Brins Mesa

Among the dozens of easy and moderate Sedona Trails, the walk up to Brins Mesa is a worthwhile choice for a two-hour hike. Just a few miles from the center of town, this hike offers some tremendous scenery without requiring extreme effort. While it is popular, it is much less crowded than some of the other easy hikes such as Cathedral Rock. The Jordan Road Trailhead has a large parking area, but during busy times it could get very congested. It is also recommended to arrive early in the day for the best light for photos. There are several trails starting from this trailhead, but they are well-marked. The first part of the hike has great views of the Mitten formation to the north and Wilson Mountain to the east, but after dropping into a shallow ravine, the trail climbs steadily to the mesa top, and views ahead are limited. Once at the top of the mesa, the cliffs to the west come beautifully into view. Just past the crest of the mesa trail there is a prominent knob of yellow rock that makes a great ending point for this short hike and offers great views and a perfect spot for lunch. The hike down has great views all the way, including overheads of the eastern parts of Sedona. Like most hikes around Sedona, a Red Rock Pass is required, which can be purchased at this trailhead ($5 day, $15 week). There are also vault toilets at the parking area.