Another great Sedona hike. Wilson will test your endurance, but the rewards are higher and well worth the effort. It was another mild late May day when I started at Midgety Bride, where finding a parking spot is tough if you start late from all the Oak Creek party people. Legs were a little stiff from Bear Mt, Cathedral Rock, and Doe Mt the day before, but felt great once the blood started pumping. The first mile or so of the trail is smooth red sand and rock, with Junipers and a few pines giving shade. Then you come up to the open switchbacks Leading up to the first bench, a very rocky and shadeless part of the trail, covered with manzanita bushes, that offers some great views and a chance to see a snake or two (which I did on the way down). After the first bench you get glimpses of the San Francisco peaks up north, and head into a dense bush and wildflower filled path with remnant dead pines from the ‘06 fire. Be careful here if you’re headed up in May/early June as there were lots of bees swarming the blooming flowers and bushes. You then start to smell and see the tall pines where the trail splits to Wilson peak lookout and the north canyon lookout, and you feel like you’re in Flagstaff with the dense pine smell. The views that overlook Sedona are some of the best when you’re at the top. A steep drop off and howling winds will greet you along with spectacular vistas as far as Jerome and Prescott.
Overall the trail was steady incline not of the way that’ll test your endurance. Not as steep as Bear Mt, but it will definitely push you. Bring lots of water and a salty snack or two. 8.9/10.