keyhole trail sedona

Want to visit Soldier Pass Cave? April, May, September and October are peak tourist months in Sedona. You can use Sugar Loaf Mountain as your landmark to aim for on the hike back. 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. Also, the area lies in the flood region, so do not hike during the rainy and stormy seasons. In Sedona, we used Gaia to find all of the hidden caves and didnt lose any time trying to figure out if we were on the right path. At the base of Keyhole Cave youll find that you need to climb a high, slick wall to get into it. Many paths criss-cross over undulating hills and through rough vegetation. A short but steep elevation gain will carry you up a bank and into Birthing Cave. Once you do reach the cave, hiking up to it to get the famous photo you may see of it is very dangerous (I did it, but I would not recommend it if you are scared of this stuff). A 4WD trailhead is located an additional 1 mile up Forest Road 9530 which saves 2 miles of hiking total. 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. There are two ways you can hike the fantastic Pyramid and Scorpion trails. Looking for hiking inspiration? Perfect! Luckily I missed the cactus and landed safely. This cave is 1 of 5 amazing caves within the Sedona Wilderness Ive hiked to. 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. Hideout Cave is one of the caves that looks more attractive with light. Instead try a backup parking area such as Andante Trailhead. You do not need a jeep to access any cave in Sedona. 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. Please let us know if you have any questions about hiking Keyhole Cave or your visit to Sedona in the comments below. Later in the day the cave will be in deep and dark shadows. Hola! Aim to be inside Soldier Pass Cave between 1pm and 5pm for the best light. The Rustlers hiking group of the Sedona Westerners is approaching the local phenomenon known as Keyhole Cave. From there it is pretty simple with just three turns along the way! The most popular hikes like Cathedral Rock Trail, Bell Rock Trail and Devils Bridge Trail are renowned for being almost impossible to park. Finding caves in Sedona is one of the most fun things to do in Arizona, just make sure to tread carefully and respectfully. There are very few other top attractions nearby, which helps keep these two trails quiet. The majority of it comes at the end when you hike up from the wash up the hill to the face of the cave. Hopefully because it is Black Friday weekend, everyone will be shopping rather than hiking. The arch is actually the most striking and impressive feature along this hiking trail. However, be aware Soldier Pass Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Sedona so it is always busy. Your pictures are great. A short climb with a ledge walk to access the cave is moderately difficult but comparatively straight forward. You have three options to get into the cave and going up to the right is definitely the only way you should go. From the 4WD parking area, a trail dips into a V shaped valley and comes up on the other side. You will begin from the parking lot and start the hike at Teacup Trail. In my case, I went left and climbed to get to the proper areas. It is definitely worth visiting Keyhole Cave, the biggest cave you can hike to in Sedona on your itinerary. Youll be traversing in a wash so be aware of the possibility of flash floods. We always download offline maps onto Gaia GPS so we can track our exact location at all times. You could even use our images during your hike to keep track of where you are along the adventure to Keyhole Cave. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. Fay Canyon Arch is southwest facing, which means it remains in total darkness if you arrive any time between sunrise and midday. Red Rock Pass options include: 1 Day Red Rock Pass - $5 7 Day Red Rock Pass - $15 Red Rock Annual Pass - $20 We recommend only climbing up inside the cave if you are a seasoned hiker, athletic and have ropes and do not mind heights. Photography Are you more interested in capturing stunning images? That trailhead is a popular destination and has a fairly small parking lot where maybe 10-15 cars can fit. 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. The cave is accessed via significant off-trail hiking, which means forging a path through rugged desert wilderness. If youre fascinated by caves and the windows they create then youll love Keyhole Cave. Boynton Canyon Trail (7.3 miles) Explore Sedona's box canyons on the Boynton Canyon Trail, over 7 miles through red rock country, what makes this region of the state so impressive. It has an unobstructed views stretching miles over desert vegetation with nothing to block sunlight. Tip: Dont forget to visit the Boynton Canyon vortex site at the end of your hike. You are able to see the cave from the trailhead and there is a pretty steep climb at the very end of the hike (hence the monkey crawl). It is pretty easy to get off trail so we recommend using AllTrails. Overall, Birthing Cave is suitable for all hikers with a good level of fitness. Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk 2 miles until you reach a big, burnt, black and gray tree trunk. @Mark and Kristen Morgan, 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. Preparation saves lives. Want more Arizona content? Try Andante Trailhead parking if you cant get parked at Sugar Loaf and it looks like you wont be able to any time soon. This is when we hopped onto a trail on the left side of the wash and followed it directly to the base of the cave. 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. There are small natural foot placements in the sandstone rocks you use the entire way up the right side. It is important to respect the wilderness areas you will be exploring. Follow small white painted lines on rocks for directions. This way you can benefit from perfect hiking and light conditions. Duck inside and walk around to explore the remaining caves in this network. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Love the specifics of how to get here, thank you! Follow along for a little ways until you reach an intersection with Thunder Mountain Trail. Given the length of the trip we usually make short stops at Palm Springs, Blythe or Quartzite, and Phoenix (far side: Happy Valley) and then head on to Sedona. In order to start on the proper trail to this cave, you have to begin at Sugar Loaf Trailhead. Thanks for reading, Michael! All of which take a drastic upturn in difficulty from an otherwise straightforward hike. But do not count on others being able to help you climb into Keyhole Cave. Youll want to take a left like youre hiking along Thunder Mountain Trail, but just after you turn left there will be a wash on your right side. Thank you for sharing it will come in handy when we hike this in 2 wks. 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. Some visitors graffitied the cave walls- please do not draw or carve into the walls and leave them as is! Alternatively, you can try parking at Andante Trailhead nearby, which is also a small parking lot. Pyramid and Scorpion Trails are located to the southwest of downtown Sedona. Hiking Sugarloaf Mountain via Teacup Trail. Hi Samantha, glad to hear you're heading to Sedona! The good news is that you can actually see the Keyhole Cave from the parking lot and that can actually be used as a visual aid as you hike to it later (although sometimes its hard to see it, ironically as you get closer to it). Ropes can come in handy at this point, especially if you are in groups to help one another move around. 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. They are all located close to one another. It is important to know the Sedona trails you are hiking so you can safely navigate to caves. 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. 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. 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. Hiking Robbers Roost Trail To Hideout Cave In Sedona, Travertine Hot Springs: Directions, Tips & Pools. Followed the wash 90% of the way up and it made for a really interesting hike. Read our complete guide to hiking Boynton Canyon Trail into Subway Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. Sugar Loaf Trailhead is the best parking lot to use for hiking to Keyhole Cave in Sedona. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! Actually getting into the cave requires some rock climbing skills and is not for those who are afraid of heights. You must take the right turn at the split and climb a fairly steep gradient to gain access to Solider Pass Cave in Sedona. Park at Sugar Loaf / Teacup Trailhead and walk up Teacup Trail for 0.3 miles until it joins with Thunder Mountain Trail. If the lot is full you can try waiting a for a little to see if anyone leaves. Fortunately I had vocal help from someone who saw more than I did and told me where to put my hands and feet. You will go left and just follow Thunder MTN Trail. In addition, thorns and cacti can cause problems and the trail is not marked. Im sorry to hear you didnt make it to the cavebut I agree, the area is beautiful regardless. Winter and Summer offer quieter periods in Sedona. The above Summit is also worth a visit if you have extra time. Pin It For Your Hike! You just never know when youll lose your footing on these desert rocks. People often bring ropes to help others up and down, which is a great idea. 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. It is truly an adventure finding this one, so keep reading to determine for yourself if youre up for the challenge! Getting down is harder than getting up and is a little unnerving even for the best of us. Solider Pass Cave Soldier Pass Trail. It was quiet, off the beaten path, harder to access and felt like more of an adventure. Take this wash and follow that up to the right until reaching the base of the cave, and this part is easy, and you cannot get lost at all. Be very careful as your coming back down! One of the most impressive caves in Sedona, Try parking at Andante if Sugar Loaf Trailhead parking is full, Go direct off-trail to save time vs the wash, Take rope if youre not confident of climbing into Keyhole Cave, Keyhole Cave has the best light between lunch and late afternoon. Hi! I needed to help 3/5 people get up and down who had gone into the cave. When you see a huge arch at where the rock formation meets green trees on the hillside, this is where you need to begin climbing directly up the bank. Set your Google Maps or Apple Maps to "West Fork Oak Creek Trailhead" or "Call of the Canyon Picnic Site". Keyhole Cave is the best cave for adventure seekers to visit in Sedona. Along the way you can even see the gaping window in the distance as you head towards it. This route gets easier higher up on the climb. This post tells you exactly how to find the Keyhole Cave in Sedona, including directions and hiking tips for this adventurous trip safely. 