddenly the slope eases and you step out onto a sloping plateau. Looking south from First Bench, you see the entire Sedona valley and its formations below you. That view is the reason to do this hike. The 6-mile round trip to First Bench is a good hard day.

Second Bench is another 2 miles from First Bench with roughly 600 more feet of gain. The terrain flattens out considerably from bench to bench. Second Bench is less visited and feels more remote, with ponderosa pine replacing the pinyon-juniper of the lower trail.

The final push to the summit from Second Bench adds the last 600 feet over about a mile. The summit sits in a grove of large ponderosas. On a clear day, the San Francisco Peaks, 40 miles north near Flagstaff, are visible from up here. You won’t find that view from any other trail in the Sedona area.

Getting There

The Midgley Bridge trailhead (Wilson Mountain South Trail) is on SR-89A, about 1.5 miles north of the Sedona Y intersection headed toward Oak Creek Canyon. Look for the signed Midgley Bridge parking area on the left (west) side of the highway just before the bridge itself.

The parking lot holds roughly 20 cars. It fills by 8am on busy weekends in spring. Arrive early or plan to park on SR-89A and walk to the trailhead. There is no overflow lot here.

Red Rock Pass required: $5/day, $15/week, $20/year. Buy at the kiosk on site, online at recreation.gov, or at the Red Rock Visitor Center on SR-179 south of town. America the Beautiful annual pass works here.

The alternate north trailhead is at Encinosa Picnic Area in Oak Creek Canyon, about 8 miles north of Sedona on SR-89A. This approach is longer and more forested, passing through the ponderosa pine zone for most of the climb. The two trailheads connect at the summit plateau. Some people do a point-to-point with a car shuttle between the two trailheads.

Trail Description

Miles 0-1: Lower switchbacks

The trail starts at the north end of the parking lot and climbs immediately. No warmup. The first mile is a series of tight switchbacks through pinyon pine, one-seed juniper, and alligator juniper on loose decomposed granite. The trail is well-worn and easy to follow.

You gain about 700 feet in this first mile. The switchbacks are relentless but never technical. This section is the reason so many people turn around early. Pace yourself here. The views aren’t great yet, so there’s no psychological reward until you get higher.

Miles 1-3: Upper switchbacks to First Bench

The trail continues its steep angle but the vegetation shifts. You start seeing scrub oak and Arizona cypress in sheltered sections. Views begin opening up behind you. By mile 2, you’re looking south across the Sedona valley floor.

First Bench appears suddenly at mile 3. The switchbacks end, the grade eases, and you step out onto a rocky plateau with the valley spread below you. This is the moment. The formations you drove past on SR-179 coming in, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, are all visible below. You’re looking down on them.

The bench itself is a good rest spot and lunch spot. There’s shade from scattered trees in the afternoon. Most hikers turn around here.

Miles 3-5: First Bench to Second Bench

The trail crosses the plateau on a gentler grade. You pass through sections of ponderosa pine that feel completely different from the lower desert below. The air is noticeably cooler. In winter, this section can hold patches of snow.

The route is marked by cairns across open rocky areas and follows a clear path through the forested sections. Second Bench sits at roughly mile 5, with a different set of views. Here you look north into Oak Creek Canyon and toward the Mogollon Rim country.

Miles 5-5.8: Summit approach

The final climb is moderate with a few steeper rocky sections near the top. The summit isn’t dramatic in terrain, it’s a forested plateau with some open rocky areas at the highest point. The views are better on the edges than at the absolute top.

Walk toward the north edge of the summit area for the best views down into Oak Creek Canyon and toward the San Francisco Peaks. Walk toward the south edge to look back over the full Sedona valley. The two perspectives together explain why this hike is different from everything else in the area.

What to Bring

Water is the main concern. There are no water sources on this trail. The full summit trip needs 3-4 liters. In summer, that number goes up. First Bench round trip still needs 2 liters minimum.

This trail gets cold. The summit is 2,600 feet above the valley floor. When it’s 70 degrees in Sedona, it can easily be 50-55 at the top. Bring a mid-layer regardless of the valley temperature. In winter, bring a real jacket and expect the possibility of ice on the upper trail.

Good footwear matters here. The lower switchbacks are loose and gritty. The upper plateau has rocky sections. Wear trail runners or hiking boots with grip. Sandals and flat sneakers are genuinely dangerous on the steep lower section when it’s wet.

Start early. Midgley Bridge trailhead by 6am if you’re heading to the summit. The lower section faces south and heats up fast. The earlier you’re on the upper trail, the better your chances of a cool descent.

Photo Spots

First Bench looking south is the main event. You want morning light here, when the sun illuminates the red rock formations below from the east. Stand near the south edge of First Bench and look back toward Sedona. The valley formations and Verde Valley beyond them stretch out below. Best around 8-10am.

The summit north edge looking toward the San Francisco Peaks works best on clear days from late fall through spring. The peaks hold snow from October through April in most years, which makes them visible from a long distance. Midday light is fine here, you’re mostly shooting at distance.

Midgley Bridge from below, near the trailhead, catches good golden hour light in the late afternoon. The bridge itself is photogenic against the canyon walls. It’s a 5-minute detour from the parking area.

Safety Notes

This is the most demanding full-day hike in the Sedona area. Don’t underestimate it. The switchbacks on the lower section look manageable from the bottom and feel brutal by mile 2.

Snow and ice above First Bench are real hazards from November through March. The upper plateau holds snow longer than the valley floor. Microspikes are useful if there’s any chance of ice. Check trail conditions at the Red Rock Visitor Center or recreation.gov before winter ascents.

Turn around early if you’re not feeling the summit. First Bench is a legitimate destination. Second Bench is also good. There is no shame in stopping at either. The trail doesn’t get easier after First Bench, it just gets quieter.

Heat is the summer hazard. If you’re hiking from June through September, start before 6am, stay below First Bench on all but the coolest mornings, and carry more water than you think you need. The lower switchbacks face south and turn into a solar oven by midmorning.

Related Trails

If Wilson Mountain’s length deters you but you want an elevated view, Cathedral Rock’s saddle (1.5 miles round trip) is the best short alternative. You don’t get the above-it-all perspective, but you do get commanding views of the Sedona valley in a fraction of the distance.

Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop is the best valley-level alternative for a long day hike. At 7.7 miles with 800 feet of gain, it covers significant ground at a more moderate effort level.

For a completely different Wilson Mountain experience, the North Wilson Trail from Encinosa Picnic Area in Oak Creek Canyon starts in riparian forest and climbs through old-growth ponderosa before joining the summit plateau. It’s longer and less popular, and the forest sections are a genuine contrast to the red rock desert below.