Sedona, Arizona. Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk 2 miles until you reach a big, burnt, black and gray tree trunk. If you enter it into Google Maps it will take you right to it. Birthing Cave on the Long Canyon Trail is one of the quietest caves you can visit in Sedona. 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. I tried following these trails last year during my first attempt to find Keyhole Cave and was unsuccessful. Sugarloaf Mountain looms tall to your right side as you walk through desert vegetation and junipers. Keyhole Cave Park at Sugar Loaf / Teacup Trailhead which has 14 spaces. However, be aware Soldier Pass Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Sedona so it is always busy. At just 2.3 miles roundtrip you might be wondering what all the fuss is about with Keyhole Cave. Use the placements in the rock to help you land easily. However, to be honest you should be fine with this particular hike. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking the Subway Cave In Sedona. You'll probably see a good amount of hikers here as there are a lot of popular routes in the area. Are you planning to hike more trails in the area? You simply have to forge your own route to Keyhole Cave. You can of course follow misc small trails North going at the cave and at some point you will get to it. The tunnel shape has a 5 ft gap running exactly vertical from top to bottom as though it has been sliced in half by a wide knife blade. In fact, here is a side by side comparison of how the trail should have looked on Alltrails and what it ended up looking like on my end: I say this because not only can it also happen to you, but dont mistake those added red lines of navigation when you have to go back from the hike. The majority of it comes at the end when you hike up from the wash up the hill to the face of the cave. The elevation gain of the Sedona Keyhole Cave is 520 feet. All you have to do is sidestep or go back on yourself a few paces then try another path. The map above shows exactly what you can expect when hiking to Keyhole Cave in Sedona. As an alternate, Is it possible to Uber to and from the trailhead? You can use Sugar Loaf Mountain as your landmark to aim for on the hike back. It is made up of 5 or 6 separate tunnel like caverns overlooking Oak Creek. After you get on the Thunder Mountain Trail, you have two ways to reach the base of the Keyhole Cave in Sedona. Although you can take your dog on the hike while keeping it on a leash at all times, it is best not to hike with your pets due to the difficulty in accessing the cave, including the steep climbing and slippery floors, along with the rough vegetation on the forest floor. 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. We hiked part of the route inside the wash but most of it by going more direct to save time. During the hike you pass into Coconino National Forest. This is a year round destination and supposed low seasons arent much quieter than peak season. In order to start on the proper trail to this cave, you have to begin at Sugar Loaf Trailhead. Park at the Fay Canyon Trailhead and follow the flat trail for 0.6 miles keeping your eyes on the rock formations to your right side. It is best to get down on the right side, the same way you went up. Teacup leads to Sugar Loaf Loop but it also continues on as far as Soldier Pass Trail 1.5 miles over to the east. 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. Park At Sugar Loaf Trailhead And Display Or Buy A Pass, Hiking The Wash Vs The Direct Route To Keyhole Cave, What To Pack For Hiking Keyhole Cave Trail. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Love the specifics of how to get here, thank you! A great recommendation is the bring a good rope to help everyone up and especially down. Lets take a quick look at your parking options for each of the Sedona cave trails: Subway and Kachina Caves Boynton Canyon Parking lot. Now this is again where I have to warn you about the dangers: I do not recommend climbing in this part of the hike. Followed the wash 90% of the way up and it made for a really interesting hike. Fay Canyon Arch is a gigantic sandstone formation eroded into a towering red rock cliff in the shape of an arch. Hike through the red rocks to explore some of Sedona's more spiritual side. However, in doing so I had times when I was in deep wooded areas with trees that had a lot of thorns, cactuss that were stinging me and overall, the hiking experience for about a mile or more was not very pleasant. There is a shuttle now to Soldiers pass and we cant drive. I found sticking to the wash is the easiest and most direct way to reach the cave. There are no marked trails leading to the cave and there are several lightly beaten paths you can choose between. Grand Canyon Just 2 hours from Sedona is the incredible Grand Canyon South Rim, create your wishlist from the best hikes at Grand Canyon South Rim. Bob Bear (formerly Fossil Springs) Hike With Secret Tips. Look for tree branches on the ground. You will make it without issue as long as you keep heading north and keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of the cave opening. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from . Alternatively, if you hire a jeep or own a 4WD vehicle, you can get a permit to drive FR 9904 which leads to a parking area just 0.1 miles from the trail split leading to Soldier Pass Cave. Where Are Those Morgans LLC is a participant in the Amazon services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Or there may be rope left over from recent hikers. The elevation gain of the Sedona Keyhole Cave is 520 feet. That means you get to enjoy it even more once you are standing inside the UFO shaped upper cave chamber. Read our complete guide to hiking Teacup Trail to an unmarked trail leading into Keyhole Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. Your hike will start nice and easy and flat. Elevation Gain: 250 feet. There is a way to climb out of the upper back cave portion to stand on top of the red rock formation containing the cave. We went down the same way we went up, which is right as you approach the cave, but