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Soldier Pass Trail was amazing, I've been wanting to see Seven Sacred Pools for a few years now. We parked at Jim Thompson parking lot and walked the Cibola trail to meet up with Soldier Pass Trail, since the parking lot is small and gate doesn't open until 8am. I would definitely recommend this route, it was probably a 45 minute hike to Devils Kitchen but fairly easy. I'm so happy that these trails stay clean, everyone does a great job of leaving it better than they found it.
Beautiful sights & scenery, indeed. However, stretches of the trail were challenging and rage-inducing. If you are 40+, bring your inhaler & support braces for all of your limbs. If you decide to see the caves, be prepared to basically scale a mountain. Man, I wuz huffin' & puffin' up that steep and unsteady incline. If you want to see a cave so very badly, just close your eyes and envision yourself in a cave -- that option is less strenuous (unless you have dry eyes & closing the lids over those dusty pups is a laborious task). In general, mother nature is beautiful. Have fun out there. Be safe. And apply your SPF! Oh, if you have children under 5 -- rethink bringing them on this trail, silly.
Solder's Pass was our first hike when we were in Sedona, and did not dissapoint and remains a fond memory. We got there just after 7am but apparently missed the shuttle to the trailhead, which run about every 45 minutes. You can walk to the trailhead from the shuttle parking, an additional 1 mile. Our hike ended up being just over 6 miles. Highlights include the Devil's Kitchen sinkhole, the Seven Sacred Pools, a Cave, and a nice mix of flat and inclined hiking, and beautiful views of course. We hiked the full trail then on the way back found the Y intersection that leads to the Cave. It helps to have the All Trails app and download the trail to find the Y intersection. The hike up to the Cave area is steep and might exceed some people's abilities. My son got up in the Cave and said it wasn't too hard to scramble up. On our return trip we took the Jeep road for a nice change of pace, and got a nice perspective on the Seven Sacred Pools, and got to see a Jeep hug the side of the canyon at an insane angle. Loved Soldier Pass, just check the Sedona City Shuttle schedule ahead of time but honestly the 1 mile hike in is flat and nice.
We hiked in from the off-site parking area because the shuttle was full. Check the shuttle website for schedules, routes as well as changes, such as during designated spring break dates. It is a VERY popular trail. You'll see Devil's Kitchen and the Seven Sacred Pools along the way. It's an easy to follow trail until the fork to the caves. Counterintuitively, at the fork keep going straight rather than turning left to stay on the Soldiers Pass trail, because you're wanting to get to the caves, right? The rest of the trail to the caves is a bit of a climb, culminating in a bit of a scramble at the end. Yes, it can be slippery with loose dirt and there are multiple ways to get to the caves. Once at the caves, you can climb onto a ledge similar to the Subway, only narrower. Some of us went even further and climbed to the top of the caves. It's a bit difficult, but the reward is the views and more wind, which can be refreshing. But climb to your own comfort level.
A green trail with red rocks in the back drop. Some features include a sinkhole, seven sacred pools, and caves. However, it the greenery that makes the trail. 4.5 miles total, in and out. Some historical land conflict alludes to the namesake. The caves look great in photos, but I am not sure I would do it again. It is up a steeper half mile section at the end. To enter you must climb a narrow section, and it gets tight in the cave if there are more than a few people. Parking is extremely limited (20 cars?). Today I skipped it and parked near Posse Community Park and biked over (1.5 miles). There is a woman who runs a red shuttle van, and I was told operate on tips.
