Soldier Pass has a 12-car parking lot and a shuttle that doesn’t run every day. Devil’s Kitchen has a sinkhole that draws hundreds. Seven Sacred Pools has a name that sells itself. The cave has an Instagram problem. And the Jordan Trail—which connects to all of it from a trailhead that never fills before 9:30 AM—gets treated like a footnote in someone else’s trail guide.
That’s a mistake. The Jordan Trail is a 3.2-mile loop in West Sedona that intersects the Soldier Pass trail network, creating a backdoor route to the upper ridge, Cibola Pass, and—with enough time and planning—a path to the Soldier Pass POIs without ever touching the overcrowded Soldier Pass trailhead. The loop itself delivers rolling red rock terrain, juniper-studded arroyos, views of Capitol Butte’s west face that you can’t see from any other trail, and a consistently empty trail corridor that feels like a different hiking district entirely.
The trail starts from the Jordan Road trailhead—the same lot that serves Brins Mesa—managed by the Coconino National Forest under the USFS Sedona Ranger District. Red Rock Pass required. No shuttle needed. No shuttle exists. That’s the point.
Why the Jordan Trail is a Hidden Gem
Escaping the Crowds in the Coconino National Forest Trails
The Jordan Trail’s anonymity is its best feature. Here’s the crowd reality in numbers: on a typical spring Saturday, the Soldier Pass trailhead sees 100+ hikers funneled through 12 parking spaces and a shuttle system. The Jordan Road trailhead, 0.7 miles away by road, sees maybe 30–40 hikers split between three trails: Brins Mesa, Jordan Trail, and the Cibola connector. Of those 40, roughly 10 choose the Jordan Trail loop specifically.
Ten hikers. On the same morning that Soldier Pass is running a line at the cave.
The trail’s low profile comes from a naming problem. “Jordan Trail” doesn’t evoke anything—no formation, no feature, no geological drama. Soldier Pass has a cave, a sinkhole, and pools. Brins Mesa has a mesa. Jordan Trail has… a loop through red rock terrain? That’s a hard sell in a town where every hike competes for attention with world-class geology. But the absence of a headline feature means the trail stays empty, and for hikers who value solitude over spectacle, that absence is the feature.
Who this trail is for: Hikers who’ve done Sedona’s greatest hits and want a quiet morning. Repeat visitors who know the main trails and need something fresh. Locals who hike before work. Couples who want conversation without dodging tour groups. Photographers who need clean compositions without strangers in every frame.
No-Shuttle-Needed: Accessing the Trailhead on Your Own Schedule
The Jordan Road trailhead operates on drive-up access only. No shuttle. No reservation. No app. Twenty-five gravel spaces with a self-serve Red Rock Pass kiosk.
Why this matters on non-shuttle days: The Sedona Shuttle typically runs Thursday through Sunday during peak season, with variations. Monday through Wednesday, shuttle-dependent trails lose their primary access pipeline. The Jordan Trail—and its connections to the Soldier Pass network—becomes one of the only ways to access that part of West Sedona’s trail system without fighting for 12 parking spaces at the Soldier Pass lot.
The backdoor strategy: Park at Jordan Road. Hike the Jordan Trail or Cibola Pass connector uphill into the Soldier Pass trail system. You enter from the north side, above the main Soldier Pass Trail, with access to the ridge and upper trail. From there, you can descend toward the Soldier Pass POIs (cave spur, pools, sinkhole) and return via the Jordan Trail loop or the same connector. Total distance for this extended route: 5–7 miles depending on how many POIs you visit. It’s longer than starting at Soldier Pass directly, but it works on days when the direct route is inaccessible.
Important caveat: This backdoor route adds 1.5–2 miles each way compared to the Soldier Pass trailhead. It’s a viable alternative, not a shortcut. If the shuttle is running and you specifically want the cave and pools, take the shuttle. If the shuttle isn’t running and you don’t want to gamble on 12 parking spaces, Jordan Road is the answer.
