Hike The Cockscomb Coconino National Forest, AZ

Oct 29, 2022 — The Cockscomb is a minor Sedona summit using a trail (or social trail) for its duration, and with a short Class 3 move. The Aerie Trailhead is less popular than most others in the area, but still gets attention. On my drive there I had to wait for a hot air balloon that had landed on the road. Though I don't ever plan to get in one of these whimsical contraptions, the concept of humans floating around in one delights me.

I headed along the Coxcomb Trail, the peak visible in the distance. I kept left at a signed junction with the Outer Limits Trail, and then veered off to the right along the Ground Control Trail. Shortly after heading along this trail, I left it at an unmarked social trail junction that began climbing more steeply up the north slope of The Coxcomb. Ahead I could see a cliff band that surrounded the summit mesa, but the social trail kept 50 feet or so below it before ascending to the northeast side of the peak. Some Class 2 brought me to a short dihedral, the Class 3 crux that led to the mesatop. I continued south along the little mesa to reach the high point, which had some okay views. The peak is sort of isolated from the rest of the Sedona landscape and not much more than a lump after all, but it was a nice little morning outing.