There are so many beautiful hikes to be taken in Sedona and this one is included--great for the average hiker and mountain bikers alike. Bikers keep in mind bicycles are only allowed for the first 1.3 miles to Wilderness Boundary. You are going to love the amazing formations, iconic red rocks, and chill vibe of this desert town generally speaking. Be sure to get there as close to 8 am as possible as there are only 14 parking spaces and line forms early. If you're not so lucky you can park near a dog park which is about 1.1 miles from trailhead--adding 2.2 miles. Start this hike super early because If you know nothing about this area, know this, it is dry desert terrain and it gets hot. Make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks. I also had some handy dandy 30spf sunscreen that I made sure to reapply as needed, sunglasses, and I wore a hat. There are markers here and there; you will also pass though the Devils sink hole and 7 sacred pools to get to this one trail. I love places that remind me how very small we are. --Intermission-- Think of a number. Double it. Add ten. Half it. Take away the number you started with. Your number is 5. --Intermission-- Take a break on the trail when needed as there are so many photo opportunities! The trail is 4.5 miles round trip and gaining about 830 feet in elevation when exploring the cave. Some parts are shaded and some rocks slippery. There is so much beauty you will encounter and be entertained with the entire way. It also consists of many connected trails if you are feeling spicy and adventurous as this is pioneering at its best! The geological formation of the cave was indeed the highlight of the hike for me. You have to climb to get inside but it was so worth it. The whole time while inside simply welcoming inspiration. It made me think of Miley Cyrus's song that goes like this, "There's always gonna be another mountain. I'm always gonna wanna make it move. Always gonna be an uphill battle. Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose. Ain't about how fast I get there. Ain't about what's waiting on the other side It's the climb." Yes, It was definitely the climb/cave experience. Happy trails! "If you want to fly you must give up the things that weigh you down!" Tips: No restroom facilities As of January 2020, recreation.gov will be handling permits. Motorized vehicles will need to get permits.
Absolutely recommend this hike! There is so much to see - Devils Kitchen, 7 Ponds, and a Cave. Originally 4 miles round trip but parking is always a bit hectic so we parked at the Jim Thompson Trail head and did about 6 miles. Cibola to Solider pass was gorgeous and very idyllic with dear and tall trees. Some things to mention - the trail is quite nice and not difficult till you get to the part my friend endearingly referred to as the Devils staircase that leads the the cave...definitely more on the difficult side for that area. Overall this is probably my second top hike so far I have done in Sedona.
What's up: When in Sedona, you gotta hit up all the hiking spots and see the beautiful views. While looking up hikes, I read about a mystery cave that's located along the Soldier Pass trail that you have to look for. Adventure and off the main trail with something cool at the end?? Heck yes, let's do it! Parking: There is a small parking lot located off of Canyon Shadows Dr. at the beginning of the trailhead. It's open from 8 am to 6 pm. We got there right at 8 and there were already tons of cars in the lot! Luckily, there were still a couple of spots left. When we were done with our hike (~2 hrs later), there were still cars waiting outside the lot for an open spot. Environment: The hike itself was nice and pretty. You're surrounded by the red rocks and the greenery makes the view very nice. Along the way, you'll pass by a few points of interests such as the Devil's Kitchen and the Seven Sacred Pools. Unfortunately, the pools were dry and not much to look at. To find the cave, you'll need to veer off the main trail towards the right once you get near the Red Rock National Forest sign. Someone was nice enough to leave a flat rock behind on the ground with the words "CAVE" on it. From then on, you can follow the rock cairns and go uphill a bit before you reach the mountain side to climb up into the secret cave. Yay/Nay/Meh: Yay. The hike overall was fairly easy to do. It's mostly towards the end where there's a bit of uphill and climbing into the actual cave. The Devil's Kitchen was a cool sinkhole to look at and I'm sure the Seven Sacred Pools would have been way cooler with water. But the cave searching and the climbing into it was the fun part! It was definitely a unique experience, especially when you get the cave all to yourself.
First of all, as other yelpers wrote , parking is tough, however, we had a solution: park at the different trailhead and hike from other route. This add more miles, but actually I loved that part as well. This area is amazing. Very beautiful. Also the secret cave was fun. Recommended!
