One of the most popular trails in Sedona, Arizona is the Soldier Pass Trail – Soldier Pass cave combination. The trail takes you past some of the top Sedona landmarks including the Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole and the Seven Sacred Pools on route to Soldier Pass.
The Soldier Pass trail is perfect for families, beginner hikers, and dogs (take lots of water for them) – really anyone who loves hiking in Sedona’s spectacular red rock country.
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Soldier Pass Trail summary
Distance: 4.5 miles return + up to 2.0 miles return from the shuttle parking lot (waits can be 50 minutes, so you might as well walk the one mile to the trailhead)
Elevation gain: Approximately 840 feet, depending on if you hike to Soldier Pass cave or not.
Time needed: 2 – 4 hours depending on how far you hike past Soldier Pass and if you include Soldier Pass cave.
Difficulty: Easy if you hike regularly but it’s a short steep hike up to Soldier Pass cave.
Don’t forget: Pack the hiking essentials, take lots of water, a wide-brim sunhat, and sunscreen.
Dogs: Permitted on a leash. I have read they need to have a muzzle to ride on the shuttle.
Trailhead location: Soldier Pass trail No.66/Soldier Pass trailhead (more details below)
Shuttles: Operate on a Thursday to Sunday basis. The parking lot at the trailhead is closed those days.
Best time to hike: Spring and fall but the crowds can be crazy, especially over March break. Summer can be very hot and it can snow in winter but as a local says – it never lasts long.
Weather: Check the Sedona weather forecast before you head out.
Please: Practice the 7 Leave No Trace principles. That includes plan ahead and prepare, travel on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, respect wildlife, minimize campfire impacts (not relevant on this hike), and be considerate of others.
Why hike the Soldier Pass – Soldier Cave trail in Sedona
The Soldier Pass trail offers a chance to do a loop hike and see several of Sedona’s iconic landmarks while you’re at it. It’s a great choice for people who don’t hike a lot – though the hike up to the cave can be mildly challenging for some. Only scramble into Soldier Pass cave if you’re a confident hiker!!
Best of all you can visit all the landmarks on the Soldier Pass trail hike in just 2 – 3 hours, leaving plenty of time for other hikes and adventures in Sedona.
The Soldier Pass trail is busy but once you’re a half mile in, people naturally get spaced out. After we passed the spur trail to Soldier Pass cave, we hardly saw a soul.
Location map of the hike
Options on getting to the Soldiers Pass trailhead
Sedona has been discovered judging by the crazy traffic! I have visited many times over the past 30 years and I’m shocked at how much growth has taken place since I was last here. With the massive increase in visitors, there are now strict parking measures in place.
On a Thursday to Sunday basis, you can no longer park at the Soldier Pass trailhead. Don’t even think about street parking unless you want to pay a hefty fine. Either take a shuttle or walk to the trailhead from the Posse Grounds Park and Ride.
Be prepared to park at the Posse Grounds Park and Ride at 20 Carruth Drive (there is good signage leading you there). If it’s full, someone will direct you to another large parking lot a 5-minute walk away. Parking is free.
The shuttle runs every 50 minutes to the Soldier Pass trailhead, located a mile away.
Do the math. In most instances, it’s faster to walk than shuttle. The Sunrise Trail leaves from the Posse Grounds Park & Ride. Follow it to the road and then look for signage as you make your way to the trailhead. It will take you about 20 minutes and you’ll have plenty of company.
If parking is open at the Soldier Pass trailhead
There are only 14 parking spots when the parking lot is open, so unless you’re a early riser be prepared to walk from the Posse Grounds Park & Ride. There are no bathrooms or garbage cans either, so be sure to pack out everything you pack in.
Jordan trailhead option
As an alternative, park at the Jordan trailhead. From there you can do a loop hike – in either direction. The hike will include part of the Brins Mesa trail, Soldier Pass Trail, the spur trail to Soldier Pass cave, Jordan Trail, and Cibola Pass Trail.
In hindsight I wish we’d done this – as I prefer a loop hike over an out and back hike. At the time of writing this blog, you don’t need a Red Rock Pass.
Soldiers Pass trail description
Once you reach the Soldier Pass trailhead the way forward is easy to follow. There is signage to keep you on track and lots of people to ask for directions should you ever get turned around.
Follow the red earth trail, cross a wash, and gently climb out of it to reach the Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole in just 0.15 miles. It’s the biggest sinkhole in the area – formed in the late 1880’s with another large collapse in 1989. This is a popular area for jeep tours – so we snapped a few photos, peered into the sinkhole and moved on.
After hiking half a mile from the trailhead, reach the Seven Sacred Pools, featured in many a magazine. The pools collect rainwater, so they are important to the local wildlife. Note that this spot is also a stop on the Jeep Tours – so it’s busier and nosier that other parts of the Soldier Pass trail.
Continue hiking, passing a fork by a sign that says Red Rock Secret Mtn Wilderness. Go right if you want to visit Soldier Pass cave and left to continue hiking on the Soldier Pass trail.
Trade partial shade of Arizona cypress trees for views as you start to climb. The trail gets steeper and rockier on the way up to the pass, climbing 370 feet over 0.4 miles – enough that most people will be breathing a little harder. Turn around when you need a water break and enjoy the views back towards the trailhead.
