Sedona's Airport Mesa

Mystery rating

Airport Mesa is a flat topped ridge above Sedona, Arizona, with red rock views in every direction. It is one of the places local guides call an energy vortex, and it is also one of the best sunset and stargazing spots in the area.

Why it's famous

Sedona became an International Dark Sky Community in 2014 after adopting strict lighting rules, and the results are dramatic: the Milky Way is often visible from an ordinary parking lot in town. Airport Mesa, a short drive up a narrow road, sits about 500 feet above the valley floor and has become the area's best-known viewpoint, popular with photographers and vortex believers alike. UFO reports in the Verde Valley date to the 1940s and 1950s, long before Sedona's rise as a New Age destination in the 1980s built around four claimed energy vortex sites, including Airport Mesa. Commercial night-vision tours, running since the 2010s, use Gen-3 goggles that reveal dozens of satellites and meteors on a typical night, alongside guides who openly identify most lights as Starlink trains or Iridium flares. What's left unexplained, by the tour operators' own estimate, appears roughly one night in five.

History

Sedona first gained attention as a community for artists and a backdrop for films in the mid-20th century. By the 1980s, it transformed into a major hub for New Age tourism, centered around four sites believed to be energy vortexes. Reports of UFOs in the Verde Valley area date back to the 1940s. The city was officially named an International Dark Sky Community in 2014, and commercial night-vision sky tours have been offered here since the 2010s.

The full story

Nestled in central Arizona, Sedona sits in a natural basin surrounded by Permian sandstone formations. These vibrant red rocks are the first thing that catches your eye. Iconic landmarks like Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Courthouse Butte glow a deep orange as the sun sets, then gradually disappear into the night sky. But for anyone keen on stargazing, what happens next is truly captivating. Sedona has been recognized as an International Dark Sky Community since 2014, thanks to its strict lighting rules. Streetlights are carefully shielded, shop signs are dimmed, and the result is incredible: you can often see the Milky Way clearly from a regular parking lot right in town. Airport Mesa is a classic spot for taking in these views. A narrow road winds its way up to a flat ridge, home to a small airport and a popular viewpoint at its western end, offering panoramic vistas of the entire valley. It’s just a fifteen-minute drive from the town center and sits about 500 feet higher, which is exactly enough to get away from any lingering ground light. On any clear night, you’ll find others there too: photographers with their tripods, visitors drawn to the area's energy vortexes, and at least one commercial group handing out powerful night-vision goggles. Those night-vision tours are a big reason why Sedona often appears on lists of UFO hotspots. These guided sky-watching trips have been operating here for over ten years, and they completely change how we think about a sighting. Through their high-tech Gen-3 goggles, you'll spot dozens of satellites and meteors almost every night. Then there are the objects the guides simply call “unknowns”: lights that stop, reverse direction, or suddenly get brighter in ways no satellite ever would. The tours are also refreshingly honest about the vast majority of what you see – they’ll tell you which passing light is a Starlink satellite train and which is an Iridium flare. What’s left, perhaps one night out of five, is the truly mysterious stuff that keeps people coming back. UFO sightings here actually began long before these tours. Reports from the Verde Valley date back to the 1940s and 1950s. The region has always been open to such ideas; Sedona was a popular New Age hub for decades before it became known for UFOs. Its four famous energy vortex sites, including Airport Mesa, have been drawing visitors since the 1980s. Skeptics might see this as a cycle where belief feeds itself, and they have a point. But this cycle doesn't create the incredibly dark skies, the crystal-clear desert air at 4,200 feet (1,300 meters), or the military airspace that stretches to the northeast. When it comes to practicality, Sedona is arguably the easiest place on any UFO hotspot list to visit. You’ll find hotels for every budget, restaurants open late, and it’s only a two-hour drive from Phoenix. Plus, the daytime hiking here is fantastic on its own. You can bring friends or family who aren't even interested in UFOs, and they’ll still have a wonderful weekend. Very few other places on our map can offer that kind of appeal.

Legends & sightings

Airport Mesa is one of Sedona's four recognized vortex sites, believed to concentrate a unique energy that some visitors link to the frequent aerial sightings. Local stories also suggest a connection between the sightings and a supposed underground base hidden beneath the Mogollon Rim.

Can you visit?

Yes. Airport Mesa is public land with a small parking area, a short vortex trail and a separate scenic overlook with a paid parking lot. It is open to everyone. Parking is very limited and fills up before sunset.

How to get there

1. Fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) or Flagstaff (FLG). 2. Drive north from Phoenix on I-17, roughly two hours, then west into Sedona. 3. In Sedona, take Airport Road up the hill. 4. Park at the small pull off for the vortex trail or continue to the overlook. Sedona has a seasonal shuttle for some trailheads, which is worth checking in busy periods.

Before you go

Arrive well before sunset to get a parking space. Bring water and sun protection. Arizona sun is strong even in winter. Wear shoes with grip. The rock is smooth and steep in places. Nights get cold in the desert, so bring a layer if you stay for stars. Check the Red Rock parking pass rules for the lot you use.

What to expect

A short but steep scramble up the small hill gives 360 degree views over the red rocks. It is popular, so expect other people at sunset, sometimes with drums or meditation groups. The overlook further along the road is easier and just as scenic. Thirty minutes to a couple of hours, depending on how long you sit.

Frequently asked

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