The hardest part of the hike awaits you here. Want to visit Birthing Cave? Which cave or caves should you visit if you only have a one day Sedona itinerary? Use the eroded rocks to place your hands and feet in gaps. 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. Hideout Cave, also known as Shamans Cave, is by far the quietest and most secluded cave in Sedona. Sedona's Keyhole Cave is located right in the heart of Sedona. Many hikers talk about finding a very obvious wash and following the curving dry river bed as it snakes north toward Keyhole Cave. Its highly likely you already have an annual National Parks pass, which is also known as America the Beautiful or the Interagency Pass. Thank you for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! Coming down you will want to go against that wall on the front of the entrance (down the Right side you came up). Drop in from above. Lets find out all about hiking the Keyhole Cave right away. There may be hikers already in the cave who have rope. That means you get to enjoy it even more once you are standing inside the UFO shaped upper cave chamber. Posted on Last updated: December 18, 2022. Another big thing to note in this area: I also read on Alltrails that people lost their GPS connection or it went crazy. Private 4-Hour Sedona Spectacular Journey and Vortex Tour. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "adfe3c6c02b8a23ef7f876e875c76545" );document.getElementById("de46ec5a9a").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); I am Kara and I travel and adventure with my GSD, Monty. 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. You will go left and just follow Thunder MTN Trail. Thank you for your review, Jacob! Difficulty: Moderate. 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. Heres a summary of the 7 caves and one bonus arch you can visit in Sedona: Before we get started with the best hidden Sedona caves, it is important to touch on etiquette. Park in the improvised parking area on the side of highway 179. From the start of the Teacup trail you will hike just under .5 miles where there is a fork in the road. Type: Out and Back Difficulty: Moderate Dog Friendly: Yes Location: Sedona, AZ Trailhead: Devil's Bridge Trailhead Parking: Parking lot off Dry Creek road Permits: $5 Red Rock Pass. Thanks for sharing the map! Arriving early to trailheads is essential for the best chance of getting parked. The cave is unique for having a single lone tree with green leaves standing beyond the chamber in an exposed area. Print/PDF map. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! Try this 2.7-mile loop trail near Sedona, Arizona. After you park in the lot, it is easy to find the trail and start at the Sugarloaf Trailhead. You still need to be organized and plan effectively otherwise youll spend your days frustrated about not being able to park anywhere. 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. Zion National Park Zion is an adventure playground for adults, find the very best hikes in Zion and choose between 5 ways you can spend a one day in Zion itinerary. Visit Sedona outside of peak season to give yourself higher odds of getting parked up any time of day. Devil's Bridge Trail Stats. You can get amazing photos from the bottom of the cave too. If you plan to hike more trails around Sedona over a period of 2 7 days, you should buy the 7 day pass because you will need it at many other trailheads in the area. Yes, you need to display either a Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful Interagency Pass on your vehicle dashboard for the duration of your hike to Keyhole Cave in Sedona if you park at Sugar Loaf Trailhead. Keyhole Cave is not for the faint of heart(afraid of heights) or beginner hikers as it involves challenging terrains, including climbing very high rocks and navigating through wilderness comprising cacti and rattlesnakes, as there is no maintained official trail. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. Subway Cave is east facing which means you should try to access the cave as early in the day as possible for best light. Keyhole Cave Sedona FAQs Where Is Keyhole Cave Sedona? Hi Kara. You will have to use your hands, feet and core to pull yourself up. America the Beautiful national parks pass, Soldier Pass Trail into Soldier Pass Cave, best sunrise and sunset photography locations in Sedona, best things to do on and off the Las Vegas strip, best things to do in Valley of Fire State Park, Subway Cave is one of the most photogenic landmarks in Sedona, Four other popular hikes nearby with connecting trails, Have to figure out the right place to turn onto spur trail, Most will miss it in favor of Subway Cave, Much quieter than other caves and hikes in Sedona, Very quick and easy to access Birthing Cave, Stunning views from the very back of the cave, Devils Kitchen and Seven Sacred Pools are fantastic additions to the hike, The new shuttle should significantly improve parking issues, Very popular trail means it is always busy, The cave is a little tricky to climb into, Theres not a lot of room inside the cave if it is busy, One of the most impressive caves in Sedona, One of the quietest caves you can visit in Sedona, Accessing the cave can be a little tricky, Not much room to maneuver at the formation, Very deep dark shadows in morning after Subway Cave. The cave is accessed via significant off-trail hiking, which means forging a path through rugged desert wilderness. 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. If you're planning to hike the Devil's Bridge Trail, book a room at Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa, just outside downtown . This post tells you exactly how to find the Keyhole Cave in Sedona, including directions and hiking tips for this adventurous trip safely. 