Wilson Mountain Trail: The Highest Hike in Sedona
Wilson Mountain is the tallest peak in the Sedona area at 7,122 feet, and the trail to its summit is the biggest day-hike on this list — 11 miles round-trip with 2,500 feet of climbing. The payoff is a 360-degree summit view that takes in everything from the San Francisco Peaks to the Mogollon Rim to the Verde Valley. It is the hike serious hikers come to Sedona for.
Trail overview
The Wilson Mountain Trail climbs 2,500 feet in 5.5 miles from the SR-89A trailhead at Midgley Bridge to the summit plateau, where a network of social trails leads to several distinct viewpoints. Total round-trip is 11 miles and most groups need 6-8 hours. The first mile is steep switchbacks up the south face; the middle three miles ease through pine forest on the First Bench plateau; the final mile climbs sharply again to the summit. The summit itself is a broad forested plateau — the views require walking 10-15 minutes to one of the named overlooks (North Lookout, South Lookout).
What to expect
The trail starts at Midgley Bridge on SR-89A, in the parking area on the north side of the bridge. The first mile climbs hard — about 1,200 feet of switchbacks through manzanita and juniper, with views opening up rapidly back toward Sedona. After the climb levels out at the First Bench, the trail wanders through Ponderosa pine forest for several miles with periodic views of the red rocks below. The final summit climb is shorter but steep; once on the summit plateau, the South Lookout is reached by walking left (south) along a faint social trail for about 15 minutes. The view from South Lookout takes in the entire Sedona red-rock complex from above — a perspective you cannot get from any other accessible point in the area.
Wildlife is common on the upper trail: mule deer, elk in early morning, the occasional black bear (rare but documented). Carry bear spray if you are uncomfortable.
Permits + parking
The Midgley Bridge trailhead has a small Red Rock Pass lot ($5 day) that fills by 8 AM on weekends. Overflow parking is along SR-89A shoulder where legal. Cell service is patchy on the summit.
Best time to go
Spring and fall. Summer is too hot on the lower switchbacks; start by 5:30 AM if you must go in July. Winter is a serious undertaking — the upper trail holds snow into March and the summit can be icy and dangerous; this is not a beginner snow hike. Check conditions before going in winter.
Difficulty + safety
Strenuous. The distance and elevation make this a serious day-hike — fit groups only. Carry 3 litres of water per person, food, layers (the summit is 15-20°F cooler than the trailhead), and a headlamp in case the descent runs long. Dogs can do it but it is hard on them; bring extra water and food. Tell someone your turnaround time. The South Lookout has substantial drops — keep small children and dogs back from the edge.
Two summit lookouts, two perspectives
South Lookout is the more popular destination because the view is dominated by the Sedona red rocks — Cathedral, Bell, Courthouse, Capitol Butte all visible from the same overlook. North Lookout, reached by walking right (north) from the summit junction for about 20 minutes, takes in a completely different scene: Oak Creek Canyon dropping away below, the San Francisco Peaks rising 50 miles to the north, the Mogollon Rim curving east. Both are worth the time if you have the legs; if you only have energy for one, South Lookout is the photographic showpiece. Plan an extra 45 minutes on the summit if you want to visit both.
Stay nearby
Midgley Bridge is a five-minute drive from Uptown Sedona, ten minutes from our West Sedona rentals. See our Sedona vacation rentals for properties within easy reach, and check Visit Sedona for current trail conditions, especially in winter.
