After hiking Bear Mountain we set our sights on Doe Mountain. These two make a perfect combo because they start from the same trailhead. We started hiking a little before noon and made steady progress up the switchbacks that lead to the plateau. It’s easy going and the trail levels off after an easy 500 ft gain. Once up top we followed the trail signs to a view point facing southeast towards Sedona. From there we made a clockwise loop along a use trail that circles the plateau. We stopped for a handful of pics and both commented we were getting hungry for lunch. We decided to finish up and head over to Fay Canyon Arch where we’ll take an extended lunch break. The hike down was a breeze and we were back to the jeep around 1pm. This was a nice and easy hike with wonderful views.

I was looking for another shorter hike to complement my hike at West Fork, and Trekkin Gekko recommended this one in the forums. This one was exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. Excellent contrast to West Fork, in both scenery and crowds! Got to the trailhead around 4:30 or 4:45pm. I planned to be up here for sunset.

The climb up was a good, short workout. Some steep rocky sections but the hike is short enough for it not to matter much. Made it to the top before sunset, so I wandered around the mesa, checking out the views in all directions, until the sun went down. Not a cloud in the sky so it wasn't a spectacular sunset, but still nice. Didn't explore the entire mesa but I covered most of it. Really nice up there. Headed back down and got back to my car before it got too dark.

This hike put me at over 10 miles and 1300+ AEG for the day... my first 10+ mile day! I know that's nothing compared to some people here on HAZ, but a year ago this would have been unthinkable for me.

Plan A didn't work out as the Oak Creek Corridor was still closed, (But reopens Wednesday!) so we opted for two other Sedona Hikes I'd not yet done.

It rained the majority of the ride to Sedona, so we were happy when we got to the TH and it appeared that things were clearing.

Bear Mountain Trail #54

Nice hike up the Bear passing a few runners who'd already been to the top. Views on the way up were made interesting by the low and breaking clouds casting shadows across the landscape. Temps were a refreshingly cool 62 with a gentle breeze to start, dropping to 53 at the top. 2.5 miles to the top gaining 1,900 from the TH, we lost our views being in the clouds. We'd planned to explore the top a bit, but it was useless since we couldn't see a thing and it was looking like it could dump on us. So back down we went. A couple hundred feet down, and we were out of the clouds again. We opted for an off trail jaunt to try and get to a neat looking ridge. We played with it for awhile, finally giving up and going back up.

Nice hike that I'd like to do again in the future with better views up top.

Doe Mountain Trail #60

On Doe Mountain, I knew we were on a different type of hike than typical for us, when we passed by a mother and her 3, less than 5 year old kids (I think a first for me). They were not going to make it to the top, but still interesting. The trail was in great condition andt people of most hiking abilities could manage.

We did the hike around the circumference of the top to take in the surrounding views. This would be a great hike to take out of town guests or non-hikers on, to give them a taste of Sedona. Enough of a challenge to give them a taste of hiking and some very nice views of the Sedona Red Rock areas.

Video includes a Bear on Bear Mountain http://youtu.be/UT92YX9pYYw

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Original plans for an exciting foray to Lost Wilson terminated. Absolutely no recreational parking in Oak Creek Canyon due to the Slide Fire from four months ago.

We decide on Bear Mountain, a long time favorite of mine. Dark clouds kept Wilson covered as we hiked up, the denial blues faded quick. Bear is a cool hike no doubt. Serious National Geographic power punch views on occasion. Yet seemed a notch lower than memory served.

Topping out we passed a couple and a defined hiker. The summit was covered in dark fast moving clouds. As much as we wanted to explore further it was pointless. Heading down we put a little meat on the bone checking out the SW corner overlooking Robinson Tank. We made an attempt to find a route down. After a series of "should we continue" moments it looked promising but felt the safest option was to abort. The views witnessed here were incredible so my love for this hike was rekindling.

Next we worked our way over to the southern most lookout for a break. Very nice indeed and only a few feet from the trail. We passed a couple more hikers heading down.

Bruce thought it would be nice to add in Doe Mountain so up we went. We hiked over to the west side and noted a doable route option down off the side. Next we followed the rim CW to the southern end for lunch. It was pretty windy our entire hike yet nice to be out of the heat of summer for a change. Lunch was a nap watching a few tall blades of grass sway in the wind.

Carried 3 quarts, consumed 1

Was visiting my GF in Sedona and decided to crank out a couple of solo hikes while she worked on Saturday. After looking over my location (her place) relative to my guide books, I decided on Doe Mountain. (also did Fay Canyon, and then drove way the pumpkin out to Honanki only to find they closed at 3pm - and yes, they were fenced off. Bummer!)

I drove my little Accord in from the east side on a dirt road called Bill Gray/761 until I hit 525C and then 525 to Boyton. None of this area looked familiar to me and I'm surprised I haven't hit any of these hikes in the past 30 years I've lived in Flag. I'll definitely be back for more, with Bear Mountain on the short list.

I paid the $5 bucks (need to get a RR pass, or does the NPS Pass still work? I used to be able to just put that card on my dash) and grabbed a pint of water. I totally forgot my hat and could have use it...it was pretty hot and sunny. I sped up the switchbacks passing some slowpokes, then circumferenced the top checking out the views on every side. (Chumley, I took my shirt off and thought about you!)

