Sedona dayhike

[DetroitTigerFan]

Hi, I'm new to HAZ and I hope this is the right place to ask (and thanks for your patience if it's not...)

I have one night in Sedona next month (late April) after a GC hike and am looking for one great dayhike. I've only driven through Sedona once, almost 10 years ago, so I don't know the area at all. I do have the Sedona Trails Map by Emmitt Barks Cartography.

I have until 3-4 pm that day, and would like to keep it 10 miles or under. Strenuous is OK but it doesn't have to be; I'm mostly looking for an interesting and fun hike that will show me a bit of what Sedona's about. I'll have a mid-size SUV ("Ford Escape or similar") for trailhead access. Solitude or not, either is fine.

I've had Bear Mountain, Secret Canyon, Boynton Canyon and Boynton's Backyard suggested to me... but there seems to be so many dayhikes, I'm kind of overwhelmed. I understand there are some ruins hikes as well; would that be a better option for a first hike?

Thanks!
Sumi ("DTF")

[azbackpackr]

Secret Canyon.

[trekkin_gecko]

bear mountain

[JimmyLyding]

Wilson Mountain is my favorite in the Sedona area. Unbelievable views: http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=88455 The image is from my hike on the Wilson Mountain North hike, but both Wilson Mountain & the North version end up at the same place.

[mazatzal]

I like the north approach too. The rocky high point and the overlook are very

[azbackpackr]

Wilson Mountain is my favorite in the Sedona area. Unbelievable views: http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=88455 The image is from my hike on the Wilson Mountain North hike, but both Wilson Mountain & the North version end up at the same place.

Oh, yeah! I just did that back in Nov. I didn't do the north approach though. Yeah, I liked that hike also. Great views! Good workout!

[WilliamnWendi]

Wilson Mountain is my favorite in the Sedona area. Unbelievable views: http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=88455 The image is from my hike on the Wilson Mountain North hike, but both Wilson Mountain & the North version end up at the same place.

Oh, yeah! I just did that back in Nov. I didn't do the north approach though. Yeah, I liked that hike also. Great views! Good workout!

It is on my list to do, especially after having hiked Sterling Pass through to the Vultee.

[DarthStiller]

My vote is for Wilson Mt. see Jim's photo. I've only done a few hikes in Sedona, but I would have to say that one is the best. If you keep hiking once you get to the top, you can see great views up 89A into Flagstaff.

[WilliamnWendi]

I haven't yet settled on a must see hike unless you count West Fork of Oak Creek, though I was in awe hiking it in summer, I think most people consider that a fall hike and I am not sure that it fully represents Sedona the way most people think of Sedona. It's definitely a hard thing to choose, just being in Sedona has an impact that is easy on the soul.