Travel Talk Café

Doe Mountain Trail in Sedona, Arizona

If you’re headed to Sedona and looking for hiking trails, you’ll want to take a close look at the Doe Mountain Trail as an option. At 1.5 miles roundtrip (to the top of the Mesa and back), it’s perfect for anyone on a tight schedule or wanting to fit in multiple hikes in a day.

We chose Doe Mountain because it was easy to get to, and two hours or less to complete. We had half a day before leaving Sedona and driving back to Phoenix, and Doe Mountian gave us a chance to get another hike in.

Location and How to Get There

Doe Mountian is in Sedona, and a 20-minute drive from The Orchards Inn, where we stayed in uptown Sedona. Take the 89A south and turn right onto Dry Creek Rd. When you reach the end, turn left onto Boynton Pass Rd until you reach the end. Once again, go left continuing on Boynton pass Rd. A short distance and the Doe Mountain Trailhead parking lot will be on your left. 

Doe Mountain at a Glance

GPS: 34°53’36.7″N 111°51’54.5″W

Rating: Moderate

Hike Time: 2 hours or less (depending on how long you stay on the top)

Pass: Required, and available on-site from a kiosk

Open: Year-Round

For more information you can visit the USDA Forest Service website.

Parking and Starting the Hike

We parked in the Doe Mountain Trail lot, at the base of the mountain. There is plenty of parking available, however, on a busy day, I’m sure it fills up fast. 

There are washrooms available as well. (Large outhouse style, but quite clean)

There is an information board in the parking lot, at the start of the trail. The Doe Mountain Trail requires a pass! There is a kiosk located right next to the information board, where you can purchase the pass ($5/day). Be sure to display this in your vehicle window. 

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Let’s get Going

This is a short trail, on the easy to moderate side with a bit of rock scrambling near the top. You’re climbing the side of the mountain through a series of switchbacks. For the most part, it’s easy to tell which way the trail is going. However, there were a couple of places we paused and had to look a bit closer to make sure we were going the right way. We helped two women who had gone off the trail, get back to where they needed to be. Be careful not to miss the turns. 

There are rocky steps, slanted flat rock sections that can be slippery when wet, and mostly, narrow dirt trail sections. Along the trail, there are prickly pear cactus, shrubs, and low trees.

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We Made it

Finally, we hit the last section of rocks and did some scrambling up over these, using our hands to balance, to reach the top. One thing that attracted me to Doe Mountain, was the top! I wanted to walk across the flat top. 

Once up there, trail markers lead you straight across to the other side and the most breathtaking of views! 

You can follow around the top and explore, or make your way back down. We wandered around a bit but didn’t fully loop around the top, mostly enjoying the views of the more open section before heading back down.

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Was The Doe Mountain Trail worth it?

It was for me! I’m all about awesome views, and Doe Mountain delivers on those. It was the perfect length for us, given our time crunch that day, and allowed us a quick, easy hike with a high payoff. 

You can read my post, 3 Day Sedona Itinerary, for more information on Sedona and for help planning your own Sedona itinerary.

You can also read my review, Devil’s Bridge Trail in Sedona, Arizona, for another great hike option!