You’re walking a flat, well-maintained trail through piñon-juniper when the ground drops away. No gradual slope. No warning geography. The terrain simply opens into a hole fifty feet deep and a hundred feet across — a sinkhole in red rock country, where sinkholes aren’t supposed to exist. That cognitive dissonance is Devil’s Kitchen’s real draw. Not the size (impressive but not overwhelming) or the difficulty (minimal), but the geological wrongness of it — a karst-process collapse feature sitting in arid sandstone terrain where the conditions that typically create sinkholes are absent from the surface landscape.
The feature has collapsed multiple times in recorded history — expanding in stages rather than forming in a single event. Each collapse deepened and widened the hole, and the geological conditions that produced those collapses remain active. You’re not visiting a relic. You’re visiting an ongoing geological process that is still, over timescales longer than human patience, reshaping the ground.
Devil’s Kitchen sits 0.4 miles from the Soldier Pass Trailhead, making it one of the most accessible geological features in the Sedona trail system. The hike is short, flat, and easy. The parking, however, is among the worst in Sedona — a 10-space lot on a residential street that fills before most visitors have finished breakfast. The geological feature is worth the trip. The logistics require planning.
The History of the Devil’s Kitchen Collapses
An Active Geological Site in the Coconino National Forest
Devil’s Kitchen formed through dissolution and collapse of subsurface limestone layers beneath the visible sandstone cap. The mechanism is karst — water dissolving soluble rock underground, creating voids that eventually lose structural support and cave in. What makes Devil’s Kitchen geologically unusual is that it sits in a landscape defined by exposed red sandstone. The limestone responsible for the dissolution is buried beneath hundreds of feet of the Supai and Schnebly Hill formations. Visitors see sandstone. The geology creating the sinkhole operates in rock they can’t see.
Documented collapse timeline:
- 1880s: First recorded observations of a depression at this site. The initial collapse predates Anglo settlement records; exact date unknown. Ancestral accounts suggest the feature existed in some form prior to European documentation.
- 1989: A significant collapse event deepened and widened the sinkhole. The event was documented by the USFS and prompted trail rerouting to maintain a safe viewing distance from the rim.
- 1995: Another collapse episode expanded the sinkhole to approximately its current dimensions. Rim sections shifted, additional material fell into the void, and the feature reached the scale visible today — roughly 50 feet deep and 100 feet across at its widest.
The 1989 and 1995 events occurred within six years of each other — a reminder that geological time isn’t always slow. The dissolution process creating subsurface voids is gradual, but the surface collapse expressing those voids is sudden and unpredictable. The viewing area maintains a setback from the rim for this reason. Don’t circumvent the informal barriers or approach the edges for a better photo. The rim rock is undercut by the same process that created the sinkhole. A section that looks solid may not be.
Current status: No major collapse events since 1995, but the sinkhole is classified as an active geological feature. Minor slumping and rockfall occur within the sinkhole periodically — loose rock detaches from the walls and falls to the floor, a process that gradually widens the hole even without dramatic collapse events. The USFS monitors the feature but doesn’t predict collapse timing — the subsurface dissolution rate and void geometry are unknowable without extensive subsurface surveying that hasn’t been conducted.
The monitoring means the viewing area may shift over time. If the USFS determines that rim retreat has brought unstable ground closer to the trail, the setback distance increases. Don’t interpret the current viewing area as a guarantee of safety at the edge — it’s a conservative estimate based on visible surface conditions, not a surveyed safe-distance calculation. The rock between the trail and the rim is the same rock that collapsed three times in the last 140 years.
For geology enthusiasts and families with science-interested kids: Devil’s Kitchen is a textbook example of karst processes operating in a non-karst landscape. The surface sandstone masks a subsurface limestone layer (Fort Apache Limestone equivalent) that is susceptible to dissolution by groundwater percolating through fracture networks. The collapses occur where dissolution has created voids large enough for the overlying sandstone to lose structural support. Similar features exist elsewhere in the Sedona area but are less dramatic in scale and less accessible. Bringing kids here with a basic explanation of “underground water dissolved the rock, and the ground fell in” turns a geological feature into a hands-on science lesson that holds attention better than any museum exhibit — because the hole is real, it’s big, and it happened three times that people were around to see.
