The trailhead is approached by taking Soldier Pass Road off of Highway 89A West of Downtown Sedona. Soldier Pass Road approaches Coffee Pot Rock and a right is taken on Rim Shadows Rd. Follow the signs. The trail starts at the Soldier Pass Parkinglot.

The hike up Soldier Pass leads North and is approximately two miles. The trail is moderate but easy when going downhill with a total elevation descent of 450 feet. Many sights can be seen including two natural arches, the Seven Sacred Pools and the largest sinkhole in Sedona, the Devil's Kitchen.

For more information go to the U.S. Forest Service Website.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation
/red_rock/soldier-pass-tr.shtml 

  
The picture below shows a distant view of Soldier Pass.  Mouse over the picture to display arrow

Click on the pictures below to enlarge.  The trail outlines on the aerial photograph will disappear every 5 seconds. Soldier Pass Trail is in blue, Jordan Trail is in purple.  
 

Soldier Pass Trail parking lot.  This lot closes at 6:00 pm and the gate is locked. 

Soldier Pass Trailhead on the Northeast side of the parking lot. 

A view of the sphinx from the beginning of the trail.

The top of the Devil's Kitchen Sinkhole can be seen from a distance.

One hikes down to a dry creekbed.

One hikes out of the dry creekbed.

The trail heads towards the Sphinx Rock Formation.

View to the North.

The trail leads to the base of the Sphinx Rock Formation.

The trail divides, with Jordan Trail leading to the right and Soldier Pass Trail to the left. The Devil's Kitchen Sinkhole, is coming into view. 

The Soldier Pass Trail can be picked up at the North side of the sinkhole. A jeep trail is to the west of the Soldier Pass foot trail.

View of the Jordan Trail, heading East.

View to the North of Soldier Pass. The jeep trail is in the foreground. Devils Kitchen Sinkhole is in the upper right portion of the picture.

View of Devil's Kitchen Sinkhole and the Sphinx Rock Formation.

View of the Sphinx Rock Formation.

A jeep traveling on Soldier Pass's jeep trail. 
   
  

 
Go To:  Second Part of Trail - To the Seven Sacred Pools