Soldier Pass Cave Soldier Pass Trailhead parking has 14 spaces which are snapped up instantly. It is definitely worth visiting Keyhole Cave, the biggest cave you can hike to in Sedona on your itinerary. 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. Park in the improvised parking area on the side of highway 179. Sedona's Keyhole Cave is located right in the heart of Sedona. You just never know when youll lose your footing on these desert rocks. Come 5:23 Hidden Hiking Gem In Sedona Arizona: Keyhole Cave Via Sugarloaf. Use this guide to familiarize yourself with the exact locations and hiking trails for each cave you want to visit during your time in Sedona. Alternatively, if you hire a jeep or own a 4WD vehicle, you can get a permit to drive FR 9904 which leads to a parking area just 0.1 miles from the trail split leading to Soldier Pass Cave. Three awesome reasons a hike to Keyhole Cave should be an essential part of every adventurous wishlist of best hikes in Sedona. TIA! It is best to wear fully covered clothing as there are cacti with long and thick thorns and animals like rattlesnakes and other insects. People often bring ropes to help others up and down, which is a great idea. 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. Keyhole Cave is located in the rocky ridge running from Coffee Pot Rock toward Thunder. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking The Seven Sacred Pools In Sedona. 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. The elevation also catches up as you get closer to the cave, gaining about 500 feet in the last 20 minutes of the hike, making it more challenging with each step. 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. Due to the more complex network like structure of these caves, you can easily manipulate light to create unique images. Please take great care not to disturb rock formations or wildlife in any area you hike. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. A steep bank climb is required to get inside the cave but it is easy enough. Keyhole Cave Access: Sugarloaf One of the largest alcoves in the area, Keyhole Cave can actually be seen from many places in West Sedona. At just 2.3 miles roundtrip you might be wondering what all the fuss is about with Keyhole Cave. Please let us know if you have any questions about hiking to any of the caves or your visit to Sedona in the comments below. We wouldnt recommend taking dogs to any of the caves as they are unsafe and often require climbing. Is it the same with Keyhole cave? Sedona, Arizona. There are no marked trails leading to the cave and there are several lightly beaten paths you can choose between. Ruins If you are interested in learning about the history around northern Arizona, you should visit all of the 5 ancient ruins near Sedona. There are very few other top attractions nearby, which helps keep these two trails quiet. 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. Birthing Cave on the Long Canyon Trail is one of the quietest caves you can visit in Sedona. 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. Lets take a closer look at each of the 7 caves you can explore in Sedona. You can get far enough back inside the formation. 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. Want more Arizona content? I always recommend tracking yourself or following an already made track so you can check in and be sure youre on the right path. The hike to Keyhole Cave begins at Sugarloaf Trailhead which is tucked back in a Sedona Neighborhood. Our advice for Sedona is not to worry about temperatures or busy trails, but focus on finding free parking spots. The hike to Kachina Cave is not recommended after rain or during snow and ice conditions in Winter. I hope you find the cave and enjoy your adventure. Decide which way to go down and take care with your footing when youre ready to leave Keyhole Cave. Remember, there is no trail to reach it, and what you will be doing is starting on an official trail on Sugarloaf Trailhead (called Teacup trail), but going off trail to reach the cave. Once youre done exploring this area, its just a matter of heading back down south to reach the parking lot to complete this hike. Report inappropriate content. During the hike you pass into Coconino National Forest. 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). 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. You still need to be organized and plan effectively otherwise youll spend your days frustrated about not being able to park anywhere. 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. 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. We personally think the cave is easier to photograph when there is no light inside between mid to late morning. Since the route to get here is in a wash you want to be careful to not hike during or right after a rainstorm. Read our complete guide to hiking Boynton Canyon Trail into Subway Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. Drop in from above. There are small natural foot placements in the sandstone rocks you use the entire way up the right side. After you get down, follow the same trail along the wash until you find the fork that will lead you to the parking lot. You can either climb the left side or right side to access the upper chamber of Keyhole Cave. Once up, turn right and walk along a curving sandstone ledge which leads to Subway Cave. The Sedona Keyhole Cave hike is 2.5 miles round-trip, out and back. Do You Need A Parking Pass To Hike Keyhole Cave? There is a shuttle now to Soldiers pass and we cant drive. It is important to respect the wilderness areas you will be exploring. 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. But please be warned, the climb into Keyhole is not easy. Most people are parking at Sugar Loaf Teacup Trailhead to hike the Sugar Loaf Loop Trail and climb Sugarloaf Mountain. That is exactly what happened to us during our visit to Sedona. 