Sedona Arizona, Everything you should know about hiking the Soldiers Pass Trail
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Looking to take a desert trip? Sedona in Arizona is one of the more inspiring outdoor places I have ventured to with lots of different hiking trails, red rock formations, canyon walls, vortexes, endless views that overlook the desert/mountain landscape, and cool hidden gems such as the Soldiers Cave in this hike.
Out of all the hikes I did in my four day trip in Sedona, Soldiers Pass was my favorite. I loved the variety of scenery, the elevation gain to the cave, and the different stops along the hike (Seven Sacred Pools/Devils Sinkhole). What’s great is this hike is also walkable from town (we missed the last shuttle), keep reading for info on parking and the shuttle.
In this post I’ll be going over how to get to Sedona, where to park, best time to visit, what to expect, trail information, and what to pack for a hike in the desert. Alright, lets goooo
Where is Sedona
Sedona is a city (more like a big town) in the northern part of Arizona close to an hour south of Flagstaff and two hours north of Phoenix. It’s part of the Coconino National Forest and is a great place to visit if you love the outdoors or scenic views. While hanging out in Sedona you’ll find people who enjoy hiking, biking, photography, or just relaxing.
Sitting at 4,350 feet/1326 meters, Sedona is considered the high desert and even gets snow in the winter time! Although Sedona isn’t a national park there are two state parks; Red Rock State Park and Slide Rock State park. As you drive into town you’ll notice canyons, mesas (a mountain with a wide flat top), buttes (Tall tower looking mountains), and rock formations all with a reddish color hence the nickname Red Rock Country.
How do I get to the Trailhead
Trailhead Coordinates: 34.88420, -111.78377
Please note that if you are going to hike for more then 3 days, you should purchase a Red Rocks Weekly Pass to be displayed on a your car dash. As mentioned even though Sedona isn’t a National Park, a National Parks pass will work as well. A daily pass at trailheads is $5, a weekly pass is $15, and an annual pass is $20. These passes can be purchased through recreation.gov. *A pass isn’t needed for the Soldiers Pass trailhead but will be required for many other trails in Sedona.*
To drive to the trailhead you’ll head west out of town onto Soldiers Pass Road. Take a right onto Shadow Rock Drive and then a left onto the Forest Service Road. On the right you will see the parking lot. One thing to note is the trailhead is gated and open from 8am-6pm. So make sure to get back to the parking lot from the trail before 6! or your car will be stuck for the night. If you’re looking to do a sunset or sunrise hike, park in the lots described below or extend your hike on trail by parking at the Jordan Road Trailhead.
The first thing to note about the Trailhead of Soldiers pass is there is only 14 parking spots and it is in a neighborhood. I would plan on getting there as early as possible if you want to Park at the trailhead. If trailhead is full, you can park about a mile away, close to the West Sedona Elementary School. There’s a parking lot (Posse Grounds) and also some street parking near the school. Do not park in the neighborhood to Soldiers Pass as your car will get ticketed and towed.
Also note that Thursday-Sunday you cannot park at the trailhead, you will have to park at the Posse Grounds Park and Ride and take a free Shuttle to the trailhead. You can find pickup time information at Sedonashuttle.com. If parking is full in the shuttle lot there is some street parking near the Elementary School. The last shuttle picks up at 5:51 pm, so don’t miss it or you’ll be walking back to your car like we did. The walk is about a mile if you miss the last shuttle.
Is Soldiers Pass a difficult Trail
I would rate the hike as moderate with some elevation gain towards the end as you approach the Cave. Depending on your speed the hike can take anywhere from 2-4 hours. Below I’ve listed some trail stats. Also, a really helpful app I use a lot when hiking is All trails. Perfect for navigating a hike, looking at trail reviews, and getting trail information.
Distance- 4.5 miles/7.25 km
Elevation Gain- 839 feet/256 meters
Dogs- Must be on leash
Best time of the day to hike- Early Morning or Late afternoon
Trail Type- Loop
How to get to the Soldiers Pass Cave and what is the Trail Like
Alright, so you made it to the trailhead and you’re looking to hike all the way to the cave. One thing to note about Sedona is a lot of trails connect or lead to other trails in the area. The visitor center in Downtown Sedona will have maps and also knowledgeable staff to give you more information on connecting trails in the area. If you decide not to hike to the Cave, you can stay left on the Soldiers Pass trail and it will take you all the way to the Brins Mesa Trail.
As you start hiking, within the first five minutes you’ll come across the Devils Kitchen, a giant sinkhole cause from red wall limestone gradually eroding and collapsing overtime. There are other sinkholes in the Sedona area with this one being one of the most popular ones. It’s most recent collapse was in 1995 and the hole itself is 50 feet deep and 150 by 90 feet in size.
You might also notice a wider path as you’re hiking the Soldiers Pass trail. This is for jeep tours that are offered on certain trails in Sedona, if you don’t want to hike.
As you continue hiking, the next cool site on the trail will be the Seven Sacred Pools. A series of small pools of water that were naturally carved out of the sandstone and once considered sacred by Native America Tribes. There’s a chance they could be dried up if you hike this trail during warmer months, but still really cool to look at. Probably one of my favorite views on the hike with the desert mountains in the background. The group of mountains you see off in the distance are called Coffee Pot Rock.
