Brins Mesa Trail #119

I enjoyed this hike enormously. It is fairly easy with only a 600 foot elevation gain after an easy and flat walk from the trailhead. Once atop the Mesa, we took the trail to the Soldiers Pass trail and then back via other trails to the trailhead. It was about 5 ½ miles with varied topography and clearly marked trails. Bring a picture of the map located in the parking lot so you can remember which trails to take to get back to the correct trailhead. There are a lot of trails intersecting in this area. It’s really beautiful! Also, you get to walk past a sinkhole if you do the full loop. Interesting to see!

We were looking for a quick hike, close to town, that didn’t involve 4-​wheel drive access. After a lot of research, we found Brins Mesa, and it was perfect! The view from the parking lot alone was everything I could have wanted from a hike in Sedona.
The trailhead is located in the Jordan Park Subdivision, just North of Downtown Sedona. It couldn’t be easier to access. If you don’t have a Red Rocks pass, parking is $ 5. The fee can be paid using a machine located right next to the bathrooms. You can even pay by credit card — so easy!
The hike itself is on the easy side of moderate. The hike to the top of the mesa is 1.5 miles, and then it is another .7 miles to the scenic overlook. You must do the hike to the overlook, that is where you get the really amazing views. Once you reach the top of the mesa, you take a right, and follow the path to the overlook. You will need to climb up a large rock formation to get the best views. I have read that the total elevation gain to this point is around 1000 ft.
Since we were there during a rare January snow storm, we weren’t able to do any of the big hikes in Sedona. After hiking the Brins Mesa trail, I didn’t want for anything more. It was spectacular!