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. Read more in ourdisclosure policy.*. You never want to be in a wash with chance of rain, just incase of flash floods. Devil's Bridge Trail Stats. 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. 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. A steep climb up the northeast facing bank of Fay Canyon much be climbed to reach the arch. Raven Caves isnt a photogenic or enormous cave like the others on this list, but that means nobody else will be there when you arrive. There may be hikers already in the cave who have rope. How to get around Sedona is small but youll need a car to access the best hikes to the north and south of town. Your email address will not be published. The good news is you will only be on Teacup Trail for 0.4 miles until you reach a trail crossroads with Thunder Mountain Trail. You simply have to forge your own route to Keyhole Cave. The hike itself is moderate but getting into the cave itself definitely takes it to difficult+. 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. Coordinates: 34.88717 N, 111.79926 W. Dogs Allowed: Yes, but NOT dog-friendly. Tip: Dont forget to visit the Boynton Canyon vortex site at the end of your hike. KEY TAKEAWAY: Youll be traversing in a wash so be aware of the possibility of flash floods and rattlesnakes! Accessing Hideout Cave means driving 50 minutes from Sedona, mostly on gravel roads and then hiking a short trail to reach the cave entrance. 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. Most moderately experienced hikers should be fine, but we would not recommend beginner hikers attempt the hike to Subway Cave. As while tricky at least there are significantly better foot and hand holds to use. 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. Be very careful and only more skilled hikers should try to get up into 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. Getting into the Sedona Keyhole cave is difficult. Thanks for reading, Michael! Fortunately, a shuttle bus system has been implemented in Sedona which helps hikers get to the most popular trailheads year round. Fay Canyon Arch is a worthy stop off for hikers to make on the Fay Canyon Trail. The cave isnt a traditional cavern with chambers, it is more of a depression into a rock face which gives the effect of a cave once you are inside. Hideout Cave, also known as Shamans Cave, is by far the quietest and most secluded cave in Sedona. The cave is accessed via significant off-trail hiking, which means forging a path through rugged desert wilderness. 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. April, May, September and October are peak tourist months in Sedona. Heres the right approach into Keyhole Cave: The right approach looks worse than it is. Read our popular guide on how to plan the perfect 1-7 day Sedona itinerary for ideas on how you can spend up to one week exploring this remarkable red rock landscape. Sugarloaf Trailhead: 34.8775908,-111.7969803. We recommend only climbing up inside the cave if you are a seasoned hiker, athletic and have ropes and do not mind heights. In my case, I went left and climbed to get to the proper areas. Try to go earlier in the day or later in the afternoon. See the Keyhole cave dangers as well as full directions in our article here. Looking for hiking inspiration? 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! Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking The Birthing Cave In Sedona. It is best not to go all the way into the cave if you have a fear of heights. Another 1 mile heading north will lead you into a wash and eventually to a very obvious fork split in the trail. Its highly likely you already have an annual National Parks pass, which is also known as America the Beautiful or the Interagency Pass. At the base of Keyhole Cave youll find that you need to climb a high, slick wall to get into it. If you only plan to hike to caves in Sedona and no other trails, you will need to display a pass for the following caves: You can buy a Red Rock Pass at this specific recreation.gov site in advance, or you can buy one from a ticket machine in select parking lots. For the best light conditions, plan to be here in the late morning or noon to get splendid pictures. 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 . The elevation gain of the Sedona Keyhole Cave is 520 feet. While it is a tough hike, it is the least visited Sedona cave. Other hikers simply head due north using multiple paths which all twist and intertwine like a maze. If you have an America the Beautiful Pass, you can use this as well. From the start of the Teacup trail you will hike just under .5 miles where there is a fork in the road. 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. It is the biggest cave featuring a huge chamber and enormous opening which frames the Sedona landscape outside. Your hike will start nice and easy and flat. In this guide we will show you: Where to park for Keyhole Cave Which pass you need to display 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. It is pretty easy to get off trail so we recommend using AllTrails. It is best to arrive early if you want to park here. Fay Canyon How to hike Fay Canyon Trail to an optional adventure ascent and steep climb to Fay Canyon Arch. A 4WD trailhead is located an additional 1 mile up Forest Road 9530 which saves 2 miles of hiking total. As always, please be considerate of the environment so we can keep enjoying it and rememberto leave no trace. This lot is also known as Teacup Trailhead and is located in a residential area on Buena Vista Drive in north Sedona. View full map. It is straight back and looks like a giant gaping hole in the mountainside. 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. Instead of buying a Red Rock Pass you can simply display your America the Beautiful Pass at all trailheads when hiking to Sedona caves. Your pictures are great. Park at Sugar Loaf / Teacup Trailhead and walk up Teacup Trail for 0.3 miles until it joins with Thunder Mountain Trail. 