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. A short but steep elevation gain will carry you up a bank and into Birthing Cave. to the left. If you enter it into Google Maps it will take you right to it. Have a great time! 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). So watch your footing and for cacti along the narrow trail. But if you are a seasoned hiker looking for an adventure, you will be rewarded with fascinating views from the Keyhole Cave in Sedona. Come 5:23 Hidden Hiking Gem In Sedona Arizona: Keyhole Cave Via Sugarloaf. How to get around Sedona is small but youll need a car to access the best hikes to the north and south of town. Each cave can be accessed by visitors to Sedona via hiking trails varying in length between 0.5 5 miles roundtrip. Some visitors graffitied the cave walls- please do not draw or carve into the walls and leave them as is! The final 10% was not clear as there are at least 3 inlets near the top and in sight of the cave. The hardest part of the right ascent is getting up onto a ledge right at the start of the climb. It is best not to go all the way into the cave if you have a fear of heights. It is less about temperatures and busy trails, more about finding free parking spots. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. You'll start at Sugar Loaf trailhead and see the Keyhole Cave from there, then navigate to it by first going on the Teacup trail, then going off trail to reach it. Thanks Great Directions. 5. 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. Going next weekend, being that it is the weekend after thanksgiving Im worried about how busy it will be in parking areas. Raven Caves is a very easily accessed series of maze-like caves on the south side of Sedona. Keyhole Cave is a southwest facing cave located in Coconino National Forest to the north of downtown Sedona. Red Rock Pass options include: 1 Day Red Rock Pass - $5 7 Day Red Rock Pass - $15 Red Rock Annual Pass - $20 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. Once you are at the entrance, you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is and mystic. 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. Top ways to experience Teacup Trail and nearby attractions. Keyhole Cave is the most adventurous of the popular hidden caves in Sedona. Fay Canyon How to hike Fay Canyon Trail to an optional adventure ascent and steep climb to Fay Canyon Arch. Distance: 4 miles RT Peak Elevation: 4,600 ft. Elevation Gain: 420 ft. 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. Consider taking the Sedona shuttle. The climb up is very steep and slippery. Karabou Adventure + Travel is a participant of 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. Want to visit Subway Cave? Use Jim Thompson and hike Cibola Trail or park at Posse Grounds Park & Ride for the Sedona shuttle. The view out of Keyhole Cave is spectacular and you can get far enough back inside the formation to easily frame the background through the cave entrance. 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. If youre short on time, this is the adventure hike for you. Photos (3,140) Directions. Was This Post Helpful? New to hiking? Is there service? From that parking lot are several hikes available, including the one to Keyhole Cave, but at the same time, Keyhole Cave is not an official spot on that list. This angle looking straight ahead is exactly where you started the hike to Keyhole 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. As I adventure around the Southwest I aim to inspire you to get outdoors while sharing knowledge and skills to do so safely! Do you use any of the best hiking apps on the market for navigation on new or unmarked trails? Learn more here. There is a wash you can follow for most of the hike but it twists and turns which adds on distance and time. Our advice is not to worry about being able to find Keyhole Cave. Keyhole Cave is southwest facing which means it will fill with light between mid to late afternoon. 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. You use the Sugarloaf Trailhead, which starts with the Teacup Trail, it is located in a little neighborhood just 15 minutes from downtown. It is best to arrive early if you want to park here. You do not need a jeep to access any cave in Sedona. Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk 2 miles until you reach a big, burnt, black and gray tree trunk. Lets take a quick look at your parking options for each of the Sedona cave trails: Subway and Kachina Caves Boynton Canyon Parking lot. February 15, 2019. Are you planning to hike more trails in the area? However, to avoid needing to double-back or going the wrong way for a little just follow the wash the entire way to the base of the cave. Sugarloaf Trailhead: 34.8775908,-111.7969803. You could even use our images during your hike to keep track of where you are along the adventure to Keyhole Cave. In Sedona, there are at least 7 caves you can hike to and explore. The climb into Soldier Pass Cave isnt too difficult and the other trail landmarks make this one of the most popular cave trails for families visiting Sedona. Yes, the cave hikes in Sedona are pet friendly but all dogs must be kept on a short leash at all times. The path of following along the wash is straightforward one without any confusion, and we recommend that. 