Wilson Mountain Trail Preview

Should you hike Wilson Mountain? What the film settles

The biggest climb in Sedona, and a halfway point that counts as a destination.

The switchbacks are where people turn back. From Midgley Bridge the lower switchbacks start at 12:58, and from 37:54 it is turn after turn with loose outside edges, the part that wears people down. There is no shade on this face. The difficulty is stamina and heat, not scrambling, so carry 3–5 liters and set a strict turnaround time.

The roughest footing is higher up. The canyon opens below at 50:22, a sunny cactus bench comes at 1:02:50, and the boulder field at 1:15:18 is the roughest footing of the climb before an easier traverse through grass and oak.

The First Bench is a real destination. At 1:40:14 the film reaches the First Bench, the plateau that already looks down on the formations. It gives you most of the view for about half the effort; see the First Bench vs. the true Sedona overlook.

Above it, a long forest climb. The trail goes into the ponderosa at 1:52:42, a long, shaded grade, and reaches the overlook at 2:29:20 with Sedona far below. Conditions change with the season (summer heat vs. winter ice), and so does the parking: Midgley Bridge parking.

Turn back in the switchbacks if you are short on water or time or the day is hot; the First Bench is a complete hike on its own.

What the full film shows, chapter by chapter

Timestamps read from the full 2:30:07 film. Owners can jump straight to any chapter.

1. 0:00 Midgley Bridge trailhead The kiosk and the first dirt; about 4,520 ft.
2. 12:58 The lower switchbacks begin Rocky turns under the power line (0.6 mi).
3. 25:26 Rocky switchbacks Steady climbing on loose stone (1.3 mi, about 4,930 ft).
4. 37:54 The switchback stack Turn after turn with loose outside edges — the part that wears people down (1.9 mi).
5. 50:22 Views over Oak Creek Canyon The canyon opens below (2.4 mi, about 5,280 ft).
6. 1:02:50 Cactus bench below the cliffs A sunny shelf under the upper walls (2.9 mi, about 5,430 ft).
7. 1:15:18 Boulder field The roughest footing of the climb (3.4 mi, about 5,680 ft).
8. 1:27:46 Grassy traverse Easier grade through grass and oak (3.8 mi).
9. 1:40:14 The First Bench The plateau at about 6,230 ft and 4.2 mi — the first real payoff.
10. 1:52:42 Pines on the upper mountain Into the ponderosa (4.5 mi, about 6,490 ft).
11. 2:05:10 The forested push Long, shaded grade toward the top (5.1 mi, about 6,660 ft).
12. 2:17:38 The last grade The final climb through the trees (5.7 mi, about 6,870 ft).
13. 2:29:20 The summit overlook 6.2 mi and 6,950 ft on the overlay, with Sedona far below. The film ends here; the long descent is not shown.

Not in the film: the long descent back to Midgley Bridge.

Planning the real hike? Read the full Wilson Mountain trail guide for difficulty, parking, permits and route-finding details.