Distant Drums RV Resort
Camp Verde, AZ
May 14, 2015
Even though the weather called for a 20% chance of rain we took our chances with 0% chance for thunder storms. Our hike for the day was Airport Mesa Loop...all on high ground.
Airport Mesa sits between Scenic Byway 179 and Highway 89A. The trailhead is located on Airport Road and parking is limited. The 3.25 mile hike is rated moderate because of some steep rock climbs mostly at each end of the mesa. We skipped this hike last year because I didn't think hiking around the airport would be much fun...was I ever wrong! We only saw 2 planes take off from the runway above us. If we had not seen the security fence on the south end of the runway, we would never have known there was an airport there. There are connecting trails to this loop to make for a longer hike as well.
We chose to walk clockwise. After dropping below the mesa, the trail heads southeast. The big picture...
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| Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock and Scenic Highway 179 |
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| Munds Mountain Wilderness |
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| Bell Rock thru the clouds and rain...we saw it coming and were drenched for about 5 minutes. |
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| A smile even though it was a bit chilly! |
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| Cathedral Rock |
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| Wet rocks along Scenic Hwy 179 |
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| If you look closely, you will see the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the bottom right quadrant. |
We rounded the mesa and headed northwest...
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| The Pyramid |
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| West Sedona's business area along Hwy 89A |
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| Can you spot the other 2 hikers on the trail? |
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| The Coffeepot |
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| Red Rock/Secret Mountain Wilderness |
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| Looking back at the trailhead once we dropped below the mesa... |
Happy Trails!
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