Summary: A trail off the Long Canyon Trail with views
Challenge Level: Moderate
Hiking Distance: About 1.3 miles each way, 2.6 miles round trip
Trailhead Directions: From the "Y", proceed west on State Route 89A three miles and make a right turn on Dry Creek Road. Follow Dry Creek Road to the end (about 3 miles). Turn right on Long Canyon Road and proceed 0.6 miles to the parking area on the left at coordinates: 34° 54.396' N; 111° 49.476' W. You'll hike the Long Canyon Trail for 0.6 miles and turn left for the Mescal Mountain Trail at GPS coordinates: 34° 54.747' N; 111° 49.844' W. The trailhead for Long Canyon is at the parking area.
Description: You'll pass "Grandma's Cave on the right at about 0.3 miles after you begin the Mescal Mountain Trail. This is a short but steep side trip. Mescal Mountain is a hard mountain to get to the top. We got to the saddle, between two peaks, and then found the path to the top. But it would have been a very difficult climb, which we did not attempt. The views from the saddle are outstanding.
Photos:
Click on the thumbnails for a larger view
Guest Photos:
Here are photos taken by Lou Camp
For those of you who have a GPS unit, I have the GPS data available for the hike.
Great Sedona Hikes
Last Updated December 5, 2009
Web Page by Bill Bohan (billbo@greatsedonahikes.com)