It's gorgeous, and we'll get to that, but first: parking. Oof, the parking is gonna be the thing that drives you insane. Whereas some hikes in Sedona are located a little farther out of town and you can park along the shoulder to your heart's content, this hike is in the edge of a neighborhood and you'll see about as many "No Parking" signs as you do illegally parked cars. The parking lot holds about 10-15 cars max, and if you're here when there's any kind of busy season in Sedona (probs near year-round and for sure on weekends) then just plan on not parking in the lot. The nearest sanctioned parking is a ways away, so either have a dropoff, take a car service, hitch a ride, or just log the extra hiking back to your car. The gates are supposed to open at 8am, but we rolled up at about 7:45am and they were open. We pulled in and grabbed one of the last few spots available, and had no idea how darn lucky we actually were. After parking and getting our bearings, we hit the trail. The sun was just coming up and when we got to the big sinkhole, the very first rays hit the jagged rock tip across the valley and lit them with bright hues of orange and yellow. These are the colors that Sedona gives you, and you drink them in until your eyes are full. As we hiked along the ridge, to the seven sacred pools (more like a couple of nearly dry pools and some rock catch basins) we saw the sun line lower on the canyon to our left as the day warmed up. We only went as far as the cave turnoff, then made our way uphill to the cave, climbed up in, and peeked out of the window at the trees, sky, and ridgeline. It's not for the faint of heart, this cave, and though we saw a lot of people with a lot of skill levels, I'd be quite nervous about taking kids much farther than then base of the cave to peer upwards through the rock fissure. All in all, it wasn't too strenuous, with the exception of the cave portion. I would have liked to take the Soldier Pass Trail all the way to the saddle, but alas, we were pressed for time. We went back and took the road junction at the pools, which provided some amount of diversity and kept us away from the outbound hikers that had slept in and were just now making their noisy way up the trail, before connecting once again to the trailhead. We got to the car, and saw a long line of cars waiting for a space to open up, as well as plenty of illegally parked cars. Don't let the parking scare you, but do take precautions and come with a backup hiking plan if you can't find a spot here. The payoff for planning ahead is a hike well worth the hassle.
Worth the hike if you're willing to go all the way. What's all the way you may ask? To the secret caves. It's a long hike but you won't be disappointed. Along the way you will first make a pit stop at devils kitchen sink, a few minutes later you will hit the 7 sacred pools and if you decide to go along for the ride the final destination is the secret caves. A short distance before you hit the secret caves, you will find a fork in the trail so just keep right. That trail will lead you to them but first make a stop on top of the 360 rock. Where you have such an awesome beautiful 360 view of the place and can actually see the hidden caves. A must if you're in Sedona, you gotta do this trail!
Less known and thus less crowded hike in Sedona. Very scenic walk total abt 4.5-5miles long. A couple stops along the way aside amazing views of the red rock mountains - devils kitchen (natural sinkhole), seven secret pools, and the big cave in the rock. Highly recommend.
The best trip ever! Took my FJ up and the 4x4 sections were easy and fun. You have to get a 4x4 permit and they only allow 12 vehicles per day. The sink hole and 7 pools are nice stops, but the cave is the highlight! From the end of the 4x4 trial the cave is a short 15-20 minute hike. Daddy long legs were everywhere after a young girl climbed around up in the cave ending. You must go! read more
14 days ago
This is in the top 3 hikes of everywhere I've been all over the planet and it would have been much better if I didn't forget the backpack with our water and snacks. We came during a busy season and the trailhead opens at 8 am and does get completely full. 10 minutes before the gate opens there was already a line of cars waiting to get in. They do have a shuttle at a parking lot about an hour away if it gets too busy. Because we didn't have water or food we were only out about a 3 hours and could have easily stayed for two more. The hike starts with stairs and handrails but quickly opens up into not clearly marked paths that feel like you are walking in nature and not on a path. You'll reach Devil's Kitchen quickly and the scale is much larger in person and har to capture via pictures. It's a sinkhole with no barriers around the edge so walk carefully. A lot of people come for the Seven Sacred Pools and if you come too early the lighting isn't that great. If you scramble down to the base of the pools you can walk the dry riverbed back to the trailhead for a different experience read more
