The Brins Mesa Trail stretches 3.65 miles from the Jordan Trailhead in uptown Sedona to FR 152. At 2.05 miles it connects with the Soldiers Pass Trail, which joins the Jordan and Cibola Pass trails to form a 5.2 mile loop through stunning red rock formations and open desert.

The Mitten, one of many prominent rock formations on the Brins Mesa Trail

The Brins Mesa Trail level across the mesa top, which burned 4500 acres in a 2006 fire

Century plants reproduce once in their lifetime before dying; their name is a play on the decades lived before growing reproductive stalks

Prickly pear cacti produce edible fruits, and extracts that can be made into jellies and candy

The Brins Mesa Trail rises through some of Sedona's most prominent rock formations

Capitol Butte illuminated by an early summer sun

The century plant stalk can grow several inches a day and reach over 10' in 2-3 weeks

Arizona Sycamore is often found along washes, distinguished by its smooth, colorful bark

The Brins Mesa Trail and Soldiers Pass Trail form a loop along the west side of Capitol Butte

The Soldiers Pass Trail rolls through cactus garden, open slick rock, and pockets of cypress

Cryptobiotic soil crusts are living organisms that absorb water and fix nitrogen

The Seven Sacred Pools are a string of potholes along the Soldiers Pass Trail that provide a vital perennial water source for wildlife

Blooming hedgehog cactus on the Soldiers Pass Trail

View from the Cibola Pass Trail

Cryptobiotic soil can absorb 10x its volume in water, which neighboring plants access with long tap roots