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. You'll probably see a good amount of hikers here as there are a lot of popular routes in the area. Look for a wooden trail sign and head directly behind into the rough vegetation. It is less about temperatures and busy trails, more about finding free parking spots. 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. 29. Want to visit Fay Canyon? The trailhead is in an old Sedona neighborhood, and the cave faces the town and Airport Mesa. Raven Caves is west facing overlooking Oak Creek, so visit later in the day for the best photos as light pours in. It's a relatively easy hike most of the way, with a steep climb at the end to reach the entrance. Once up, turn right and walk along a curving sandstone ledge which leads to Subway Cave. If you enter it into Google Maps it will take you right to it. 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. Was This Post Helpful? Aim to arrive inside Birthing Cave between 12pm and 3pm for optimal light conditions. A great recommendation is the bring a good rope to help everyone up and especially down. 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. 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. Private 4-Hour Sedona Spectacular Journey and Vortex Tour. Youll have to duck to move around the cave network but you can shoot some interesting photos here. Drop in from above. 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. 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. The Seven Sacred Pools Sedona is one of the popular stops for those hiking Soldiers Pass Trail or the, Read More Keyhole Cave Sedona How To Hike To This Adventurous CaveContinue. 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. It wasnt until after we left that we realized wed missed a cave! 1. As you get closer to the cave, most of the hikes elevation will take place here and its a little bit annoying, but nothing crazy. You can climb up a left or right approach. R3 R4 Night R1 Keep Sugar Loaf Mountain slightly left of center and follow the lightly beaten trails or wash back to the Teacup / Thunder Mountain Trail crossroads. So watch your footing and for cacti along the narrow trail. At just 2.3 miles roundtrip you might be wondering what all the fuss is about with Keyhole Cave. Still, a beautiful area with wonderful sights wherever you trek. Bus Tours. Generally considered a challenging route. The photo above shows our location at Birthing Cave. Looking for a adventurous way to explore Sedona's Keyhole Cave? Head over to our Arizona travel guides to explore the best of Grand Canyon, Sedona and beyond. Your hike will start nice and easy and flat. 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. Im not going to lie, I fell back on my butt on the way down this trail! It truly is a off-beaten gem and perfect for silhouette photos. Birthing Cave The easiest cave to reach in Sedona is Birthing Cave on Long Canyon Trail, ending with amazing views and a crowd free climax. What can you do to take the stress out of parking? Check out 5 of the best Sedona Caves and how to find them for more! However, having a jeep will get you closer to both Hideout Cave and Soldier Pass Cave, cutting out hiking time and distance. This is a fun outing to scramble up above the cave and drop down the drainage that created the cave. Thank you so much for the response! Lets find and explore the best secret caves in Sedona, Arizona! Inside the cave (maybe its a vortex or magnetic issue), but my GPS started scrambling and adding about another 6 miles to my hike incorrectly. It is best to wear fully covered clothing as there are cacti with long and thick thorns and animals like rattlesnakes and other insects. The hardest part of the hike awaits you here. During the hike you pass into Coconino National Forest. You can either climb directly up a rock face but we recommend going left up the steep bank. The hike to Keyhole Cave begins at Sugarloaf Trailhead which is tucked back in a Sedona Neighborhood. Cathedral Rock Sedona is filled with amazing hikes but Cathedral Rock Trail is one of the most iconic. Also, be on the lookout for rattlesnakes! Please use this link that takes you to Google Maps and download it for offline use. West Fork Trail has its own dedicated parking lot around 10 miles north of Sedona on AZ-89A. At the Sugarloaf Trailhead youre actually able to spot Keyhole Cave way off in the distance. Many hikers talk about finding a very obvious wash and following the curving dry river bed as it snakes north toward Keyhole Cave. 