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. Aim to arrive inside Birthing Cave between 12pm and 3pm for optimal light conditions. While this part is doable for most everyone, the real issue comes when you reach the cave and attempt to climb up into it. Lets get stuck into the Keyhole Cave hiking walkthrough! Print/PDF map. 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! 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. I found people dont stay here for very long since the trails are short so it is a fast turnaround! You use the Sugarloaf Trailhead, which starts with the Teacup Trail, it is located in a little neighborhood just 15 minutes from downtown. Use the eroded rocks to place your hands and feet in gaps. 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. If youre fascinated by caves and the windows they create then youll love Keyhole Cave. In addition, thorns and cacti can cause problems and the trail is not marked. Ive personally completed the Keyhole Cave hike in Sedona and in this post will be detailing everything you need to know to do it as well. Lets find and explore the best secret caves in Sedona, Arizona! Thank you for your review, Jacob! If you enter it into Google Maps it will take you right to it. Cathedral Rock Sedona is filled with amazing hikes but Cathedral Rock Trail is one of the most iconic. 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. 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. Birthing Cave Park at Long Canyon Trailhead. No matter which season you visit, try to avoid weekends, holidays and the 10am-2pm rush. If you do try to do Keyhole Cave around sunset, dont leave it too late because you need to get back to the parking area before darkness. 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. Id love to hear your thoughts on the Keyhole Cave if you do it. 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. Bob Bear (formerly Fossil Springs) Hike With Secret Tips. This is the major road in and out of Sedona from Flagstaff and Grand Canyon South Rim. Keyhole Cave, Sedona Arizona Super exciting, I found one of Sedona's best kept secrets and it's truly magical! 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. If you plan to hike a number of trails around Sedona over a period of 4 7 days, you should buy the 7 day pass to save money. Keyhole Cave is the best cave for adventure seekers to visit in Sedona. The hardest part of the right ascent is getting up onto a ledge right at the start of the climb. Subway Cave is arguably the most famous and sought after cave to visit in Sedona. All other caves are located in the most popular hiking areas of Sedona and remain busy year round. Hiking is one of the best things to do in Sedona and Keyhole Cave is one of our favorite hidden trails in town. Are you looking for directions and tips on how to find and access the best caves in Sedona? Keyhole Cave is in Sedona Arizona, specifically 1.1 miles north from Sugar Loaf trailhead. from. There wasnt a lot of information online that I could find, and trying to follow others vague directions proved to be ineffective. 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. This popular hiking trail heads about three miles into a deep box canyon and includes ancient Sinaguan Indian ruins along the way. Move around Keyhole Cave to the far right side. The exciting hike to Keyhole Cave in Sedona is not on any map, the trail is not marked with signs and the cave access climb is challenging. While the trail is moderate the very end to get into the cave is extremely difficult and dangerous. 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. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies. Boynton Canyon Exactly how to find the famous Subway Cave on Boynton Canyon Trail, the most photographed 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. 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. There is a wash you can follow for most of the hike but it twists and turns which adds on distance and time. It is important to know the Sedona trails you are hiking so you can safely navigate to caves. How to Find the Sedona Birthing Cave Hike To The Birthing Cave In Sedona Birthing Cave Hike Details. Soldier Pass Cave is at the end of arguably the most entertaining hiking trail among the cave hikes in Sedona. 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. 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. New to hiking? Heres our collection of the 15 best sunrise and sunset photography locations in Sedona. Other Nearby Trails in . Sedonas red rock scenery becomes more and more impressive with every step. After the climb, you will land on a ledge, from where you will be in the cave. 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. 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. The arch is actually the most striking and impressive feature along this hiking trail. If you dont have either, buy a 1 day or 7 day pass at the ticket machine or online at recreation.gov. 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. 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. They were very much easy to understand and we were able to Hike up all the way to the Cave. As mentioned this is not for the faint of heart so if you are not a confident hiker/climber do not try to go up into the cave. Once you have made the climb into Keyhole Cave, you find yourself in a UFO shaped upper chamber in which you can walk around in a semi circle (like a crescent moon) from one side of the cave to the other. Look for a wooden trail sign and head directly behind into the rough vegetation. Fay Canyon Arch is a gigantic sandstone formation eroded into a towering red rock cliff in the shape of an arch. In order to start on the proper trail to this cave, you have to begin at Sugar Loaf Trailhead.
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