Airport Loop Trail
Airport Loop Trail
4.5

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles100 reviews
Excellent
56
Very good
30
Average
9
Poor
3
Terrible
2

BethfromA2
Ann Arbor, MI141 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
This trail follows the rim of the area around the airport. We were told at the Sedona visitors center that it was a beautiful view. It was, in fact, gorgeous but the volunteer didn’t say how rocky it was. I suspect she had never been on the trail. (Why do they let people work there who haven’t been trained?)

As four people in their late 60’s and early 70’s we found it extremely challenging and were only able to go at 1 mile per hour. Three of us had walking sticks. Without them, your quads would be totally strained and you might fall. There is no elevation to the hike so they rate it easy to moderate. It is definitely moderate at minimum.

The first half of the trail looks out on Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Cathedral Rock and it is drop dead gorgeous. The first 5 minutes had steep drop offs. After that the drop offs weren’t that steep but the rocks were relentless. Then as we rounded the bend to see the valley from the west side the initial view was great and the soil changed. No longer on red rock but rather regular dirt. It was drizzling on top of the other challenges and our hiking boots were caked with mud. Then, we had to follow the chain linked fence along the airport. That wasn’t interesting at all once you saw the western view. We finally found an opening after 3 hours and were able to get to the airport vista point. A nice couple took me down to the original parking lot and I retrieved our car and drove back up to the airport vista overview to retrieve the other three in our party. Thank goodness they gave us the ride or it would have taken another 45-60 minutes to make it down.

The young people on the trail had an easy time and could do the trail in 90 minutes to two hours.

You can see the east overview by parking (only 6-8 spots), walking up 30 or so steps. To see the west overview drive up and park for $3 at the airport lot. Highly recommend doing that and going on a different hike.
Written 27 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Szy29
Columbus, OH112 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
We were looking for a hike off the beaten path and found this one. There was no parking at the trail head, so we went up to the top and parked there and hiked the 1/2 mile down to the trailhead. The first part of this hike was somewhat rocky with ups and downs. The views were great. When he arrived to the “top” at the back end of the airport, the hike was pretty flat and there weren’t many views as we hiked along the barbed wired fence by the airport. It did end up looping to the top parking lot, so at least we didn’t have to hike up a 1/2 mile.
Written 19 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marlene K
Beaverton, OR14 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Family
Had read this was easy. Expected flat and not rocky. Took my healthy 85yo mother and the trail was very rocky and loose and often on the edge of the cliff.
Written 21 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

familyis4ever
Springfield, MO305 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 • Family
This was a easy trek to the overlook but do NOT under estimate how cold it gets in AZ when the sun isn’t up. We were not dressed warm enough at all. We made it to see the sunrise but it was brutal.
Written 25 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Polly G
1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Couples
be careful on this. i hiked it with my family and half turned around bc this is not an easy hike, or even safe. its so close to the edge, very rocky, narrow, slippery in parts and we were shocked it was rated easy. we are all fit and healthy. it IS beautiful but please know it is not easy! :)
Written 13 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TJLK2013
Minneapolis, MN101 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022
We hiked about a third of the airport loop trail before turning back – so about two thirds of the distance, but considerably less than all of the trail. As you walk along the ridge from the airport parking lot, the views of a variety of red rock formations are really nice and they vary as you move along. Unfortunately, the path itself is pretty rough, uneven, with a lot of rocks, so that you really need to watch your step, and you’ll need to come to a full stop to take in the scenery. Since the trail was busy when we were there, that also meant finding an open space to avoid holding others up. In many places, this would be a showplace trail, but there are any number of better hiking alternatives around Sedona. It may be the best place to see the red rocks from an elevated spot, but you can get a good sense of that from the Mesa overlook and do your hiking at one of the many other excellent trails around town.
Written 12 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Zoom_Gotti
Henderson, NV1,559 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
Downside is that this is not wilderness and planes will be taking off and landing during your walk. But if you have only one place to go to see views and take photos, this is the trail you should do. Most people will access up at the airport. If you do, you'll need to trek from there to just under the vortex and begin the loop there. If you're fortunate enough to grab parking by the vortex, your trek will be that much shorter. There're also ways to gain access from the neighborhoods on short feeder trails. Regardless of how you access, I recommend the counter clockwise direction. So from below the vortex actually cross the street at the marked crosswalk and begin you walk inside the fencing. It's something like three miles, but the upgrade in this direction is more gradual than if you go the opposite route. And the entire route is quite rocky. Stay on the loop trail throughout. There are labeled direction signs at each intersection. Once you loop to the vortex, for those needing to return to the airport parking, you'll need to return the way you originally came. Do not walk the roadway! If you accessed from the neighborhood below, continue to your entry point (if you can remember where it was). Most of all have fun and if there's a threat of rain, there's very little cover along the way.
Written 24 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mblawlor
Plymouth, MA9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Friends
Short pretty hike. Not overly challenging and you get great views of Sedona along the way. There is a little elevation along the way but I would definitely consider this an easy to moderate hike.
Written 13 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ZMAN3411
Westfield, IN364 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Couples
Less popular = less crowds! Still great views and good hike. Loved watching the planes landing into the small airport as well.
Written 1 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

pparrothead
Wilmington, NC4,384 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
The Airport Loop Trail was a great way to get you into the hiking and exploring mode while on vacation in Sedona...It was one of our first stops and turned out to be one of our favorite things to do while in Sedona....

First off the views of Sedona from up above are fantastic and very photogenic. Secondly, we combined our our hike up and down the Airport Loop Trail with a climb up to the Summit of the rock down by the Airport Vortex..And then we stopped at the Sedona Airport for a late breakfast at the Mesa Grill..A must stop also. The only fee was $3.00 to park at the lot by the Airport Overlook viewing area.

The Airport Loop Trail is not difficult but you should take care when hiking as it is very rocky, twisting and sometimes your footing is not the best while stepping on dirt or small boulders....But it is most definitely worth the trek....
Written 24 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 95
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

AIRPORT LOOP TRAIL: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Airport Loop Trail