Both the Soldier Pass Trail and the Brins Mesa Trail are some of the best hiking trails in Sedona and hiking them as a loop makes this into a truly wonderful hike. Climb up through the red rocks to the Mesa with views across Sedona and then head up to Soldier’s Pass Cave and explore the 7 Sacred pools. This hike has so many great sites along the way which makes it very popular.
The trail is also very close to Sedona and you will see many people out walking the trails. We did this hike on our visit in the spring of 2022 – it was our first hike when we arrived in Sedona and was a great introduction to the area. See our 3 day itinerary to Sedona.
Read below on exactly how to take this amazing hike to Soldier Pass Cave and Brins Mesa and what to expect on the trail.
Quick Overview of the Brins Mesa and Soldier Pass Loop (including Soldier’s Pass Cave and the 7 Sacred Pools)
Distance: 6.1 miles (can be adjusted with several options for a longer hike)- hiking time is 3-5 hoursElevation Gain: 1,200 ftDifficulty: Moderate
This is a wonderful hike and definitely one of the best hikes in Sedona. There are many different ways to hike this trail system. You can do each trail on its own as an out and back or loop them together. You will see the Brins Mesa Trail and the Soldiers Pass Trail listed as separate hikes on All Trails and in many other places. These both make shorter excellent hikes, but the best way to hike these trails is as a loop.
Since there are multiple trails that connect the south portion of the loop, you can also make this into a longer hike by adding on additional trails. We will describe exactly the path we took when we hiked this loop in late March.
Where to Park for the Brins Mesa Trail and Soldier Pass Loop
You have 2 options for parking to do the Brins Mesa Trail and Soldiers Pass Hike. You can park at Jordon Trailhead and start on the Brins Mesa Trail, or you can park at Soldiers Pass Trailhead. Both trailheads require the Red Rocks Pass that can be purchased at the trailhead parking lot.
The Jordon Road Trailhead is down a short dirt road. While it doesn’t need a 4×4 car, there were definitely some large potholes and we were glad we had a higher clearance vehicle.
Depending on when you are visiting, you may not be able to park at the Soldier’s Pass Trailhead when the Sedona Shuttle is running. Make sure you check the schedule. If you do need to use the shuttle, it is easy and parking is nearby.
If you are planning to park at one of the trailheads, make sure you arrive early as both these parking spots are popular and are likely to fill up early in the morning. Another option is to hike this trail late in the day after most people are done hiking and some parking spots may open up.
Looking for more ideas? Check out our 3-Day Sedona Itinerary or 11 Things to do in Sedona.
Map to Brins Mesa Trail and Soldiers Pass Sedona
Things to Know About the Brins Mesa and Soldiers Pass Hike
Do you need to pay to park?
If you are parking in one of the lots, you will need the Red Rocks Pass (this can be purchased right at the trailhead). The pass costs $5/day or $15/week. You can also use your National Parks Pass by placing this in the winter. Sedona also has a shuttle that runs during the busy season. Check the shuttle schedule online. The shuttle parking is easy.
When is the best time to Hike the Brins Mesa and Soldier’s Pass Cave loop?
The best time to hike most of the trails in Sedona is in Spring (March-May) and fall (Sept-Nov). Spring is the most popular time, so if you can – try to come in the fall when crowds are slightly fewer. Summers can be brutally hot, so if you are visiting during this time of year, bring lots of water and get out on the trail early.
Is the hike to Soldier Pass Cave Easy?
This is a moderate trail if you do it as a loop, but if you are looking for an easier option, you can also hike directly from the Soldier’s Pass Trailhead to the cave and return to the trail. The Forest Service Rd is slightly easier if than the Soldiers Pass Trail.
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Hiking the Brins Trail and Soldier Pass Trail as a Loop
I will describe this hike exactly as we did in starting from the Jordan Rd Trailhead, but note as described above that you can also start at Soldiers Pass Trailhead. We did this trail counterclockwise.
The trail starts on the Brins Mesa Trail and climbs steadily up to Brins Mesa. The climb up to the mesa might be the hardest part of the trail, but at no part is the trail difficult. From the start, the views along this trail are amazing and you will find plenty of places to take a break and snap some photos.
