Soldier's Pass Trail

4.7/5 (23 reviews)
Located just outside of downtown Sedona, in the Coconino National Forest, Soldiers Pass Trail is one of only a few offroad trails that gets your vehicle on top of the famous red rocks. Photo opportunities abound on this iconic trail named after General George Crook's army scouts, who used this trai... Read More
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Highlights of Soldier's Pass Trail

Altitude Category Icon Altitude
Desert Category Icon Desert
Iconic Category Icon Iconic
Rock Category Icon Rock
Scenic Category Icon Scenic
Highest Elevation
4560 ft
Shape of Trail
Out & Back
Typically Open
Year Round
Best Direction
N/A
Official Trail Name
9904
Nearest Town
Sedona
Nearest Services
Sedona
Management Agency
Coconino National Forest
District
Red Rock District

Overview

Located just outside of downtown Sedona, in the Coconino National Forest, Soldiers Pass Trail is one of only a few offroad trails that gets your vehicle on top of the famous red rocks. Photo opportunities abound on this iconic trail named after General George Crook's army scouts, who used this trail to travel through the territory.

In addition to the red rock scenery, there are other amazing sites along the trail. The first is Devil's Kitchen Sinkhole. It is the largest sinkhole in Arizona. Initially formed in the late 1880s, it collapsed again in 1989. Based on current surface cracks, geologists believe more sections could collapse. The second awesome site is the Seven Sacred Pools. These are naturally formed pools in the sandstone and are considered sacred by the Apache and Yavapai Native Americans. If you catch the trail at the right time, you may see water running into the pools.

While short for an offroad trail, this one isn't about the number of miles but the quality of the trail, and its otherworldly surrounding. Plan ahead, a permit is required, and you don't want to miss this one!


Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Guide Overview
13 Waypoints
41 Trail Photos
2 Trail Concerns
23 Community Reviews
1 Video
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