Wilson Canyon Trail: Midgley Bridge from Below

1.8 miles round trip, easy-moderate, 350 feet of gain at Midgley Bridge Picnic Area on AZ-89A. Seasonal water in the wash March through May. West-canyon shade until 1 PM. Red Rock Pass required. Lot fills by 10 AM. Connects to Wilson Mountain Trail at mile 0.9.

By The Lowdown Guide Editorial Team · Visited Spring 2026 · Updated May 2026

Trail Stats

  • Distance1.8 mi RT (2.4 with First Bench)
  • DifficultyEasy-Moderate
  • Elevation Gain~350 ft
  • ShadeWest-canyon shade until ~1 PM
  • Parking~30 spots, fills by 10 AM weekends
  • Pass RequiredYes — Red Rock Pass
  • TrailheadMidgley Bridge Picnic Area, AZ-89A
  • Seasonal WaterYes — canyon wash Mar–May
The Lowdown Verdict: Wilson Canyon Trail delivers the photograph everyone driving AZ-89A through Uptown Sedona tries to take from their car window — Midgley Bridge from directly below, framed in canyon walls. The bridge was built in 1939 and the stone arch is handsome from above, but the view from inside the canyon looking up is the one that makes it click. The trail is also the lower gateway to Wilson Mountain Trail for hikers who want a longer day. In spring, the wash carries seasonal water and cottonwoods leaf out along the lower section — the best riparian stretch easily accessible from Uptown. For visitors who want to see the canyon from above rather than within, several Sedona jeep tours cover the Midgley Bridge corridor — see Sedona jeep tours on Viator. Current trail conditions: May 2026 update.
What Wilson Canyon Trail Is Not:
  • Not a summit trail. The trail ends at the Wilson Mountain Trail junction at mile 0.9 and returns the same way. The Wilson Mountain summit requires a full-day commitment on the connecting trail.
  • Not shaded all day. The west-canyon aspect provides shade through the morning, but by early afternoon the canyon floor receives direct sun. Plan accordingly in summer.
  • Not a loop. The trail is an out-and-back. Return via the same route or extend to Wilson Mountain Trail.
  • Not a reliable photography spot from above. The Midgley Bridge view is from inside the canyon looking up — if you want the over-the-bridge highway view, that is taken from AZ-89A itself, not from this trail.

Trailhead: Midgley Bridge Picnic Area

The Midgley Bridge Picnic Area sits on AZ-89A approximately 1.5 miles north of the Uptown Sedona Y junction. The trailhead parking lot is on the west side of the highway, just past the Midgley Bridge itself as you head north. The lot holds approximately 30 vehicles — a moderate size for a Sedona trailhead — and fills between 9:30 and 10:30 AM on busy spring and fall weekends.

A Red Rock Pass is required at the Midgley Bridge Picnic Area: $5 per day or covered by the America the Beautiful annual interagency pass. The lot has a self-service pay station. Arrive by 9 AM on weekends to guarantee parking. If the lot is full, limited highway shoulder parking exists along AZ-89A nearby — check current signage, as restrictions change seasonally.

The trail entrance is at the far end of the picnic area, near the creek crossing. A footbridge may or may not be in place seasonally — check Coconino National Forest conditions before visiting if you want to avoid wet feet in spring. The trailhead sign indicates both Wilson Canyon Trail and the connecting Wilson Mountain Trail route.

Trail Breakdown

0–0.3 mi

Canyon Entry — Bridge View Section

The trail drops from the picnic area into Wilson Canyon wash via a brief descent. Within the first 0.3 miles, looking back (south) toward AZ-89A, Midgley Bridge comes into view above the canyon rim — the classic photograph. This is the most visited section of the trail. The canyon walls rise steeply on both sides and the west-facing wall catches morning light through midday.

0.3–0.9 mi

Canyon Wash — Riparian Section

The trail follows the canyon wash north, climbing gradually. In spring (March through May), water flows in the wash and cottonwood and willow trees leaf out along the banks. The terrain is rocky wash and compacted dirt, with some scrambling over boulders in the mid-section. The canyon narrows and feels enclosed — quieter and cooler than open red rock trails.

0.9 mi

Junction: Wilson Mountain Trail

The trail meets the Wilson Mountain Trail at a signed junction. Day hikers turn back here. Hikers extending to First Bench continue on the Wilson Mountain Trail for an additional 0.3 miles (0.6 miles round trip) with steep switchbacks. The First Bench viewpoint delivers panoramic views of the Sedona basin and the broader red rock formation cluster. Assess energy and water before committing to the extension.

