Doe Mountain Trail #60

The recorded distance is one way, with a full hike being 1.6 miles out and back. This is a popular trail in western Sedona with a mild ascent to a beautiful viewpoint looking north and east. Though popular, it is some distance away from town so even mid day on a Saturday it did not feel overcrowded. The trail begins with a gentle climb from the shared parking lot with Bear Mountain Trail. The going gets steeper at points but remains manageable for most experience levels, including a number of younger kids that were not phased. A number of switch backs give hikers the opportunity to see the nearby red cliffs and Bear Mountain In the distance. Once on top, the trail leads straight across the Mesa to an abrupt end which took words right from my wife's mouth... She literally stopped mid-sentence, looked up, and said, "WOW!" then stood speechless for a length of time. There are trail descriptions referencing a path along the edge of the mesa that could be up to 1.3 miles in distance from trailhead. Once on top of the mesa there are options, but we followed the trail markings only straight across the mesa to the logical endpoint.