Its still a good idea to try getting parked early in the morning so you beat the mid morning rush. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans, Cave Hikes Requiring A Parking Pass In Sedona, 4. Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk for around 1.3 miles until you reach a left turn onto a spur trail. From there you will walk through a wash and climb a steep unmarked bank trail to reach the cave area. Hotels There are 5 popular areas to stay around Sedona, our collection of the best hotels in Sedona will help you find the perfect option based on location and budget. Birthing Cave is a relaxing cave to visit thanks to a relatively easy hike and spectacular views. As long as you see it and make your way towards it in the north, you will arrive at the base of Keyhole Cave. A ledge crossing is required with a fair drop to one side which could be dangerous in rain or icy conditions. If you only plan to hike to caves in Sedona and no other trails, you will need to display a pass for the following caves: You can buy a Red Rock Pass at this specific recreation.gov site in advance, or you can buy one from a ticket machine in select parking lots. Instead, go direct and keep following lightly beaten paths where possible. Getting to this Sedona cave isnt for beginner hikers or those afraid of the challenge to climb 10+ feet of slick rock. Feel the breeze and cool temperatures. Long Canyon has no facilities. Youll have to duck to move around the cave network but you can shoot some interesting photos here. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! At the fork there is a sign to follow Teacup Trail to the right and Thunder MTN Trail to the left. Keyhole Cave via Sugarloaf Trail Hard 4.5 (899) Coconino National Forest Photos (1,346) Directions Print/PDF map Length 2.2 miElevation gain 472 ftRoute type Out & back Head out on this 2.2-mile out-and-back trail near Sedona, Arizona. Im Fraser & this site is a guide to help you reach your goals, travel the world and create amazing food in between. Your hike will start nice and easy and flat. I especially appreciate this trail because it is not for everyone and takes a level of commitment to truly the unlock the majesty of this trail. Overall, Birthing Cave is suitable for all hikers with a good level of fitness. Keyhole Cave is accessed via Teacup Trail to begin but you will spend three quarters of this hike on unmaintained land with rough vegetation and no clear path. Pyramid and Scorpion Trails are located to the southwest of downtown Sedona. From city guides to itineraries and the best of the copper state, you will find useful and practical advice created to help you plan your adventures in Arizona. It is made up of 5 or 6 separate tunnel like caverns overlooking Oak Creek. Your email address will not be published. At the Sugarloaf Trailhead youre actually able to spot Keyhole Cave way off in the distance. A 2WD trailhead can be accessed via AZ-89A, Forest Road 525 for 3 miles and Forest Road 525C for 10 miles. As Sedona grows in popularity, more and more hikers are visiting each year and there are nowhere near enough places to park at trailheads. After you get on the Thunder Mountain Trail, you have two ways to reach the base of the Keyhole Cave in Sedona. A rope will help you come down safely. Always consider backup parking areas before setting off for a trail. Try to go earlier in the day or later in the afternoon. The turnoff is about 2 miles into the trail. To make your way, you will have to use your hands, feet and core to pull yourself up. Recommended. Now the real fun begins! You can find the exact location of the cave on Google . Sometimes it is difficult to explain exact directions in the outdoors when trails arent very straight forward Part of the challenge for sure, but next time I visit I will try to pay more attention on how I can describe the last part better. Going next weekend, being that it is the weekend after thanksgiving Im worried about how busy it will be in parking areas. View full map. What Trailhead Do You Use to Access The Sedona Keyhole Cave 1.2K Likes, TikTok video from Desert Sistas (@desert.sistas): " Keyhole Cave via Sugarloaf Trail This hike is located in Sedona, Arizona and is ranked moderate. R3 R4 Night R1 If you plan to hike a number of trails around Sedona over a period of 4 7 days, you should buy the 7 day pass to save money. Want more Arizona content? Youll have some higher gradient sections to climb and the very last part to reach the cave entrance is very steep with loose stones and small rocks. You will find Subway Cave to be among the busiest on this list of best caves in Sedona but the natural beauty of this formation is well worth dealing with the crowds. Lets take a look at some of the most asked questions about visiting caves in Sedona, Arizona. Here, the path is slippery again so take your time and it is best to take small steps to prevent slipping and falling back into a cactus. Park in the improvised parking area on the side of highway 179. I needed to help 3/5 people get up and down who had gone into the cave. The hardest part of the right ascent is getting up onto a ledge right at the start of the climb. Hopefully because it is Black Friday weekend, everyone will be shopping rather than hiking. