Airport Loop Trail

Airport Loop Trail is the named loop that circles Airport Mesa in Sedona, Arizona, using paths inside the Airport Mesa area. Expect an exposed, rocky route that stays mostly in open sun rather than shaded forest.

Route length in common “complete-the-loop” planning is about 3.3 miles round trip from the Airport Road parking area. Many hikers also combine it with the short Tabletop Trail (adding about 1.0 mile) for an extended outing.

Direction varies by how you park and which entrance you pick up first, but a common plan is to start at the Airport Road parking/loop trailhead area and hike one continuous loop back to the same general starting zone. The route passes near the airport landing strip as it works around the mesa.

Terrain is part of the identity here: rocky footing and some narrow sections show up along the loop. In the steepest sections near the mesa’s southeast side, the trail runs as a shelf-like path along the slope.

The loop is widely described as easy-to-moderate overall, with the main challenge coming from steep, rocky, and sometimes narrow segments rather than technical scrambling. If you’re sensitive to exposure, keep that in mind when you’re on the steep, shelf sections.

Time your hike if you want to reduce heat and crowds: the route runs unshaded and is often recommended for early-day starts, especially in summer. Some hikers only go out partway (for example, targeting the most interesting stretch near the airport approach) rather than completing the full loop.

For route features and planning landmarks, the loop is described as having viewing points along the Airport Mesa circuit, including sightlines toward Twin Buttes and Cathedral Rock, plus north-side views associated with Thunder Mountain, Chimney Rock, and Coffee Pot Rock.

More information: Airport Mesa Loop & Vortex, Sedona, Arizona, Airport Loop Trail - Sedona, Arizona, Sedona, Arizona Airport Mesa Loop Trail