Cibola Pass-Jordan Trail Loop

Cibola Pass-Jordan Trail Loop

A juniper-framed view on Cibola Pass Trail

Mitten Ridge formations seen from Cibola Pass Trail.

As implausible as it may seem, some people driving through Sedona are in a hurry. It happens, though, but it’s no excuse to forfeit a hike in order to beat the traffic or catch a flight.  Many of Sedona’s trails offer drive-up-and-hike convenience and clever connectivity that accommodates those who have only a couple of hours to indulge in a picture-perfect jaunt.  Take, for instance, the Cibola Pass-Jordan Loop.

Sugarloaf and Chimney Rock seen from Jordan Trail.

When hiked from the Jim Thompson trailhead that’s located just a short drive from Uptown Sedona, this heavenly trek that slices through forests at the southern edge of the Red Rock Secret Canyon Wilderness, gets you in-and-out of the good stuff pronto.  

Huge agaves grow along the route.

As the average hiker moves at about 2-3 miles per hour, it’s possible to whip through this 2.2-mile circuit in just over an hour—provided you can limit ogling and photo stops. The hike scrimps on length but splurges on scenery and workout value.  From the parking area, start hiking at the Cibola Pass post near the fee pay station. Continue a few yards to a three-way junction and continue straight ahead on the Cibola Pass trail. Hiking the loop in this direction gets the steep climbing out of the way within the first half-mile.

A shady spot on the Jordan Trail

The abrupt but not-too-difficult climb is a mashup of switchbacks and flat rest areas overlooking the deep cuts of Mormon Canyon and layers of sheer wilderness mesas.  The signature feature along this section is the hand-shaped, russet stone tower that caps Mitten Ridge.

A scenic point on the Jordan Trail

The route makes a brief passage though the wilderness area on slickrock slopes with stunning juniper-framed views before dipping into a shady drainage.  At the 0.7-mile point, the circuit meets the Jordan Trail junction.

A slick rock passage on the Jordan Trail

Time permitting, take an optional 0.6-mile roundtrip venture, by heading right to see Devil’s Kitchen—an impressive sandstone sinkhole.  To stick with the quick-trip plan, go left at the junction and make a swift ramble on the Jordan Trail through a 1.5-mile pocket of fragrant cypress, giant agaves and oak-fringed bluffs. You’ll be back at the trailhead in a flash with dusty boots and time to spare.

Goodding's Verbena blooms April through September.

LENGTH: 2.2 miles

RATING:  moderate

ELEVATION:  4520 – 4682 feet

GETTING THERE:

Jim Thompson Trailhead:

From the State Route 179/89A traffic circle in Sedona, go right onto 89A and continue 0.3-mile to Jordan Road on the left. Go 0.8 mile on Jordan Road, turn left onto Park Ridge Dr. and continue 0.5-mile to the trailhead on the right. The last half mile is on a gravel road with potholes but is suitable for all carefully driven vehicles. A $5 Red Rock Pass is required.  There is a restroom and a pay station at the trailhead.

INFO:  Coconino National Forest

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=72038&actid=50

Red Rock Pass Information:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5416207

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ANT HILL LOOP

ANT HILL LOOP

A shady spot on the Ant Hill Loop Trail

For a few precious days each summer, monsoon rains cool the air just enough to make hiking in Sedona bearable. 

A slick rock bend on Ant Hill Loop

Although sweltering temperatures rarely scare determined hikers away from Red Rock Country trails, the exposed, stony terrain of the high-desert trekking hub amplifies heat, making for an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous journey.  After a good monsoon soaking, though, lingering moisture offers brief respite.

Newborn frogs emerge from a monsoon puddle.

Summer is also an ideal time to try some of Sedona’s shorter, lesser-used trails.  The Ant Hill Loop resides in a shady pocket south of the hyper-popular Soldier Pass-Brins Mesa route that features a set of famous natural arches, the Seven Sacred Pools and Devils Kitchen sinkhole. 

Desert frogs & toads grow from eggs to fledglings in days

With nearby attractions like those diverting traffic, it’s likely you’ll encounter little company on the Ant Hill Loop.  Tethered to the north end of the Adobe Jack trail system northwest of town, the mini circuit can be hiked as a quick out-and-back trip or combined with dozens of linked routes for an all-day outing.

Puddles serve as frog nurseries in monsoon season.

