Soldier Pass Trailhead Parking
Trail open and Route 14 operating
Soldier Pass Trail No. 66 is not named in the current July 31 closure orders, and the official Sedona Shuttle site reports Route 14 in full operation. The normal private-vehicle and overnight gate rules still apply.
Fourteen spaces. That's the whole lot, and it's the only Sedona trailhead for which the Forest Service actually publishes a capacity figure.
The trail is open and Route 14 is operating. The access rules remain the strictest in Sedona: the gate is closed to private vehicles Thursday through Sunday whenever the shuttle runs, and by standing Forest Service regulation the lot is closed every night from 6:00pm to 8:00am. Monday to Wednesday, 8:00am–6:00pm, you can drive in — if you're among the first 14.
The facts
- Open right now?
- Open — normal gate and shuttle rules apply
- Trails served
- Soldier Pass Trail, Devil's Kitchen sinkhole, Seven Sacred Pools, Teacup, Cibola Pass, Brins Mesa, Jordan
- Cost / pass
- Unclear — see the note below
- Lot size
- 14 spaces (official Forest Service figure)
- Private vehicles
- Prohibited Thu–Sun during shuttle hours; also closed nightly 6:00pm–8:00am
- Gate hours
- Mon–Wed 8:00am–6:00pm; Thu–Sun gate closed all day
- Overflow option
- Shuttle Route 14 from Posse Grounds Park & Ride (260 vehicles)
- Roadside parking
- No — Soldiers Pass Road past Carruth Drive is permanently no-parking
- Restrooms
- None (Forest Service states no restroom or trash facilities)
Getting there
Get directions →Why the rules here are so tight
Soldier Pass leads to Devil's Kitchen and the Seven Sacred Pools through a residential neighbourhood, on a trail the Forest Service considers environmentally fragile. The response has been unusually strict on every axis at once.
Capacity: 14 spaces, full stop.
Shuttle cap: the Forest Service limits Route 14 to 300 passengers per service day for this destination, which is why the route runs only about every 50 minutes rather than every 15 like Route 15.
Street parking: the City worked with the Shadow Estates HOA to make Soldiers Pass Road past Carruth Drive permanently no-parking, specifically to stop overflow. That one is actively enforced.
Overnight: gate closed 6:00pm to 8:00am every day by standing regulation, independent of the shuttle.
One thing we couldn't confirm
Whether Soldier Pass requires a Red Rock Pass is genuinely unclear from official sources. Its own Forest Service page mentions no fee or pass requirement — it lists the 14 spaces and the lack of facilities and stops there — and "Soldier Pass" doesn't appear under that name in the Forest Service's published list of Red Rock Pass sites.
That contradicts the reasonable assumption that every named Sedona trailhead needs one. Rather than guess in either direction, the safe move is to carry a Red Rock Pass (they're $5 and valid at most other trailheads anyway) and to call the Red Rock Ranger District at (928) 203-2900 if you need certainty.
We'll update this page when we get a definitive answer.
Frequently asked questions
How many parking spaces does Soldier Pass have?
14 — and it's the only Sedona trailhead for which the Forest Service publishes an official space count.
Can I drive to Soldier Pass on a weekend?
No. Thursday through Sunday the gate is closed to private vehicles while the shuttle operates. The lot is also closed every night from 6:00pm to 8:00am regardless of the day.
Is Soldier Pass open right now?
Yes. Soldier Pass Trail is not named in the current closure orders, and Shuttle Route 14 is operating. Normal gate restrictions still apply.
Can I park on the street nearby?
No. Soldiers Pass Road past Carruth Drive is permanently no-parking under an arrangement between the City and the local HOA, and it's enforced.
Do I need a Red Rock Pass at Soldier Pass?
Unclear. The trailhead's own Forest Service page doesn't mention a pass requirement, and it's absent from the published Red Rock Pass site list. Carry one to be safe, or call the Red Rock Ranger District at (928) 203-2900.
Facts on this page last verified August 3, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.