At the top of the climb, there are several small rocks to climb up for even better views. From here the trail descends to connect to the Soldier’s Pass Trail and there is excellent signage. The trail turns to the south and you can look for the Soldiers Pass Cave Spur Trail on your left.
Once you turn onto the Spur, the trail gets steep for a short 1/4 mile up to the cave. You can see details on visiting the cave below.
Visiting Soldiers Pass Cave Sedona
The Soldier Pass Cave is a small nook in the rock wall. Once you climb up into the space, you can turn around for the view down the cave and out the other side. This uniquely shaped cave is one of the highlights of Sedona and is worth visiting.
The location of the cave is right at the top of the spur trail and hard to miss. You will see several cave-like, indentions in the rock wall, and you can explore the whole area in addition to Soldier’s Pass Cave. Since this is a popular trail, you will likely need to wait and share the space with other people. We visited in March in the mid-morning and had to wait just a few minutes to get up into the cave. Once we were up inside, it was a bit difficult to move around on the ledges while we waited for others to take photos.
You can walk right through the cave and up onto the mesa above for views. This all involves a bit of rock scrambling, so if heights aren’t your thing, you may want to avoid going up into the cave.
After your visit to Soldiers Cave, return down the spur trail and join back up with the Soldiers Pass Trail. Shortly, this trail will split and you can keep following the Soldier Pass Trail or walk on the Forest Service Rd. These two trails parallel each other. If you do take the Forest Service Rd, be on the lookout for signs to the 7 Sacred Pools.
The 7 Sacred Pools
The 7 Sacred Pools are a beautiful little series of rock pools filled with water that lead down a small rock slide. It is a simple and beautiful spot and worth enjoying for a few minutes.
From the 7 Sacred Pools, stay on the Soldier Pass Trail (for the Forest Service Rd). In just a few minutes you will come to the Sink Hole called Devil’s Kitchen.
Devil’s Kitchen
Devil’s Kitchen is a massive sinkhole right alongside the Soldier’s Pass Trail. You can walk along the side of it and look down into the bottom of the large hole. Although not quite as impressive as the Soldier’s Pass Cave, the 7 Sacred Pools and Devil’s Kitchen are both fun features to stop at on your hike.
After Devil’s Kitchen, you will have several trail options. If you are just doing the Soldier’s Pass Cave Hike, you can head back to the parking lot, but if you are finishing off the loop, you turn left onto Jordon Trail. These trails are also used for mountain biking and some of them have different trail signs and even trail names. In general, the trail is well marked, so you can also look for signs to the Brins Mesa Trail or Jordon Parking Lot.
We followed the Jordon Trail right back to the parking lot, but you can also take the Cibola Pass Trail. This part of the hike is very pretty and less crowded. We really enjoyed some of the rock stacks you will see as you pass between some of the rock walls and formations.
Alternative Hiking Options for the Brins Mesa Trail and Soldier Pass Trail Sedona
There are so many alternatives to this hike. You can of course do each of the trails on your own. Many people hike to Soldier’s Pass Cave directly with stops at the 7 Sacred Pools and Devil’s Kitchen. You can also hike up to Brins Mesa as an out and back hike from the Jordon Parking Lot.
If you are looking to add more distance to the hike, you can continue hiking further south instead of turning on the Jordon Trail. You can either take the Adobe Jack Trail or the Grand Central Trail and loop back up the Javelina Trail. This is still a beautiful hike, but less dramatic than the northern portions. You can easily increase the total mileage to over 7 miles by adding these trails to your hike.
Looking for more on Sedona? Check out the Best Hikes in Sedona.Common Questions about Hiking Brins Mesa and Soldier Pass Cave
Is Brins Mesa a difficult hike?
The hike is not difficult but does gain some elevation over the distance of the hike. Trails are generally easy walking and you can make good time on the trail.
Are bikes allowed on the trail?
Bikes are not allowed on this trail system
Are dogs allowed on Sedona hiking trails?
Dogs are allowed on the trails but must be leashed.
You might also like these hikes in Sedona:
- Boynton Canyon (Subway Cave)
- Birthing Cave
- Devil’s Bridge Trail
- The Broken Arrow Trail
