This Hidden Gem Trail is a Fantastic Sunset Spot in Sedona, Arizona Without the Crowds

If you’re looking for an experience that offers breathtaking views and a tranquil escape from the busier trails in Sedona, Doe Mountain is your spot. A short but moderate hike takes you up to a flat-topped summit, providing panoramic vistas of the surrounding red rocks.
Despite being just down the road from multiple very popular trails in Sedona (such as Boyton Canyon + the Subway and Birthing Cave), Doe Mountain sees fewer visitors, making it the definition of a hidden gem. I absolutely LOVED this hike.
Read on for tips and details about hiking Doe Mountain, plus lots of beautiful pictures to convince you to do it 😉
Getting to the Trailhead
The Doe Canyon Trailhead is located off of Boynton Pass Road and is just 12 minutes from West Sedona. Cell service is pretty spotty in this area, so it’s a good idea to download offline maps before heading out so that you can continue using maps and navigation even if you’re in a dead zone.
Birthing Cave, the Boynton Canyon + Subway Cave, Bear Mountain, and Fay Canyon are also all located off of this road.
The trailhead parking lot is shared with the Bear Mountain Trail, which starts across the street from the parking lot. The Doe Canyon Trail starts right from the parking lot. This parking lot is quite large and is rarely full (when we came for our sunset hike, there were only a couple of other cars in the lot).
Trail Stats
- Distance: 1.5 miles round trip (out and back trail)
- Elevation Gain: 511 feet
- Difficulty: Moderately hard
- Dogs: Allowed on trail, but must be on leash
- Cell Service: Spotty
A Red Rocks Pass or National Parks Pass is required to park and access the trail. You can buy the pass at a machine in the lot.
Hiking the Trail

The Doe Mountain trail is short, but it is definitely a steep one – you’re gaining 500 feet in just 0.75 miles. The hike switchbacks up the mountain on a rocky trail that is easy to follow.
We didn’t need to scramble (like you do when hiking Bell Mountain or Cathedral Rock, for example), but we did have to pick our way across some steep, rocky areas a little bit.

Honestly, the incline wasn’t bad. Sure, it was steep and a good workout, but it only lasts 3/4 of a mile.
The Overlooks
When you get to the top, the views are a-freaking-mazing. The top of the mountain is a flat plateau, and you’ll want to cross to the far side (the east-facing side) to enjoy views of the gorgeous red rocks all around you.

In the sunset light, the rocks are lit up and glowing beautifully. There are also several overlooks offering different views of the surrounding mountains.
After you’ve enjoyed the views and photo-ops, head back across the mountain, towards where you came up, to watch the sunset in the west. Since you’re so high up, you’ll have a great vantage point to watch it sink below the mountain peaks on the horizon.

If you start heading back down the trail within 5-10 minutes of the sun setting, you should be able to make it back to your car before it’s totally dark.
When to Hike

Doe Mountain is perfect at sunset – honestly, this is a phenomenal sunset spot and it’s worth prioritizing coming here in the evening.
We started this hike an hour before sunset and it was just barely enough time. We had to hoof it up the mountain as fast as we could – it still took us about 20-25 minutes to get to the top. Then we had about 15 minutes on the east-facing side to enjoy the views of the glowy rocks, before running over to the west-facing side to catch the last 10 minutes before the sun set.
It was pretty tight, so ideally I’d plan to start 1.5 to 2 hours before sunset, depending on how leisurely a pace you anticipate going. You want to be back on the west-facing side at least 15 minutes before the sun goes down.
The Wrap Up
Doe Mountain is a wonderful sunset hike that I’m seriously very surprised isn’t more popular. It’s short but intense and offers phenomenal panoramic views around Sedona from the top. And maybe best of all? You can escape the higher crowds found on many other trails in Sedona.
Other Hikes to Do in Sedona
Check out my other Sedona hiking guides – these are all top bucket list hikes and experiences in Sedona: