Hiking Hotspot: Brins Mesa in Sedona
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Sedona is a picture-perfect destination for avid outdoor enthusiasts: my favorite hiking destination anywhere. Brins Mesa is just one of numerous awe-inspiring “red rock wonderland” hiking trails I recommend adding to your bucket list. It’s very close to Uptown (the main social gathering area home to many restaurants and shops) which makes it popular with tourists.
I’ve hiked dozens of incredible trails since moving to Flagstaff, a beautiful mountain town located just 45 min north (and also totally worth visiting for the amazing trails & downtown). The 2 towns connect via a breathtaking 14 mile scenic drive known as Oak Creek Canyon.
As the majority of hikes in this region feature otherworldly red rock scenery, it’s quite an overwhelming task to narrow down the list. Therefore, in my opinion, the best thing to do is to narrow down hikes based on distance, difficulty, proximity to town, crowd levels, ease of finding parking, weather conditions, etc. Brins is a relatively moderate short hike of just over 3 miles round-trip. Because of the lack of shade, this wouldn’t be my top recommend summer hike. On a positive note, the wide open scenery leads to some of the most mesmerizing unobstructed red rock vistas.
Tourists really love this trail. It is one of the most popular options during the high traffic summer season. The convenient location and beautiful scenery draws in big crowds. I can understand that most tourists do not want to drive far while on vacation, so it makes sense. That being said, I recommend planning this hike during the offseason. There will be less foot traffic and the temps will be much cooler. There are many other shorter hikes better suited for the hot season. Check out my guide to a few easy and scenic summer options and save Brin’s for the spring, fall, or early winter season.
This is not the easiest, nor hardest hike in town. There is enough of an elevation gain (about 500 ft) where you will get in a quality workout, however, not enough to completely tear you down. The distance is just 1.5 miles each way, so short enough for most beginning/casual hikers. It’s a workout for sure, just not as tough as some hikes. In short, this trail is the perfect moderate spring/fall/winter hike for those who wish to stay close to town.
Wide open red rock vistas
One of the drawbacks of this trail is literally zero shade, although you will get to enjoy some unobstructed views of the marvelous red rocks. From the overlooks, you can see numerous prominent red rock formations including Chimney Rock and Coffeepot Rock. I am always in awe of the colorful views of Mormon Canyon and Wilson Mountain. I enjoy taking a lot of fun (safely of course) photos on this hike.
There are numerous ledges where you can look out and pose for some cool take home souvenirs. Be careful and never get too close to a steep drop off. I’ve heard too many horror stories of hikers in this area tumbling to their death. Also dehydration in the desert are a real concern. Stories like this unfortunately are not at all uncommon and hikers have to be rescued every year.
On a side note, each rock formation’s name comes from the shape it resembles. Attempting to guess the name of each formation became a fun game for Mike and I on each hike during our years living in the region.
For big red rocks views via a relatively easy hike that is close to town, I would definitely put this one on your fall/winter bucket list. For a longer hike, you can combine this one with Soldier’s Pass for a moderate, 800 foot elevation gain loop hike of about 5 miles. Soldier’s Pass is another gorgeous hike on its’ own that definitely makes my best-of list. This one is pretty interesting as you get to see a lot of unique stuff along the way including an active sinkhole, several arches, and a series of cascading natural pools. If you are up for the challenge, I recommend adding it on or better yet scheduling it for another day.
Hiking Details
- Location: From 89a in Uptown Sedona, turn onto Jordan Road (trailhead parking is at the end of the road).
- Parking: Red Rock pass required ($5 per day, $15 per week, $20 annual).
- Distance: 1.5 miles out-and-back
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 500 ft
- Dog friendly: Yes, pets must be leashed.
- Trailhead amenities: Vault toilets, picnic tables
