Hiking is one of the most common activities for Sedona, Arizona. Sedona is a small town with a population of less than 10,000 people. It is best known for hiking, New Age shops, spas, and art. With so many hiking trails to choose from, it is hard to decide which hikes to take. No matter what, there will be stunning views. A really awesome hike is Soldier’s Pass Trail. We will be detailing everything you need to know for this hike!
Soldier’s Pass Trail
- Trail Length: ~4 -5 miles out and back
- Parking: ~18 spots, people arrive outside of the gate up to an hour or more before it opens. Extra parking .5-1 mile up the road.
- Opening Time: 8 am
- Cost: Free
- Bathrooms: None
- Shuttle: Available Thursday – Sunday
- Dogs: Allowed on trail, must be on a leash. Will be hard for the scramble portion of the cave.
One of the key things to note about this trail being different than many others in Sedona is there is a gate that blocks the entry. People will start arriving up to an hour before it opens at 8 am to be one of the 18 in the parking lot. It is important to note this is in a residential area. With that in mind, be smart about not parking in front of anyone’s houses where it is possible to get towed or get a ticket. If the lot is full, park about a half mile-one mile up the road instead.
Along this trail there are three things that people are often seeking: Devil’s Kitchen, the Seven Scared Pools and the Cave. Dependent on if you go only to the cave and back or if you go to the end of the Soldier’s Pass, this will create different lengths for the trail. Going to the cave and back is closer to 4 miles. Going to the end of the trail and then back is going to be closer to 5 miles.
Devil’s Kitchen Sink Hole
After parking at the trail head, it is easy to find the start of the trail via the sign. Within minutes of starting the trail, you will come upon the Devil’s Kitchen. This massive sink hole formed in the late 1800s. There was a second collapse in the late 1900s. It has vegetation growing inside of it and is roughy 660 feet deep. If you enjoy geology, the Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole is a great place to explore. There is an informational sign next to it as well. Due to the safety factor, be sure to keep kids and pets away from the edge of the sinkhole.
Seven Sacred Pools
After seeing the sinkhole, continue to head up the trail. From the trailhead, at the .65 mile mark you will come upon the Seven Sacred Pools. This is a great spot to get beautiful photos and admire the stunning landscape. It is possible to carefully crawl down the rocks and get right next to the pools for your photos.
Arriving at the pools early in the morning provides there will be fewer people so there will be less wait for photos and no photobombing. We took pictures at the start and at the finish. Since we visited in the fall, we found the pools looked a little dim early in the morning. It was great to stop by a second time on the way out for more photos.
Soldier’s Pass Cave
Continue on the trail beyond the pools until you are about 1.75 miles from the trailhead. This is where you will find the small off-shoot that will take you up to the cave. Once you arrive at the base, getting inside of the cave can be a little bit of a scramble. It is recommended to put your bag on your back and try to have both hands free for climbing up. Often times there are others at the cave who are willing to give a helping hand!
Once inside, enjoy the beautiful views! And of course take some photos. Getting to the ledge can be a little bit slick. It is recommended to have solid shoes with good grip to ensure you don’t slip. After exploring in the cave, head back the way you came.
General Recommendations for Soldier’s Pass
- Shoes with good traction for the scramble up to the cave.
- Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen as needed.
- Warm clothes if going in the fall or winter (early mornings are chilly).
- Camera.
- Arrive early to get a parking spot, before the gates open at 8 am or take the shuttle to avoid parking issues if on a Thursday-Sunday.
- Be respectful regarding parking as it is in a residential area.
- Always practice Leave No Trace habits.
We hope you enjoy hiking this trail! If you have any questions or comments, we would love to hear from you!
If you aren’t as into hiking but still want to see some of the sights, check out a tour of the area!
