On this cool June Friday morning the Doe Mountain Trail was rather busy. Doe Mountain is a small 400-foot high mesa that sits between the Cockscomb and Bear Mountain. Most of Sedona's popular trails follow a creek or canyon. The Doe Trail is a moderately easy trek up to a platform of views.
Not usually a busy trail. With half the local
trails closed to fire restrictions Doe was a hummin! today.
From the trailhead parking, you cross the road and pick up the trail. I do recommend a morning start to take advantage of the shade going up. Long easy switchbacks take you to the top in a flash. Once on top I recommend taking a good look around before going anywhere. There is no official trail up here. Trails basically crisscross the mesa top forking off nearly every ten yards. Cairns scattered over the entire area offer little help for direction. Your options for adventure are plentiful. You could just work your way to the side of choice, likely looking back over Sedona. Most seem to follow the edge all the way around. Personally I crisscrossed, circled and spent lots of time just exploring. Most folks come up for the views in the distance. I enjoyed the sheer drop-offs along the edge more than anything.
On the south end you get a view of the Cockscomb. This is not the well-known landmark view giving it the name. There was one problem on this day. This was obviously the year of the locust. Whew, they were everywhere and thick in concentration. The screeching noise was unbelievable. Not to mention the poor airborne talents of the locust meant constant bumps in the head. I would suggest wearing jeans as the trails on top are lined with Emory Oak scrub among other prickly plants. Be careful maneuvering around the century plants or you'll learn how sharp they really are! I lost lots of blood backing into one of these several years ago in Boynton Canyon. The blood shot out like a water sprinkler. I ended up ripping the shirt off my back to stop the gusher.
All in all this was a good Sedona adventure. This would be a good trail for tourist and vacationers as it is rather easy. I think I would have enjoyed the hike more if the locust weren't so annoying. In the middle of the mesa top, huge cracks ripped through the earth due to the drought. Since this was such an easy trail I explored
Rarick Canyon on the way home and that was a blast. The distance given for this hike includes a mile of roaming on top. It could be more or less depending on your adventure.
