Soldier Pass Cave Hike

Explore the fascinating Soldier Pass Cave and the Seven Sacred Pools on this route, which takes the most efficient path to the cave site and back. The Soldier Pass Cave is a neat, eerie hideaway tucked into red rock, and the Seven Sacred Pools are a true spectacle of natural beauty.

While the signage is alright in spots, it lacks in others. Some users report relying on a GPS track to help navigate unclear sections. We recommend downloading a map ahead of time. Also, keep in mind that the parking lot at Soldier Pass opens at 8 AM and closes at 6 PM. There is no alternate parking available outside these times, so plan your hike accordingly. Vehicles may be towed if they attempt to park at or near the trailhead outside of open hours. There is another parking area 2.0mi away and there is a red van shuttle service between the two if you need it.

Beginning from the Soldier Pass Trailhead, take Soldier Pass Road on the left. You’ll hike parallel to the wash towards the pools. At the pools, you can snap a photo from the overlook point and spend some time watching the flow of the water. From here, continue along the road until it meets with the trail. Watch for the spur trail that splits off to the right with a wilderness sign on a tree. This is the trail for the cave. You’ll hike half a mile across a plateau and then into the trees. At the base of the cave, you can shimmy up inside. This requires some hands-on effort in a narrow space. Kids might need their hands held in the cave, which has a gap in the “floor.”

From the cave, retrace your steps back to the trailhead.