Distance

0.4 mi to summit

4.1 mi total

Elevation

4,788 ft start

4,941 ft max

Vertical

375 ft gain

Time

35 min to summit

2 hr 32 min total

After the Ugg-ly fiasco of forgetting my hiking boots the day before, there was no way in heck my paranoid self (and sore. did I mention sore?) would let me wear anything other than good trail shoes. Of course, we also checked out of the hotel before the hike so we had to bring everything with us anyway... but dang, let me tell you, shoes with laces that provided support were a welcome change! We parked at the lower overlook parking lot near Overlook Point - when we got there, there was plenty of parking, and by the time we left, it was a crowded mess. But I still reiterate that compared to normal Sedona levels, it was pretty dead. (Which was nice!). We started off by going up to Overlook Point, because it was there and there was a trail that said "Summit" with an arrow... of course we're going to go up such an inviting trail! There was a group sitting on the edge doing a holiday gift exchange; they looked like they were having fun. After Overlook Point, we came down and headed over to Coconino Point. There was an established social trail that got us to the base of Coconino point, and after that we were on our own. After a few class III sections, it was a straightforward steep slog to the top. Kevin veered off to get a geocache while the rest of us doggedly marched up to the top of Coconino Point so that we could get the hard stuff out of the way and then enjoy the leisurely hike around Airport Mesa/Table Mountain. You really can't touch the high point of Table Mesa itself without being on the airport property, so I feel like logging it back in January 2019 when I actually flew in and out of the airport was still a legit option. the hike around the mesa was pretty on the east side, and... less scenic on the west side, until we got to see the views of Coffee Pot Rock and Thunder Mountain/Capitol Butte again. A great, relaxing Sunday hike with friends. Afterward we headed up to Jerome to wander around the former wickedest town in the West. Oh: PS! The airport mesa loop trail has a bench. This means it is a Civilized Trail (TM), Ken Miller approved.

Route name

Coconino Point 4.2 mi route

loop
Obstacles

road/access issues, routefinding, bushwhacking

Key gear

GPS device

Other peaks climbed on this trip