Brins Mesa Trail: 360-Degree Views Above Uptown Sedona

By The Lowdown Guide Editorial Team · Visited April 2026 · Updated April 2026

Jordan Trailhead: Parking, Passes, and Getting There

Jordan Trailhead sits at the end of Jordan Road in Uptown Sedona, one of the most walkable and accessible trailheads in the city. From the AZ-89A main strip, turn north on Jordan Road and follow it to the end — the Coconino National Forest day-use lot is signed and paved. A Red Rock Pass ($5/day, $15/week) or an America the Beautiful annual interagency pass is required. Pay at the fee kiosk before you hike.

The lot holds approximately 30 to 40 vehicles. On spring and fall weekends, it fills by 8:30 to 9 AM. Overflow parking is available at several points along Jordan Road, but hikers who arrive after 9 AM on busy days often find themselves parking 0.3 to 0.5 miles from the trailhead. There is no shuttle from Uptown. The trailhead does have a pit toilet and information board — no potable water.

Because the trailhead is technically within Uptown Sedona, it is one of the few Forest Service trailheads you can walk to from a hotel or vacation rental on the north end of town — if you are staying on the Uptown corridor, Brins Mesa may be the only Sedona trail you can reach on foot. Check with your lodging; some Uptown properties are under a mile from the lot.

The Climb to the Mesa Rim

Brins Mesa Trail begins at the north end of the Jordan Trailhead parking area on a well-defined sandy track. The first 0.3 miles is relatively flat as the trail navigates through pinyon-juniper scrub before hitting the base of the mesa. From there, the trail makes a consistent northward climb up the south face of Brins Mesa — switchbacking through red sandstone ledges and manzanita for approximately 1.2 miles to the rim.

The red Schnebly Hill Formation sandstone is the dominant geology underfoot on the climb — the same iron-oxide-rich rock that gives Sedona its characteristic color. The footing is generally good on packed trail, but loose slickrock sections appear on the steeper switchbacks. Poles are helpful but not essential. The trail is exposed to sun for most of its length; start early in summer or plan to turn around before midday heat peaks on the open rock.

At approximately mile 1.5 the trail crests onto the mesa surface and the landscape transforms. The narrow uphill trail becomes a broad, nearly flat mesa top with open 360-degree views. Wilson Mountain dominates the north skyline. The Uptown Sedona corridor is visible to the south. Munds Mountain and the East Sedona buttes fill the east. The mesa top extends for roughly 0.5 miles before the trail reaches its turnaround point near the mesa's north edge, where the Cibola Pass connector branches off for those doing the longer loop.

Trail Breakdown: Mile by Mile

Connecting to Soldier Pass and the Uptown Trail Network

Brins Mesa sits at the center of one of the most connected trail networks in Uptown Sedona. From the north edge of the mesa, Cibola Pass Trail descends steeply to the west, linking into the Soldier Pass trail system — one of Sedona's most popular moderate trails with its collapsed cave, natural arches, and Seven Sacred Pools. The Cibola Pass connector is approximately 1.5 miles with significant elevation loss; the return climb is demanding.

For hikers who want a longer day without committing to Wilson Mountain's 2,300-foot climb, the Brins Mesa to Cibola Pass to Soldier Pass route (roughly 7 to 8 miles total depending on exact routing) is the best intermediate option in this part of Sedona. It hits two distinct trail personalities — the open mesa experience of Brins Mesa and the creek-adjacent, arch-rich terrain of Soldier Pass — in a single outing.

The Uptown trail network also connects westward toward Doe Mountain Trail and the broader West Sedona system, though those connections require additional road walking or a vehicle shuttle. For a pure day-hike from Jordan Trailhead, the Brins Mesa out-and-back and the Cibola Pass loop cover the best terrain without requiring transportation logistics. Carry 2 liters of water minimum for the out-and-back; 3 liters for the full loop on a warm day. See our passes guide for Red Rock Pass details.