Devil’s Dining Room Sinkhole
If you’re planning an ATV or UTV ride in Sedona, Devil’s Dining Room Sinkhole can sound like a dramatic trail stop—but it isn’t a place to drive a machine into. The name is often confused with Sedona’s Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole, a hiking destination near Soldier Pass. This guide explains the distinction, how to plan a legal ride nearby, and what to check before you head out.
Identify the sinkhole before planning your ride
Devil’s Dining Room and Devil’s Kitchen are easy to mix up
Sedona visitors sometimes use “Devil’s Dining Room” when asking about the area’s well-known sinkhole. The feature commonly identified on Sedona hiking maps and trail information is Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole, near Soldier Pass. It’s a natural formation viewed on foot, not a motorized destination or a place to take an ATV or UTV down into.
That naming difference matters when you search for directions. A map pin or social media post may use a casual or mistaken name, while official trail information uses another. Before setting off, confirm that your destination is the Soldier Pass hiking area and that you’re following the correct access information. For a wider look at the region’s motorized routes, see [Broken Arrow and Sedona's Red Rock].
A common planning mistake is to spot a road or trail line nearby and assume it leads to the sinkhole. In Sedona, trails can run close together without having the same access rules. A hiking path, a designated motorized route, and a road used by commercial tours are not interchangeable.
The sinkhole is a hiking stop, not an ATV or UTV feature
The sinkhole is reached as part of a hike in the Soldier Pass area. Riders should plan to park legally and continue on foot only if there is an authorized place to park and a permitted hiking route from that location. Do not ride a machine onto a hiking trail, around a gate, or across open ground to shorten the walk.
This distinction is especially important in a popular recreation area like Sedona. A route that looks wide enough for a side-by-side may still be closed to motorized use, and a path worn by foot traffic is not permission to ride it. Staying on designated routes protects the landscape and helps prevent an enjoyable trip from turning into a citation or a recovery problem.
If your main goal is to ride, choose a motorized trail that suits your machine and treat the sinkhole as a separate hiking outing. If your main goal is to see the sinkhole, plan around hiking access and leave the ATV or UTV out of the trip unless you have confirmed a legal, practical place to stage it.
Plan a legal Sedona ride separately from the sinkhole visit
Choose a route that is actually open to your machine
Sedona has a mix of motorized roads, hiking trails, protected areas, and routes with restrictions. Before you ride, confirm that your specific vehicle is allowed on the route. A path shown on a general map does not necessarily indicate that ATVs or UTVs may use it, and access rules can differ by route, vehicle width, land manager, and season.
For a side-by-side trip, start with official motor-vehicle route information and check the route’s width or vehicle restrictions. [Sedona Trails Open to Side-by-Sides] is a useful topic to review when narrowing your options, while [Reading an Arizona Motor Vehicle Use Map] can help you understand what a route map does—and does not—show. Treat a map app as a planning aid, not as the authority that grants access.
The Broken Arrow area is one of Sedona’s best-known off-road destinations, but that doesn’t mean every machine can travel every segment. Trail characteristics, vehicle fit, operator experience, and access rules all matter. Review [Broken Arrow Trail Difficulty] before deciding whether that route is appropriate. For features along the area’s route, [Submarine Rock and Chicken Point] can help you plan a ride around designated stops rather than trying to connect them to an unrelated hiking destination.
Keep maps and route restrictions in the same plan
A reliable plan uses more than one source. Check the land manager’s current route information, look for posted signs at the trailhead, and compare those details with a navigation map. If you use onX Offroad to review route lines, confirm important access decisions against official maps and signs. The app can help you see your position and prepare offline, but a mapped line by itself is not proof that motorized travel is permitted.
Before leaving cell coverage, download the route information you need and make sure everyone in the group understands the planned route. If the group splits up, agree on a meeting point that is on an authorized route or staging area. Avoid improvising a shortcut just because it looks close on a screen. In the red-rock country, a short-looking detour can lead to a closed area, steep terrain, or a route that is unsuitable for your vehicle.
