There are only 4 parking spaces and it doesnt even look legit, but it is, and the caves are actually well worth visiting. However, to be honest you should be fine with this particular hike. Youll have some higher gradient sections to climb and the very last part to reach the cave entrance is very steep with loose stones and small rocks. Your email address will not be published. Below is a screenshot of my track from Keyhole Cave! The hike to Keyhole Cave begins at Sugarloaf Trailhead which is tucked back in a Sedona Neighborhood. Park at Posse Grounds park & ride for the most stress free access to Soldier Pass trailhead. Keyhole Cave is located in the rocky ridge running from Coffee Pot Rock toward Thunder. The hike to Keyhole Cave begins at Sugarloaf Trailhead which is tucked back in a Sedona Neighborhood. 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. 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. 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. 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. Pin It For Your Hike! 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. But they come with a higher price tag and more crowds. You will go most of the 500 feet in elevation on this hike over the last 10-15 minutes of the hike. You can see Sugar Loaf Mountain looking like a perfect green and brown cone shaped hill in the distance. Please do not park in or near driveways of local residents. 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. 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. Dont try to cross this ledge in icy or overly wet conditions. Generally considered a challenging route. 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. There are very few other top attractions nearby, which helps keep these two trails quiet. 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. Is there service? LOCATION: West Sedona, in Boynton Pass PET FRIENDLY: No. Please let us know if you have any questions about hiking Keyhole Cave or your visit to Sedona in the comments below. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Keyhole Cave is the most adventurous, Birthing Cave is the quietest and Soldier Pass Cave has a more exciting trail with other landmarks to enjoy. Lets find out all about hiking the Keyhole Cave right away. You will begin the hike to Keyhole Cave in Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. Sugarloaf Trailhead: 34.8775908,-111.7969803. This is a fun outing to scramble up above the cave and drop down the drainage that created the cave. Looking for hiking inspiration? This leads to a short climb up rocks and a left turn will bring you around the north side of Hideout Cave. You'll probably see a good amount of hikers here as there are a lot of popular routes in the area. You can either climb the left side or right side to access the upper chamber of Keyhole Cave. However, you will be parking here to go off-trail and hike to the mighty Sedona Keyhole Cave. Hiking Robbers Roost Trail To Hideout Cave In Sedona, Travertine Hot Springs: Directions, Tips & Pools. Looking for Sedona Hotel? Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk for around 1.3 miles until you reach a left turn onto a spur trail. 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. It truly is a off-beaten gem and perfect for silhouette photos. Sedona is a beautiful place to visit and we have to keep it that way for our kids to enjoy in years to come. 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). In addition, thorns and cacti can cause problems and the trail is not marked. Top ways to experience Teacup Trail and nearby attractions. 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. 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. So watch your footing and for cacti along the narrow trail. I will check it out. Please do not visit ruins with your pet. Follow along for a little ways until you reach an intersection with Thunder Mountain Trail. Most visitors are hiking on the more popular trails to the north and southeast of town. You will begin your hike in Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness before passing into Coconino National Forest. We took the right approach both on the way up and down. For those who have appreciated Munds Wagon Trail and Cow Pies, this trail takes it to the next level. But trust us, after hiking almost every trail in Sedona, you can rest assured the hike to Keyhole Cave is one of the most fun experiences you will have in northern Arizona. Read our popular guide to the 50 best hikes in the USA next! 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. Going direct to Keyhole Cave means you have to contend with short but steep hills covered in cacti and other harsh vegetation with sharp dagger-like needles that can seriously tear up your feet, ankles and legs. All the stops we make are close to the Interstate. Sedona is one of the best places to visit in the US and finding caves is among the most exciting things to do for first time visitors to the area. Part of the allure of Keyhole Cave for me was finding it myself. As always, please be considerate of the environment so we can keep enjoying it and rememberto leave no trace. It is straight back and looks like a giant gaping hole in the mountainside. 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. Thanks Great Directions. 