Viator Experience (contextual): Rather skip the logistics entirely? A guided Sedona hiking tour covers the Soldier Pass–Jordan Trail network with transportation and route knowledge built in. (Viator widget: guided Sedona hiking tour)
Loop Trail Logistics and Navigation
Clockwise vs Counterclockwise: Maximizing Your Red Rock Views
The Jordan Trail loop runs through rolling terrain with two distinct halves: a western leg that follows a juniper-lined drainage with intermittent shade, and an eastern leg that climbs a rocky ridge with open views toward Capitol Butte and the Dry Creek basin.
Direction decision matrix:
| Scenario | Direction | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Morning hike (before 10 AM) | Clockwise — west leg first (drainage), east leg second (ridge) | Morning light illuminates Capitol Butte’s west face as you climb the eastern ridge. The best view on the loop is front-lit. You’re in shaded drainage during the coolest part of the morning, then on the exposed ridge as the sun rises but before it gets harsh. |
| Afternoon hike (after 2 PM) | Counterclockwise — east leg first, west leg second | Afternoon light warms the western drainage walls. Walk the ridge first while temps are still tolerable, then descend into shade as the sun angle steepens. |
| Sunset timing | Counterclockwise | Finish in the western drainage as sunset light filters through the junipers. Capitol Butte glows behind you on the final stretch. |
The short answer: clockwise in the morning. The eastern ridge with Capitol Butte views is the payoff section, and morning light makes it pop. Save the better half for the second hour.
Total Loop Distance and Elevation Change Loop
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total loop distance | ~3.2 miles |
| Elevation gain | ~350 feet (cumulative; rolling terrain) |
| High point | ~4,550 feet (eastern ridge) |
| Low point | ~4,250 feet (western drainage) |
| Trail surface | Packed red dirt, rocky sections, sandy wash crossings |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Average hiking time | 1.5–2 hours |
| Shade coverage | 30–40% (mostly on western drainage leg) |
The elevation profile is genuinely rolling—short climbs and descents across arroyos and ridgelines, none of them sustained. The single steepest section is a 100-foot climb on the eastern ridge that takes about 5 minutes. Compared to Brins Mesa’s sustained 450-foot ascent, the Jordan Trail feels more undulating than uphill.
Surface notes: The western drainage leg has sandy wash crossings that soften your footing. After monsoon rain, these washes can hold 1–3 inches of standing water for 24–48 hours—not impassable, but muddy. The eastern ridge is firmer with exposed rock that’s grippy when dry. The trail is well-cairned throughout, with a few junctions that require attention (more below).
Trail Conditions and Connecting Routes
Jordan Loop Trail Difficulty and Expected Hike Time
The Jordan Trail loop is one of the easier loop hikes in Sedona. The “easy to moderate” rating reflects rolling terrain without any single difficult section. No scrambling. No exposure. No sections where you’ll need hands on rock. The biggest physical challenge is the cumulative up-and-down of the rolling profile, which adds up in your quads more than the 350-foot elevation number suggests.
Hike time by pace:
| Pace | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fast (no stops, experienced hiker) | 1 hour | Essentially a trail run pace on this terrain |
| Moderate (occasional stops, photos) | 1.5 hours | Most common completion time |
| Leisurely (frequent stops, photography, snacks) | 2–2.5 hours | Comfortable pace with lingering at viewpoints |
Terrain-specific notes:
The junction at Cibola Pass (roughly mile 1.5 on the clockwise route) is the one navigation decision point that trips hikers up. The main Jordan loop curves left (south) to continue the circuit. The Cibola Pass connector goes straight (east) and climbs toward the Soldier Pass trail system. Both paths are cairned, but the junction sign—a wooden post—is easy to miss if you’re looking at the view. If you suddenly find yourself climbing steeply toward a ridgeline and you didn’t intend to, you’ve taken the Cibola Pass connector. Turn around and look for the loop trail bending south.
