Very few know about Keyhole Cave and even fewer take it on once they hear about the unmarked trail and climb. Is it the same with Keyhole cave? Ropes can come in handy at this point, especially if you are in groups to help one another move around. This cave has a grand entrance that can be spotted miles away but is still tucked back off the beaten path so not many people visit it. 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. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from . Red Rock Pass options include: 1 Day Red Rock Pass - $5 7 Day Red Rock Pass - $15 Red Rock Annual Pass - $20 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. Hi Kara. Unless you strike it lucky with timing of a drop off, you probably won't be able to take one. Instead, go direct and keep following lightly beaten paths where possible. Coordinates: 34.88717 N, 111.79926 W. Dogs Allowed: Yes, but NOT dog-friendly. This way you can benefit from perfect hiking and light conditions. 5 of the best Sedona Caves and how to find them, Hiking for Beginners 101- The Best Guide for New Hikers, Visit these 4 Sedona Wineries all in one day, Keyhole Cave in Sedona and EXACTLY how to get there. 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. Follow small white painted lines on rocks for directions. Move around Keyhole Cave to the far right side. You may have to sidestep or go back on yourself but that is fine, just find another path heading north. Getting down is harder than getting up and is a little unnerving even for the best of us. Use Jim Thompson and hike Cibola Trail or park at Posse Grounds Park & Ride for the Sedona shuttle. This angle looking straight ahead is exactly where you started the hike to Keyhole Cave. We are kicking things off with the popular instagrammers favorite Sedona Subway Cave! Keyhole Cave is stunning, but its one of many others which I will one day do a post on, but in the meantime, heres a few other hikes, including cave hikes you can try: I have more posts on Sedona which you can find by simply using the search on my site, but just know that if youre not feeling the hike to Keyhole Cave after what you saw here, dont do it as there are so many other cool and safer hikes to try out in Sedona. That means you get to enjoy it even more once you are standing inside the UFO shaped upper cave chamber. Have a great time! America the Beautiful national parks pass, best things to do on and off the Las Vegas strip, best things to do in Valley of Fire State Park. You can of course split it up and take one of the many small trails back from the cave if you want more of an adventure and to not use the same wash trail you use to get there. Check out 5 of the best Sedona Caves and how to find them for more! Park at Long Canyon Trailhead among the trees or on the roadside. I hope you find the cave and enjoy your adventure. Also, be on the lookout for rattlesnakes! Are you planning to hike more trails in the area? If youre looking for an escape from the crowds at Cathedral Rock Trail and Devils Bridge Trail, head out responsibly into the Sedona wilderness and climb into Keyhole Cave. Pyramid and Scorpion Trails are located to the southwest of downtown Sedona. On this path, you will notice many smaller washes branching off the main one. Half of the fun is finding the caves in the first place, the rest of the fun is figuring out how to climb into and photograph each of the Sedona caves. Some visitors graffitied the cave walls- please do not draw or carve into the walls and leave them as is! Always consider backup parking areas before setting off for a trail. 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. Read our complete guide to hiking Long Canyon Trail into Birthing Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. Try to go earlier in the day or later in the afternoon. Your pictures are great. As you approach the trail intersection of Teacup and Thunder Mountain you will see a wooden sign showing Teacup right and Thunder Mountain left. Theres nothing quite like climbing into a cave glowing a deep orange as sunlight creeps in through rugged cracks and openings! 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. Ive heard some people mention that the Keyhole Cave may actually have a vortex and Im inclined to believe that after seeing what happened to my GPS. Some branches hang low over the trail and you may need to use two hands to step over some large rock areas, but overall the wash is extremely easy to follow and traverse. Solider Pass Cave Soldier Pass Trail. The turnoff is about 2 miles into the trail. Get inspiration for travel, recipes & to follow your dreams. from. Aim to be inside Soldier Pass Cave between 1pm and 5pm for the best light. Park at Sugar Loaf / Teacup Trailhead and walk up Teacup Trail for 0.3 miles until it joins with Thunder Mountain Trail. Most moderately experienced hikers should be fine, but we would not recommend beginner hikers attempt the hike to Subway Cave. Arriving early to trailheads is essential for the best chance of getting parked. Spring and Fall represent the two best seasons for visiting Sedona in general when hiking conditions are most comfortable. It truly is a off-beaten gem and perfect for silhouette photos. You can climb up a left or right approach. Going next weekend, being that it is the weekend after thanksgiving Im worried about how busy it will be in parking areas. Visit Sedona outside of peak season to give yourself higher odds of getting parked up any time of day. 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. Andante Trailhead is your best backup option. 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. Are you a regular visitor to US National Parks and Monuments? Be advised, if not using the authors GPX files, the final leg may not be very clear. Uber has service in Flagstaff but not in Sedona. Winter and Summer offer quieter periods in Sedona. Remember and follow the 7 principles of leave no trace when hiking to caves in Sedona: From our own experience in Sedona, we found people were not always disposing of waste correctly, but perhaps more surprisingly we noticed people were not planning ahead before hiking. It is pretty common to lose your footing which will make you land on thorny cacti and rocks. Kachina Cave is a tall teardrop shaped cave located atop a steep and unmarked spur trail around one third of the way up the Boynton Canyon hike in Sedona. But that said, you can also take the trail in the north which goes to the cave. