Brin's Mesa/Solider Pass Loop and Soldier Pass Arch

If you are in Sedona and want a great hike that captures the beauty of the area then do this hike!  This is a five mile loop hike.  If you add the side trail to the arch you will be adding an additional 1/2 mile to your hike. Trust me you want to do the side trail to the arch.  This is one of the most unique arches I have ever seen in all my years of hiking and exploring.  You can get "inside" of the arch by climbing up a few rocks that someone has stacked for easier access.  Trust me, you want to climb into the arch!  Like I said before this is an incredibly unique formation.  Click here for map.

There are two trail heads you can start this hike from.  I chose to start the trail at the Jordan Road Trailhead and my description will follow from that starting point.  Directions to this trailhead are at the end of this post, along with directions to the alternative starting point, Soldier Pass Trailhead. ( You can also click on the trailhead names to go to a google map of the location). Just be aware parking is limited, however there is more parking spots at the Jordan Road Trailhead than at  the Soldier Pass Trailhead. You will need to purchase a Redrock Pass to park at either parking lot.  Conveniently there is a Redrock Pass vending machine at the Jordan Road Trailhead which takes credit cards.  Click here for information on obtaining a Redrock Pass.

From the Jordan Road Trailhead you will start out on the Brin's Mesa Trail and hike this trail counter clockwise.  This trail begins to the right and behind the Trailhead Information Sign/Map.  A few hundred feet into your hike the Cibola Pass Trail will head to the left.  Stay on the main Brin's Mesa Trail.  About 1 mile in you will begin a steep climb to the top of Brin's Mesa.  It's nothing too steep or long, but in my case it did get my heart pumping.  At 1.4 miles you will come to the top of your climb.  You have reached Brin's Mesa and will notice a lot of dead trees.  A fire in 2006 swept through this area.

Continue on the trail for approximately .5 miles where you will come to a split in the trail.  Take the Solider Pass Trail to your left.  You will begin a descent down into the canyon below.  As you begin your descent look to your left along the canyon wall where you will see three alcoves.  The furthest on on the right is the Solider Pass Arch.  It does not look like an arch from this vantage point.

View across to the arches

Once you have reached the bottom the trail will wind through trees, providing some nice relief from the sun.  You want to keep your eyes out for the Soldier Pass Arch Trail around 3 mile that will go off to the left.  This side trail was not marked.  However, you will know you are close to the junction when you pass the Secret Mountain Wilderness sign.  Another hundred feet or so and the Arch Trail appears to the left.

The Arch Trial begins a steep ascent up the side of the canyon wall.  You will come to a large clear sandstone area.  Head across this and you will see the trail begin another steep climb.  Continue up the trail which will end right at the Soldier Pass Arch.  You can access the inside of the arch by walking up to the alcove and look to your right.  Some has stacked rocks to make the entry through the crack easier.  Climb up this crack and then check out what awaits you inside.

Inside the Arch

After you are done exploring the arch, then head back down the way you came.  When you come back to the Soldier Pass Trail Junction, head to your left and continue down the trail.  You will come to another junction in the trail.  Stay on the trail to the left.  The trail to the right turns into a jeep road and will take you to the Soldier Pass Trailhead.

Seven Sacred Pools

You will soon come to what is called the Seven Sacred Pools.  This is another open sandstone area where water has created levels of pools.  On my visit there was standing water in several pools and also plenty of bees, so be careful.  They left us alone though. 

Devil's Kitchen

Continue on the trail to another unique geological formation called Devil's Kitchen.  This is a massive sink hole, what it would have been to witness the collapse of this?

Once you pass Devils Kitchen you will come to another junction.  You want to take the Jordan Trail which heads to the left across another open sandstone area. 

Jordan Trail

Follow the Jordan Trail for about .5 miles where you will come to your final junction.  Take the Cibola Pass Trail to the left.  This trail will head up and over the hill in front of you for .7 miles.   It is another steep climb, but not long.  When you reach the top you will quickly head back down and should be able to see the cars parked in the trailhead below.

This is a great loop hike that packs a lot of variety in its short 6 miles.

Length: 6 miles loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Traffic: Heavy use
Fee: $5.00
Hike Time: 3-4 hours
Season: Fall through Spring 

Directions: 

To Jordan Trailhead:
From the Sedona Y (Junction 89A and 179) go north east, towards Uptown Sedona, for 0.3 miles. Turn left into Jordan Rd and follow Jordan Rd for 0.8 miles to a T intersection with Park Ridge Drive. Turn left on Park Ridge Drive to the end of the pavement and continue on a fairly bumpy dirt road (but passable for passenger cars) for about 0.7 miles to parking and trailhead.

To Soldiers Pass Trailhead:
An alternate trailhead about 1.2 hiking miles away from the Jordan Road Trailhead. From the Sedona Y (Junction 89A and 179) go west towards West Sedona and Cottonwood for 1.2 miles to the first light and turn right into Soldiers Pass Road. Follow the winding Soldiers Pass Road north for 1.5 miles to Rim Shadows Drive. There is a small brown trail sign there. Turn right and go on for less than 0.2 miles. The names of the roads are screwy around here, but there are little brown signs steering you to the parking area. The parking is on the left, up a gated drive (only open from 8am to 6pm!) with a limited number of parking spots.

From PHX (I-10 & AZ-51) 123 mi, 2 hours 16 mins
From TUC (Jct 1-10 & Grant) 228 mi, 3 hours 56 mins
From FLG (Jct I-17 & I-40) 29.3 mi, 41 min