left if you are inside the cave looking out. It is easier to reach the base of the cave but you will have to navigate through thorns and cacti as the trail is not marked anywhere. Set your Google Maps or Apple Maps to "West Fork Oak Creek Trailhead" or "Call of the Canyon Picnic Site". A short but steep elevation gain will carry you up a bank and into Birthing Cave. Ruins If you are interested in learning about the history around northern Arizona, you should visit all of the 5 ancient ruins near Sedona. Rome2rio makes travelling from Brea to Sedona easy. The climb up is very steep and slippery. Sedona, AZ 86339 Open today: 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM Save Private 4-Hour Sedona Spectacular Journey and Vortex Tour 33 Book in advance from $288.88 per adult Check availability View full product details Z9866ZHnancyl Miami, Florida 85 28 Made it to The Subway Keyhole Secret Review of Boynton Canyon Trail Reviewed May 2, 2021 Was This Post Helpful? Read our complete guide to hiking Long Canyon Trail into Birthing Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. Heres the Sugar Loaf Trailhead parking lot Google Maps location to use for beginning your hike to Keyhole Cave. Getting to this Sedona cave isnt for beginner hikers or those afraid of the challenge to climb 10+ feet of slick rock. Hideout Cave has a striking view over desert vegetation and red rocks, plus is it so far out of the typical touristy area of Sedona that you are almost guaranteed to have this cave to yourself. Dont try to cross this ledge in icy or overly wet conditions. It is located along the popular Boynton Canyon Trail but 99% of hikers on this path are headed to Subway Cave and probably dont even know Kachina Cave exists. 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. Entering Keyhole Cave isnt easy. How to get around Sedona is small but youll need a car to access the best hikes to the north and south of town. Devil's Bridge Trail Stats. It is straight back and looks like a giant gaping hole in the mountainside. See options All photos (629) Top ways to experience Boynton Canyon Trail Recommended One of the most dynamic trails to be added to the Sedona Hiking Trail System in years. Please let us know if you have any questions about hiking Keyhole Cave or your visit to Sedona in the comments below. When researching which caves to explore in Sedona, we never saw any mention of Kachina Cave. Hola! Want to visit Fay Canyon? Hiking to it is tough (its easy to get lost or stumble into thorns and cactuss which is what happened to me). The lightly beaten paths can be hard to follow and often run out or are blocked by thick vegetation. Walk 0.2 miles to Devils Kitchen sinkhole, followed by a further 1 mile hike to reach Seven Sacred Pools. 2-star hotels from $105, 3 stars from $170 and 4 stars+ from $237. Heading north, you must make your own way to Keyhole Cave. Which cave or caves should you visit if you only have a one day Sedona itinerary? Winter is a fantastic time to avoid both.Where to stay in Accommodation is expensive in Sedona, but there are plenty of very high quality places to stay including Matterhorn Inn, Lantern Light Inn, Arabella Hotel, Whispering Creek B&B and The Suites at Sedona.Popular things to do Sedona is one of the best places to hike in the US. Please take great care not to disturb rock formations or wildlife in any area you hike. Many paths criss-cross over undulating hills and through rough vegetation. Note that Ravens Caves is the only cave to the south of Sedona and Hideout Cave is a long way out to the northwest of Sedona. The views from the grand entrance of the caves are surreal and much better than the pictures you see. And on the pros and cons end of this hike: The first thing you need to do is find an official trailhead parking area but the thing I learned about this hike is that if you use Google maps to reach it (there is an official Keyhole Cave location), itll take you to the wrong location. Cross a narrow ledge carefully on slick rock. Ropes can come in handy at this point, especially if you are in groups to help one another move around. Report inappropriate content. The elevation also catches up as you get closer to the cave, gaining about 500 feet in the last 20 minutes of the hike, making it more challenging with each step. Sedona's Keyhole Cave is located right in the heart of Sedona. Note that since it is a residential neighbourhood, you cannot park on the road. If parking is full at Sugarloaf / Teacup trailhead, try parking at Andante trailhead instead or worst case Thunder Mountain trailhead. You can actually see Keyhole Cave as a tiny rounded hole carved into a distant red rock mountain from the parking lot and Teacup Trail sign marker (pictured above). The most popular hikes like Cathedral Rock Trail, Bell Rock Trail and Devils Bridge Trail are renowned for being almost impossible to park. Now you have to get up there. A 2WD trailhead can be accessed via AZ-89A, Forest Road 525 for 3 miles and Forest Road 525C for 10 miles. Robbers Roost Trail is located 21 miles northwest of downtown Sedona on Forest Road 525C. In my case, I went left and climbed to get to the proper areas. Eventually you will find that the wash narrows a bit and becomes filled with fallen trees and rocks to climb over. Look for a wooden trail sign and head directly behind into the rough vegetation. While this part is doable for most everyone, the real issue comes when you reach the cave and attempt to climb up into it. Read our complete guide to hiking Soldier Pass Trail into Soldier Pass Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. Once you get up onto that lower ledge the hard part is over. Once youre parked at Sugar Loaf Trailhead, dont forget to display your America the Beautiful pass or Red Rock Pass. There are very few other top attractions nearby, which helps keep these two trails quiet. Subway Cave is one of the most photogenic caves you can access in the Sedona area, which explains its popularity on social media and with photographers. Part of the allure of Keyhole Cave for me was finding it myself. Your email address will not be published. Were not climbers and we