Two hikers took a wrong turn between Capital Butte and Lizard Head Rock on Nov. 28 prompting a rescue by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, Verde Search and Rescue and the YCSO Back Country Unit, just after 6 p.m.

The two “had become ‘cliffed out’ and were stuck on the mountain,” YCSO spokesman Paul Wick wrote in a recent email, “The terrain was too dangerous for our ground teams to hike up in the dark.”

YCSO sent a “team up the Lizard Head Trail, with a rescue plan, as YCSO searched for a helicopter with a hoist.” YCSO dropped an overnight package for the hikers coordinated with Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office with a helicopter arriving on scene and hoisting both hikers out later in the evening.

This was VSAR’s 74th call out of 2025.

“When hiking in Sedona, especially in winter, plan your route ahead of time, ensure you have plenty of water and hydrate the day before, and dress appropriately for changing weather as conditions can turn cold by late afternoon,” Sedona Fire District Deputy Fire Marshal Kirk Riddell said. “Charge your cell phone fully, bring proper clothing and know that some trails require hiking to reach the trailhead, sometimes without shade. Check trail difficulty in advance and always be cautious about where you walk to avoid injury.”