Mt Wilson Peak

​The trek is a strenuous 9.3-mile round trip that demands respect, involving a relentless 2,500-foot elevation gain. The journey begins at the Midgley Bridge trailhead, immediately plunging hikers into a steep series of switchbacks across sun-drenched sandstone. As you climb, the vegetation shifts dramatically—transitioning from the high-desert scrub of prickly pear and agave into a lush, shaded forest of Manzanita and Ponderosa pine. ​Unlike many Sedona hikes that weave through the valley floor, Wilson Mountain offers a literal “bird’s-eye view.” Upon reaching the first bench, the terrain flattens into a high plateau, leading you toward the North and South overlooks. The South Overlook provides a dizzying perspective of the town of Sedona, the iconic Coffee Pot Rock, and the distant Mingus Mountain.​The North Overlook reveals the hidden, jagged depths of Sterling Canyon and the verdant snake of Oak Creek far below. Reserved for the well-conditioned and early-rising adventurer, Wilson Mountain is the definitive Sedona summit. It offers a profound sense of isolation and a unique geological perspective, trading the crowded photo-ops of the lower canyons for the silent, expansive majesty of the Arizona sky. Reaching the top is more than a hike; it is a pilgrimage to the soul of the Coconino National Forest.