Bear Mountain, Sedona, AZ

Bear Mountain isn’t far from Sedona’s busiest trails, but it feels worlds apart. To get there, you have to pass up the temptation, the full lots, the photo-op overlooks, the sense that if you don’t stop, you’ll miss something spectacular. It takes a small act of defiance to keep driving, to take the lead on your own path instead of following the crowd.

The parking lot doubles for Doe Mountain and Bear Mountain. Doe’s trailhead is obvious, well worn and marked. Bear’s is across the road, almost easy to miss. The path dips down into a wash, and for a moment you might question if you’re in the right place. But then the sandstone rises ahead, and from there it’s up, steady, exposed, and unrelenting.

What the trail lacks in shade, it makes up for in perspective. You’re open to the elements, but you’re also open to the landscape, a near-panoramic view that unfolds the entire way. Each step earns a new horizon: cliffs fading to mesas, mesas fading to sky.

The climb narrows and scrambles along the spine of the mountain, testing both footing and patience. It’s longer than most guides suggest, closer to eight miles round trip, and the elevation gain makes itself known. When rain or snow finds its way here, the rock deepens with color: reds turning to rust, agave greens glowing almost neon against the wet stone. Water runs in small seams down the stone, a reminder that the desert is very much alive.

At the top, the wind cuts clean through the quiet. The noise of the valley drops away until there’s just pulse, air, and open space. You realize it isn’t just about reaching the summit, it’s about what you leave behind on the way up.

Down below, the crowds still gather, their cars packed tight against the road.

Some trails are meant to be found, not followed.

Trail: Bear Mountain Trail, Sedona, AZ 

Distance: ~8 miles out and backElevation

Gain ~2000ft 

Pass Required to Park: Red Rock Pass, National Park Pass, or paid parking