Airport Mesa sits above Sedona's small regional airport and offers a 360-degree panorama of the entire red rock basin — Cathedral Rock to the south, Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock to the southeast, the Mogollon Rim to the north. The 3.5-mile loop trail around the mesa is moderately difficult and takes about 90 minutes.
The mesa top is one of four designated vortex sites in Sedona, and at sunset the place fills with a mix of hikers and meditators, all equally transfixed by the light on the rocks. Park at the pullout on Airport Road and either walk up the road or take the trail. The trail is rocky and lacks shade — bring water and wear sunscreen regardless of the season.