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans, Cave Hikes Requiring A Parking Pass In Sedona, 4. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Were going to explain everything you need to know about each of the 7 most popular Sedona caves so you can hike to each stunning cavern during your visit to northern Arizona. The trailhead is in an old Sedona neighborhood, and the cave faces the town and Airport Mesa. Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk for around 1.3 miles until you reach a left turn onto a spur trail. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. The trail is entirely in the wilderness with no shelter, so it is not recommended to do this in the summer. Instead of buying a Red Rock Pass you can simply display your America the Beautiful Pass at all trailheads when hiking to Sedona caves. But do not count on others being able to help you climb into Keyhole Cave. There are two sides to entering the cave, and both need climbing, most people take the right side as it is easier as there is space and many rocks to hold on to, which you need as the ground is slippery with loose rocks and sand. From the 2WD parking area you have a 3 mile roundtrip hike with 450 ft elevation gain, but from the 4WD parking area the hike is just 1 mile round trip with 200 ft elevation. Fortunately, a shuttle bus system has been implemented in Sedona which helps hikers get to the most popular trailheads year round. Going direct is the more exciting way to reach Keyhole Cave. Las Vegas Heading to Vegas on your Southwest adventure? It is important to know the Sedona trails you are hiking so you can safely navigate to caves. Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk 2 miles until you reach a big, burnt, black and gray tree trunk. If you are looking for an easy hike, the Doe Mountain trail in Sedona is one of the best, If you are looking for the best Sedona Hot Springs, in this guide, we cover the best hot springs, The best breweries in Sedona should be on your itinerary whether you are a lover of beer or you, Enjoying the stunning Tucson sunset is the perfect way to end your day while exploring this beautiful city. Is the trailhead located close to Soldiers Pass? Below is a screenshot of my track from Keyhole Cave! Most visitors are hiking on the more popular trails to the north and southeast of town. You can go up the middle of the Right side but also can go up against the right wall where there are a few more hand and foot holds, albeit tricky in its own right. Here are the 40 best things to do on and off the Las Vegas strip and the 15 best things to do in Valley of Fire State Park nearby. Dont try to cross this ledge in icy or overly wet conditions. Your email address will not be published. We personally located and explored all but one of the 7 caves in Sedona during our first visit to the awesome adventure town in Arizona, and we have to say exploring caves is definitely among the best things to do in Sedona. Each cave can be accessed by visitors to Sedona via hiking trails varying in length between 0.5 5 miles roundtrip. You can of course split it up and take one of the many small trails back from the cave if you want more of an adventure and to not use the same wash trail you use to get there. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking the Subway Cave In Sedona. They were very much easy to understand and we were able to Hike up all the way to the Cave. Overall, Birthing Cave is suitable for all hikers with a good level of fitness. You must take the right turn at the split and climb a fairly steep gradient to gain access to Solider Pass Cave in Sedona. 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. At the base of Keyhole Cave youll find that you need to climb a high, slick wall to get into it. The hike to Keyhole Cave is not physically tough, but you will need good navigation and pathfinding skills. Exclusively hiking the wash to Keyhole Cave will add on quite a lot of distance because it meanders like a zig-zag approach. While not crazy steep it just is very slippery with a smooth face that does not have a ton of good foot or hand holds to use. You will make it without issue as long as you keep heading north and keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of the cave opening. Certain trailheads and parking lots in Sedona require you to display either a Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful Interagency Pass on your vehicle dashboard. Avoid going too early in the morning or early evening as the light will be away and the hike may be extra dangerous with little sunlight. Back to the easy to find wash route, as you follow the wash there are some smaller washes that break off from the main wash but just stick to the larger wash along the way. Distance: 4 miles RT Peak Elevation: 4,600 ft. Elevation Gain: 420 ft. How to get around Sedona is small but youll need a car to access the best hikes to the north and south of town. The short and easy hike leading to Raven Caves takes no longer than 10 minutes each way so this area can be explored at any time of day as an addition to other nearby activities. They like to sit on the rocks to soak up some sun. If you enter it into Google Maps it will take you right to it. Once inside you can feel a breeze and the cooler temperatures, a wonderful break from the desert sun. During the busiest periods in Sedona from Spring through Fall you need to be at parking lots by first light to give yourself a chance at getting a space. Late afternoon sunlight would illuminate the arch and entire rock face in which it is located on the Fay Canyon Trail. Sedona is one of the best places to visit in the US and finding caves is among the most exciting things to do for first time visitors to the area. No matter which you choose, one way to ensure you have not wandered off is to make sure you see the cave in the distance