Dogs: Allowed on leash. The terrain is paw-friendly—packed dirt and smooth rock with no sharp slickrock edges. Sandy wash crossings are comfortable for dogs. Bring water; no natural water sources on the trail.
Connecting the Jordan Trail to Cibola Pass and Soldier Pass
The Cibola Pass connector is the trail link that transforms the Jordan Trail from a standalone loop into a network access point. From the junction at roughly mile 1.5, the connector climbs east for about 0.8 miles to Cibola Pass—a saddle in the ridge that separates the Jordan Trail drainage from the Soldier Pass drainage.
What’s accessible from Cibola Pass:
| Destination | Distance from Cibola Pass | Direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Soldier Pass ridgeline | 0.3 miles east | Downhill then up | Panoramic views, quiet, few hikers |
| Soldier Pass Cave spur | 1.2 miles east (descending) | Downhill | Adds 2.4 miles RT to your Jordan Trail hike |
| Seven Sacred Pools | 1.5 miles east (descending) | Downhill | Adds 3.0 miles RT—long day from Jordan Road |
| Devils Kitchen sinkhole | 1.8 miles east (descending) | Downhill | Adds 3.6 miles RT—very long day from Jordan Road |
| Brins Mesa connector | 0.5 miles north from ridge | North then up | Links to Brins Mesa via the same ridge system |
The honest assessment: The Jordan Trail–Cibola Pass–Soldier Pass route is a real option for fit hikers with 4–5 hours and a desire to avoid the shuttle. It works. But it’s a significant commitment—7+ miles round-trip with 800+ feet of cumulative elevation change to reach the cave and return. Most hikers who try this backdoor route use it to reach the upper ridgeline views (easy, rewarding) rather than descending all the way to the lower Soldier Pass POIs (long, and you still have to climb back out).
The route for a manageable extended hike: Jordan Trail loop clockwise to the Cibola Pass junction → Cibola Pass connector to the saddle → 0.3-mile walk to the upper ridgeline viewpoint → return the way you came to the junction → continue the Jordan loop south back to the trailhead. Total: ~5 miles, 3 hours, with ridgeline views that rival anything the Soldier Pass trail delivers from its own trailhead.
Viator Experience (contextual): Want to explore the Soldier Pass network without navigating the connector yourself? A Sedona backcountry guided hike covers the ridge system with a guide who knows every junction. (Viator widget: Sedona backcountry guided hike)
Trailhead Access and Parking
Jordan Loop Trail Parking Strategies
The Jordan Trail starts from the Jordan Road trailhead—shared with Brins Mesa Trail. The lot dynamics have been covered in detail in our Brins Mesa guide, but here’s the quick version specific to Jordan Trail users:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Lot location | End of Jordan Road, West Sedona |
| Capacity | ~25 gravel spaces |
| Fills by (spring/fall weekend) | 9:00–9:30 AM |
| Fills by (summer) | 10:00 AM or later |
| Fills by (winter) | Rarely fills |
| Overflow | None. Do not park on residential streets. |
Jordan Trail-specific parking advantage: Because the Jordan Trail loop takes only 1.5–2 hours, lot turnover is faster for Jordan Trail hikers than for Brins Mesa hikers (who are gone 2.5–3.5 hours). If you arrive at 9:00 and the lot looks full, wait 10 minutes. Chances are a Jordan Trail hiker is finishing and freeing a spot.
Approach tip: Jordan Road is a quiet residential street. Drive slowly. Kids play in the road. Dogs wander. The locals who live near the trailhead have adapted to the foot traffic, but they haven’t adapted to hikers driving 35 mph past their mailboxes. Be the polite visitor who makes them glad the trailhead exists instead of the one who makes them call the planning commission.