Photography: The Midgley Bridge Shot

Midgley Bridge was built in 1939 as part of the State Route 89A upgrade and is one of the few stone-arch highway bridges in Arizona. The construction used local Coconino sandstone, which gives the bridge the same red-orange tone as the surrounding canyon walls — it disappears into the rock at certain times of day. From the highway above, the bridge looks like a utilitarian road structure. From inside Wilson Canyon looking up, it becomes a framed arch with canyon walls on both sides.

Best photography timing: morning. The west-facing canyon wall illuminates from roughly 9 AM to 1 PM when the sun is east to south. Position yourself in the first 0.3 miles looking south toward the bridge for the clearest canyon-framed composition. Midday creates flat light on the bridge arch; late afternoon casts the west wall into shadow.

Spring visits (March through May) add creek reflections in the wash, which can enhance foreground interest in the bridge composition if water levels are high enough. The Allen's Bend Trail in Oak Creek Canyon offers a comparable bridge-from-below perspective at a different location in the canyon system.

Sedona Jeep Tours — Red Rock Canyon Routes

Several Sedona jeep operators run routes through the canyon areas near Midgley Bridge. A vehicle-based tour covers similar terrain with historical and geological context, and offers photography opportunities from both above and within the canyon systems.

Find Sedona Jeep Tours on Viator →

Affiliate link — we earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Editorial note: Trail researched Spring 2026 by The Lowdown Guide editorial team. Lot capacity (~30 vehicles), fill time (by 10 AM weekends), seasonal water (March–May), and west-canyon shade window (until ~1 PM) verified on-site. Midgley Bridge construction date (1939) and building material (local Coconino sandstone) sourced from Arizona DOT historical bridge records. Wilson Mountain Trail junction at mile 0.9 confirmed via Coconino National Forest trail maps.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is Wilson Canyon Trail in Sedona? +
Wilson Canyon Trail is rated easy-moderate. The trail covers 1.8 miles round trip with 350 feet of elevation gain concentrated in the second half. The lower section along the canyon wash is relatively flat; the trail climbs more steeply toward the Wilson Mountain Trail junction at mile 0.9. The trail surface is packed dirt and rocky wash — manageable for most adults and older children. Adding the First Bench extension brings the total to 2.4 miles with additional gain and steeper terrain.
Where do you park for Wilson Canyon Trail in Sedona? +
Wilson Canyon Trail starts at the Midgley Bridge Picnic Area on AZ-89A, approximately 1.5 miles north of Uptown Sedona — just past the Midgley Bridge itself. The lot holds approximately 30 vehicles and fills by 10 AM on spring and fall weekends. A Red Rock Pass is required: $5 per day or covered by an America the Beautiful annual interagency pass. Arrive by 9 AM on busy weekends. If the lot is full, limited street parking is available on AZ-89A shoulders — check signage carefully, as unauthorized parking near the bridge draws citations.
What is special about the Midgley Bridge view from Wilson Canyon Trail? +
Wilson Canyon Trail provides the best ground-level view of Midgley Bridge from below — the vantage point that makes the 1930s stone arch appear to span the full canyon. Midgley Bridge is Sedona's most photographed bridge, and almost every image of it is taken from AZ-89A looking down at the arch. Wilson Canyon Trail reverses this perspective: you walk beneath the bridge through the canyon wash and look up at the arch framed against the red rock walls. Morning light illuminates the western canyon face from the trail until approximately 1 PM.
Is there water in Wilson Canyon? +
Wilson Canyon has seasonal water from approximately March through May, when snowmelt and spring runoff fill the canyon wash. The water flows at the trail level in the lower section, creating small pools and a riparian corridor with cottonwood and willow trees. By June the water is typically gone. In late summer, monsoon rains can temporarily recharge the wash. There is no reliable water source on the trail — carry all water you need regardless of season.
Can you connect Wilson Canyon Trail to Wilson Mountain? +
Yes. Wilson Canyon Trail meets the Wilson Mountain Trail at a marked junction at mile 0.9. From that junction, the Wilson Mountain Trail climbs steeply to First Bench — a broad mesa with expansive views — and continues to the summit plateau. Adding the First Bench extension from the Wilson Canyon trailhead adds approximately 0.6 miles round trip with significant additional gain. A full Wilson Mountain summit attempt from the Midgley Bridge Trailhead is a serious all-day hike — confirm fitness and water supply before committing at the junction.