Soldier Pass Trail was amazing, I've been wanting to see Seven Sacred Pools for a few years now. We parked at Jim Thompson parking lot and walked the Cibola trail to meet up with Soldier Pass Trail, since the parking lot is small and gate doesn't open until 8am. I would definitely recommend this route, it was probably a 45 minute hike to Devils Kitchen but fairly easy. I'm so happy that these trails stay clean, everyone does a great job of leaving it better than they found it. read more
Beautiful sights & scenery, indeed. However, stretches of the trail were challenging and rage-inducing. If you are 40+, bring your inhaler & support braces for all of your limbs. If you decide to see the caves, be prepared to basically scale a mountain. Man, I wuz huffin' & puffin' up that steep and unsteady incline. If you want to see a cave so very badly, just close your eyes and envision yourself in a cave -- that option is less strenuous (unless you have dry eyes & closing the lids over those dusty pups is a laborious task). In general, mother nature is beautiful. Have fun out there. Be safe. And apply your SPF! Oh, if you have children under 5 -- rethink bringing them on this trail, silly. read more
2 years ago
Solder's Pass was our first hike when we were in Sedona, and did not dissapoint and remains a fond memory. We got there just after 7am but apparently missed the shuttle to the trailhead, which run about every 45 minutes. You can walk to the trailhead from the shuttle parking, an additional 1 mile. Our hike ended up being just over 6 miles. Highlights include the Devil's Kitchen sinkhole, the Seven Sacred Pools, a Cave, and a nice mix of flat and inclined hiking, and beautiful views of course. We hiked the full trail then on the way back found the Y intersection that leads to the Cave. It helps to have the All Trails app and download the trail to find the Y intersection. The hike up to the Cave area is steep and might exceed some people's abilities. My son got up in the Cave and said it wasn't too hard to scramble up. On our return trip we took the Jeep road for a nice change of pace, and got a nice perspective on the Seven Sacred Pools, and got to see a Jeep hug the side of the canyon at an insane angle. Loved Soldier Pass, just check the Sedona City Shuttle schedule ahead of time but honestly the 1 mile hike in is flat and nice. read more
1 year ago
11 months ago
Fun hike! A little busy but to be expected when the weather finally cooled off. My dog was able to make it also, but he's an active breed. Little dogs I'm not sure would do too great. read more
We hiked in from the off-site parking area because the shuttle was full. Check the shuttle website for schedules, routes as well as changes, such as during designated spring break dates. It is a VERY popular trail. You'll see Devil's Kitchen and the Seven Sacred Pools along the way. It's an easy to follow trail until the fork to the caves. Counterintuitively, at the fork keep going straight rather than turning left to stay on the Soldiers Pass trail, because you're wanting to get to the caves, right? The rest of the trail to the caves is a bit of a climb, culminating in a bit of a scramble at the end. Yes, it can be slippery with loose dirt and there are multiple ways to get to the caves. Once at the caves, you can climb onto a ledge similar to the Subway, only narrower. Some of us went even further and climbed to the top of the caves. It's a bit difficult, but the reward is the views and more wind, which can be refreshing. But climb to your own comfort level. read more
A green trail with red rocks in the back drop. Some features include a sinkhole, seven sacred pools, and caves. However, it the greenery that makes the trail. 4.5 miles total, in and out. Some historical land conflict alludes to the namesake. The caves look great in photos, but I am not sure I would do it again. It is up a steeper half mile section at the end. To enter you must climb a narrow section, and it gets tight in the cave if there are more than a few people. Parking is extremely limited (20 cars?). Today I skipped it and parked near Posse Community Park and biked over (1.5 miles). There is a woman who runs a red shuttle van, and I was told operate on tips. read more
5 years ago
There are so many beautiful hikes to be taken in Sedona and this one is included--great for the average hiker and mountain bikers alike. Bikers keep in mind bicycles are only allowed for the first 1.3 miles to Wilderness Boundary. You are going to love the amazing formations, iconic red rocks, and chill vibe of this desert town generally speaking. Be sure to get there as close to 8 am as possible as there are only 14 parking spaces and line forms early. If you're not so lucky you can park near a dog park which is about 1.1 miles from trailhead--adding 2.2 miles. Start this hike super early because If you know nothing about this area, know this, it is dry desert terrain and it gets hot. Make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks. I also had some handy dandy 30spf sunscreen that I made sure to reapply as needed, sunglasses, and I wore a hat. There are markers here and there; you will also pass though the Devils