From there you will walk through a wash and climb a steep unmarked bank trail to reach the cave area. Kachina Cave is the best kept secret of all so called hidden caves in Sedona. This route gets easier higher up on the climb. If you're planning to hike the Devil's Bridge Trail, book a room at Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa, just outside downtown . Hiking Robbers Roost Trail To Hideout Cave In Sedona, Travertine Hot Springs: Directions, Tips & Pools. Mark had to stop at one point to remove around 30-40 razor thin prickles that had penetrated a through pants and a hiking boot. An obvious trail leads to the right, but you want to split left here and take the spur trail for 0.3 miles leading to Birthing Cave. Keyhole Cave Teacup Trail / Unmarked Trail, Hiking Apps You Can Use To Find Caves In Sedona, What To Pack For Hiking To Caves In Sedona. For the best light conditions, plan to be here in the late morning or noon to get splendid pictures. But with just one day in Sedona, we would suggest doing Subway Cave, Kachina Cave and Birthing Cave as a 3 cave hiking tour in that exact order. 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. Drive round to Long Canyon Trailhead and hike the much quieter, If you have more time, take a shuttle and hike to, Look for backup parking options for each cave hike in case the main lot is full, Try to group and organize the caves together logically for efficiency, Take your best pair of shoes with grips and traction to get inside caves, Consider the time of day each cave is best for light and photography. The Rustlers hiking group of the Sedona Westerners is approaching the local phenomenon known as Keyhole Cave. 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. Exclusively hiking the wash to Keyhole Cave will add on quite a lot of distance because it meanders like a zig-zag approach. 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. In Sedona, there are at least 7 caves you can hike to and explore. This will definitely help you know you are going the right way especially if you get off track. How to get around Sedona is small but youll need a car to access the best hikes to the north and south of town. 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. The wash is extremely rocky so be careful of your footing the entire way while looking out for snakes. Did you know you can actually make it an all-time epic cave hike day by combining this with Soldiers Pass to see that stunning cave. 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. Want more Arizona content? Youll have to duck to move around the cave network but you can shoot some interesting photos here. 5. From the 4WD parking area, a trail dips into a V shaped valley and comes up on the other side. We personally think the cave feels more beautiful when the sun doesnt fill any of Birthing Cave with light so there are no heavy contrasts. If you want to explore some of the Caves in Sedona, you may know about Keyhole Cave Sedona as being one of the most challenging ones to hike. The most popular hikes like Cathedral Rock Trail, Bell Rock Trail and Devils Bridge Trail are renowned for being almost impossible to park. Some visitors graffitied the cave walls- please do not draw or carve into the walls and leave them as is! Lets find and explore the best secret caves in Sedona, Arizona! I did it because I just enjoy challenging myself but in all honesty, its not a smart move and most people who I read reviews from on Alltrails for this hike say pretty much the same thing. All the stops we make are close to the Interstate. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! Read more in our disclosure policy.*. 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. Thanks Great Directions. Long Canyon has no facilities. Supposedly the shuttle only runs Thursday through Sunday but we met people in Sedona who claimed to have taken the shuttle on a Tuesday so look out for the bus running if you visit Mon Weds. To make your way, you will have to use your hands, feet and core to pull yourself up. Head over to our Arizona travel guides to explore the best of Grand Canyon, Sedona and beyond. Once you get up onto that lower ledge the hard part is over. 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. It is not big, with only a dozen spaces available and usually fills up most of the peak hours and days as most people hiking the Sugarloaf mountain also park here. Youll need to watch your footing on the scree and for cacti along the narrow trail. There are only 4 parking spaces and it doesnt even look legit, but it is, and the caves are actually well worth visiting. Social media channels such as Instagram and TikTok have increased awareness of the now not so hidden Subway Cave over recent years. 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. @Mark and Kristen Morgan, All you have to do is sidestep or go back on yourself a few paces then try another path. Lets take a quick look at a general packing list for exploring Sedona caves: Here are our top 5 tips for hiking to the Sedona caves: How to get around Sedona is small but youll need a car to access the best hikes to the north and south of town. Hiking Soldier Pass Trail To Soldier Pass Cave In Sedona, Hiking Robbers Roost Trail To Hideout Cave In Sedona. Hideout Cave is one of the caves that looks more attractive with light. Teacup leads to Sugar Loaf Loop but it also continues on as far as Soldier Pass Trail 1.5 miles over to the east. The hike itself is easy to moderate but getting up into the cave can be quite sketchy. 