Airport Loop Trail

Sedona is hiking mecca with over 200 hiking trails to pick from, but a few trails manage to truly shine. One great example is the 3.3-mile-long Airport Loop Trail. There’s so much to love about this iconic hike. It’s one we take visitors on frequently as it’s relatively easy and offers truly stunning scenery. This loop trail circles Airport Mesa or Table Top Mountain offers stunning and unobstructed views of nearly every major red rock formation – making it a classic Sedona trail.

Coffee Pot Rock – one of Sedona’s most iconic red rocks – peeks out from the trees located along Airport Loop Trail.

As an added bonus, this trail is also near one of Sedona’s most prominent vortices or energy centers. Many will park in the lot, hike to the top of the striking red rock Airport Mesa Viewpoint or the Airport Vortex for the views and then leave. You should see a crowd gathering there. We almost always do whenever we drive up Airport Road. If you’re having trouble finding a spot, keep waiting. Someone will likely leave soon. The hike starts just past the parking lot. From the saddle, turn right, and then make a left to follow the trail. The trail is relatively narrow and hugs the edge of the mesa – meaning you’ll have to hike single file if you’re in a group. One thing to note about this trail: There’s hardly any shade. Be sure to put on a hat, sunglasses and wear sunscreen. You’ll quickly spot Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock. At 1.6 miles, Airport Loop intersects with Table Top trail. Veer right here. Eventually, you’ll come across a unique vantage point of Cathedral Rock and maybe even Oak Creek. Later on, you can spot Mingus Mountain and Cockscomb Butte. Leave time to stop, catch your breath, and take gorgeous photos. Be sure to budget time to take plenty of pictures. There are so many photo ops here.

The Airport Loop Trail circles around Airport Mesa or Table Top Mountain, and the trailhead is nearby a vortex.

Being by the airport, expect to hear motors rumbling and planes taking off and landing. Large swaths of the hike are beside the airport’s chain-link fence, giving this trail an industrial feel. After 2.39 miles, you’ll reach the Bandit Trail, named after a beloved dog who passed away. Stay right. At 2.42 miles, the trail intersects with the Sunset Trail. Stay straight. The trail ends at a guardrail on Airport Mesa Road, just across from the parking lot. One of our other favorite parts of this trail? Hiking up and back down the nearby Sedona View Trail – a 1.2-mile hike – for fantastic views from the Scenic Airport Lookout The View Trail follows Airport Road and ends just across the street from the best lookout in town that offers sweeping veiws of Capitol Butte. It’s a stellar, easy detour, and one we take whenever we have time.