Cibola Pass Trail

When the weather outside is frightful, the hiking here is delightful

Hiking in Sedona after a snow storm is guaranteed to give you chills – yes, partially from the weather, but more so because of the beauty. The contrast of the white snow on red rocks, fresh powder nestled in pine trees, the hushed silence… the feel of melting snow falling from tree branches and somehow finding its way inside your jacket, making an icy trail down your spine (when Jack Frost is your hiking partner, you grin and bear it...).

Snow in Sedona melts fast, so if you want to hike through our wintry wonderland, race for your mittens and hit the trail quick. We did just that one cold morning, choosing Cibola Pass Trail – just north of Uptown off Jordan Rd. – for stellar views that did not  disappoint. While the snow may have been turning to water all around us – and on us for that matter – the sights of Brins Mesa, Wilson Mountain, Cibola Mitten, and Steamboat Rock shrouded in blankets of white against a bright blue sky will stay with us much longer.

Cibola Pass is a short trek – only one mile – but it connects to other area trails if you want to keep flicking snow from your shoes. While the trail was closed for a few months after last summer's Brins Fire, there are no signs of damage in the immediate area. The trail dips into a wash before climbing about 200 feet to the top of Cibola Ridge, where you will find excellent views of Uptown, Soldiers Pass, and the back side of Capitol Butte and Coffee Pot Rock, which aren't visible from Sedona roads. Pass through a wire fence and continue down the other side of the ridge into an Arizona Cypress forest. Cibola Pass officially ends when it meets Jordan Trail, which leads into the Soldiers Pass area and more snowy red rock views. We turned around there (hey, it was cold). As with all Sedona winter hikes, watch for ice and falling snow on the trail.

DIRECTIONS: Head north on Hwy 89A and turn left on Jordan Rd. in Uptown. Stay on Jordan Rd. until it ends, turning left on Park Ridge Dr. Continue on an unpaved road (check road conditions with the Forest Service before attempting to drive it during the winter months) to the parking area. You will need to backtrack down the unpaved road to the trailhead. A Red Rock Pass is required for parking; the passes are not sold at this trailhead.

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