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/vehicle value — plus a separate $100/person non-U.S.-resident surcharge for ages 16+ as of 2026, not waived by any pass), 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 (May–Sept) $20/vehicle (Oct–April) |
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 | $10/adult (14+) $5/youth (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 | $15/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) |
The Trailhead With Special Access Rules — Soldier Pass
Soldier Pass Trail does not require an advance hiking permit — a standard Red Rock Pass covers parking there the same as most other trailheads. What makes it different is capacity and access days. The trailhead lot holds only 14 vehicles total, and on Thursday through Sunday the Forest Service closes private-vehicle parking at the trailhead entirely.
On those closed days, the only way in is the free Sedona Shuttle from the Posse Grounds Park & Ride lot — no shuttle reservation needed, no charge. This rule exists because Soldier Pass Road runs through a narrow residential area that could not absorb uncapped weekend visitor traffic; the City of Sedona and Coconino National Forest run the shuttle to manage that constraint. A separate Recreation.gov "Soldier Pass Motorized Use Permit" also exists, but it applies only to OHV/motorized vehicles using Soldier Pass Road beyond the trailhead — it has nothing to do with hikers.
Soldier Pass Access — What to Know Before You Go
- 📌No hiking permit required: a standard Red Rock Pass is all you need — there is no Recreation.gov reservation for hikers.
- 📌Trailhead capacity: only 14 parking spots — no reservation system allocates them, it's first-come, first-served on the days parking is open.
- 📌Thursday–Sunday: private-vehicle parking at the trailhead is closed. Use the free Sedona Shuttle from the Posse Grounds Park & Ride lot — no reservation, no fee.
- 📌Monday–Wednesday: private-vehicle parking is typically open, subject to the 14-spot capacity — arrive early.
- 📌Don't confuse this with the Motorized Use Permit: that Recreation.gov listing is for OHV/4WD use of Soldier Pass Road past the trailhead, not for hikers parking to walk the trail.
Shuttle days and hours can change seasonally — verify current status with the Red Rock Ranger District or visitsedona.com before you go.
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).
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 May through September, $20/vehicle October through April (1–4 people; $5 per additional adult). The premium reflects Slide Rock being the most popular natural swimming area in Sedona — the park caps vehicle entry to protect the creek. The Apple Orchard Trail and the creek-side walk are included in the vehicle entry fee.
Red Rock State Park: $10/adult (14+), $5/youth (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.
- Red Rock Ranger District Visitor Center — 8375 AZ-179, Sedona. 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.