Red Rock Pass Required and USFS Sedona Ranger District Rules
Standard Red Rock Pass required. All the usual options:
| Pass | Cost |
|---|---|
| Daily | $5 |
| Weekly | $15 |
| Annual | $20 |
| America the Beautiful | $80 |
No day-use fee. Pay at the trailhead kiosk. Rangers patrol regularly. Citations: $75–$150.
Trail-specific regulation note: The Jordan Trail crosses terrain adjacent to the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness boundary. The trail itself stays outside the wilderness designation, but some of the Cibola Pass connector routes skirt the boundary. If you wander off-trail on the eastern ridge, you may enter wilderness without realizing it. Watch for boundary markers. Wilderness rules prohibit bikes, drones, and group sizes over 12.
For the full pass guide: Do You Really Need a Red Rock Pass?
Segment Advice:
- Families with kids (ages 6+): The Jordan Trail loop is one of the gentlest loops in Sedona. Rolling terrain, no scramble, no exposure. The 3.2-mile distance is manageable for school-age kids who hike occasionally. The arroyos feel adventurous—”we’re walking through a desert wash!”—without being technical. Bring snacks for the eastern ridge viewpoint.
- Couples: A quiet morning walk that feels nothing like the crowded Sedona experience. The eastern ridge section, with Capitol Butte filling the background, is one of the more photogenic couple-hike moments in the area—and you’ll often have it to yourselves.
- Solo hikers: Perfect solo trail. Short, well-cairned, trafficked enough that you won’t be alone for long if something goes wrong, but quiet enough to feel meditative. The Cibola Pass extension adds adventure for solo hikers who want more.
- Budget travelers: $5. That’s it. A 2-hour red rock loop for the price of a gas station coffee.
Cost breakdown:
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Red Rock Pass (daily) | $5/vehicle |
| Gas from Uptown Sedona (~6 miles RT) | ~$1–$2 |
| Total per person (2 in car) | ~$3–$3.50 |
Itinerary integration: The Jordan Trail loop is a perfect warm-up hike. At 1.5–2 hours, it slots neatly into the first part of a morning, leaving the rest of the day open. Pair it with a longer afternoon hike from a different part of town—Courthouse Butte Loop in the Village of Oak Creek, or a sunset at Airport Mesa. For hikers spending 3+ days in Sedona, the Jordan Trail makes an ideal “recovery day” hike between more strenuous outings. Multi-day plans: Sedona Itinerary Guides.
Viator Experience (contextual): Want to see Sedona’s less-trafficked trails with a local guide? A Sedona hidden trails hiking tour covers quiet loops like Jordan Trail alongside overlooked viewpoints. (Viator widget: Sedona hidden trails hiking tour)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does the Jordan Trail Loop take?
Most hikers complete the 3.2-mile Jordan Trail Loop in 1.5 to 2 hours at a moderate pace with photo stops. The rolling terrain doesn’t create any single bottleneck—the pace stays consistent throughout. Adding the Cibola Pass connector to the upper ridgeline viewpoint extends the hike to roughly 5 miles and 3 hours. The loop is one of the quicker quality hikes in Sedona, which makes it ideal for mornings when you want to hike before a non-hiking afternoon activity.
Can you get to the Seven Sacred Pools from the Jordan Trail?
Technically yes, but it’s a significant detour. From the Jordan Trail’s Cibola Pass junction, you’d hike the Cibola Pass connector east to the saddle, descend into the Soldier Pass trail system, and continue downhill to Seven Sacred Pools—roughly 1.5 miles from the pass, adding 3.0 miles round-trip to your loop. Total distance: over 6 miles with 800+ feet of elevation change. It’s doable for fit hikers with 4+ hours, but it’s not the efficient access route. If Seven Sacred Pools is your primary goal, use the Soldier Pass trailhead directly (via shuttle or early parking) for a 1.2-mile round-trip. Use the Jordan Trail backdoor only when Soldier Pass access is unavailable.
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