I'm sharing a hike here in Sedona, where you can get stunning views of its Red Rocks. It's going to be a lot of fun, and I will show you some of the gear that I took along to help my back stay cool and dry while wearing a backpack. Let's get started.
Hi, Brice here from Vaucluse Backpack Ventilation Gear, where we love to explore more and sweat less. Let's dive into a really fun hike here in Sedona. I'm going to be looking at my computer while sharing trails and details off my Strava mobile app, plus some of the key points and pictures I took along the way, so when you're out here someday, you can enjoy the stunning views of this Redwall Limestone known as Sedona’s Red Rocks.
Hiking Review - Brins Mesa Trail in Sedona, Arizona
The trail is north of Sedona and takes you through the iconic red rocks inside the Coconino National Forest (one of the most diverse National Parks in the country). The trailhead that I took was the Brins Mesa Trailhead. Just ensure you have a car that can handle bumpy terrain because there's no paved road to the parking lot. You will also need a Red Rock Pass or National Forest Pass (fs.usda.gov/visit/passes-permits) check my links below. The trail I took is the Brins Mesa Trail, Number 119. This trail begins right at the edge of Sedona and is as picturesque as it is convenient. It doesn’t tuck you away in a deep canyon or up the side of a steep slope (which many of the trails can do around here).
Click here to visit the Forest Service webpage for Brins Mesa Trail No. 119.
This trail leads you out into the open, where you can enjoy unrestricted views of some of the most spectacular red rock formations anywhere. Bring a map to help identify Coffee Pot Rock, Wilson Mountain, Chimney Rock, and more just a “stone's throw” away (like Brins Butte Trail, which I find to be quite beautiful as well).
You can hike up this mountain if you want. I've done this in a video, so you can check that out (link below). The cool thing about this hike is that it's not too steep or too long. But it can get hot during the summer. I hiked this trail in April when it was a little chilly for me, as you can see from the photos, and started just after 8 a.m. when the temperature was in the 30s (Fahrenheit) and gradually climbed close to 40ºF.
When hiking in Arizona, consider how Sedona’s high plains and “high country” differ. Northern Arizona is a completely different climate as opposed to Southern Arizona.
My total moving time was just over two hours, and this hike was 4.48 miles, with an elevation gain of 906 feet. This was, as I mentioned at the beginning of the video, a gradual climb over one hour. So not the most difficult hike but definitely one with an upward climb to it.
AllTrails Tracking: You can review the trail on my AllTrails account by clicking here.
Strava Tracking: You can review the trail on my Strava account by clicking here.
Backpack Spacer & Ventilation System - Sweat Less when Backpacking
I took this 32-liter backpack with me. I kept it pretty light. It's pretty empty right here, mostly just extra clothing and water. I also equipped my backpack with a Vaucluse Ultra Light Backpack Ventilation Frame (see it attached here), and I've also got the frame right here, with the Generation One. If you check out our website (Vauclusegear.com), the Generation One weighs about 12 ounces, is very comfortable, and does the job of providing a ventilation gap between me and my backpack. I'll show you some videos of wearing it on the hike.
Now the Vaucluse Generation Two also does what Generation One does, but weighs about four times less. This weighs just over three ounces (roughly the weight of a pair of socks). So whether you're an ultra-light backpacker or just want to increase the ventilation system of your backpack without adding a whole lot of weight, this will definitely provide all the benefits you want.
When you're looking for an upgrade to your backpack and want to increase its ventilation system without buying entirely new gear, check out our Ultra Light Backpack Ventilation Gear at vauclusegear.com Also, check out our five-star customer reviews. All hikers say yes, it feels much better to have that ventilation on their back.
Thanks so much. See you on the trails.
You can read our 5-star customer reviews by clicking here. Yes, this gear works.
