Highest Mountain around Sedona

[BranchWhitney]

What's the highest mountain or peak around Sedona/Oak Creek area? :

[joebartels]

Wilson Mtn

http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php? ... n+Mountain

[montezumawell]

We grew up thinking mountains were 'pointy things' like the nuns drew on the chalk boards. There are plenty of topographical features around Sedona that have the dubious honor of being called 'mountains.' However, few, if any, fit the classical imagery of 'mountains.' Not far away from Sedona, in the Williams, Flagstaff, Payson, and Prescott areas, there are numerous features which are more like the 'mountains' our childish minds recall from elementary school. Bear in mind that the Sedona area's fame owes itself to sedimentary geology. By definition, these layers were largely FLAT when they were deposited by ancient seas, sand dunes and tidal zones. By and large, in the area of the Coconino Plateau, they have remained mostly FLAT, even though a lot of them tower over tourists and hikers peering at them from below. Add on top of these flat sedimentary rocks gobs and gobs of molten lava that likewise tends to flow in relatively flat configurations and you have a crazy quilt layer cake appearance with lots of erosion relief (e.g. Oak Creek Canyon) etched in for aesthetic measure.
Wilson Mountain, referenced above, is a classic example of the place names so prevalent in the Sedona area. It is actually one of several high prominent features flanking the busy little tourist town they call Sedona.
However, it is just a very high elevation chuck of relatively flat old lava sitting up on top of some very intriguing sedimentary rocks. Munds Mountain, Casner Mountain, Bear Mountain, Secret Mountain, Doe Mountain, Black Mountain, and several 'lesser' mountains share many similar traits. They have somewhat steep sides but they are largely flat-lying on top. You still have to wheeze and huff and puff to hike to the top of these 'mountains' but they simply aren't mountains in the traditional sense. If you are looking for a 'classical mountain,' head on up to Flagstaff and those things they call 'peaks' up there will definitely fit the bill.

J&S in RR

[joebartels]

Yep, if you head to Sedona in search of bagging a peak you've missed the whole point. That'd be like going to Disneyland just to see the ocean!...lol Though I think Branch was just asking out of curioustiy. Since he's already completed Wilson Mtn.

It's pretty hard to claim the high point on second thought. East Pocket further up Oak Creek is higher but you don't get the Sedona pan view. In fact the further you go up Oak Creek the edge of the canyon continues to get higher until you're on it.

And true higher isn't always better, especially in Sedona. Munds is a bit lower than Wilson and packs a more breath taking view. Partially in fact cause Wilson is better to look at than Munds!