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. People often bring ropes to help others up and down, which is a great idea. As an alternate, Is it possible to Uber to and from the trailhead? They were very much easy to understand and we were able to Hike up all the way to the Cave. Arrive early to the lot in peak season for the best chance of snagging a coveted parking spot 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. If youre interested in learning more about Gaia, you can sign up to Gaia GPS premium with Where Are Those Morgans exclusive 20% off link. We visited Sedona in December and some of the caves were busy. Or there may be rope left over from recent hikers. It's a relatively easy hike most of the way, with a steep climb at the end to reach the entrance. The majority of it comes at the end when you hike up from the wash up the hill to the face of the cave. It is a very narrow cave, almost like an arch formation that can be climbed with a hidden upper chamber. Instead try a backup parking area such as Andante Trailhead. That trailhead is a popular destination and has a fairly small parking lot where maybe 10-15 cars can fit. Im not going to lie, I fell back on my butt on the way down this trail! Sedona, Arizona. 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. Hi I'm Vitaliy, creator of TheNatureSeeker.com, thanks for stopping by! Followed the wash 90% of the way up and it made for a really interesting hike. Youll be traversing in a wash so be aware of the possibility of flash floods. Easy 4.6 (2494) Coconino National Forest. Entering Keyhole Cave isnt easy. Your hike will start nice and easy and flat. Given. The best time to hike to Keyhole Cave would be spring, late fall, or even during winter if there isnt more than a light dusting of snow. The trailhead is in an old Sedona neighborhood, and the cave faces the town and Airport Mesa. Now you have to get up there. Share. There are two places you can park for hiking Robbers Roost Trail to Hideout Cave. At the base of Keyhole Cave youll find that you need to climb a high, slick wall to get into it. Enjoy the views of the grand Sugarloaf mountain and the desert landscapes on the horizon. Thanks for reading, Michael! 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. Looking for Sedona Hotel? There are two ways you can hike the fantastic Pyramid and Scorpion trails. Difficulty | DifficultDistance | 2.60 miles RTElevation Gain | 529 feetType | Out & BackLocation | Sedona, AZTrailhead | Sugarloaf TrailheadDog Friendly | Yes, but not recommendedFees | Red Rock Pass or America The Beautiful. One of the most dynamic trails to be added to the Sedona Hiking Trail System in years. But from here, the challenge begins as the wash is very rocky; plus, look out for rattlesnakes along the way. Kachina Cave is best visited in mid morning between 9am and 11am when sunlight will penetrate a narrow formation causing the lone tree and red rocks to glow. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans. Check out 5 of the best Sedona Caves and how to find them for more! 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. $288.88. Once you are at the massive cave entrance you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is inside. The sun had already moved so far round to the south that the cave was in dark and deep shadow. Keyhole Cave is in Sedona Arizona, specifically 1.1 miles north from Sugar Loaf trailhead. You can of course follow misc small trails North going at the cave and at some point you will get to it. Eventually you will find that the wash narrows a bit and becomes filled with fallen trees and rocks to climb over. Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. This way you can benefit from perfect hiking and light conditions. Birthing Cave is a relaxing cave to visit thanks to a relatively easy hike and spectacular views. I will reiterate do not try this unless you are athletic or a good hiker. 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. 29. Thank you for sharing it will come in handy when we hike this in 2 wks. Hi Samantha, glad to hear you're heading to Sedona! The good news about a southwest facing cave is you can visit anytime between mid morning and late afternoon for the best light. 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). The elevation gain of the Sedona Keyhole Cave is 520 feet. It was quiet, off the beaten path, harder to access and felt like more of an adventure. I will check it out. Read our popular guide to the 50 best hikes in the USA next! As long as you see it and make your way towards it in the north, you will arrive at the base of Keyhole Cave. 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. We took the right approach both on the way up and down. 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. It isnt that far until youll reach a sign marking the intersection. In this post Ive included all the details and directions you need to know in order to successfully find Keyhole cave and have a safe adventure. Getting to this Sedona cave isnt for beginner hikers or those afraid of the challenge to climb 10+ feet of slick rock. Birthing Cave Park at Long Canyon Trailhead. With that said, we imagine the cave would look even better later in the day close to sunset when the light softens and has passed beyond directly entering Keyhole Cave. The Red Rock Pass is $5 per day or $15 for one week. 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. 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. Follow the trail without wandering off to the left or right until after hiking for about 0.5 miles, where you will come across a fork with signage indicating the Teacup Trail to the right and Thunder Mountain Trail. 3 rappels to make it down ending in a epic one right over the Keyhole Cave. You are actually starting this hike on Teacup Trail despite the parking area being called Sugar Loaf. 