sink hole and 7 sacred pools to get to this one trail. I love places that remind me how very small we are. --Intermission-- Think of a number. Double it. Add ten. Half it. Take away the number you started with. Your number is 5. --Intermission-- Take a break on the trail when needed as there are so many photo opportunities! The trail is 4.5 miles round trip and gaining about 830 feet in elevation when exploring the cave. Some parts are shaded and some rocks slippery. There is so much beauty you will encounter and be entertained with the entire way. It also consists of many connected trails if you are feeling spicy and adventurous as this is pioneering at its best! The geological formation of the cave was indeed the highlight of the hike for me. You have to climb to get inside but it was so worth it. The whole time while inside simply welcoming inspiration. It made me think of Miley Cyrus's song that goes like this, "There's always gonna be another mountain. I'm always gonna wanna make it move. Always gonna be an uphill battle. Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose. Ain't about how fast I get there. Ain't about what's waiting on the other side It's the climb." Yes, It was definitely the climb/cave experience. Happy trails! "If you want to fly you must give up the things that weigh you down!" Tips: No restroom facilities As of January 2020, recreation.gov will be handling permits. Motorized vehicles will need to get permits. read more
Absolutely recommend this hike! There is so much to see - Devils Kitchen, 7 Ponds, and a Cave. Originally 4 miles round trip but parking is always a bit hectic so we parked at the Jim Thompson Trail head and did about 6 miles. Cibola to Solider pass was gorgeous and very idyllic with dear and tall trees. Some things to mention - the trail is quite nice and not difficult till you get to the part my friend endearingly referred to as the Devils staircase that leads the the cave...definitely more on the difficult side for that area. Overall this is probably my second top hike so far I have done in Sedona. read more
What's up: When in Sedona, you gotta hit up all the hiking spots and see the beautiful views. While looking up hikes, I read about a mystery cave that's located along the Soldier Pass trail that you have to look for. Adventure and off the main trail with something cool at the end?? Heck yes, let's do it! Parking: There is a small parking lot located off of Canyon Shadows Dr. at the beginning of the trailhead. It's open from 8 am to 6 pm. We got there right at 8 and there were already tons of cars in the lot! Luckily, there were still a couple of spots left. When we were done with our hike (~2 hrs later), there were still cars waiting outside the lot for an open spot. Environment: The hike itself was nice and pretty. You're surrounded by the red rocks and the greenery makes the view very nice. Along the way, you'll pass by a few points of interests such as the Devil's Kitchen and the Seven Sacred Pools. Unfortunately, the pools were dry and not much to look at. To find the cave, you'll need to veer off the main trail towards the right once you get near the Red Rock National Forest sign. Someone was nice enough to leave a flat rock behind on the ground with the words "CAVE" on it. From then on, you can follow the rock cairns and go uphill a bit before you reach the mountain side to climb up into the secret cave. Yay/Nay/Meh: Yay. The hike overall was fairly easy to do. It's mostly towards the end where there's a bit of uphill and climbing into the actual cave. The Devil's Kitchen was a cool sinkhole to look at and I'm sure the Seven Sacred Pools would have been way cooler with water. But the cave searching and the climbing into it was the fun part! It was definitely a unique experience, especially when you get the cave all to yourself. read more
First of all, as other yelpers wrote , parking is tough, however, we had a solution: park at the different trailhead and hike from other route. This add more miles, but actually I loved that part as well. This area is amazing. Very beautiful. Also the secret cave was fun. Recommended! read more
6 years ago
It's gorgeous, and we'll get to that, but first: parking. Oof, the parking is gonna be the thing that drives you insane. Whereas some hikes in Sedona are located a little farther out of town and you can park along the shoulder to your heart's content, this hike is in the edge of a neighborhood and you'll see about as many "No Parking" signs as you do illegally parked cars. The parking lot holds about 10-15 cars max, and if you're here when there's any kind of busy season in Sedona (probs near year-round and for sure on weekends) then just plan on not parking in the lot. The nearest sanctioned parking is a ways away, so either have a dropoff, take a car service, hitch a ride, or just log the extra hiking back to your car. The gates are supposed to open at 8am, but we rolled up at about 7:45am and they were open. We pulled in and grabbed one of the last few spots available, and had no idea how darn lucky we actually were. After parking and getting our bearings, we