The red sandstone buttes and rock formations near Sedona, Arizona were created nearly 3 million years ago. Their beauty and majesty draw visitors and adventure seekers from around the globe. One of the most spectacular treks to get up close to witness the formation’s splendor is the Seven Sacred Pools Hike.
Getting to the Trailhead
To access the pools, you’ll need to park at the Soldier’s Pass trailhead located just off of Soldier’s Pass Road. The parking lot is very small with just 15 spaces. We opted to hike to Seven Sacred Pools via the Cibola Trail accessible from the Jordan Road parking lot, which offers many more parking spaces. To find this lot, look for signs for Jordan Road via Highway 89A in downtown Sedona. Parking at the Jordan Road lot will make your overall hike to and from the pools about 3 miles. The added distance is worth it as you’ll have views of some spectacular scenery.
The Hike
The Seven Sacred Pools hike in Sedona is considered an easy hike appropriate for all skill levels. It does have a 400-foot elevation gain at the beginning of the hike on the Cibola Trail. This section of the trail features views of “the mitten” (see the first image in post). At the junction of Cibola Trail and Jordan Road Trail, turn right to connect up with Soldier’s Pass Trail. Just before the sacred pools area, you’ll encounter Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole. Behind the sinkhole sits Sphinx Rock.
Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole 
Devil’s Kitchen and Sphinx Rock
The section of trail from Devil’s Kitchen to the Seven Sacred Pools is also accessible to jeep tours. This means the trail is well marked, relatively flat and very wide. Less than a half-mile from the sinkhole you’ll reach the Seven Sacred Pools. We were thrilled to see the pools were full of water when we arrived. This is not always true. The pools are dry in some parts of the year. You’ll most often find them filled during the rainy months of July and August. The pools seem to lead the way to Coffee Pot Rock in the distance.
The Seven Sacred Pools hike in Sedona was my favorite. It wasn’t challenging and offered great views of Sedona’s red rocks throughout the hike. For more hikes in Sedona, see our posts on clawing your way to the top of Cathedral Rock. You can also check out our trek to Devil’s Bridge (coming Monday).
If all the hiking has got you hungry and you’re willing to drive 30 minutes to Jerome, AZ check out the Haunted Hamburger. The burgers are great and the prickly pear margaritas are even better.
Happy Adventuring, Rochelle