To find the obscure path, begin on Soldier Pass Trail and hike 0.2-mile to the Jordan Trail junction at Devil’s Kitchen.   Head right (east) and follow Jordan Trail 0.5-mile to the signed turnoff. 

Red rock spires seen from the Jordan Trail

The half-mile-long loop swoops through cypress woodlands and shrubby drainages with excellent views of iconic rock formations like Chimney Rock, Coffee Pot Rock and Airport Mesa. 

The trail is part of the Adobe Jack System in NW Sedona.

A favorite side-trip for mountain bikers, the trail is replete with slick rock traverses and edgy bends. This highly textured trail is a mashup of smooth rock, spiked agaves, peeling bark, knotty wood grains and tiny quartz crystal nodules glinting from russet sandstone. 

Pine and cypress trees shade Ant Hill Loop.

The Grand Central Trail---one of the backbone routes of the Adobe Jack system—bisects the loop. Use the map signs at each junction to customize your trek or simply go full circle and swing back the way you came. 

Agaves are plentiful along the trail.

In addition to giving hikers a bit of relief, monsoon rain creates fugitive water sources critical in the life-cycle of desert critters.  Standing pools like those found in cracks, sandy rivulets and potholes along rocky Sedona trails can become pop-up nurseries for frogs and toads that grow from egg to tadpole to adult in just days.  Some never make it out of their nursery before the life-giving water evaporates. The lucky ones live to adapt and survive in rhythm with the rains. Just like hikers.

Crystals in sandstone.

Artistic natural textures. 

LENGTH: 1.8 miles as described here.

RATING: easy

ELEVATION: 4315 - 4520 feet

GETTING THERE: Use the FREE SEDONA SHUTTLE: 928-203-5252, SedonaShuttle.com

Soldier Pass Trailhead:

From the State Route 179/89A traffic circle in Sedona, go 1.25 miles west (left, toward Cottonwood) to Soldier Pass Road. Turn right and drive 1.5 miles to Rim Shadows, turn right and continue 0.1-mile to the trailhead on the left. Trailhead gate is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

A Red Rock pass is NOT required to park at this trailhead.

INFO & MAP:

http://www.sedonaredrocktrails.org/ROGS/Soldier_Wash.pdf

SOLDIER PASS-BRINS MESA LOOP

SOLDIER PASS-BRINS MESA LOOP

Sedona

View from Soldier Pass

Simply put---there's hardly ever a bad time to hike in Sedona. It's scenic beauty and myriad trekking environments are unparalleled. But, of all the months in the year, April stands out as one of the best to hit Red Rock Country trails. The climax of spring in the high desert brings fresh leaves, blooming shrubs and the emergence of flowering stalks on yucca and agave. It's nature's last hurrah before settling in for summertime heat and monsoons.

For hikers with limited time, the area's multitude of options can be overwhelming. That's why the Soldier Pass-Brins Mesa Loop is an oft recommended route. Along this moderate excursion, you'll be treated to samples of everything that makes Sedona such an outdoor recreation hot spot. Right out of the chute, you'll encounter Devil's Kitchen sinkhole. An interpretive sign at the site explains the complex geological forces that created the impressive gap. At the 0.6-mile point, a chain of natural water tanks known as the Seven Sacred Pools reflect russet pinnacles and attract hordes of birds and thirsty critters. After 1.25 miles, the trail enters the non-motorized use cloister of Red Rock Secret Canyon Wilderness and the sound and fury of swooping bikes and Jeep tour crowds are soon vanquished. Roughly halfway up the trail, look for a set of arches-in-the-making weathering out of sandstone cliffs on the opposite side of the canyon.

The hike's glory note resonates at Soldier Pass--a breezy, high point vista where cliff-rose blossoms perfume the air and bees collect nectar from Feather Dalea bushes and tiny buds on Sugar Sumac trees. Here, far-reaching mountain views will have you conjuring your best "Singing Nun in the Alps" happy twirl. Beyond the pass, spotty stands of cypress and juniper provide welcome shade before the route moves onto sunny Brins Mesa. In the summer of 2006, a wildfire torched some of the vegetation on this 2-mile traverse over a wide plateau. The area is recovering nicely and the damage has not sullied the experience at all. Be sure to check out a short spur trail that leads to a lookout pinnacle. The hike down off the mesa requires some big step maneuvers and route finding. Watch for log blockades and basket cairns to stay on course in the dodgy bits. The final short segments on Cibola Pass and Jordan Trail weave in and out of wilderness, slick rock mounds and flood scoured drainages before coming full circle.