If you’re looking to get some good photos of this part of the trail, I would try to shoot them either early in the morning or in the evening vertically to get the pools and mountain backdrop all in one shot.
Once you pass the seven sacred pools you’ll continue to follow the signage that says Soldiers Pass Trail. This trail will take you through shaded areas with trees and Arizona Cypress. As you stay on trail and continue hiking you will come across a giant canyon floor with 365 degree views of the Sedona Mountains, Canyons, and mesas. At this point you are entering the Red Rock Mountain Secret Wilderness area. This area is great for taking photos with the backdrop!
Shortly after this canyon floor you will see a trail to the right that takes you to the cave. If you stay on the Soldiers Pass trail it will take you to Brins Mesa. We decided to veer right and head up to the cave. This is the point in the trail where the elevation gain increases quiet a bit. So make sure to take breaks and drink plenty of water if you need to. I also recommend packing snacks for the hike and enjoying them at the top of the cave area.
The trail to the cave is about .3 miles and def worth the hike. Once you get the cave you’ll see the overhang of the cave, but you can also climb inside the cave if you’d like. Just make sure to not move any rocks, write or carve anything into the rock walls, and pack out what you packed in. You’ll notice some rocks that have been converted into steps to climb up into the cave. You’ll have to use your hands and have the right hiking footwear to do this. I’ll have a packing list at the end of this blog.
Inside the Cave there is just enough light to see the entire inside. There’s a ledge you can sit on as your hanging out. If you have a camera use the lowest aperture setting to let a lot of light into the lens and keep the camera as steady as possible for a photo. A tripod will work best, if you have one because the lighting is still pretty dark.
If you’re running late on time to catch the shuttle, take the Soldiers Pass Road on the way down as it will shave off a little time. The road is great for hiking and you still get the scenic views.
When is the best time to Visit Sedona
You can visit Sedona year round, but the temperatures will be the best from October-May. Summers in the desert can be pretty hot, but since Sedona is at a Higher Elevation it will be cooler then places like Phoenix or Tuscan. The busiest times of the year will be March-May.
How do I get back to my car if I missed the last shuttle
If you missed the last shuttle at the Soldiers Pass Trailhead you’ll walk back through the neighborhood and then follow signage on your right that will take you on a sidewalk path back to the parking lot and side street parking.
Things to Know
Leave no trace- Pack out what you Pack in. It’s important that you respect mother nature and the trailheads. Do not leave trash/food waste behind. Some trailheads will have trash and recycling containers. Pack a trash bag in your backpack. If you have to use the bathroom, most trailheads will have a restroom. If you can’t hold it, go further away from the trail and watch out for wildlife and cactus.
Stay on trail- Only hike on designated trails and paths. There is no camping allowed in Sedona’s city limits and if you decide to camp, be at least 200 feet from water sources.
Plan out your Trip- Do some research and plan ahead of time for which hikes you’d like to do. Because Sedona is close to major cities Phoenix and Flag Staff, understand that trailheads will fill up quickly on weekends and peak times. Get to the trailhead early. It’s helped that there are shuttles that will take you to the trailheads during busier times. Stopping in at the Visitor Center and also having a map of the trail on your phone helps a lot (Alltrails).
Respect wildlife- Be respectful to all wildlife when hiking and do not feed any animals . Since you are in the desert you may come across things such as spiders, scorpions, snakes, coyotes, and javelinas. Keep your pet on a leash at all times when hiking.
Respect others around you- Be respectful of other hikers and bikers on the trails. Give people space and take turns if you are trying to get a photo at a popular spot. You might even meet some cool people along the way when hiking.
Check Fire Restrictions- The desert can be a dry place. While we were there conditions were very dry and the fire danger was high which meant no campfires.
Higher Elevation- Sedona is at an elevation of 4,350 feet/1326 meters. Higher elevations can cause headaches and shortness of breath. Make sure to drink plenty of water! If you are feeling sick the first couple days, stay away from alcohol and caffeine
What to Pack
Water Bottle- You are in the desert and at a higher elevation, Make sure to pack a water bottle! I love Hydro Flask because the bottle can keep water cold for up to 24 hours. For longer hikes pack extra water. Hydrapak makes really awesome collapsable water bottles, perfect for fitting in a bookbag.
2. Hiking Shoes or Boots- I saw a lot of people on hikes with improper footwear. You want hiking footwear that will have good support, traction, and comfort. I size my hiking boots like a regular tennis shoe. You’ll want a little bit of room at the end for thicker hiking socks and also because feet tend to swell when hiking. I like the Adidas Terrex Free Hiker because they aren’t bulky, have great traction, and are comfortable. The only downside is the ankle support isn’t the greatest.
Don’t forget to also pack a good pair of hiking socks. Stay away from anything cotton as it will not keep your feet dry. Check out Smartwool as they make some of the best socks for hiking.
That’s it for a hike at Soldiers Pass. This hike is a must if you make it to Sedona. Also if you’re a photographer or like shooting photos the best light will be early in the morning. If you like this blog post subscribe to our Email list below for the latest outdoor content. Thanks for reading! and I hope this blog post inspires you to take a trip to the desert. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have information to add or a question on Sedona.
