Jim Thompson Trail Preview

Should you hike Jim Thompson Trail? What the film settles

A long, quiet walk, filmed one way.

Easy walking for most of it. From the Jordan Road trailhead the film is wide trail through junipers and sandy flats. The first loose rock comes below Steamboat Rock at 14:06, with dry washes and slickrock benches after it.

The old road and the view. At 27:42 the route follows the historic wagon grade, wide and gently climbing, to the high point above Uptown at 32:14.

The descent is the roughest part. Loose rock heading down toward Oak Creek Canyon at 41:18 is the roughest footing of the walk, and the film ends near Midgley Bridge at 54:40.

Plan the return. The film is one way. Either walk back the way you came or leave a car at the Midgley Bridge end, where parking is tight; the Wilson Mountain guide covers Midgley Bridge parking.

Choose something else if you want a summit or a single big view at the end; this walk is about the route under Steamboat Rock and the quiet.

What the full film shows, chapter by chapter

Timestamps read from the full 55:02 film. Owners can jump straight to any chapter.

1. 0:00 Jordan Road trailhead The interpretive map and the view of Steamboat Rock; about 4,545 ft.
2. 5:02 The wide trail through the junipers Easy walking on the old road grade (0.3 mi).
3. 9:34 Sandy flats Open red dirt with the cliffs on the left (0.6 mi).
4. 14:06 Rocky stretch below Steamboat Rock The first loose rock underfoot (0.9 mi, about 4,540 ft).
5. 18:38 Wash crossings Dry drainages with slickrock (1.3 mi).
6. 23:10 Slickrock benches Bare rock and cairns (1.7 mi).
7. 27:42 The old wagon road The historic Jim Thompson road grade, wide and gently climbing (2.1 mi).
8. 32:14 Views over Uptown The high point of the walk at about 4,700 ft (2.9 mi) with Sedona below.
9. 36:46 Along the cliff base Rocky single track under the red walls (3.2 mi).
10. 41:18 Loose rock on the descent The roughest footing, heading down toward Oak Creek Canyon (3.7 mi).
11. 45:50 Cactus flats above the canyon The grade eases (4.0 mi).
12. 54:40 End of the film near Midgley Bridge 4.4 mi and about 4,575 ft on the overlay; the return (or the car shuttle) is not shown.

Not in the film: the walk back, or the car shuttle to Jordan Road.

Planning the real hike? Check Sedona trailhead parking and the trail guides before you go.