In the far west side of Sedona, the Doe Mountain trail waits for those looking for a relatively easy hike with great views of Sedona. We hiked Doe Mountain for sunrise, and enjoyed the easy trail finding in the dark!
While this hike in Sedona is fairly popular, you still won’t find the crowds and overrun trailhead. And, once you reach the top of the mountain, you can actually hike all over the mesa, a great way to find your own slice of peace in nature.
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Doe Mountain Trail Quick Facts
- Location | 34.890154, -111.856546
- Parking | $5 Bear/Doe Mountain Trailhead | 34.893448, -111.865196
- Duration | 2 miles round trip
- Terrain | switchbacks on uneven rocks
Making The Most Of This Guide
Pinnable Map App | We use maps.me, a free offline map app, to mark locations of things we want to see. In all our Sedona guides, we share coordinates for important things like parking, viewpoints, and trail markers.
You can pin these coordinates into the map, make notes on each pin, and thus create your own little trail guide once you get to Sedona!
What To Bring | When hiking in Sedona, it’s important to have grippy trail shoes! It’s equally as important to pack food and water, no mater how short the hike is.
We recommend a backpack like this that has a water bladder inside for hands-free drinking and hiking!
If you choose to hike Doe Mountain for sunrise or sunset, be sure to pack a rechargeable headlamp to light the way!
Our Experience Hiking Doe Mountain
We weren’t really sure what to expect for this hike. Some people ranked it as moderate, and others as easy… and the mountain.. it’s more of a mesa — so where was the truth even in the name?!
While dispersed camping out FR525, we drove by Doe Mountain more times than we can count. We were always intrigued with getting on top of the mountain, but for a while just didn’t make the time.
However, one icy morning, we decided to hike to the top of Doe Mountain for sunrise. We thought, what the heck, the trail is well traveled and easy to follow, so hiking in the dark shouldn’t be too bad!
And honestly, it wasn’t. The Doe Mountain trail is a great easy hike in Sedona, especially for sunrise, and the views on top of the mesa are fantastic!
What To Expect On The Trail
Starting at the Bear/Doe Mountain Trailhead, the trail looks a bit intimidating. From the parking lot, you hike straight up multiple switchbacks to get right on top of the mesa within the first half mile!
But don’t fret, while it looks intimidating, the switchbacks aren’t actually too steep.. and, the gradual climb in elevation passes rather quickly.
At the last bit before getting onto the top of Doe Mountain (the mesa) there’s a small rock scramble, and then the trail is all flat!
While the technical Doe Mountain Trail ends right on top of the mesa, you can actually hike all around the mesa, and the edges are where you’ll find the most spectacular views!
Parking At Doe Mountain Trailhead
- Doe Mountain Trailhead | 34.893448, -111.865196
The parking lot for Doe Mountain doesn’t fill up nearly as quickly as other trailheads in Sedona. However, with that said, nearly every time we drive by it, it’s full.
The parking area is actually the trailhead to both Doe Mountain and Bear Mountain, which is a full day hike, so people get in early and stay all day here.
There’s a good amount of roadside parking near Doe Mountain, so don’t stress too much about securing a parking spot here.
You will need a Red Rock Pass or National Park Pass to park in the parking lot, but those are not needed to park along the road.
Best Time To Hike Doe Mountain
The entire Doe Mountain trail is very exposed to the sun. In fact, when hiking around on the mesa, there’s basically no shade at all.
With that said, we don’t recommend this hike in the middle of the day, even if visiting Sedona, Arizona in the winter. The temps can still be hot and the sun harsh!
For photography, the colors across the valley are fantastic at both sunrise and sunset. However, if you want to see the hot air balloons float across the sky, and sometimes right in front of you, you should hike Doe Mountain for sunrise!
We enjoyed this trail as a sunrise hike.. finding our own little area to sit and wait for the sun to pop up over the Munds Mountain Wilderness in the east.
Doe Mountain Hike FAQ
- How long does it take to hike Doe Mountain Trail? Roughly 1 Hour
- Is the trail difficult? No, it’s moderately easy, with loose rocks and quick elevation gain.
- Can my dog hike with me? Yes, but it must be leashed at all times.
- What’s the best time to hike Doe Mountain? Sunrise! All the way!
- How high is Doe Mountain? 400 feet
More Hiking Trails in Sedona
Looking for other sunrise hikes? If you’re looking for more reasons to get up before the sun, check out these seven epic sunrise hikes in Sedona.
Want something more challenging? The last time we were in Sedona, we hiked up to Lizard Head and Snoopy Rock. Both of them are fantastic sunset hikes in Sedona. But if you’re looking for a full day affair.. check out this Boynton Canyon Loop!
Hoping to catch the sunset? If you’re into photography or just hiking when it’s not scorching hot — sunset is a great time to hike in Sedona. While we have a full list of over 30 Sedona sunset locations, if you want to hike, check out these 7 best sunset hikes in Sedona.
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