Airport Mesa

Airport Mesa is one of Sedona's four designated energy vortex sites and one of the most accessible for families. The mesa sits between the Sedona Airport and the main town, offering a hiking loop that delivers sweeping views of the entire red rock landscape without requiring the distance or difficulty of Sedona's more challenging trails.

The Airport Mesa Loop is 3. 4 miles with modest elevation gain, making it achievable for children ages 5 and up with reasonable hiking experience. The trail winds through open juniper and piñon pine forest along the mesa rim, with panoramic views of Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte, Bell Rock, and the winding green corridor of Oak Creek below.

It's one of the few hikes in Sedona that gives you a bird's-eye perspective of the red rock formations rather than looking up at them.

The vortex site on the north side of the mesa is marked by unusually twisted juniper trees whose trunks spiral in the manner that Sedona vortex enthusiasts attribute to the upwelling energy of the earth. Whether or not children subscribe to the metaphysical explanations, the twisted trees are visually striking and naturally generate questions and conversation. Sedona's vortex mythology is a fun cultural element of visiting the area, and Airport Mesa is a good introduction to it.

A Red Rock Pass is required for trailhead parking. The fee is $5 for a day pass or $20 for an annual pass that covers all Coconino National Forest sites. Alternatively, you can park lower on Airport Road and walk the additional distance for free.

The mesa is open 24 hours, which makes it excellent for sunset and evening hikes when the red rocks transition through their most dramatic colors.