Hike Directions:

From the trailhead, hike 0.2 mile to Devil's Kitchen. Turn left, hike 1.7 miles on Soldier Pass Trail and veer right at the Brins Mesa Trail junction. Hike 2 miles to Cibola Pass Trail, turn right and follow it 0.6 mile to Jordan Trail, turn right and go 0.3 mile then turn left and hike 0.2 mile back to the parking area.

LENGTH: 5-mile loop

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 4,140' – 5,075'

GETTING THERE: Use the FREE SEDONA SHUTTLE: 928-203-5252, SedonaShuttle.com

From the traffic circle at State Routes 179/89A in Sedona, go 1.20 miles west on 89A to Soldier Pass Road. Turn right and continue 1.5 miles to Rim Shadows Drive, turn right and go 0.1-mile to the trailhead on the left.

The parking lot is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

INFO: Red Rock Ranger District, Coconino National Forest

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=55392&actid=50

MORE PHOTOS:

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Hike to Devil's Kitchen and the Seven Sacred Pools

SOLDIER PASS-BRINS MESA-CIBOLA PASS-JORDAN TRAIL LOOP

Coconino National Forest, Sedona

Devil's Kitchen

Seven Sacred Pools

For a short trek, this little loop packs in plenty of variety.  First up, is Devil's Kitchen---Arizona's largest sinkhole. Formed by a series of catastrophic geological events, the hole will continue to grow over time and the AZ Geological Survey considers the area unstable and hazardous. Although it might look tempting, the sinkhole is just not safe to explore beyond the trail. A link below leads to an AZGS article about Devil's Kitchen and includes lots of interesting maps and data.   Beyond the slump, head left and hike less than a mile  to see the "seven sacred pools", a chain of shallow ponds scoured from red sandstone that reflect both blue sky and colorfully-layered canyon walls.  Once done exploring the pools, follow the trail through a calming landscape of cypress, juniper and yuccas to the sign for Red Rock Secret Canyon Wilderness.  Here, an unsigned, but obvious footpath heads right for a mildly steep quarter-mile side trip to the Soldier Pass Arches. Past the arches, the route makes its final ascent to the Brins Mesa Trail junction.  At just under 5,000' the views here are breathtaking and breath saving as it's all downhill trekking from here.  Continuing southeast on the Brins Mesa Trail, the route dives into a canyon land of Paleozoic-age sandstones singed by the 2006 Brins Fire.  A haunting landscape of blackened stubble mixed in with healthy high desert flora splatters the gorges in earthy shades of green.  A mid-segment lookout point provides unobstructed vistas of Sedona, and sometimes, graceful waterfalls can be seen washing over distant crags. 

HIKE DIRECTIONS:

From the trailhead, follow the access path 0.2 mile to the first junction and turn left to pick up the Soldier Pass Trail.  Hike roughly 0.7 mile to the wilderness sign where an optional side path leads to a series of natural arches.  This side trip will add 0.5 mile to the hike.  Continue another 1.0 mile on Soldier Pass to Brins Mesa Trail.  Turn right here and hike 2.0 miles to the Cibola Trail, turn right and go 0.6 mile to Jordan Trail, turn right again and hike 0.3 mile to the Soldier Pass junction, turn left and hike 0.2 mile back to the trailhead.

LENGTH:  5-mile loop (5.5 with arches detour)

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION:  4,450'- 4,930'

FEE: A Red Rock Pass is required.  $5 daily fee per vehicle.

http://www.redrockcountry.org/passes-and-permits/index.shtml

HOURS: the Soldier Pass trailhead is gated and open only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

There's alternate access off Jordan Road.

GETTING THERE: Use the FREE SEDONA SHUTTLE: 928-203-5252, SedonaShuttle.com

From Phoenix, go north on I17 to exit 298 for Sedona/Oak Creek. Turn left (west) onto SR179 and continue to the traffic circle intersection at SR89A.  Veer left through the circle heading toward Cottonwood on SR89A.  Between milepost 372 and 373, turn right onto Soldier Pass Road, drive 1.5 miles to Rim Shadows, turn right and continue 0.25 mile to the short drive to the trailhead on the left.

INFO: Coconino National Forest, Red Rock Ranger District ,928-203-2900

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=55392&actid=50

GEOLOGY ARTICLE

http://azgeology.azgs.az.gov/archived_issues/azgs.az.gov/arizona_geology/winter09/article_devilskitchen.html