in front of you. *Please note this post may contain affiliate links. If youre fascinated by caves and the windows they create then youll love Keyhole Cave. Are you a regular visitor to US National Parks and Monuments? Now the real fun begins! From there is where it gets harder. You are actually starting this hike on Teacup Trail despite the parking area being called Sugar Loaf. Las Vegas Heading to Vegas on your Southwest adventure? The wash is extremely rocky so be careful of your footing the entire way while looking out for snakes. per adult (price varies by group size) Sedona Outback Trail Jeep Adventure. The lightly beaten paths can be hard to follow and often run out or are blocked by thick vegetation. A 4WD trailhead is located an additional 1 mile up Forest Road 9530 which saves 2 miles of hiking total. Hideout Cave Hike Robbers Roost Trail to Hideout Cave in the far northwest of Sedona for the quietest and most secluded cave in town. The best time of day to hike Keyhole Cave is mid afternoon. Be very careful as your coming back down! The cave is unique for having a single lone tree with green leaves standing beyond the chamber in an exposed area. Hola! Wander In Arizona participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This lot is also known as Teacup Trailhead and is located in a residential area on Buena Vista Drive in north Sedona. 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. It is straight back and looks like a giant gaping hole in the mountainside. Keyhole Cave Sedona How To Hike To This Adventurous Cave, BEST TIME TO HIKE THE KEYHOLE CAVE SEDONA, THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE HIKING THE KEYHOLE CAVE SEDONA, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE KEYHOLE CAVE IN SEDONA, A Complete Guide To Hiking The Birthing Cave In Sedona, A Complete Guide To Hiking the Subway Cave In Sedona, A Complete Guide To Hiking The Seven Sacred Pools In Sedona, 15 Best Payson Hiking Trails For Waterfalls, Camping And More, How To Easily Hike The Seven Sacred Pools Sedona, 11 Sedona Swimming Holes To Cool Off Amidst Pretty Scapes, Hiking The Doe Mountain Trail In Sedona A total Guide, 5 Breweries In Sedona You Must Visit on your trip, 14 Tucson Sunset Spots To Admire The Stunning Views, 21 Best Swimming Holes In Arizona To Cool Off On Your Trips. In this guide we will show you: Where to park for Keyhole Cave Which pass you need to display Come 5:23 Hidden Hiking Gem In Sedona Arizona: Keyhole Cave Via Sugarloaf. From there it is pretty simple with just three turns along the way! Please use this link that takes you to Google Maps and download it for offline use. Please take great care not to disturb rock formations or wildlife in any area you hike. But back to finding the keyhole cave! Decide which way to go down and take care with your footing when youre ready to leave Keyhole Cave. There are very few other top attractions nearby, which helps keep these two trails quiet. The hike up Teacup is flat and easy. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans. 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. Along the way you can even see the gaping window in the distance as you head towards it. You will be off trail and will often see and stumble onto places that zigzag which look like trails and you need to be very careful and not wander off while navigating in the necessary direction to reach the cave (heading north basically from the parking lot). This small hole is accessible and it is from this point you will get the best view looking out of the flame shaped cave entrance. Do not graffiti or move the rocks around and respect the land. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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, but it is also a wonderful place to get off-road in a jeep, shoot stunning photography, visit historic sites and drink wine. There may be hikers already in the cave who have rope. As always, please be considerate of the environment so we can keep enjoying it and rememberto leave no trace. You could even use our images during your hike to keep track of where you are along the adventure to Keyhole Cave. The cave is accessed via significant off-trail hiking, which means forging a path through rugged desert wilderness. We highly recommend adding this fun off-trail hike to your Sedona itinerary. As Sedona grows in popularity, more and more hikers are visiting each year and there are nowhere near enough places to park at trailheads. Not only will you have to forge your own path through wilderness, but you must also climb into Keyhole Cave using hands, feet and core strength. 29. Alternatively, try parking at around 2pm so you miss the busiest period. We visited Sedona in December and it was surprisingly busy in town. If you're planning to hike the Devil's Bridge Trail, book a room at Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa, just outside downtown . From the start of the Teacup trail you will hike just under .5 miles where there is a fork in the road. This trail is very exposed and the climb up to it gets steep- I would not want to do this one in the summer! Keyhole Cave is the best cave for adventure seekers to visit in Sedona. But if you are a seasoned hiker looking for an adventure, you will be rewarded with fascinating views from the Keyhole Cave in Sedona. The final 10% was not clear as there are at least 3 inlets near the top and in sight of the cave. For those who have appreciated Munds Wagon Trail and Cow Pies, this trail takes it to the next level. 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To Solider Pass Cave in the day or later in the mountainside the hike keep! Cave faces the town and Airport Mesa washes branching off the main one you the experience. Without issue as Long as you head towards it heading north and keep following lightly paths. North and keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of the Teacup trail for 0.3 until... Disturb rock formations or wildlife in any area you hike thorny cacti rocks! Despite the parking area being called Sugar Loaf / Teacup Trailhead and walk for 1.3! Back on yourself but that said, you probably wo n't be able to hike Keyhole Cave and!