hit the trail. The sun was just coming up and when we got to the big sinkhole, the very first rays hit the jagged rock tip across the valley and lit them with bright hues of orange and yellow. These are the colors that Sedona gives you, and you drink them in until your eyes are full. As we hiked along the ridge, to the seven sacred pools (more like a couple of nearly dry pools and some rock catch basins) we saw the sun line lower on the canyon to our left as the day warmed up. We only went as far as the cave turnoff, then made our way uphill to the cave, climbed up in, and peeked out of the window at the trees, sky, and ridgeline. It's not for the faint of heart, this cave, and though we saw a lot of people with a lot of skill levels, I'd be quite nervous about taking kids much farther than then base of the cave to peer upwards through the rock fissure. All in all, it wasn't too strenuous, with the exception of the cave portion. I would have liked to take the Soldier Pass Trail all the way to the saddle, but alas, we were pressed for time. We went back and took the road junction at the pools, which provided some amount of diversity and kept us away from the outbound hikers that had slept in and were just now making their noisy way up the trail, before connecting once again to the trailhead. We got to the car, and saw a long line of cars waiting for a space to open up, as well as plenty of illegally parked cars. Don't let the parking scare you, but do take precautions and come with a backup hiking plan if you can't find a spot here. The payoff for planning ahead is a hike well worth the hassle. read more
Worth the hike if you're willing to go all the way. What's all the way you may ask? To the secret caves. It's a long hike but you won't be disappointed. Along the way you will first make a pit stop at devils kitchen sink, a few minutes later you will hit the 7 sacred pools and if you decide to go along for the ride the final destination is the secret caves. A short distance before you hit the secret caves, you will find a fork in the trail so just keep right. That trail will lead you to them but first make a stop on top of the 360 rock. Where you have such an awesome beautiful 360 view of the place and can actually see the hidden caves. A must if you're in Sedona, you gotta do this trail! read more
3 years ago
Less known and thus less crowded hike in Sedona. Very scenic walk total abt 4.5-5miles long. A couple stops along the way aside amazing views of the red rock mountains - devils kitchen (natural sinkhole), seven secret pools, and the big cave in the rock. Highly recommend. read more
2 years ago
A bit of hike but worth it, especially for a novice hiker like me. Make sure you bring lots of water and get there early. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
DOG FRIENDLY. Must be on a 6 ft leash and pack out any poop. Our labs loved this one. I'd call this trail moderate for the elevation change and uneven trail when climbing for the general hiker. If you hike often this would be a easy trail or one you could trail run or connect to others no problem. There are two sites people go to see that are very close to the trail head for those not wanting to hike very far - The seven sacred pools and the huge sink hole. Then the trail slowly climbs the canyon. You can take the cut off to see the caves (there are 3) and one of them you can rock climb up into. It was one of the coolest experiences and just felt unreal being up inside the cave in the arch. The hike to the caves is steep and requires good balance and proper shoes. Most will be able to work their way up to the caves but know it's moderate to difficult for the general hiker. There are stunning views the entire way but I highly suggest doing the entire hike to the top including the caves if you have the capability to do it. read more
This was about a 15 min walk from our Airbnb. The parking lot of really small. Jeeps we're allowed in some of the areas but I only saw them a couple times and no issues competing. We heard there was a cave but you kind of need to ask around others coming back down because it can easily be missed and there's no signs to get there. We heard people say stay right at the log and then saw about 6 logs along the way - LOL On our way down people asked us "was it worth it" and I'd say YES it was. I won't lie, it's steep to get up there and there was a couple times I wasn't sure I could do it but my mind was my worst enemy and I'm so glad I pushed through and did it! It was actually MUCH easier getting down than I thought. I'm VERY glad I had good hiking shoes on with a grip. I saw some people in regular tennis shoes and I felt more secure with good hiking shoes. Be careful not to grab a cactus ! My friend grabbed one on accident and came home with splinters. I didn't grab one but still got a splinter from a thorn that was on a rock I grabbed. Just watch out for them. With our 15 min walk each way from our room, round trip was about a 5 mile walk / hike. read more
5 years ago