dont have any experience with ropes but we made it up the right side easily enough. If youre fascinated by caves and the windows they create then youll love Keyhole Cave. Red Rock Pass options include: 1 Day Red Rock Pass - $5 7 Day Red Rock Pass - $15 Red Rock Annual Pass - $20 Once you are at the entrance, you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is and mystic. Id love to hear your thoughts on the Keyhole Cave if you do it. Want more Arizona content? Hike To The Birthing Cave In Sedona Birthing Cave Hike Details. You will go left and just follow Thunder MTN Trail. What Trailhead Do You Use to Access The Sedona Keyhole Cave But from here, the challenge begins as the wash is very rocky; plus, look out for rattlesnakes along the way. Consider taking the Sedona shuttle. For me, I started on a more official trail and then the map on Alltrails took me off it, and I began taking what looked like other mini trails in combination to reach the cave. We now help over 2 million people each year to travel, hike and photograph their bucket list destinations. Read our guide on why America the Beautiful national parks pass is one of the best things you can buy if you plan to visit multiple parks in the next year. Looking for hiking inspiration? Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! Going direct to Keyhole Cave means you have to contend with short but steep hills covered in cacti and other harsh vegetation with sharp dagger-like needles that can seriously tear up your feet, ankles and legs. Generally considered an easy route. They were very much easy to understand and we were able to Hike up all the way to the Cave. Our advice for Sedona is not to worry about temperatures or busy trails, but focus on finding free parking spots. Decide which way to go down and take care with your footing when youre ready to leave Keyhole Cave. You will pass by Seven Sacred Pools and Devils Kitchen sinkhole on the way to Soldier Pass Cave, which makes the overall experience much more complete. Head over to our Arizona travel guides to explore the best of Grand Canyon, Sedona and beyond. Its still a good idea to try getting parked early in the morning so you beat the mid morning rush. Sedona swimming holes are some of the best places to cool off in the city when the temperatures soar. You will want to come down via that wall side though as there is no way to really come down the middle with the lack of holds and how slippery it is. Three awesome reasons a hike to Keyhole Cave should be an essential part of every adventurous wishlist of best hikes in Sedona. Alternatively, you can try parking at Andante Trailhead nearby, which is also a small parking lot. We wouldnt recommend taking dogs to any of the caves as they are unsafe and often require climbing. After you turn left to take the Thunder Mountain trail, there will be a wash on your right side. Youll need to watch your footing on the scree and for cacti along the narrow trail. Drop in from above. Due to the more complex network like structure of these caves, you can easily manipulate light to create unique images. However, the wash is flatter, more consistent and you wont have to go back on yourself at any point. 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. We found the right side of the cave was easier to climb for it had foot holds and plenty of jagged rocks to hold on to. Hi Samantha, glad to hear you're heading to Sedona! Take rope if one person in your group is a stronger hiker and have them help the others with rope support. April, May, September and October are peak tourist months in Sedona. If full, park at Andante Trailhead and walk Andante Trail to Thunder Mountain Trail and the joining point with Teacup. You can click or touch the map to activate, then move around the map to locate each cave. Lets hike to the secret Keyhole Cave in Sedona Arizona! Right at the very back of Birthing Cave is a sphere shaped like half a tennis ball which has eroded out of a smooth curving surface. Other (safer) hikes to explore in Sedona: 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. Keyhole Cave Sedona FAQs Where Is Keyhole Cave Sedona? Instead, go direct and keep following lightly beaten paths where possible. PARKING PASS: Required for parking at the trailhead. Print/PDF map. It isnt that far until youll reach a sign marking the intersection. The pass can be purchased at the machine at the trailhead (credit card only). Instead of buying a Red Rock Pass for your visit to Sedona you can simply display your America the Beautiful Pass at every hiking trailhead. Your Travel Guide To The Grand Canyon State. It wasnt until after we left that we realized wed missed a cave! For those who have appreciated Munds Wagon Trail and Cow Pies, this trail takes it to the next level. It is definitely worth visiting Keyhole Cave, the biggest cave you can hike to in Sedona on your itinerary. Keyhole Cave was one of our favorite caves in Sedona. The hike itself is easy to moderate but getting up into the cave can be quite sketchy. However, you should take rope along if you have any doubts about being able to pull yourself up a steep rock face using small foot placements. Uber has service in Flagstaff but not in Sedona. If you want to get to the hard to reach places, you should hire a jeep.When to visit Spring and Fall are the best seasons to visit Sedona, but they come with a higher price tag and more crowds. Never the less, with these warnings aside, Ill be sharing the details about this hike and what to expect, so you can decide if you are up for it too. I always recommend tracking yourself or following an already made track so you can check in and be sure youre on the right path. Most moderately experienced hikers should be fine, but we would not recommend beginner hikers attempt the hike to Subway Cave. Always recommend tracking yourself or following an already made track so you can easily manipulate light to unique! With Teacup the machine at the machine at the machine at the end when you hike your landmark aim! Which way to Keyhole Cave is located right in the shape of an Arch 14 spaces please great. 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