Trail Logistics and Navigation
Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole Trail Difficulty and Hike Time
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Distance | 0.8 miles round trip (from Soldier Pass Trailhead) |
| Elevation gain | Negligible — essentially flat |
| Difficulty | Easy — well-maintained, flat, short |
| Time | 20–30 minutes RT; 30–45 with geology interpretation time |
| Surface | Packed dirt, well-maintained tread |
| Shade | Intermittent piñon-juniper |
| Water | None — carry 0.5 liters (minimal need for this distance) |
| Dogs | Allowed on leash |
| Kids | All ages — keep children away from sinkhole rim |
This is one of the easiest “hikes” in Sedona — more accurately a walk. The trail is flat, the surface is groomed, and the distance is shorter than many hotel hallways. The difficulty is zero. The logistics are the challenge.
Children: Appropriate for all ages. The sinkhole’s rim is set back from the viewing area, but the edges are natural rock with no railings. Children who run ahead of parents or who are drawn to edges need supervision. The drop into the sinkhole is sheer — not a slope, a vertical wall. A fall would be serious. The trail itself is entirely safe; the sinkhole’s edge is the hazard.
Following the Cairn-Marked Route and USFS Trail Number
Soldier Pass Trail — USFS Trail #66. The segment to Devil’s Kitchen is the first 0.4 miles of the longer Soldier Pass Trail. Navigation is effortless: one direction, one obvious path, no junctions before the sinkhole. Cairns mark a few rocky patches. You will not get lost.
GPS waypoints:
- Soldier Pass Trailhead: 34.876°N, 111.774°W
- Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole: approximately 34.878°N, 111.778°W
- Seven Sacred Pools (if continuing): approximately 34.880°N, 111.780°W
Topographic Map Reference and GPS Waypoints
The topographic context helps explain the feature: Devil’s Kitchen sits on a relatively flat bench between the Soldier Pass drainage to the north and the residential area to the south. The flat terrain makes the sudden vertical drop of the sinkhole more visually dramatic — there’s no topographic suggestion that a 50-foot hole is about to appear.
Combining the Hike with the Seven Sacred Pools
Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole Trail Conditions and Length
The smartest approach to Devil’s Kitchen treats it as the first stop on a slightly longer out-and-back that includes the Seven Sacred Pools — a series of shallow tinajas (natural rock basins) located 0.2 miles further along the Soldier Pass Trail.
Combined itinerary:
- Trailhead to Devil’s Kitchen: 0.4 miles (10 min)
- Devil’s Kitchen to Seven Sacred Pools: 0.2 miles (5 min)
- Time at both features: 15–25 minutes
- Return to trailhead: 0.6 miles (15 min)
- Total: ~1.2 miles RT, 45–60 minutes
The combined route creates a satisfying short morning that justifies the parking effort required to reach the Soldier Pass Trailhead. Devil’s Kitchen alone — while geologically fascinating — is a 20-minute walk that may feel anticlimactic relative to the parking stress. Adding the Sacred Pools rounds the experience into a legitimate outing with two distinct geological features, each illustrating a different process: subsurface dissolution and collapse (Devil’s Kitchen) versus surface erosion and water retention (the pools).
For families with geology-curious kids: The combo is the single best science outing in the Sedona trail system. Two geological features, two different processes, both visible and tangible, within a walk distance that even young children handle. Bring a magnifying glass for the Sacred Pools — algae patterns and erosion texture are visible up close in ways they aren’t at walking height. The sinkhole’s sheer walls show cross-sections of sandstone layering that no museum model can replicate. Forty-five minutes on this trail teaches more about how landscapes form than a semester of textbook geology.
Extending beyond the combo: If energy and time permit, the Soldier Pass Trail continues beyond the Sacred Pools deeper into the backcountry — additional mileage through varied terrain with increasing views. The full Soldier Pass out-and-back is approximately 4.2 miles RT. The Devil’s Kitchen and Sacred Pools sit in the first quarter of this route, meaning you can extend as far as interest and fitness allow and return on the same trail.