A fun trail, but make sure to arrive early! We decided to hike down the Soldier Pass Trail to get out to the caves and arrived early based on other recommendations. Thankfully we did! We arrived just after the gate opened and still only got one of the last spots. But it was well worth it. The trail was relatively easy, with only a bit of elevation change and cragginess to get over. Finding the wilderness sign that marked the offshoot to get to the caves was the hard part, but we found it! We got over all of the rocks and made it up to the caves in no time after that. They were so beautiful! You could see the whole area from up in the caves, crawling along a few different ledges to take in the sights. We met a few other people here, but nothing like the long lines others encountered. So maybe it depends on the day and time? But it was definitely worth the hike for us and we'd recommend a visit! read more
Really enjoyed this beautiful hike. The final portion of the hike up to the cave is a bit steep. Be sure to wear hiking boots and maybe a pair of gloves for better hand hold for improved grip for the steep portion to the caves/arch. read more
Soldier's Pass how I hate you... but love you at the same time. It's absolutely a love hate relationship. Here's what I will tell you, this hike is pretty easy for the first 70%. The last 30% is okay, maybe a little challenging but not bad. The worst part, was how easy it was to get lost. Multiple people and groups would be lost because it is not marked well at all. I'll try to lay it out for you the best I can, honestly I wouldn't have gotten back without my Google Maps. Get here early, there are only a few spots and it fills very fast. When you start, follow the Jeep trail and head towards the 7 sacred pools (this is nothing special don't get too exited). After you get there you'll see a sign for Soldier's Pass. Follow that about a mile into your hike you'll reach a split. You'll see a tree with a sign on it that says "Wilderness" on the right. You'll see a sign in the road that says "trail". DO NOT go left. If you go left there is a sign that says "Secret Caves" and a normal person would think they are on the right track, wrong. That's a view of the caves from 3 miles away. You actually want to walk towards the tree that has the "Wilderness" sign, there's actually a big branch down to make it even more confusing. Step over the branch and you are on your way to the secret caves. Don't worry I'll load the picture. Trust me, watch for it. It's so easy to get lost. When you get to that tree that's when the hike gets more challenging and fun. You don't need to use your hands but some people might. When you get to the top there are two caves. Go to the one on the right. The one on the right has some steps, now you'll need your hands, and you get up to the top of the cave, so amazing. read more
6 years ago
We recently went hiking on the Soldier Pass Trail and had an enjoyable time - EXCEPT for the impossible congestion around the parking area/trail head. The parking lot only has room for about a dozen cars, but this restriction is apparently ignored by most of the visitors here. When we arrived there were approximately SIXTY cars parked along the shoulder of the road. This makes for very unsafe conditions. This is a beautiful hike, with a well-maintained main trail and some stellar views all throughout, but the lack of parking and safety at the trailhead greatly detracts. Perhaps the local authorities should post warning signs and start ticketing violators? read more
Absolutely loveee this place!!! My best friend and I drove almost 2 hours to get here just to do this trail it took us three hours because we took a lot of detours and went off the trail and then we end up finding out that we wasn't even on the main trail the whole time which would've made the hike a whole lot easier, so we just laugh about it from time to time but we wasn't even mad because obviously there's multiple ways to get to seven sacred ponds once we found the trail on the way back it was such a breeze you could even do it with kids or a pet! It was literally one of the best hikes/trails I've ever been on in my life it was so beautiful didn't see any scary wildlife didn't have troubles at all !! Check out my IG from time to time I'll post different recommendations for anything :) baddonee1 read more
Great hike with great views. My friend and I hiked this trail on a Thursday about 10 a.m., not crowded at all. I looked up this hike. it was indicated that it was about a 4 mile hike or so with a view of the Devil's Kitchen, the 7 Sacred Pools and the Rock Arches then to the top and the end of Soldiers Pass. Lots of other trials intertwined, but very well labeled with signs indicating directions. So now for the details. I noted on reviews that parking was all of 15 cars at best. Of course the lot was filled when my friend and I arrived. There was a sign that indicated extra parking at Jordan Trail Head, so we drove back and around to Jordan Trail Head. Pleasantly surprised there was bathroom faculties and just an FYI parking fee ($5), but plenty of parking. Jordan Trail leads into Soldiers Pass but not realizing it was an additional 4 miles added to our 4 miles already adventure. The total hike was well worth it but longer than we thought. read more
