Soldier Pass Trail

Route Description for Soldier Pass Trail

Soldier Pass Trail is a perfect pick for hikers who want to experience several of Sedona’s fascinating natural landmarks on one hike. This trail provides access to the Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole, the Seven Sacred Pools, and the Soldier Pass Cave. Three in one!

The Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole was mostly formed in the early 1880s and in 1989 when giant crashes of rock shook the city. The Seven Sacred Pools are a work of art by Mother Nature, with pastel-blue water trickling from one pool to the next over the layered red sandstone that lies between the Oak Creek Mountains and Sedona’s arid desert. The Soldier Pass Cave is a gorgeous, eerie hideaway tucked into red rock.

This area is also used by Jeep traffic. Hike aware of the traffic on the trail, although most vehicle traffic is at the beginning of the trail. While the signage is alright in spots, it lacks in others. Some users report relying on a GPS track to help navigate unclear sections. We recommend downloading a map ahead of time.

The parking lot at Soldier Pass opens at 8 AM and closes at 6 PM. There is no alternate parking available outside these times, so plan your hike accordingly. Vehicles may be towed if they attempt to park at or near the trailhead outside of open hours. There is another parking area 3.2 km away and there is a red van shuttle service between the two if you need it.

Beginning from the Soldier Pass Trailhead, head across Soldier Wash and turn left at the first junction. You’ll then keep right. You’ll be descending to the Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole and then climbing back up, and there isn’t signage until you’re climbing back up.

You’ll hike parallel to the wash towards the pools. Admire the vibrant red earth beneath your feet, the agave and juniper growing alongside the trail, and the ever-present view of the surrounding mountains and buttes.

At the pools, you can snap a photo from the overlook point and spend some time watching the flow of the water. The pools were created naturally by the gradual erosion of the water, each trickling into the next over the course of many years.

From here, watch for a junction where a spur trail splits off to the right with a wilderness sign on a tree. This is the trail for the cave. You’ll hike half a mile across a plateau and then into the trees. At the base of the cave, you can shimmy up inside. This requires some hands-on effort in a narrow space. Kids might need their hands held in the cave, which has a gap in the “floor.”

From the cave, you can either retrace your steps to the trailhead or finish out the full hike with an additional 0.8 km trek to the end of the trail. This takes you up onto a ridge with excellent views of the canyon. The trail terminates where it meets Brins Mesa Trail. Turn back and retrace your steps to the trailhead.

Trail Highlights

Seven Sacred Pools

In the strikingly beautiful area between the Oak Creek Mountains and the arid desert of Sedona lies the Seven Sacred Pools, a series of natural pools that waterfall into one another over layers of deep ochre sandstone. These pools are both an important spiritual site for humans and an important source of water for desert wildlife.

Devil’s Kitchen

Devil’s Kitchen is a sinkhole in Sedona, Arizona. The collapse began prior to the presence of Westerners, and the hole was widened with a huge collapse in the early 1880s that left the sky filled with dust and created a crash loud enough for most residents to hear. Another collapse in 1989 left the hole about a third wider than it had previously been.

Soldier Pass Cave

The unique Soldier Pass Cave is a fascinating place to explore. The cave is shaped like two crescent moons not quite meeting in the middle where a gap slices through the floor. Windows in the cave let you look out at the landscape from within. The cave is a very popular hiking destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get to the Seven Sacred Pools in Sedona?

The easiest and most direct way to the pools is via Soldier Pass Trail.

Why is it called Soldier Pass?

The area was named after General Crooks Army Scouts who lived in Fort Verde from the 1870s through the 1880s. They regularly traveled through parts of the Arizona Territory.

Is the Soldier Pass Cave okay for kids?

The cave requires a bit of hands-on climbing up a short, narrow section. Small children will need some help, but they should be able to make it. We recommend keeping an eye on kids in the cave as the footing is uneven and there’s a gap in the cave floor.

Insider Hints for Soldier Pass Trail

• Bring plenty of water if you’re hiking this trail in the summertime. Sedona can get very hot and it’s only shaded part of the way.
• We love a post-hike tamale at the Tamaliza Cafe.