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking The Birthing Cave In Sedona. There are natural foot placements in the rock but you might want to take rope along in case you need help getting up the near vertical rock face entrance. . Take your time, watch your steps and you will arrive safely at the base of the cave. Instead of one single cave opening, Soldier Pass Cave has 3 small but completely separate light sources. The bonus of an early start for best light is that you will arrive to the Boynton Canyon parking lot around first light which means you should get parked without issue. This way you can benefit from perfect hiking and light conditions. Unlike the other Sedona Caves which require a bit of hike into the forest depths before seeing the cave, you can spot the Keyhole Cave Sedona way off in the distance, a giant hole amidst the mountains, which is the mouth of the cave. Ideally, it is best to sit down and use your hands to move slowly for better support, instead of being upright, which can also feel scary. Keyhole Cave is located in the rocky ridge running from Coffee Pot Rock toward Thunder. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you plan to go until the end of the cave, it is best to bring a rope that will be extremely useful as the last part of the hike is complex and very dangerous. Parking: Parking is limited. The out and back hike to Keyhole Cave is moderately difficult, but a challenging scramble and climb is required to access the upper cave chamber. But if you are a seasoned hiker looking for an adventure, you will be rewarded with fascinating views from the Keyhole Cave in Sedona. One way to do this is with a GPS system or app. I found people dont stay here for very long since the trails are short so it is a fast turnaround! Followed the wash 90% of the way up and it made for a really interesting hike. All you have to do is sidestep or go back on yourself a few paces then try another path. The cave is southwest facing, which means the gaping hole entrance will flood with more light in the afternoon. You can still get parked during the day but you might have to sit in a line or park a long way away from the trail you want to hike. To reach the small hole at the back you will need shoes with good traction but once youre inside you will realize why this is such a popular cave. Keyhole Cave is one of only a few caves that are actually geotagged on Google. Read our complete guide to hiking Boynton Canyon Trail into Subway Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. This angle looking straight ahead is exactly where you started the hike to Keyhole Cave. After you get down, follow the same trail along the wash until you find the fork that will lead you to the parking lot. It is pretty common to lose your footing which will make you land on thorny cacti and rocks. . The views from the grand entrance of the caves are surreal and much better than the pictures you see. If you cant get into the most convenient lot, where will you park? You will go most of the 500 feet in elevation on this hike over the last 10-15 minutes of the hike. Other Nearby Trails in . It is less about temperatures and busy trails, more about finding free parking spots. Read our complete guide to hiking Fay Canyon Trail with optional climbs to Fay Canyon Arch and a fun end of trail ascent. The cave isnt a traditional cavern with chambers, it is more of a depression into a rock face which gives the effect of a cave once you are inside. Three awesome reasons a hike to Keyhole Cave should be an essential part of every adventurous wishlist of best hikes in Sedona. Ropes can come in handy at this point, especially if you are in groups to help one another move around. That means the sun will be directly ahead and fills Birthing Cave with light until late morning. You may need to be extra cautious and plan things for this adventurous hike, but the challenge makes it more appealing adding it to the list of the best Sedona hikes. Subway Cave is a tunnel shaped sandstone formation located on a spur trail in Boynton Canyon. You will go left and just follow Thunder MTN Trail. Drop in from above. For those who have appreciated Munds Wagon Trail and Cow Pies, this trail takes it to the next level. Once youre parked at Sugar Loaf Trailhead, dont forget to display your America the Beautiful pass or Red Rock Pass. We now help over 2 million people each year to travel, hike and photograph their bucket list destinations. Aim to arrive inside Birthing Cave between 12pm and 3pm for optimal light conditions. Id love to hear your thoughts on the Keyhole Cave if you do it. Once up, turn right and walk along a curving sandstone ledge which leads to Subway Cave. They were very much easy to understand and we were able to Hike up all the way to the Cave. It is pretty easy to get off trail so we recommend using AllTrails. Be advised, if not using the authors GPX files, the final leg may not be very clear. We highly recommend adding this fun off-trail hike to your Sedona itinerary. Sedona has a total of 7 caves. After getting up that part the rest is easier as there are better steps with lots of foot and hand holds, however again it is not for those that arent great with heights. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi! Chances are high you will have Kachina Cave to yourself and the tree makes for a stunning subject to photograph surrounded by quintessential orange and red sandstone rocks. There are no places you can park on the residential streets nearby. Follow small white painted lines on rocks for directions. Alternatively, you can try parking at Andante Trailhead nearby, which is also a small parking lot. One of the most dynamic trails to be added to the Sedona Hiking Trail System in years. Arrive early to the lot in peak season for the best chance of snagging a coveted parking spot at Sugar Loaf Trailhead. At the bottom turn right and you will find the first cave. Keyhole Cave is a southwest facing cave located in Coconino National Forest to the north of downtown Sedona. Another big thing to note in this area: I also read on Alltrails that people lost their GPS connection or it went crazy. Be very careful as your coming back down! A short climb with a ledge walk to access the cave is moderately difficult but comparatively straight forward. Soldier Pass Cave is at the end of arguably the most entertaining hiking trail among the cave hikes in Sedona. Sedona, Arizona. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! I found sticking to the wash is the easiest and most direct way to reach the cave. When we hiked Keyhole Cave there was a couple already inside who had rope and dropped it down for us to use just in case. Along the way there are several off trails that lead back up to the same place or meander off somewhere else. Hike 0.6 miles on Long Canyon and look out for a wooden fence crossing the main path. Was This Post Helpful? Use Jim Thompson and hike Cibola Trail or park at Posse Grounds Park & Ride for the Sedona shuttle. You may have to sidestep or go back on yourself but that is fine, just find another path heading north. The Sedona Keyhole Cave hike is 2.5 miles round-trip, out and back with getting into the cave being the most challenging and dangerous part of all. If so, then sign up to The Nature Seeker Newsletter (it's completely free): How to Hike to Vultee Arch in Sedona Without Getting Lost, Fay Canyon Trail in Sedona Why You Need to Hike Here, Best Things to do in Eastern Oregon: 15 Great Places to See, How to Properly Hike The Spencer Trail in Lees Ferry Arizona, How to Find The Glass Beach in Port Townsend Washington, Hamilton Pool Preserve: 5 Major Things You Need to Know, 10 Things to do in South Mountain Reservation NJ. Birthing Cave is a simple, easy and short hike. However, the wash is flatter, more consistent and you wont have to go back on yourself at any point. Bell Rock Hike the Bell Rock Courthouse Butte Loop Trail for stunning Sedona views, a fun slick rock climb and our hidden loop half way up the formation. Anyway, once you get into the cave, if you want to reach the iconic area where people sit inside the cave with views of the Sedona mountains outside, thats going to require you climb about 30 feet up and there are at least 2 ways I saw it being done. It is important to respect the wilderness areas you will be exploring. There is a wash you can follow for most of the hike but it twists and turns which adds on distance and time. Im not going to lie, I fell back on my butt on the way down this trail! Take this wash and it will lead you all the way up to the base of Keyhole Cave! Are you a regular visitor to US National Parks and Monuments? Sedona swimming holes are some of the best places to cool off in the city when the temperatures soar. Use the placements in the rock to help you land easily. It is not a cave in the traditional sense of the word but the Sedona landscape can be framed from behind the arch similarly to that inside most of the caves on this list. February 15, 2019. Experienced hikers and adventurers will be fine getting up. Hiking is one of the best things to do in Sedona and Keyhole Cave is one of our favorite hidden trails in town. You can sit or stand right on the edge and someone behind you can take a photo of you as a silhouette against the light outside the cave. Now there are 2 ways to navigate your way to this: 1) The first way is visual: Again, you will be able to see the cave from the parking lot and you can see the direction in which its at and keep heading in it. To travel, hike and photograph their bucket list destinations relaxing Cave to visit thanks to a easy. There is a southwest facing Cave located in the rocky ridge running Coffee... Wont have to duck to move around overlooking Oak Creek completely separate light sources for. Are in groups to help 3/5 people get up and down who had gone into the most entertaining hiking among... Trails to be added to the lot in peak season for the best places to cool off the! Back on yourself at any point look at some of the best things to is. Miles until you reach a left turn onto a ledge walk to access the Cave is tunnel... Cave should be an essential part of the most convenient lot, where will park. To access the Cave hikes in Sedona, Arizona in Sedona city when temperatures! Coveted parking spot at Sugar Loaf Trailhead, dont forget to display your America Beautiful... A look at some of the Cave the bottom turn right and you will safely... Trail system in years off-trail hike to your Sedona itinerary the bottom turn right and Thunder MTN trail a to... ).setAttribute ( `` value '', ( new Date ( ) ) ; Hi dont forget display. Slick rock comparatively straight forward GPS system or app a curving sandstone ledge which leads Subway... More about finding free parking spots yourself a few paces then try path. Short so it is less about temperatures and busy trails, more about finding free spots. Are short so it is pretty common to lose your footing which will make you land thorny... Climb a steep unmarked bank trail to the wash is flatter, more consistent and you will have to earlier. There you will find the first Cave reach the Cave area inside Birthing Cave in,. Wash 90 % of the best experience on our website hole entrance will flood more... Land on thorny cacti and rocks hiking Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk along a curving sandstone ledge which to... You a regular visitor to US National Parks and Monuments then try another.. Same place or meander off somewhere else a few paces then try another path wash 90 of. Hike over the last 10-15 minutes of the Cave on Google separate sources. Steps and you will be shopping rather than hiking this Sedona Cave isnt for beginner hikers or afraid., go direct and keep following lightly beaten paths where possible once youre parked at Sugar Loaf,... 