6 years ago
This is a very popular trail, it was almost 4 miles roundtrip for us. Beware of the very strict parking restrictions, we parked at the high school 1 1/2 miles away. The sinkhole, sacred pools, and the cave are the highlights. read more
My family and I made the red rock hill trek via the Soldier Pass Trail on a recent visit to Sedona. I wished that we would have read the reviews prior to our arrival as it would have saved some surprises for us. :) Parking is more limited than winning the lottery. There is like 12 parking spots total for this trail and it is guarded by a police officer in a running patrol car. He will enforce the no-parking code throughout the neighborhood. This means you must park your vehicle downhill 1.5 miles south of the trails entrance. Going back to retrieve your car is easy but going UP that hill puts a dent in your hiking before you even get to the trail. Once you do make it to the dirt you are only about 15 minutes from the Hidden Pools. Honestly, the pools should stay hidden as they aren't that impressive. The view around them, yes, is quite impressive. Further up the trail are some caves with more water or at least that's the rumor as we never found them. We hiked and followed the signs for about two miles and then the signs were no longer and people coming down the trail had the same lack of success as us. No one could find the caves for the most part. We did find one group that made it and they showed us the exact spot to go at a split that would get you there. We took pictures and videos for our out next time here to insure that we find it. Ironically if you take the other part of the fork, like we did, there IS signs here but not for the caves. This leads you do a high plateau that gives to some incredible views of the valley. Simply breath taking. While we didn't find the caves we weren't too upset because of the beautiful view we were rewarded with. Upon our return to the car down, down, down the hill we clocked in over a 5 mile hike. It took us a few hours since we had an 8-year-old with us whom I left with my wife at the parking lot while I went to get the car with my eldest. Overall, the hike was incredible and fun. Even with the horrid parking and inability to easily find the caves, this is a must-have hike. read more
I came here on a Friday morning close to 9AM, and the parking lot was mostly full. I snagged a spot, took a look at the map, and started hiking - I did Soldier Pass to Brins Mesa to Cibola to Jordan. Soldier Pass and part of Brins Mesa were quite pretty, but Cibola and Jordan were very mediocre. I wish I did this counterclockwise because the views would have been better that way (the downside though is that there's part of the hike that would've been pretty steep). I saw a decent number of people, which wasn't great during covid times. I got back in 2 hours, and the parking lot was completely full by then (with a line outside the parking lot). Get here early! read more
This is an amazing hike that has everything you could ask for. The parking lot only has room for about 15 cars, so you should expect to come early when gates open at 8:00 or park at Long Canyon and walk the extra mile over to Soldier's Pass. Shortly after departing from the trailhead you will encounter Devil's Sinkhole and later on the Seven Sacred Pools (which was dried up when I visited- I almost missed them!). I chose to hike to the arches/caves, which is a little detour off the trail (very much worth it)! The main trail appears very well maintained and I love observing all the plants along the trail. Finding my way back to the parking lot was more difficult read more
10.20 We only planned to hike Soldier Pass Trail but when we got to the very small (maybe 12 car tops) parking lot, it was full as usual. Cars parked on the neighborhood streets were getting ticketed so we drove to Jordan Trail parking lot and took off from there. Started at Cibola Pass Trail about less than a mile before connecting to Soldier Pass Trail where the sinkhole is at. The trail was well marked with some shaded areas. The views were incredible on this trail. The 7 scared pools were dried up, couple pools had yucky water with dead critters in it. Offshoot to the cave was not marked so lots of people missed it. We decided to venture out on our way back. Unfortunately that didn't happen, instead of heading back down the same trail we made a loop and kept hiking to Brins Mesa trail. Total of 5.5 miles, just under 3 hours. I was dying when we got to the junction, the heat was unbearable. No tree canopies to protect you from the sun. Good elevation gain the last .25 mile of the trail, from Brins Mesa trail was all down hill. read more
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More info about Soldier Pass Trail
Soldier Pass Rd
Sedona, AZ 86336
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http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/ohv/recarea/?recid=55392&actid=50
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