Airport Mesa Trail

See EVERYTHING from up high!

Airport Mesa Trailhead

First tip: While there is a trailhead with parking, it’s tiny, so plan on driving up to the airport and pay to park in the airport lot. You can walk across the street to the vista overlooking Sedona, or head straight to the trail. You’ll pass walk a well trafficked trail that leads through a gate and on to the actual Airport Mesa trail. This section is not counted in many distances for hikes… so make sure you add that in to your time/distance expectations! We hiked 4 miles and it took about an hour and 45 minutes at a good pace (sunset and we had to hurry back!) Plan closer to 2.5 hours at a moderate pace for time to take pictures. We clocked 540ft of elevation change. The views are amazing!

We hiked clockwise to get views to the east while the sun was setting. The Rafael Fire was also active to the northwest (this was late June 2021 - the day before the Coconino Forest was shut down due to firefighting activity). We had a view of the fire which partially blocked sun at some points.

If you’re hiking near sunset, you can time the sunset with the direction you start. We hiked clockwise since we were so close to sunset. If you’re hiking at sunrise, you may want to start counterclockwise to let the sun rise over the eastern view. Make sure you give yourself a little extra time to return if you’re hiking at sunset. We started too late and it was dark by the time we got back. The lights of the city were neat to see… but the trail became hard to follow!

Expect a rocky trail, very little shade and some elevation change. There are sections that are on a wide trail, some narrow, and some that are near the mesa’s edge. It’s not terrifying by any means - but if you’re with small children, dogs, or not a fan of heights, do keep that in mind!

As with any hike, make sure you have water, sun protection (hat and sunglasses) and sunblock. We always wear hiking shoes too! In the spring and fall, 70’s in the sun can be warm, so we like light layers. In the summer heat, hydrate!! This is a nice, short hike that should take around an hour at a quick pace.

When we hike, we like to take a picture of the trailhead map at the beginning of the hike, but also screenshot what the hike looks like on Google Maps. The aerial view on Google maps almost always is more exact. In most places around Sedona (including Pyramid Trail), you’ll still get cell service on your hike. This means your little dot on Google maps will move along the trail on your phone and you can double check your progress!

If you do this hike, tag us on Instagram! @tlaquepiki