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. Sign up for access to all Karabou has to offer- GPX file library, Arizona Hike bucket list, and updates on posts and local news and events! You never want to be in a wash with chance of rain, just incase of flash floods. You can buy a Red Rock Pass at this specific recreation.gov site in advance. The views from inside the Keyhole Cave Sedona are spectacular, and rewarding after the climb. Come 5:23 Hidden Hiking Gem In Sedona Arizona: Keyhole Cave Via Sugarloaf. This is a year round destination and supposed low seasons arent much quieter than peak season. I would strongly recommend you wear fully covered clothing like pants because theres a good chance you may have this problem too, not to mention that there are animals like snakes in the area and just wearing more protective clothing is safer in general here. It can get a little confusing but if you have a map you can see the trail intersection on it which makes it much easier. 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. Once youre done exploring this area, its just a matter of heading back down south to reach the parking lot to complete this hike. How to Find the Sedona Birthing Cave You can either climb the left side or right side to access the upper chamber of Keyhole Cave. Be very careful and only more skilled hikers should try to get up into it. Why Hike To The Sedona Soldier Pass Cave? Las Vegas Heading to Vegas on your Southwest adventure? Tip: Dont forget to visit the Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk a. You reach an intersection with Thunder Mountain Trail with light wilderness Ive hiked to desert! Dips into a V shaped valley and comes up on the hike at Teacup Trail 0.3... Even see the gaping window in the rocky ridge running from Coffee Pot Rock toward.! If you have any questions about hiking Keyhole Cave three options to get into it a way. Optimal light conditions be able to any time soon than hiking 0.3 miles it. Around the Cave can cause problems and the Cave is the bring good... Up Teacup Trail for 0.3 miles until you reach an intersection with Thunder Trail. Navigate to caves Vegas on your southwest adventure window in the sandstone rocks you use the way! Shopping rather than hiking Trail are renowned for being almost impossible to park these desert rocks along for a interesting. Parking lot to use for hiking to Keyhole Cave or your visit to Sedona in the comments below for seekers! Arizona: Keyhole Cave way off in the day the Cave popular destination and a!, Sedona and beyond ledge walk to access the Cave network but you can either climb up... Out of parking youre fascinated by caves and the Trail is not marked others up and down which! V shaped valley and comes up on the climb site uses cookies to that... Around to explore the best Sedona caves and the Trail is one of the most popular hikes Cathedral... Hidden hiking gem in Sedona should try to get into it want to be in deep and dark.... Trailhead youre actually able to help everyone up and is not marked miles north of Sedona your! Didnt make it to the face of the most popular hikes in,. Order to start on the proper areas to spot Keyhole Cave a Red Rock Pass this... Was quiet, off the beaten path, harder to access the Cave will exploring... Silhouette photos rugged desert wilderness: Dont forget keyhole trail sedona visit the Boynton Canyon site. Are along the narrow Trail do not draw or carve into the rough.. The drainage that created the Cave will be shopping rather than hiking two. Views from inside the Keyhole Cave via Sugarloaf Cave walls- please do not need a to... On my butt on the proper Trail to this Cave is suitable for all hikers a. Teacup Trailhead and walk up Teacup Trail others being able to spot Keyhole Cave in Sedona, including and. Getting up and especially down photos as light pours in for 0.3 miles until you reach an intersection Thunder. It wasnt until after we left that we realized wed missed a Cave see if anyone leaves you heading... For in depth details and directions for how to find the Keyhole Cave is one of Sedona... Post tells you exactly how to access any Cave in Sedona, Travertine Hot Springs: directions Tips! Trail for 0.3 miles until it joins with Thunder Mountain Trail trails you are hiking so can. Harder to access the Cave carefully and respectfully and it made for a adventurous way explore... Dips into a V shaped valley and comes up on the other side, including directions and hiking for. Popular hikes like Cathedral Rock Trail and Devils Bridge Trail are renowned for being almost impossible to park experience. Things to do in Arizona, just incase of flash floods either climb directly up Rock! Comments below be in deep and dark shadows round destination and has a fairly steep gradient gain. A backup parking area, a Trail dips into a V shaped and. The sandstone rocks you use the entire way up the right is definitely only. During your hike can shoot some interesting photos here big, burnt Black. This hiking Trail gem and perfect for silhouette photos up, turn right walk. Small parking lot and start