Was a nice little hike, but not super challenging!! There is a small butte just to the Southwest (near the rich houses) that looked really fun.

On our quest to experience every trail in the Sedona area we decided on Doe Mountain today as a kind of "spur of the moment" effort. What a nice trail! Not difficult, and fabulous panoramic views from the top. Even though the temps were invitingly mild, there were no other poeple on top (that we saw). Another great day in the red rock country!

early morning hike with my brother
took about 15 minutes to get up to the mesa
spent a good hour hitting every possible viewpoint on the perimeter
estimating the mileage
cool place and killer views
saw some hot air balloons
had a lot of fun with my bro and would like to explore the mesa again
this would be an excellent hike to take someone new to the sedona area

I finally got to use the Red Rock Pass that fellow HAZer George Steele and his wife gave me when they came to visit the Office Owl a couple months ago. My plan this day: Doe, Faye, Boynton. I ended up only doing Doe and Faye Canyon Arch plus trail all the way back to the cairns at the other end of the bench.

I left N Phx at 6AM arriving at the TH at 8 (stopped to use the McD restroom just before turn off to Dry Creek Rd as I didn't realize they had a restroom at the TH). I started hiking around 8:15AM. The first part of the hike that goes UP was in the shade so that was quite nice. It really is such a scenic area with Bear Mtn across the way and I'm not sure what mountains were in the far distance to the NW and West (Bradshaws?).

After taking a movie and admiring the many delphinium and other flora on the way, I arrived at the top after .7 miles in 28 minutes. I was just glad to be out hiking so I can keep my hiking legs in shape. (I'll have a two week hiatus at the end of the month, beginning of June so I'm afraid I will lose my hiking mojo. I want to keep myself in shape for my big Glacier hike Aug 4th.) The mesa is really beautiful and the trail takes you immediately east across to the other side.

And of course, once you're to the other side your views, tho a bit hazy in the AM, were just amAZing . You can see all the way across the valley including N to Faye Canyon and Bear Mtn, east past Mescal Mtn and toward the Dry Creek area of Vultees Arch and Devil's Bridge hiking areas and then as you veer to the south you see the very huge Capitol Butte and the cute Chimney Rock as you look toward Sedona. And on top of all this, you can look along the cliff of the mesa as you are drawn to walk south.

I didn't have a plan at this point so I decided to follow along the path from time to time but for the most part, I wanted to stay near the edge and for the most part, this was pretty easy to do. Before you know it your views to the south are expanding and now you can see Courthouse Butte, Bell Rock and after walking a little further, Cathedral Rock. What more could a hiker ask for? The temps were great, the day was young, the scenery was wonderful and with each step you can't wait to see what else there was.

The great thing with this hike too is that if you are exploring at the edge and then decide it's too brushy, you can walk back toward the center of the mesa where you usually encounter a trail/pathway. Now how cool is that! It is rather interesting when you're walking on the edge and you look over and realize you are walking on a piece of the edge that is not fully attached to the mesa . I eventually encountered what looked like was a climbing area as there were bolts and other climbing metal all over the place and about 3 cairns. It was closer to the SW side.

I continued my stroll around the entire south side of the mesa and eventually headed north to the north side. The views to the NW were spectacular . The north side was a little more brushy so you couldn't stay as close to the edge. Eventually you are back to the area where you came up so down you go. I encountered a few hikers from time to time. On the way down I enjoyed some more flora and visited with a few of the folks I encountered.

This is a fun little mountain and I know if I lived here I would visit it frequently as it's easy to combine with another hike like I was doing today. I was so anxious to get to my next hike that I forgot to take a pic of Scout and turn him off until my next hike so my time is a bit of a guestimate.

Here is the video: http://youtu.be/L_35a9N62ng

Noticed I'd recorded hike number 299 on HAZ so felt I could not do one of my local fitness hikes for # 300. I've done most of the 5-7-9 mile hikes in Sedona so now I'm combining some of the short hikes. Left the house at 6:30 AM and was at the TH at 8:15 AM. While this is a short hike I really enjoyed the views from the mesa at the top. Gave me chance to see some of the other area's Id hiked and put them in perspective. About half way down I had a couple yell down from above "hey is this the trail". I asked if they were going up or down and they said up.... told them in a nice way to backtrack until they found the trail again. Maybe it's just me, but couldnt they have looked for at least 5 minutes before asking for help

We were in Sedona for a conference at the Hilton and just barely had time to get to the top before it started raining and we scampered back down. I was hoping to let Caroline loose (relatively speaking) on the mesa top to play, but instead she got covered in rain gear! She's a trooper - didn't make much of a fuss. We played on the rocks in the parking lot for an hour before getting back in the car. She needs leg stretching time. Ate dinner at Nic's in Cottonwood - good grief I love that place. Why does Crema close at 6pm? We made it in just before they closed for really good ice cream -- don't miss the salt caramel.

p.s. Thanks to HPP for other ideas for short afternoon summer hikes ... have filed those away for future trips, thanks!