Doe Mountain Trail is my favorite sunset hike in Sedona!
The scenery is breathtaking. The trail itself is short (yet steep) and it’s incredibly fun. And if you are fortunate enough to visit at sunset, the beautiful array of colors that emerge and burst from the red rocks is spectacular!
Trail Description
Trail Length: 1.5 miles Out-&-Back Total
Elevation Change: 492′
Trail Difficulty: Moderate
Location: ~20 min NW of Sedona
Parking at Trail: 21 spaces
Toilet at Trailhead: Yes
Hiking Time: ~1 hour 30min total
(~30-40 min one way)
Hiking Doe Mountain Trail
Doe Mountain Trail is a well-marked trail that begins almost immediately with a series of moderate switchbacks that gradually climb up the mesa to the top. Know that at approximately 0.3 miles in, you will come to a trail junction with Aerie trail. At this point make sure you stay on the trail marked for Doe Mountain.
The scenery along the trail as you climb is simply stunning! Even my three boys were seriously impressed! (The fantastic scenery along the trail is a great excuse to stop and catch your breath on your way up.)
Timing Tip: This trail is best hiked in the early morning or near dusk for the best lighting and cooler temperatures.
Watch Out for Cacti!
Hiking Tip: Please know that there are many different species of cacti that line this trail. And although I’m sure you are not planning on touching or falling into them, it’s a good idea to be aware of them and warn any children that you are hiking with about the dangers of cacti. It’s also a good idea to have a good set of tweezers with you, just in case.
(This unfortunately was necessary for my husband who took a wrong step on this trail and fell right on top of a cactus! Ouch! Let’s just say, we were very thankful that he had his favorite Swiss Army Pocket Knife with him, and that it had a good set of tweezers in it!)
Side Note: The cacti needles went straight through his hiking pants. And even though I’m sure his pants protected him some, there were still more than 100 little needles stuck in his leg that he had to pull out that night! It was not fun, but luckily it happened on our way back after watching the sunset. But even with this unfortunate encounter with a cactus, Chris still considers Doe Mountain one of his favorite hikes in Sedona.
Matthew Demonstrating the Dangers of Cacti
Family Hiking Tip: Make sure children stay clear of any cacti when hiking.
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Almost at the Top of Doe Mountain
As the trail nears the top, you will come to a short, steeper section. This was no problem for our children (the youngest being 6). In fact they loved it! Just know that when you reach this section, you’re almost at the top!
A Sunset View That Amazed All of Us!
Once you reach the top, there is no official trail (that we saw) so feel free to walk around and discover some of the various little trails that lead toward the cliffsides for some pretty amazing unobstructed views of the Red Rock Wilderness. Many people choose to wander the entire perimeter of this flat mesa top before heading back down. We chose just to meandering around on top and we ended up finding a fantastic spot to sit, relax and watch the colors come alive as the sun was beginning to set.
Sunset Hiking Tip: For an amazing sunset hike, we recommend timing your hike to arrive at the trail at least 2 hours prior to sunset. With a 30-40 min hike up, you’ll end up on top about 1-1.5 hours before the sun sets. This is when the rocks really begin to light up and bust with color. This should allow you at least 30min – 1 hour to enjoy the amazing 360 degree Red-Rock views and to wander around on the top of the mesa for a little. (You’ll probably want to allow more time if you are wanting to wander around the entire mesa top.) Just make sure you begin heading back to your car at least 40 minutes before the sun actually sets so you don’t get caught out in the dark.
Also, make sure you have a good flashlight or headlamp with you just incase you mistime your hike or stay longer than you originally intended and accidently get caught out in the dark.
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Our Favorite Hiking Gear (Plus Items Especially for Families)
A Magical Family Moment
I kid you not, our three boys were completely happy just sitting and looking out over this incredible landscape for longer than I would have ever thought possible. It was so peaceful, so relaxing and it was one of those rare moments where everyone was completely content to just sit in silence and gaze in wonder at the beautiful scenery in front of us.
Thank you Doe Mountain, for that magical moment!
The Journey Back Down Doe Mountain
Another added bonus to hiking Doe Mountain at sunset is that you get to enjoy all of the red rocks coming alive with color throughout your entire hike back down.
Normally my husband isn’t a big fan of out and back hikes, and we try to avoid them if possible. But here on Doe Mountain at sunset, the landscape dramatically changed with the lighting and this made even our hike back down filled with so many “wow” moments.
You know the scenery is amazing when three kids ask several times on the hike down to stop for a moment so they could sit and just look out at the landscape.
Doe Mountain – The Perfect Sunset Hike
I think Doe Mountain is the perfect sunset hike in Sedona for families. The hike itself is short, even though it is steep. The path is interesting and filled with some fun “scrambles” which our kids loved! And then it’s a quick drive back to a hotel in Sedona. Better yet, if you time it right, you get to see the spectacular red glow ignite upon all of the red rocks surrounding Sedona itself as you drive back into town too!
This is the incredible view that greeted us as we drove back to Sedona from Doe Mountain Trail!
Simply Breathtaking!
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Where We Stayed
We stayed at the Sky Rock Inn of Sedona which was not only a great hotel that was family friendly but it also had an absolutely amazing view! This picture was taken off of the balcony right outside our room, which makes it perfect if you want to see the sunrise or sunset over Sedona’s gorgeous red rocks without even leaving your hotel. We loved it!
Know Before You Go
Where is Sedona Located?
The city of Sedona is located in central Arizona. It is 2 hours north of Phoenix and 50 minutes south of Flagstaff, Arizona. If you are flying, we recommend flying into Phoenix. The rates will be cheaper and the drive to Sedona on the Red Rock Highway SR179 is spectacular!
How Long to Stay in Sedona?
That depends on how much you want to hike. We think 2-3 days is great if you are wanting to hike several trails and possibly take the Pink Jeep tour. You could easily spend more time here though or you could just get a glimpse of the highlights in one day. But however long you stay, make sure you at least stay for one sunrise or sunset. This is when the red rocks burst with color and it’s completely magical!
When is the Best Time to Hike in Sedona?
We hiked in the summer in Sedona and by 10am it was really hot. So, if you plan on hiking in the summer we recommend timing your hike to end by 10am, rest mid-day (or take Pink Jeep Tours) and then hike again after 5pm to see the sunset. Please note that in the summer it gets quite cool in the mornings so make sure you bring a jacket.
From October to March Sedona is much cooler and so mid-day hikes would be possible. In December and January, you might get lucky enough to even see snow.
To avoid crowds, we recommend hiking early or in the late afternoon. Not only will you have a better chance at easily finding parking but you will also have more of the trail to yourself! This is also why we love sunset hikes! You’ll find less crowds and the Red Rocks look spectacular!
Have a Fantastic Time Hiking Doe Mountain with Your Traveling Feet!
Please let me know in the comments sections below if you have any questions or helpful information to add about hiking Doe Mountain? I’d love to hear about it!
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Top Gear for Hiking Doe Mountain with Kids
Are you wondering what type of gear you should have when hiking in Sedona? Below is a list of our family’s favorite and most useful hiking gear to help you better prepare for your upcoming easy hikes in Sedona.
Stay Hydrated:
Kid’s Hiking Clothes We Love for Summer Hikes
Don’t forget to bring a light-weight packable jacket, even in the summer, for the cool mornings and evenings.
Our Favorite Sun Hats:
Great Hiking Accessories for Hiking Doe Mountain:
Our Favorite Day Hiking Bag
Available in 16 Colors
Victorinox Swiss Army Explorer Pocket Knife
Insanely useful on the trail, especially the tweezers in case you get stuck by a cactus while hiking!
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