Morning light window: Devil’s Kitchen’s interior receives direct sunlight starting around 8:30–10:00 AM depending on season, when the sun clears the eastern ridge. Before this window, the sinkhole interior is in deep shade — dramatic for photos emphasizing depth and shadow. After the sun reaches the interior, the sandstone walls glow warm orange — better for detail photography showing the collapse layers and rock face texture. The Seven Sacred Pools photograph best with a polarizer to reduce surface glare and reveal the rock beneath the water (when water is present).
Trailhead Access and Parking
Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole Trail Parking (Soldier Pass Reality)
Soldier Pass Trailhead is the most parking-stressed trailhead in the Sedona system relative to demand. The lot holds approximately 16 vehicles. Ten. On a residential street where neighbors have legitimate complaints about overflow parking, illegal pulloffs, and tour buses idling in their neighborhood. Rangers patrol actively. Tickets and towing are common.
Fill time: Peak-season weekends: full by 7:00–7:30 AM. This is not a typo. Soldier Pass fills before most Sedona visitors have left their hotel. Peak weekdays: full by 8:00–8:30 AM. Summer: somewhat later (8:30–9:00 AM) due to lower visitation. Winter: variable but still fills early on clear days and holiday weekends.
The Sedona Trailhead Shuttle serves Soldier Pass on mandatory days (typically Thursday–Sunday during peak seasons). On mandatory days, the access road is gated — personal vehicles cannot reach the trailhead. The shuttle is the only option. Verify the current schedule before driving.
Alternative access — Jordan Trailhead: The Jordan Trail connects to the Soldier Pass trail system from the east, adding approximately 1.5 miles each way. Jordan Trailhead has more parking and no residential-street constraints. For visitors willing to trade distance for parking peace, Jordan is the preferred approach. Total round trip to Devil’s Kitchen and Seven Sacred Pools via Jordan: ~4.2 miles vs 1.2 miles from Soldier Pass. Different commitment, dramatically different logistics.
The honest assessment: If Devil’s Kitchen is your primary destination and you’re visiting on a peak-season weekend, the shuttle is the right tool. Driving to Soldier Pass without arriving before 7 AM will likely result in a full lot, a wasted trip to the trailhead, and the frustrating decision to either park illegally (and get ticketed) or abandon the plan. Plan around the parking reality, not against it.
Trail Maintenance Status and Red Rock Pass Required
Soldier Pass Trail is well-maintained — one of the most-trafficked trails in the system, receiving commensurate maintenance attention. Clear tread, managed drainage, reliable signage.
Red Rock Pass ($5/day, $15/week, $20/annual) required. America the Beautiful also works. No automated fee machine at Soldier Pass — purchase before arriving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How deep is the Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole?
Approximately 50 feet deep from rim to floor. The widest dimension is roughly 100 feet across. The walls are near-vertical — collapsed sandstone blocks and exposed rock faces. Vegetation has established on the floor and some ledges, indicating the current collapse surface has been stable long enough for root systems to develop.
Is the trail to the sinkhole safe for kids?
The trail itself is safe for all ages — flat, short, easy. The sinkhole rim is the hazard. There are no railings or fences at the viewing area. Children who tend to run ahead or who are curious about edges need close supervision. The drop is sheer and the consequences of a fall are severe. Stay on the established viewing area and don’t approach the rim.
How does Devil’s Kitchen compare to natural sinkholes I’ve seen elsewhere?
Devil’s Kitchen is modest by comparison to Florida or Yucatán sinkholes in scale. Its significance is geological context — a karst-process feature in an arid sandstone landscape where such features are uncommon and unexpected. The collapse is ongoing (three documented events since the 1880s), making it an active geological site rather than a static feature.
Can I combine Devil’s Kitchen with the Seven Sacred Pools?
Yes — they’re 0.2 miles apart on the same trail. The combined walk is 1.2 miles RT and takes 45–60 minutes. This is the recommended approach — combining both features creates a more satisfying experience than either alone.
When is the best time to see Devil’s Kitchen?
For photography: 8:30–10 AM when morning sun first illuminates the sinkhole interior (warm light on the sandstone walls). For solitude: weekday mornings. For parking: before 7:30 AM peak weekends, or via shuttle on mandatory days.
Let a Local Guide Lead Your Hike from $59
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