Maroon Mountain - The Summit Route
Maroon Mountain does not have a trail to the summit. The route described below is not difficult to find or follow, but it DOES involves a significant amount of bushwhacking and an incredibly steep uphill climb.
WARNING: THIS ROUTE IS RATED AS EXTREME. IT SHOULD ONLY BE ATTEMPTED BY HIKERS WITH EXTENSIVE BACKCOUNTRY EXPERIENCE.
If you are the hardcore type who enjoys a 5-8 hour scramble that most people will not even attempt, there are three extreme summits in the Dry Creek Basin you will probably love: Thunder Mountain, Maroon Mountain and
Lost Wilson Mountain.
All of these can be reached without any climbing gear.
Lost Wilson Mountain.
All of these can be reached without any climbing gear.
Maroon Mountain is one of the most beautiful summits in Sedona (shown below). It's the kind of hike you will probably only do once. I made it to the top on New Years Day, 2012 with a group of four friends. We're all really glad we did it, but none of us is talking about going back.
As mentioned, once we left the HS Canyon Trail our route was choked with thick, thorny brush. Making our way along a high ledge just below the summit, one member of the group noted afterwards, “the brush was so thick it took us 10 minutes to go 10 feet." This route should only be attempted in the winter months when you can wear long sleeves.
While there is not much chance of taking a serious fall on Maroon there are two big problems: the incredibly steep grade (it is even more vertical than Thunder) and the unrelenting brush (even worse than the approach on Lost Wilson). You need both stamina and a willingness to be scratched up to reach the summit.
FINDING THE TRAILHEAD
Starting from the Secret Canyon parking area the route to the summit of Maroon is more straightforward than either Thunder or Lost Wilson. The route described below follows the HS Canyon Trail to its closest point at the base of Maroon Mountain.
From there we dropped into the massive split in Maroon Mountain and began a nearly vertical ascent to the saddle (shown above). The saddle in turn gave us access to the green ledge that is just below the summit.
GET THE GPS TRACK FOR EVERY TRAIL IN SEDONA INCLUDED WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE WANDERER"S GUIDE!
Similar to the ledge on Lost Wilson, with a lot more brush, this ledge connects to a diagonal cut in the last remaining cliff. The summit is the highest point visible in the photo above -- all the way to the right.
HIKE DETAILS
NOTE: A high clearance 4x4 is required to access the Secret Canyon trailhead.
RATED: EXTREME! This route of for experts only.
TOTAL DISTANCE
6.2 miles out and back
6.2 miles out and back
ELEVATION GAIN
2300 ft
2300 ft
EST HIKING TIME
5-7 hours round trip
5-7 hours round trip
BEST TIME TO GO
Oct - Mar. This hike should only be done in the winter.
Oct - Mar. This hike should only be done in the winter.
PET FRIENDLY
No
No