What Each Pass Covers
Sedona sits at the intersection of Coconino National Forest (USFS), Arizona State Parks, and one standalone Forest Service day-use area. No single pass covers all of them. Here's the breakdown:
| Pass / Fee | Cost | What It Covers | What It Does NOT Cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Rock Pass | $5/day $15/week $20/year |
Parking at Coconino NF trailheads: Devil's Bridge, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Boynton Canyon, Broken Arrow, Munds Wagon, and most others | State parks, West Fork (Call of the Canyon), Crescent Moon, Slide Rock State Park |
| America the Beautiful | $80/year | All Red Rock Pass areas, Grand Canyon ($35 value), Petrified Forest ($25), all NPS + USFS fee sites nationally | Arizona State Parks (Slide Rock, Red Rock State Park), West Fork Call of the Canyon day-use |
| West Fork / Call of the Canyon | $12/vehicle | West Fork Oak Creek Trail access (paid at gate on AZ-89A) | Everything else — this is a standalone Forest Service day-use fee, not waived by any pass |
| Slide Rock State Park | $30/vehicle (weekends) $20/vehicle (weekdays) |
Slide Rock State Park entry (Oak Creek swimming area, Apple Orchard Trail) | Not covered by Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful — Arizona State Park |
| Red Rock State Park | $7/adult $4/child (7–13) |
Red Rock State Park entry (5 miles of Oak Creek riparian trails) | Arizona State Park — no federal passes accepted |
| Crescent Moon Picnic Area | $11/vehicle | Crescent Moon Ranch picnic area, Cathedral Rock reflection views from the creek side | Separate Forest Service fee — not covered by Red Rock Pass (it's a designated picnic area, not a trailhead) |
Trails That Need Advance Permits — Soldier Pass
Soldier Pass Trail is the only trailhead in Sedona that requires an advance permit reservation through Recreation.gov. This is not the same as a Red Rock Pass — it is a separate booking that limits daily access to 14 vehicles/day.
The 14-spot limit exists because Soldier Pass Road is a narrow residential street — the neighborhood around the trailhead became untenable with uncapped visitor overflow. The reservation system was implemented by Coconino National Forest to manage that constraint.
Soldier Pass Permit — How to Book
- 📌Where: Recreation.gov — search "Soldier Pass Trailhead" under Coconino National Forest, Sedona, AZ
- 📌Capacity: 14 vehicle spots per day (NOT 14 people — 14 vehicles)
- 📌Booking lead time: Spring/fall weekends book out 5–7 days in advance. Weekdays typically 1–2 days. Cancellations appear — check the morning of if you're flexible.
- 📌Fee at trailhead: Show your Recreation.gov confirmation + a valid Red Rock Pass (day or annual) for parking
- 📌No walk-ups: Rangers enforce the permit requirement. If you arrive without a reservation, you will be turned away. There is no same-day walk-up allocation.
See the full Soldier Pass Trail guide for what the trail delivers — it's one of the most geologically interesting in Sedona (Devil's Kitchen sinkhole, Seven Sacred Pools, cave overhang). The permit is worth the extra step.
State Parks Are Always Separate
Arizona State Parks sit outside the federal fee system entirely. Neither the Red Rock Pass nor the America the Beautiful pass covers state park entry fees — ever. This trips up a lot of visitors who assume the $80 annual pass is universal.
Slide Rock State Park: $30/vehicle on weekends, $20/vehicle on weekdays. The premium is because Slide Rock is the most popular natural swimming area in Sedona — the park caps vehicle entry to protect the creek. Weekend pricing is enforced Friday through Sunday. The Apple Orchard Trail and the creek-side walk are included in the vehicle entry fee.
Red Rock State Park: $7/adult, $4/child (ages 7–13), children 6 and under free. This is the quietest of the Sedona parks — 5 miles of riparian trails along Oak Creek, good birding, and the best beginner-friendly creek-side walking in the area. Nature center included.
Arizona State Park passes (annual $200 individual, $275 family) do cover both state parks. If you're planning to visit multiple Arizona State Parks in a year, the annual pass pays for itself quickly.
Where to Buy a Red Rock Pass in Sedona
Red Rock Passes are sold at multiple locations. Buy before you arrive at the trailhead — kiosk machines at small trailheads sometimes run out of receipts or go offline.
- Coconino National Forest Visitor Center — Brins Mesa Road, Sedona. Open daily. Cash and card. Annual and weekly passes available.
- Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center — Forest Road (in Uptown). Open daily. Full pass selection.
- Trailhead self-serve kiosks — Available at Bell Rock Pathway (AZ-179), Cathedral Rock / Back O' Beyond Rd, and Boynton Canyon trailhead. Credit cards accepted. Arrive during daylight — the kiosks at remote trailheads can be cash-only or out of service.
- Recreation.gov — Buy the annual Red Rock Pass online in advance. Print or save digitally.
- Sedona Sports — 251 AZ-179, Village of Oak Creek. Outdoor retailer that stocks day and weekly passes.
Skip the Parking Hassle — Book a Guided Tour
Guided jeep and hiking tours from Pink Jeep, Arizona Off-Road Adventures, and others include trailhead access. The operator handles all permits and passes — you just show up. This is especially useful for Soldier Pass, where 14 spots fill fast.
Find Guided Sedona Tours on Viator →Affiliate link — we earn a small commission at no cost to you.