Wilson Mountain Overnight
Guided Backpacking Trips
2 Days, 1 Night 10MI / 16KM
Trip Highlights
Wilson Mountain is Sedona’s highest point – 7,122 feet above sea level – and home to towering Ponderosa Pine trees overlooking spectacular views of Red Rock Country! This trip to the top of Wilson Mountain is an opportunity for private groups, families, couples, and individuals to leave the crowded streets of Sedona behind and venture out on a secluded and scenic 1-night backcountry adventure in Red Rock Country! A great add-on experience to a longer stay in Sedona, or a worthy stand-alone experience, this tour is fantastic for folks interested in a unique take on Sedona, who appreciate amazing views, and who want to challenge themselves on a relatively demanding hike.
We’ll enjoy a gourmet backcountry dinner, relaxing evening with stories about Sedona as our entertainment and a peaceful night’s sleep under Northern Arizona’s famous “dark skies.” On the second day we’ll enjoy a relaxing morning, feast of a breakfast, and a leisurely hike out on a different trail than what we hiked on Day 1. Make the most of your visit to Northern Arizona on this overnight Sedona adventure!
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BIG Red Rock Views
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Amazing Geology & Volcanic Features
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Wonderful Sunset Dinner
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Views of Oak Creek Canyon
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Beautiful Camp Overlooking Sedona
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Dramatic Night Skies
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View Dates
Trip Details
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Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
2 Days, 1 Night -
Daily Hiking Distance
Up to 6 mi -
Group Size
2-6 Guests
Is This Trip Right For me?
This trip follows a steep, demanding – but well built – trail. With over 2,000 feet of elevation gain and loss over 6 miles, but with relatively light multi-day backpacks, this trip earns a solid Level 3 Difficulty.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Hiking Mileage: 4-6 miles
Elevation Gain: 2250 feet
This overnight Sedona hiking and camping trip begins with pick up at your hotel in Sedona, then breakfast at the picnic area near the trailhead. We’ll take some time to fit our packs and arrange any of our gear that may need it. Then we’ll start our ascent of Wilson Mountain, the highest point in Sedona at 7,122 feet! Don’t be fooled by the smaller mileage on this trip as the elevation gain and rewarding panoramas are the real accomplishment here!
The ecosystem is lush, with tall, deciduous and coniferous trees. Towering red and white sandstone spires protrude from the mountainside and provide stunning views as we ascend to the summit of Wilson Mountain.
We will reach the summit and have lunch overlooking Sedona while we set up camp (or our porters do it for us) and relax. There is an option for an afternoon, shorter but very worthwhile 2-3 mile hike to the North Canyon Overlook if we so desire.
We will have a wonderful sunset dinner at our campsite, prepared by your guide, and rest under the night sky in this spectacular high desert environment above Sedona.
Day 2
Hiking Mileage: 4.5 miles
Elevation Loss/Gain: 2250 feet
We’ll start our morning with hot coffee and a big breakfast, as today will be our hike down the south side of Wilson Mountain. We (or our porters) will pack up camp, load up backpacks and then we will all set off down the trail for a little over a mile before reaching the junction that will lead us towards famous Midgley Bridge below. This trail and side of Wilson Mountain is so different from the first day, it will almost feel like we are on a totally different adventure! With less tree coverage, we continue to have expansive views of Sedona, Wilson Canyon and Oak Creek Canyon as we hike off our towering desert summit.
We will get picked up at the finishing trailhead, shuttle back into Sedona proper and bring you to your local accommodations. There we will say goodbye to our fun, one-night adventure below the stars and atop Sedona’s highest mountain!
Trip Dates
What's Included
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Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
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High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use)
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Use of trekking poles and Microspike Crampons if necessary (in winter)
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All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Sedona, Arizona to the trailhead and back
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National Forest recreation passes
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device (InReach Explorer or satellite phone)
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
Tent Camping
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Backcountry Cuisine
Fresh & Delicious
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
Amazing Campsites
In the Action
Campsites vary by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
Your guide will conduct a virtual orientation meeting (via conference call) at 5:00 PM the evening before your trip begins to review the packing list, communicate the first day’s logistics and answer any last minute questions you have. Your guide will give you the phone number for this call during the pre-trip contact approximately 10 days before your trip start date.
Early on the morning of Day 1 your guide will pick you up from your accommodations in Sedona.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Sedona
ARIZONA SHUTTLE
Groome Transportation makes 13 dependable trips daily each direction between Phoenix and Sedona. The duration is 1 hour and 45 minutes. They pickup/drop off at Sky Harbor Airport and the Metro Center in Phoenix, and in Sedona they will drop you off and/or pick you up at your hotel for a small additional fee.
There is no shuttle service from Las Vegas to Sedona.
Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix and Harry Reid International Airportin Las Vegas have fantastic car rental facilities that are easily accessible and host a great variety of companies. We recommend checking Priceline.com as well for especially good deals.
The drive time from Phoenix to Sedona is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. From Las Vegas it is approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes.
Arizona Executive Transport offers private, reliable SUV service between Phoenix and Sedona. This option is best if you’re traveling in a group of 3 or 4. As Wildland Trekking guests, your one-way cost for up to 4 passengers is discounted. Simply type “Wildland Trekking Company” in the Discount Code Box at the bottom of the online registration page. The discount varies depending on the time of year. You can go to http://www.arizonaexecutivellc.com to make your reservations online.
Start/End Times
Generally, you can expect the first day’s rendezvous to be between 5 and 8 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. Your guide will specify this time when they contact you approximately 10 days before the trip. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day normally before 5 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time).
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
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