Hiking Project Logo

Some of the most panoramic views in the Oak Creek Canyon/Sedona area.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

5.5

Miles

8.8

KM

Point to Point

6,988' 2,130 m

High

4,566' 1,392 m

Low

2,460' 750 m

Up

125' 38 m

Down

9%

Avg Grade (5°)

30%

Max Grade (17°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Views · Wildlife

Description

This hike heads straight for some of the most panoramic views in the Oak Creek Canyon/Sedona area. Plan a full day for it and start early - the climb up Wilson Mountain is a strenuous one.

The majority of the 2,300-foot climb is packed into the first mile or so of the route. You'll have more reasons than just exertion to stop and take a breather along this route, however. The views start as soon as you leave the car and they just keep getting better.

There is shade along parts of this trail, but enough of it is out in the open to make it hot work under a summer sun. An alternate, cooler route is provided by North Wilson Trail which starts just north of Encinoso Picnic Area, 3 miles up the canyon from Midgley Bridge. The two trails join at a point midway up the mountain.

At the top you'll be rewarded with views that stretch over hundreds of square miles of scenic canyon country and include Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Coffee Pot Rock, Capitol Butte, Sterling Canyon and the Verde Valley.

The trailhead is just north of Midgley Bridge where you'll find a small parking lot and a monument to Richard Wilson who was killed by a grizzly in this area in 1885.

Flora & Fauna

Cacti, lizards, and buzzards...! Oh, snakes, too.

Contacts

Shared By:

Tom Robson

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 11 votes

#9

in Sedona

#7468

Overall
  4.3 from 11 votes
5 Star
36%
4 Star
55%
3 Star
9%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#9

in Sedona

#201

in Arizona

#7,468

Overall
29 Views Last Month
3,887 Since Apr 30, 2015
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
10%
0%
90%
0%

Photos

We were lucky to have the Wilson Mountain Trail to ourselves and covered in a blanket of snow.
Feb 23, 2017 near Sedona, AZ
Wilson Mountain Trail after a December snowfall
Dec 25, 2015 near Sedona, AZ
Great scenery along the Wilson Mountain Trail
Dec 25, 2015 near Sedona, AZ
Agave and cactus line the Wilson Mountain Trail.
Dec 25, 2015 near Sedona, AZ
Humphries Peak in the distance from the Wilson Mountain Trail.
Dec 25, 2015 near Sedona, AZ
Views across the valley from Wilson Mountain
Dec 25, 2015 near Sedona, AZ

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

May 2, 2024
Ethan B
Added lookout in addition to peak. Hiked from Sedona to trailhead, returned via car. 13.5mi
Apr 30, 2024
Anonymous
took trail to Sedona overlook and back down 9.5mi — 7h 48m
Oct 31, 2021
Anson Han
7h 00m
Jun 29, 2020
Allison Smith
Some vegetation in places, but clear 11mi — 4h 00m
Sep 1, 2019
Laura Goedhart
Did the whole Trail including first part of Wilson Canyon and the Sedona overlook. Nice views but long and hot. Segments of trail have a lot of brush 12.3mi — 8h 10m
Aug 31, 2019
Charles S
At north canyon overlook after the Sedona overlook.
May 29, 2019
C Vink
Beautiful trail going up through different vegetation zones. Excellent birding opportunities throughout. Generally easy grade up switchbacks. 5.5mi
Apr 9, 2018
Katherine Schneider
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.