At about the 2 mile point the trail levels out on top of Brins Mesa. Continue walking for another quarter mile to intersect the Brins Mesa Trail. There are some beautiful vistas and if you go a little further they really open up. Either retrace your steps or continue right on a loop trail.
Photos of the Soldiers Pass trail
Don’t miss the Soldier Pass Cave
If you’ve gone to the trouble of getting to the Soldier Pass trailhead – the crux of the hike in my opinion, then I highly recommend that you include a side trip via a spur trail to the Soldier Pass cave. It’s a cool experience to climb inside it – though it isn’t for everyone.
You can see the Soldier Pass Caves if you hike the full Soldier Pass trail. As you get higher look back towards the trailhead and you’ll see the caves on the left in the red rock. You may hear voices too.
To find the Soldier Pass cave, look for a spur trail 0.6 miles past the Seven Sacred Pools on your right. The well-used spur trail is in a wooded section. (You may find Organic Maps useful here – an offline hiking app.)
Follow the trail over a flat expanse of red rock. Then begin a stiff climb to the Soldier Pass cave. You’ll be able to see where you’re heading in short order.
It’s only 0.3 miles one way along the spur trail with approximately 300 feet of elevation gain. The last bit is steep, but manageable. Remember, it’s always easier going up than coming down.
The Soldier Pass cave is obvious and easy to see as you get closer. Chances are there will be quite a few people either going up or coming down too.
The scramble into Soldier Pass cave
The scramble into Soldier Pass cave isn’t for everyone. The rocks you climb are smooth and sandy, so it can be hard to get a good purchase with your hiking boots. I would recommend that pets and kids do not go up as it is dangerous.
If someone is coming down, you’ll have to wait to go up. There isn’t a lot of room to move safely in the cave. Some of you will elect to go to the opening above the cave. Again, the ground is sandy and footing isn’t the best. Use common sense, and if you’re not comfortable, turn around.
Inside the cave, it’s beautiful as one might expect. I loved how the light played on the rock.
To continue up the Soldier Pass trail or return to the trailhead
Based on our experience, it seems that many people turn back at the Soldier Pass cave. If you do, you’ll still have had a fun experience in a beautiful setting. All told the hike to Soldier Pass cave and back to the trailhead is 3.0 miles round trip.
We elected to continue. The main Soldier Pass trail starts climbing gently after you’ve rejoined it. The views improve too. If you keep going after you reach Soldier Pass, the trail levels out as it heads for the Brins Mesa Trail.
Once you reach the Brins Mesa trail go right to continue on the loop back to the Jordan trailhead.
We went left and descended some distance on Brins Mesa, enjoying open, far-reaching views, before retracing our footsteps to Soldier Pass.
A hiking option from the Brins Mesa trail
If you have the time and you’ve been smart about a car shuttle, you could hike northwest on the Brins Mesa trail to reach the Chuckwagon Trail. If you follow that trail south you meet up with the Devil’s Bridge Trail. I’m not sure what the distances are, and you might be getting into the fun, but epic hike category. Do your homework before you go.
Final thoughts on the Soldier Pass trail in Sedona
The bottom line before you start out on any trail in Sedona – have a back up plan in case parking or the shuttle is a nightmare. Look at a map and see what the trails do. Make your own loop via designated trails – but keep in mind that you need to carry up to a gallon of water per person when it’s a hot day in Sedona.
The Soldier Pass trail is a fun hike for all ages – though I would have been happier not to come across the jeeps by the Devil’s Sinkhole and the Seven Sacred Pools. I’m not a fan of noisy vehicles in the wilderness. Fortunately once we passed the Sacred Pools we never saw them again. Don’t miss the side trip to the Soldier Pass cave – a highlight for most people.
Where to stay in Sedona
Sedona is not an inexpensive place to stay especially in high season. We stayed at the Briar Patch Inn on Oak Creek, though in hindsight it was too far from the trailheads we wanted to use, especially considering traffic. Give the location of your accommodation some consideration depending on what the focus is on your visit to the area.
Consider the following hotels and B&B’s.
- Alma de Sedona B&B – Great location, pool, excellent breakfast
- Sky Ranch Lodge – quiet, but a short drive to downtown
- Inn Above Oak Creek Sedona – lovely location and individually decorated rooms
- El Portal Sedona Hotel – a boutique hotel within walking distance to shopping
Would you prefer a tour?
Viator offers numerous walking, hiking and jeep options for those of you who prefer to leave the details to someone else. A few of the popular tours in Sedona include the following.
- Dark Sky Sunset and Night Hike Adventure
- Sedona Creekside of Cathedral Mountain with a private guide
- Sedona Sacred Canyons Loop
Interested in more great Arizona hikes?
Check out these Arizona hikes from left to right in the photos.
- The fun Aravaipa Canyon hike halfway between Phoenix and Tucson.
- Bear Mountain Trail in Sedona – one the harder trails in Sedona offering lots of variety underfoot and great views.
- The Camelback Mountain hike in Phoenix is a great workout if you just have a few hours.
- You can’t beat the Havasu Falls hike for the beauty but the camping is expensive.
- The fabulous Court House Butte Hike in Sedona – lots of variety and family-friendly.
- Schuerman Mountain Trail in Sedona is an easy hike that’s perfect near sunset. Not busy either.
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