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. Fortunately, a shuttle bus system has been implemented in Sedona which helps hikers get to the most popular trailheads year round. Want to visit Soldier Pass Cave? 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. However, we would highly recommend against taking your dog on this trail due to rough desert vegetation throughout and the challenging climb into Keyhole Cave. 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. 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. Due to the more complex network like structure of these caves, you can easily manipulate light to create unique images. Hideout Cave is one of the caves that looks more attractive with light. Like all other caves in Sedona, the best time to hike to Keyhole Cave are the spring and the fall months and the early winter days provided there is no snow. Along the way you can even see the gaping window in the distance as you head towards it. Here are 4 photos showing the inside of Keyhole Cave as we walked around the cave from left to right looking out: If you climb up the right side you will summit the cave at the place where the most popular instagram photograph is taken. Getting down is harder than getting up as there is no support to rely on unless you have the ropes. From the 4WD parking area, a trail dips into a V shaped valley and comes up on the other side. Fortunately I had vocal help from someone who saw more than I did and told me where to put my hands and feet. Alternatively, try parking at around 2pm so you miss the busiest period. You can find a small parking lot at the Sugarloaf trailhead located in a residential area on Buena Vista Drive, from where you begin your hike. Id love to hear your thoughts on the Keyhole Cave if you do it. 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. West Fork Trail has its own dedicated parking lot around 10 miles north of Sedona on AZ-89A. Once you do reach the cave, itll be a gigantic opening thats difficult to miss and you may likely find other people there too (I saw at least 2 people before others came as I left). Read our complete guide to hiking Robbers Roost Trail into Hideout Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. You must take the right turn at the split and climb a fairly steep gradient to gain access to Solider Pass Cave in Sedona. Hiking Cathedral Rock: All you need to know, Hike to Devils Bridge in Sedona, Arizona, The Birthing Cave in Sedona- EVERYTHING you need to know, Hiking Sunrise Mountain Trail in Peoria, AZ, How To Spend One Day In Bryce Canyon National Park, Hiking Black Top Mesa In The Superstitions Is Worth It, Conquering Three Sisters Summit In The Superstition Mountains. There are only 4 parking spaces and it doesnt even look legit, but it is, and the caves are actually well worth visiting. The climb up is very steep and slippery. 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. It wasnt until after we left that we realized wed missed a cave! 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. 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 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. Very few know about Keyhole Cave and even fewer take it on once they hear about the unmarked trail and climb. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans, Cave Hikes Requiring A Parking Pass In Sedona, 4. Generally considered a challenging route. 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. You can download my Keyhole Cave trackand gain access to my library of all tracked hikes. Pyramid and Scorpion Trails are located to the southwest of downtown Sedona. All other caves are located in the most popular hiking areas of Sedona and remain busy year round. Now I have to make the following very clear once again: You will be off trail when you do this hike. Your pictures are great. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Ironically, Subway Cave looks the most like a keyhole shape, but there is another cave in Sedona called Keyhole Cave which doesnt look much like a keyhole! 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. Dont try to cross this ledge in icy or overly wet conditions. It is important to respect the wilderness areas you will be exploring. Want to visit Keyhole Cave? 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. Luckily I missed the cactus and landed safely. Look for a wooden trail sign and head directly behind into the rough vegetation. In this guide we will show you: Where to park for Keyhole Cave Which pass you need to display 1. They like to sit on the rocks to soak up some sun. Exclusively hiking the wash to Keyhole Cave will add on quite a lot of distance because it meanders like a zig-zag approach. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Winter and Summer are comparatively quieter periods in Sedona but they are still overcrowded. While it is a tough hike, it is the least visited Sedona cave. However, they are also the busiest times of year, which also means the most expensive. You will meander along the wash for three-quarters of a mile or so and you will know when to start going up to the cave as you will see it to your right when the time comes. 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. 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. Keyhole Cave, Sedona Arizona Super exciting, I found one of Sedona's best kept secrets and it's truly magical! 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. You can find the exact location of the cave on Google . If the lot is full you can try waiting a for a little to see if anyone leaves.
