New Day

Region: Soldiers Pass     

Total Distance: 3-4 miles + 450’

Difficulty: Easy     

ACA: 3All                   

Duration: 3-4 Hours

Longest Rappel: 100’

Rope: 1 x 100’ + 1 x 100’ Pull Chord

Anchor Materials: 35’ of webbing + 3 rapides

Parking: Soldiers Pass (limited), Sedona Shuttle, Or Brins Mesa (.9 extra mile each way)

Overview: An easy and short mini canyon in a popular hiking area with multiple approach options and link ups nearby. Approaching via the Soldiers Arch cave is recommended for maximum value. This is a short adventure usually completed in <3 hours with a lot to offer and is best combines with the Morning Glory Spire scramble or and Soldiers Subway for maximum value.

• Adventurous approach featuring Devils Kitchen, 7 Sacred Pools, and Soldiers Arch Cave

• Great with runoff or precipitation

• Link Up with Morning Glory Spire or Soldiers Subway

• Close to Town, Quick Exit

• Best to start early for a quiet more wilderness feel

If starting at Brins Mesa TH you can either connect with Soldiers pass trail via the Cibola Connector (+.9 miles), or hike up Brins Mesa trail to the top of the Mesa and drop in.

Approach- (A) Cave Approach- From Soldiers Pass TH hike 1.5 miles past the devils kitchen sinkhole and 7 sacred pools to the turnoff for the Soldiers Cave Trail. Turn right off the main trail onto the cave trail that starts up a sandstone mound. Continue up the trail which parallels New Day Canyon (visible on the right side). After about 20 minutes you will arrive at the heavily trafficked Soldiers Arch Cave. Enter through the arch or opening on the right side with a 20 foot scramble up into the cave. Once inside the cave, shuffle down a narrow shelf on the right side to a large boulder pile on the other side. Surmount the large boulder pile and climb out of the cave arriving at the top of the arch. Exit the arch and locate a faint social trail that will lead you a short distance through sensitive terrain to the start of the canyon.

(B) Brins Mesa Approach( +1.35 miles)- During the weekends and heavily trafficked hours the cave can be over-populated with visitors presenting additional risk or decreased desire to go this way. If the cave doesn’t seem like a good idea then follow the easy approach track. From Solider Pass trail continue past the cave turnoff half a mile to the junction with Brins Mesa trail. Turn right onto Brins Mesa trail and follow it to the top of the mesa. Shortly after you arrive at the top of the mesa you will see a large light colored sandstone formation on your right side. Follow the trail just past this formation and take a faint social trail that breaks away on the right side just before. Follow this faint trail to the cliff’s edge being mindful of the sensitive terrain.  This slightly longer and less adventurous approach option is provided on the kml map. This option may be ideal for larger groups, or beginners or later in the day when there is more traffic in the cave.

*** Sensitive Cryptobiotic Soil growing between the top of the arch, Brins Mesa trail,  and R1.   Walk carefully and avoid the dark crypto crust.

Descent- From the obvious shallow drainage walk a short distance to the cliffs edge following the watercourse down to a big pine located LDC.

R1: 90’ Pine LDC, watch rope placement and crack near edge.

R2: 80’ Bolts LDC near the edge. A courtesy bolt for rigging, and a positive ledge just over the edge makes this awkward dismount a little less awkward.

R3: 25' LDC  tree.

R4: 60' LDC off small tree, or  downclimb LDC.

Exit:  Continue down the drainage a short distance until it connects with the trail that you came in on. Follow the trail back the way that you came. If you get off trail you will likely end up on a forest service road that will lead you back to the parking lot. For a short add on follow the track to link up with Soldiers Subway.

Coordinates:

Turn off Soldiers Cave Trail: 34.8977, -111.7878

Soldiers Arch Cave: 34.9007, -111.7857

R1: 34.90019, -111.78471

Route Established By: Garret Bennet & Dave Malpas

Safety: Please be mindful of other hikers while on the approach and the route.

Local Tip: Avoid going when its busy, the best time is when there is rain or precipitation.