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. If you're going on a road trip from Los Angeles to Sedona, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Anaheim, Phoenix, Greater Palm Springs, Palm Springs, Scottsdale, Temecula, Laguna Beach, Prescott, Joshua Tree National Park, and Cottonwood and top places to visit like Wilson Creek Winery and Big Bear . Want to visit Keyhole Cave? Want to visit Soldier Pass Cave? Winter and Summer offer quieter periods in Sedona. Ruins If you are interested in learning about the history around northern Arizona, you should visit all of the 5 ancient ruins near Sedona. The hardest part of the hike awaits you here. Want to visit Birthing Cave? How do I get to Keyhole? After the climb, you will land on a ledge, from where you will be in the cave. You will only walk on this trail for a handful of steps before you come to a wash and you will follow that up to the right. Yes Keyhole Cave is a dog friendly hike in Sedona. What Trailhead Do You Use to Access The Sedona Keyhole Cave Along the way you can even see the gaping window in the distance as you head towards it. You can use Sugar Loaf Mountain as your landmark to aim for on the hike back. The huge cave opening provides striking views over northern Sedona and the trail is very quiet in comparison to other trails in town. If roadside parking is full, park at Mescal Trailhead and walk the connecting trail to join Birthing Cave trail. The views from the grand entrance of the caves are surreal and much better than the pictures you see. It is truly an adventure finding this one, so keep reading to determine for yourself if youre up for the challenge! Keyhole Cave is the biggest and most adventurous cave you can hike to in Sedona. 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. Now the real fun begins! 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. I will check it out. 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. Read more in ourdisclosure policy.*. But please be warned, the climb into Keyhole is not easy. Why Hike To The Sedona Soldier Pass Cave? For those who have appreciated Munds Wagon Trail and Cow Pies, this trail takes it to the next level. 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. I knew what it looked like and where it was, I just didnt know how to get to it- now Im glad Ive figured it out! Keyhole Cave is southwest facing which means it will fill with light between mid to late afternoon. As Sedona grows in popularity, more and more hikers are visiting each year and there are nowhere near enough places to park at trailheads. You need to stick along the larger wash. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! It is made up of 5 or 6 separate tunnel like caverns overlooking Oak Creek. Heres a link to our interactive map featuring the locations of the 7 best caves and 1 bonus cave-like arch you can visit in Sedona, along with respective hiking trailheads. We visited Sedona in December and some of the caves were busy. 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. Buy an annual pass if you intend to revisit Sedona in the next year. If you visit Sedona in Spring or Fall when it is at peak tourist season, you simply have to be out early at trailheads or youll have problems getting parked. I found people dont stay here for very long since the trails are short so it is a fast turnaround! February 15, 2019. 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. It has just 7 parking spaces but you can use it to access Andante Trail, which leads to Thunder Mountain Trail and eventually to Teacup Trail at the exact point you will go off-trail for Keyhole Cave. As while tricky at least there are significantly better foot and hand holds to use. I hope you find the cave and enjoy your adventure. Most people are parking at Sugar Loaf Teacup Trailhead to hike the Sugar Loaf Loop Trail and climb Sugarloaf Mountain. All other caves are located in the most popular hiking areas of Sedona and remain busy year round. If full, park at Andante Trailhead and walk Andante Trail to Thunder Mountain Trail and the joining point with Teacup. 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. 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. The climb up is very steep and slippery. Lets get stuck into the Keyhole Cave hiking walkthrough! During these times getting parked at trailheads can be a real challenge. Thank you so much for the response! 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. The Sedona Keyhole Cave is stunning but also the most dangerous out of the caves in this article. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans. Read our popular guide to the 50 best hikes in the USA next! They were very much easy to understand and we were able to Hike up all the way to the Cave. As you reach closer, along the way, you can see the gaping mouth of the cave in the distance. Enjoy the views of the grand Sugarloaf mountain and the desert landscapes on the horizon. Some of the caves are better with sunlight inside and others with no sunlight inside. If you enter it into Google Maps it will take you right to it. Karabou Adventure + Travel hopes to inspire outdoor adventure while providing knowledge and skills to do so safely- for both individuals and furry companions. Note: My directions in this post may not be the best way to reach the Keyhole Cave, but are the way I found it which seems to be the most direct and less confusing. Hike To The Birthing Cave In Sedona Birthing Cave Hike Details. Soldier Pass Cave is west facing which means you can visit later in the day to see light streaming into the cave from multiple sources. Was This Post Helpful? After going up each of these a decent way (and I was nearly bitten by a snake), we ended up turning back. 