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. Your pictures are great. Ideally come down on your butt and use all of the foot and hand holds at a nice slow pace. You can get amazing photos from the bottom of the cave too. But that said, you can also take the trail in the north which goes to the 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. This lone tree illuminates under sunlight around mid morning when the sun position is optimal for entering the narrow cave chamber. Hiking is one of the best things to do in Sedona and Keyhole Cave is one of our favorite hidden trails in town. Buy an annual pass if you intend to revisit Sedona in the next year. . Subway Cave is east facing which means you should try to access the cave as early in the day as possible for best light. The trail to the Keyhole Cave starts at the Teacup Trailhead. Tip: Dont forget to visit the Boynton Canyon vortex site at the end of your hike. Because you will need to climb a high, slick wall to get into the Keyhole Cave. Find all the transport options for your trip from Brea to Sedona right here. You can find the exact location of the cave on Google . As you reach closer, along the way, you can see the gaping mouth of the cave in the distance. PARKING PASS: Required for parking at the trailhead. Elevation Gain: 250 feet. Teacup Trail to Coffeepot Rock. Hi I'm Vitaliy, creator of TheNatureSeeker.com, thanks for stopping by! Keyhole Cave Sedona How To Hike To This Adventurous Cave, BEST TIME TO HIKE THE KEYHOLE CAVE SEDONA, THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE HIKING THE KEYHOLE CAVE SEDONA, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE KEYHOLE CAVE IN SEDONA, A Complete Guide To Hiking The Birthing Cave In Sedona, A Complete Guide To Hiking the Subway Cave In Sedona, A Complete Guide To Hiking The Seven Sacred Pools In Sedona, 15 Best Payson Hiking Trails For Waterfalls, Camping And More, How To Easily Hike The Seven Sacred Pools Sedona, 11 Sedona Swimming Holes To Cool Off Amidst Pretty Scapes, Hiking The Doe Mountain Trail In Sedona A total Guide, 5 Breweries In Sedona You Must Visit on your trip, 14 Tucson Sunset Spots To Admire The Stunning Views, 21 Best Swimming Holes In Arizona To Cool Off On Your Trips. Due to the more complex network like structure of these caves, you can easily manipulate light to create unique images. 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. Photography Are you more interested in capturing stunning images? Or there may be rope left over from recent hikers. We personally think the cave is easier to photograph when there is no light inside between mid to late morning. Want more Arizona content? 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. The hike is flat and easy until you reach an undefined turn onto a spur trail leading to Subway Cave. At just 2.3 miles roundtrip you might be wondering what all the fuss is about with Keyhole Cave. A short climb with a ledge walk to access the cave is moderately difficult but comparatively straight forward. After going up each of these a decent way (and I was nearly bitten by a snake), we ended up turning back. Birthing Cave on the Long Canyon Trail is one of the quietest caves you can visit in Sedona. 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. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans, Cave Hikes Requiring A Parking Pass In Sedona, 4. If you have an America the Beautiful Pass, you can use this as well. Soldier Pass Hike to Devils Kitchen and Seven Sacred Pools before climbing into Soldier Pass Cave on the family friendly Soldier Pass Trail in Sedona. New to hiking? Aim to arrive inside Birthing Cave between 12pm and 3pm for optimal light conditions. Drop in from above. You need to stick along the larger wash. The terrain turns a little steeper on your final approach to Keyhole Cave. Always consider backup parking areas before setting off for a trail. Other Nearby Trails in . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Check the weather and water conditions before you embark on the hike. This post tells you exactly how to find the Keyhole Cave in Sedona, including directions and hiking tips for this adventurous trip safely. 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. 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. Bus Tours. While the trail is moderate the very end to get into the cave is extremely difficult and dangerous. 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. All of which take a drastic upturn in difficulty from an otherwise straightforward hike. 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. Lets take a quick look at your parking options for each of the Sedona cave trails: Subway and Kachina Caves Boynton Canyon Parking lot. 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. But back to finding the keyhole cave! Park At Sugar Loaf Trailhead And Display Or Buy A Pass, Hiking The Wash Vs The Direct Route To Keyhole Cave, What To Pack For Hiking Keyhole Cave Trail. Fay Canyon Arch is southwest facing, which means it remains in total darkness if you arrive any time between sunrise and midday. 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. 3 rappels to make it down ending in a epic one right over the Keyhole Cave. A steep bank climb is required to get inside the cave but it is easy enough. It wasnt until after we left that we realized wed missed a cave! Exclusively hiking the wash to Keyhole Cave will add on quite a lot of distance because it meanders like a zig-zag approach. It is best to avoid hiking during or after flash floods season. Im so glad to hear you were able to make it to see the Keyhole cave! No trace straight forward below is a fun outing to scramble up above the.... 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