Hiking the Doe Mountain Trail – Sedona, Arizona
If you’re looking for a short hike that packs a punch (and a little bit of elevation gain too), you might want to hike the Doe Mountain trail in Sedona, Arizona. The trail is short, with switchbacks that take you up to a large mesa with views for days! There is plenty of space at the top to find some solitude and have a picnic and just enjoy the red rock scenery of Sedona. I hiked this trail during one of my many Sedona trips and I highly recommend it. Here is everything you need to know about hiking Doe Mountain in Sedona, Arizona.
Doe Mountain – Parking and Fees:
The trailhead for the Doe Mountain hike shares its parking lot with the Bear Mountain trail (Bear Mountain is a tougher, longer hike that takes you up to the highest point in Sedona). I arrived here around 2pm on a Saturday during March and easily got a parking spot. You will need to have either a Red Rocks pass or an America the Beautiful pass to park here. There is a fee machine in the lot.
The trailhead is located in a pulloff parking area off of Boyton Canyon Road in Sedona and there are pit toilets in the parking lot.
Doe Mountain Hike in Sedona – Quick Stats
Distance: 1.5 miles round trip
Type: Out and back
Elevation Gain: 511 feet
Time Needed: About an hour, depending on how long you stay up at the top to explore and relax.
Dogs are allowed but there is some mild rock scrambling along a sketchy section. I probably wouldn’t bring my dog on this trail.
Difficulty: Moderate; don’t be fooled by the short distance. You will need to climb on all fours during this hike.
Hiking Doe Mountain in Sedona
The trail starts off with a set of stairs that’ll lead you up to the trail, where you’ll being some switchbacks. Finding the trail is fairly easy, but I did get a little bit turned around at one point in the hike, so it helps to have a map on your phone. I use AllTrails.
There is a section of switchbacks which require some rock scambling that you’ll need to be on all fours to do. I really, really hate rock scrambling, and I always seem to manage to end up on a trail that has some, especially in Sedona (Cathedral Rock, anyone?!) This isn’t anything as bad as the scrambling on Cathedral Rock — so if you did Cathedral Rock, you can do Doe Mountain.
You’ll know you’ve reached the top when everything levels out. The trail continues on to the backside of the mountain you just ‘climbed’ and once there, the views are amazing! The plateau up here is huge — you will definitely be able to find a nice spot to have a snack or just enjoy the scenery.
Of course, when you’re ready, just head back down the same way you came. If you’re worried about the scrambling on the way down, it’s much, much easier going down than it was going up.
Doe Mountain Hike – Sedona Arizona – Final Thoughts
Overall, great, short hike! This hike was a lot of fun, except for maybe the sketchy rock scrambling part up on part of the switchbacks. But I did it — and this is definitely a hike I’d do again. It won’t take you very long and you’ll get some great views up at the mesa. I’ve also heard this is a great spot to watch the hot air balloons go up in the morning on calm days in Sedona – that would be a sight to see!