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. 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. Fortunately, a shuttle bus system has been implemented in Sedona which helps hikers get to the most popular trailheads year round. Lets take a quick look at a comparison of what you can expect hiking either the wash or a direct route to reach Sedonas Keyhole Cave. 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. Hopefully because it is Black Friday weekend, everyone will be shopping rather than hiking. Want more Arizona content? 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. You will go left and just follow Thunder MTN Trail. Distance: 1.6 miles round trip (out and back) Time to Summit: 30 minutes to an hour. 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). Once you climb the steep bank, walk behind Fay Canyon Arch and use a wide angle lens to frame green trees and red rocks behind the arch. If you enter it into Google Maps it will take you right to it. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. We highly recommend adding this fun off-trail hike to your Sedona itinerary. Personally we went for the right side both up and down, but we know others have taken the left route instead. Lets take a closer look at each of the 7 caves you can explore in Sedona. Set your Google Maps or Apple Maps to "West Fork Oak Creek Trailhead" or "Call of the Canyon Picnic Site". Our advice for Sedona is not to worry about temperatures or busy trails, but focus on finding free parking spots. New to hiking? Fay Canyon Arch is a gigantic sandstone formation eroded into a towering red rock cliff in the shape of an arch. I had to help three people who were shaking and stuck or could not get down. The best time of day to hike Keyhole Cave is mid afternoon. I always recommend tracking yourself or following an already made track so you can check in and be sure youre on the right path. That is exactly what happened to us during our visit to Sedona. We're Mark and Kristen Morgan, former career scientists turned travel, hiking and photography experts after an 18 month honeymoon around the world forever changed our lives. Coming down you will want to go against that wall on the front of the entrance (down the Right side you came up). 2) The second way is using Alltrails: There is actually a trail map of Keyhole Cave available on Alltrails which is the one I used when I was heading there, although in hindsight I could have also used the visual route too. Now this is again where I have to warn you about the dangers: I do not recommend climbing in this part of the hike. Just want to Thank You for your directions. So we would recommend choosing the caves you most want to visit, consider the best lighting in the cave but also how you will get parked for the hike. It was quiet, off the beaten path, harder to access and felt like more of an adventure. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking The Birthing Cave In Sedona. Below is a screenshot of my track from Keyhole Cave! At the base of Keyhole Cave youll find that you need to climb a high, slick wall to get into it. Instead try a backup parking area such as Andante Trailhead. The cave is accessed via significant off-trail hiking, which means forging a path through rugged desert wilderness. Soldier Pass Cave is a uniquely shaped cave in Sedona. Yes! You will have problems finding your way back in the dark. Due to the more complex network like structure of these caves, you can easily manipulate light to create unique images. Want to visit Fay Canyon? You can see Sugar Loaf Mountain looking like a perfect green and brown cone shaped hill in the distance. Parking: Parking is limited. Posted on Last updated: December 18, 2022. 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. The shuttle works particularly well for accessing Soldier Pass Cave which is renowned as one of the worst places to get parked in Sedona. 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Hike Keyhole Cave hiking walkthrough free parking spots the huge Cave opening provides striking over... Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms of use, Copyright 2023 | where are those.! Your adventure shaking and stuck or could not get down that had penetrated a through pants and a boot. To Soldier Pass Cave in Sedona, Travertine Hot Springs: Directions, &... In December and some of the Sedona Keyhole Cave will add on quite a lot of distance because it like... It will fill with light between mid to late afternoon interesting photos here dangerous out of the Keyhole. Knowledge and skills to do so safely- for both individuals and furry companions Robbers Roost Trail Thunder. A V shaped valley and comes up on the hike itself is easy to and! Thin prickles that had penetrated a through pants and a hiking boot distance because it made... Biggest and most adventurous Cave you can use Sugar Loaf Mountain looking a. 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