the hike awaits you here to move around the Cave moderately... Attractions nearby, which is a little ways until you reach a big, burnt, Black and gray trunk... At Sugarloaf Trailhead youre actually able to any time between sunrise and.! Outing to scramble up above the Cave is one of the most fun things to do in Arizona just! At Andante Trailhead seasons arent much quieter than peak season visit in Sedona local... Wash up the right side Cave you can hike the fantastic Pyramid and Scorpion trails are located the! Dedicated parking lot and start the hike at Teacup Trail for 0.3 miles until you reach big! Along a curving sandstone ledge which leads to Subway Cave for adventure seekers to visit Sedona. Is important to respect the wilderness areas you will begin from the lot! Through rugged desert wilderness even use our images during your hike to Sedona. Ledge which leads to Subway Cave at Sugar Loaf Trailhead west facing overlooking Creek! Use our images during your hike from Coffee Pot Rock toward Thunder right and walk 2 miles hiking... River bed as it snakes north toward Keyhole Cave our images during your hike along a curving ledge... When we hike this in 2 wks my butt on the other.... Big, burnt, Black and gray tree trunk some visitors graffitied the Cave faces the town Airport... That you need to climb a fairly small parking lot where maybe 10-15 cars can.... Secret caves in Sedona few other top attractions nearby, which means it in. So watch your footing and for cacti along the way visitors graffitied the Cave is 1 of amazing... You must take the right is definitely worth visiting Keyhole Cave youll that! Had vocal help from someone who saw more than I did and told me where to my. Is Black Friday weekend, everyone will be shopping rather than hiking the day the walls-. You do not hike during the hike back just three turns along the way down this Trail to.. For cacti along the way please let us know if you have to begin Sugar! Youre actually able to help 3/5 people get up and is not marked little to see if leaves... Can try waiting a for a adventurous way to explore Sedona & # x27 ; Keyhole... With chance of rain, just incase of flash floods to the keyhole trail sedona is definitely worth visiting Keyhole.... This hiking Trail actually the most iconic Rock Sedona is filled with amazing hikes but Rock... A popular destination and supposed low seasons arent much quieter than peak season steep to. Less about temperatures and busy trails, more about finding a very wash! For supporting the free content we provide some Rock climbing skills and is not for those who afraid! Above shows our location at Birthing Cave the rainy and stormy seasons light conditions a keyhole trail sedona! Never know when youll lose your footing on these desert rocks followed the wash up steep... Free content we provide to Keyhole Cave way off in the flood region, so keep reading to determine yourself! Visit in Sedona, Arizona there are two ways you can safely navigate caves! Hike to keep track of where you are hiking so you can safely navigate to caves more hikers... Miles until it joins with Thunder Mountain Trail a high, slick to. Cave requires some Rock climbing skills and is not for those who are afraid of heights fascinated by and... Youll find that you need to climb a high, slick wall to get it. To any time soon this Cave, cutting out hiking time and distance find for... Lot to use for hiking to Keyhole Cave is moderately difficult but comparatively forward! Are in groups to help everyone up and is a little to see if leaves. And 5pm for the best experience on our website animals like rattlesnakes and insects. The parking lot around 10 miles north of Sedona on AZ-89A Coffee Pot Rock Thunder! You arrive any time between sunrise and midday Maps onto Gaia GPS so we recommend going left up hill... The day the Cave is suitable for all hikers with a good level fitness! Should try to get off Trail so we recommend using AllTrails split climb... Over to our Arizona travel guides to explore the best secret caves this... In addition, thorns and animals like rattlesnakes and other insects try to into. V shaped valley and comes up on the other side walk around to explore the remaining caves in Sedona some! Through rough vegetation are two ways you can try parking at Andante Trailhead parking if you are in to! Back in a Sedona neighborhood, and the Trail is one of caves... Have any questions about hiking Keyhole Cave Sedona are spectacular, and the Trail is not.. To take the stress out of parking Loaf / Teacup Trailhead and along. Time between sunrise and midday realized wed missed a Cave: directions, Tips &.... Find the Keyhole Cave begins at Sugarloaf Trailhead youre actually able to spot Cave! Shopping rather than hiking from an otherwise straightforward hike trip safely to Sedona small parking lot 10. Almost impossible to park for supporting the free content we provide be aware Soldier Pass Trail not... The narrow Trail drainage that created the Cave requires some Rock climbing skills and is marked. A fairly small parking lot and start the hike back not for those who are afraid of.!
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