Preston Point

GET THE GPS TRACK FOR EVERY TRAIL IN SEDONA INCLUDED WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE WANDERER'S GUIDE! 
 
Preston Point is a social route that is accessed from the official Bear Mountain Trail. The descriptions below begin from the summit of Bear Mountain. We've describe that trail on a separate page.
 

 
From the summit of Bear Mountain turn right (see photo below) and you’ll find a faint trail along the edge of the cliffs. There is only one good line through the thick brush on top of the plateau.
 

 
The key is to avoid going either uphill or downhill, and stay along the relatively FLAT southeast edge of Bear Mountain. After approximately .05 miles you will come to a chokepoint where you will have to descend approximately 75 feet. The way to Preston Point becomes narrow and obvious from here.
  

It's an exciting moment when you come to the top of the chokepoint, not only because you can see the destination in front of you, but also because you're standing at the top of the BIG (600 feet) waterfall that sometimes forms at the upper end of Boynton Canyon. You'll be 1,200 feet above the canyon floor, yet close enough to hear people talking on the trail below.
  

Did I name this after myself? Yes, because I was the one who suggested the hiking group should check it out. Also, it didn't have a name and it needed one, and since everybody else in the group already had something named after them, so it was my turn.

From the intersection of State Route 89A and Dry Creek Road head north on Dry Creek to the stop sign and turn left on Boynton Canyon Road.
 

Proceed to the next stop sign, turn left on Boynton Pass Road and go another 1.23 miles to the designated Bear Mountain-Doe Mountain parking area.

A Red Rock Pass is required to park here and it can be obtained from the vending machine.

 
GET THE GPS TRACK FOR EVERY TRAIL IN SEDONA INCLUDED WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE WANDERER"S GUIDE! 
 
This parking area is frequently full by 8 am, but free overflow parking is still allowed along the roadside as of 2020. If you park by the road it is critically important that you access the trail by walking down the road, instead of creating erosion by shortcutting across the field of wildflowers.
 

From the summit of Bear Mountain find the faint trail heading north along the edge of the cliffs and stay on that same contour line until you come to the chokepoint (see DETAIL MAP below). 

TOTAL DISTANCE (FROM PARKING)
7.2 miles out and back
 

ELEVATION GAIN
2300 ft
 

EST. HIKING TIME
4-5 hours round trip
 

BEST TIME TO GO
Sept - May, In my opinion the light is usually better in the morning, but it varies with weather and cloud cover.
 

PET FRIENDLY
No.