Few places in Sedona offer the kind of sweeping views and accessible adventure found on Doe
Mountain. It’s no surprise the trail has become one of the most popular hikes in the Red Rock
Ranger District.
But with that popularity comes impact.
Over time, heavy use combined with limited drainage and aging trail infrastructure has led to
deep erosion, widening tread, and the formation of social trails as visitors attempt to navigate
increasingly difficult sections.
To address these challenges and protect the long-term sustainability of Doe Mountain Trail, the
Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund partnered with the National Forest Service and Summit to Sea
Trails to implement a phased restoration approach—bringing expert craftsmanship, thoughtful
design, and durable solutions to one of Sedona’s most beloved trails.
Phase I: Laying the Groundwork for Sustainable Use
The first phase of work occurred last year, focusing on stabilizing priority sections of the trail and introducing foundational improvements to address erosion and user safety. Summit to Sea Trails – whose team brings more than 16 years of trail building experience with partners including the National Park Service and projects across the country—worked to reinforce the trail using a combination of:
- Hand-built rock steps
- Armored drainage features
- Tread regrading and stabilization
- Naturalization of impacted areas
Their approach emphasizes sustainability, longevity, and user experience – ensuring the trail
not only withstands heavy use but continues to feel natural within the surrounding landscape.
These initial improvements helped slow erosion, improve trail flow, and set a new standard for
durability on Doe Mountain.
Phase II: Targeting Critical Erosion Areas
Building on the success of Phase I, Phase II focused on the most severely impacted sections of
the trail – areas where erosion, steep grades, and poor drainage had significantly degraded the
user experience.
Two priority zones were identified:
1. Lower Section (Near Aerie Trail Junction)The first section had become deeply incised – essentially forming a trench up to several feetdeep due to water flow and foot traffic.
To restore this area, crews implemented:
- 18–23 rock steps
- Retaining walls to rebuild trail edges
- Drainage features to move water off
2. Closer to the summit, the trail had widened to as much as 4–8 feet in places due to erosion and users bypassing difficult terrain.
Here, the work included:
- 12–22 rock steps
- Multiple drainage structures (Z-drains)
- Regrading and narrowing of the tread
- Naturalization of surrounding impacted areas
Exceeding Expectations in the Field
Summit to Sea Trails recently completed this month-long Phase II effort—and the results exceeded expectations.
The crew more than doubled the anticipated number of check steps and armored drainage features, delivering an exceptional level of craftsmanship and long-term durability.
Their work not only stabilized critical sections of the trail but significantly improved the overall experience for hikers —making the trail safer, more sustainable, and more enjoyable.