Check for closures shortly before departure, too. Weather, fire restrictions, maintenance, and land-management decisions can affect access. [Checking Arizona Trail Status Before You Drive] is a helpful reminder to check conditions before towing to a trailhead, not after you arrive.
| Your goal | Better plan | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| See the sinkhole | Confirm hiking access and use an authorized place to park | Riding onto a hiking trail or toward the sinkhole |
| Take an ATV or UTV ride | Select a designated motorized route that allows your machine | Assuming a nearby trail is open to motorized use |
| Combine riding and sightseeing | Plan separate legal staging and hiking arrangements | Treating the hiking destination as an off-road trail stop |
| Navigate outside cell coverage | Save maps in advance and check official route information | Relying on a single map pin or an unverified track |
Make the day work for riders and hikers
Sort out parking and staging before you tow
Parking is often the part of a Sedona outing that takes more thought than expected. A hiking trailhead may have limited spaces, and a space suitable for a passenger vehicle may not work for a truck and trailer. Don’t assume you can leave a trailer along the road or use an informal pullout for all-day staging.
If you’re planning an ATV or UTV ride, use a staging area that is appropriate for your vehicle and permitted for that activity. Review [Arizona Trailhead Parking and Staging] and [Parking a Side-by-Side at a Trailhead] before choosing where to unload. If you also want to visit the sinkhole, work out the hiking access as a separate part of the day rather than expecting to park immediately beside the feature.
For example, a group towing a UTV could ride a designated route in the morning, return to its legal staging area, and then drive to an appropriate hiking access point in a separate vehicle. That may feel less convenient than combining everything at one stop, but it avoids blocking a trailhead or leaving a trailer where it may interfere with others.
Set expectations for a mixed-activity group
A mixed group might include experienced riders, first-time passengers, and people who would rather hike than ride. Talk through the day before you arrive: who is riding, who is hiking, what vehicle is going where, and when the group will meet again. Don’t make the plan depend on someone hiking along a motorized route or a UTV squeezing into a hiking-area parking space.
If the sinkhole is the priority for some members of the group, plan a dedicated walking visit. If riding is the priority, choose a trail based on vehicle capability and rider comfort. A route that looks manageable from a passenger seat may still feel challenging to a new operator, particularly on uneven rock or tight turns. Keep the group within its experience level, and don’t let pressure to “see everything” push anyone onto a route they shouldn’t use.
For a broader planning checklist, see [Planning an Arizona Riding Trip]. It’s also worth checking [Where to Ride an OHV in Arizona] if you’re comparing Sedona with other riding areas around the state.
Prepare for Sedona’s terrain and changing conditions
Bring the right navigation and safety basics
Sedona’s landscape can make it easy to lose your sense of direction, especially where red-rock formations block sightlines or several routes appear close together. Carry a charged phone, but don’t depend on continuous service. Save your route for offline use, take a paper or downloaded map if appropriate, and make sure someone in your group knows the planned itinerary.
onX Offroad can be useful for reviewing route lines and keeping a digital map available when reception is poor. Use it alongside land-manager information, and stop to confirm signs when a route junction is unclear. If the app and a posted closure sign disagree, follow the posted restriction and choose another route.
Bring enough water for the outing, sun protection, and basic supplies for the people in your group. Sedona’s temperatures and exposure can make a short delay feel much longer than expected. A machine issue, a wrong turn, or a trail closure can extend the day, so plan for more than the minimum time you think you’ll need.
Leave room for weather, closures, and a change of plan
A route that is suitable in one set of conditions may be a poor choice after rain or during a closure. Avoid entering a wash or crossing flowing water, and never assume a dry-looking channel is safe just because the sky above you is clear. Desert weather can change quickly, and runoff may arrive from storms beyond the immediate area.
Before you leave home, check the land manager’s route notices and any relevant fire or weather restrictions. Then check again before unloading. If the route you planned is closed, don’t follow tire tracks around the barrier or create a new line across the ground. Choose an open alternative or make the sinkhole hike the day’s main activity instead.
That flexibility is useful even when conditions are fine. Parking may be full, a route may not fit your machine, or a group member may decide the ride is beyond their comfort level. Having a second option turns those surprises into a change of plans rather than a reason to break access rules.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