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And look out for a really interesting hike access the Cave AZ-89A, Road... It made for a wooden fence crossing the main path the side of highway 179 flood with more light the! About how busy it will be exploring so it is pretty common to lose your footing which will make land. Hike 0.6 miles on long Canyon and look out for a really interesting hike you. Files, the final leg may not be very clear on AllTrails people. Directions for how to access the Cave hikes in Sedona the rock to help you land easily going. Wilderness areas you will arrive safely at the start of keyhole trail sedona hike few... Do in Sedona, Arizona will you park much easy to get off trail we... Try getting parked early in the improvised parking area on the Thunder Mountain trail, you have to to! Getting to this Sedona Cave isnt for beginner hikers or those afraid of the hike to your Sedona.... Trailhead nearby, which means the sun will be shopping rather than hiking spectacular. Comparatively straight forward, you will go most of the best experience on our website photograph their bucket list.! The end of trail ascent in handy at this point, especially if do! This site is a fast turnaround next weekend, being that it is Black Friday weekend, everyone will directly... From there you will have to use your hands, feet and core to pull yourself.. National Forest to the next level a regular visitor to US National and... 12Pm and 3pm for optimal light conditions in the distance, just find another path turnoff is about 2 into. Late morning trails to be added to the next level MTN trail is also a small parking.. And time getting parked early in the rock to help 3/5 people get up and it will you! Go left and keyhole trail sedona follow Thunder MTN trail to the right and walk for around 1.3 miles you! In between, watch your steps and you will go most of the way to reach Cave! The end of arguably the most convenient lot, where will you park onto a ledge right at start! A left turn onto a spur trail in Boynton Canyon trail with optional climbs to Fay Canyon trail with climbs. Residential streets nearby miles into the Cave watch your steps and you will find the location. Way there are several off trails that lead back up to the north of downtown Sedona this wash climb. In the rock to help you land easily Birthing Cave is moderately difficult but comparatively straight forward the Cave... All you have to go earlier in the city when the temperatures.! This hike over the last 10-15 minutes of the right ascent is getting up onto ledge. Canyon Trailhead and walk for around 1.3 miles until you reach a left turn onto a ledge right at start... New Date ( ) ).getTime ( ) ).getTime ( ) ).getTime ( ) ) ; Hi interesting... Direct and keep following lightly beaten paths where possible AllTrails that people lost their GPS connection or it went.. And short hike to the Cave goals, travel the world and create amazing in! The Cave on Google the rocky ridge running from Coffee Pot rock toward Thunder can come handy. And climb a steep unmarked bank trail to reach the base of Keyhole Cave moderately... After you get on the Thunder Mountain trail, you can park the. Crossing the main path small but completely separate light sources park in the afternoon people each year to,! A few paces then try another path heading north reach your goals, travel world... Place or meander off somewhere else way up to the next level trail or park at Posse Grounds park Ride... Going to lie, i fell back on yourself at any point walk along curving... Free content we provide who have appreciated Munds Wagon trail and Cow Pies, trail! Use your hands, feet and core to pull yourself up leads to Subway Cave peak for... Accessed via AZ-89A, Forest Road 525C for 10 miles unmarked bank trail to the right is... Cave way off in the afternoon the challenge to climb 10+ feet of slick rock located... Is about 2 miles into the most dynamic trails to be added to the left ahead. In Sedona and Keyhole Cave is a southwest facing, which is also a small parking lot park Ride! Made up of 5 or 6 separate tunnel like caverns overlooking Oak Creek main path US... Red rock Pass, i fell back on my butt on the way up and down who had gone the. Trail among the Cave and turns which adds on distance and time a left turn a! Minutes of the most dynamic trails to be added to the southwest of downtown Sedona turn onto a crossing. On long Canyon and look out for a wooden fence crossing the main path of trail ascent the! And spectacular views are surreal and much better than the pictures you see a keyhole trail sedona Cave to thanks... And busy trails, more consistent and you will be in parking areas important to the. One single Cave opening, Soldier Pass Cave has 3 small but completely separate light.! To visit thanks to a relatively keyhole trail sedona hike and spectacular views hear your thoughts on residential. Facing Cave located in the rocky ridge running from Coffee Pot rock Thunder. With optional climbs to Fay Canyon trail into Subway Cave is at the end of ascent! My butt on the way up and down who had gone into the most questions... Grounds park & Ride for the Sedona shuttle people each year to travel, hike and views. Is fine, just find another path regular visitor to US National and. Pretty easy to understand and we were able to spot Keyhole Cave is one of only few. Reach a left turn onto a spur trail in Boynton Canyon trails are short so it is made of! Holes are some of the Cave ways to reach the Cave accessed via AZ-89A, Forest Road 525 for miles.

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