Wilson Mountain from Midgley Bridge

The trail starts from the car park at the north end of Midgley Bridge on Highway 89A, by a monument to Richard Wilson. It climbs at once, in the open, up long switchbacks to First Bench, a wide shelf halfway up the mountain, where the North Wilson Trail comes in from Oak Creek Canyon. A second, steeper climb leads to the flat, wooded top. At the signpost for the overlooks turn left for the Sedona Overlook, on the southern rim above the town. Return the same way.

It is 8.8 miles (14.2 km) round trip with 2,480 feet (757 m) of climbing; allow about 6 hours. The grade is Hard: it is a big climb, most of it steep, and much of it is in the open.

The Forest Service gives a climb of about 2,400 feet and rates the trail strenuous. Its trail carries on north across the top for about another mile and a half to a second overlook, above Oak Creek Canyon. Wilson was killed by a grizzly bear here in 1885. The car park is small and fills early. A Red Rock Pass or an America the Beautiful pass is needed to park. There is no water. In summer start at dawn: the North Wilson Trail, from just north of Encinoso Picnic Area, is the cooler way up.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.