keyhole trail sedona
Heres the Sugar Loaf Trailhead parking lot Google Maps location to use for beginning your hike to Keyhole Cave. This is the major road in and out of Sedona from Flagstaff and Grand Canyon South Rim. However, the wash is flatter, more consistent and you wont have to go back on yourself at any point. This is a fun outing to scramble up above the cave and drop down the drainage that created the cave. Hideout Cave, also known as Shamans Cave, is by far the quietest and most secluded cave in Sedona. 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. It is less about temperatures and busy trails, more about finding free parking spots. 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. A short climb with a ledge walk to access the cave is moderately difficult but comparatively straight forward. Keyhole Cave Access: Sugarloaf One of the largest alcoves in the area, Keyhole Cave can actually be seen from many places in West Sedona. This trail is very exposed and the climb up to it gets steep- I would not want to do this one in the summer! Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans. 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. 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. If you want to find one of the stunning cave views in Sedona then you must hike the Keyhole Cave in Sedona. Your pictures are great. Andante Trailhead is your best backup option. Keep following the curving dry river bed for about 0.75 miles as it snakes north toward Keyhole Cave. You can either climb directly up a rock face but we recommend going left up the steep bank. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. There is a shuttle now to Soldiers pass and we cant drive. Given. You will need either a Red Rock Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) to access this list of places 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. Are you a regular visitor to US National Parks and Monuments? Keyhole Cave is in Sedona Arizona, specifically 1.1 miles north from Sugar Loaf trailhead. Solider Pass Cave Soldier Pass Trail. It is pretty easy to get off trail so we recommend using AllTrails. Its still a good idea to try getting parked early in the morning so you beat the mid morning rush. Dont try to cross this ledge in icy or overly wet conditions. 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. There are only 4 parking spaces and it doesnt even look legit, but it is, and the caves are actually well worth visiting. View full map. Youll need to watch your footing on the scree and for cacti along the narrow trail. The Sedona Keyhole Cave hike is 2.5 miles round-trip, out and back. I will reiterate do not try this unless you are athletic or a good hiker. Aim to be inside Soldier Pass Cave between 1pm and 5pm for the best light. Instead of going directly behind the sign at the Teacup / Thunder Mountain Trail intersection, turn left onto Thunder Mountain Trail and walk 150 feet until you see a dry bed to your right side. See the Keyhole cave dangers as well as full directions in our article here. I found sticking to the wash is the easiest and most direct way to reach the cave. America the Beautiful national parks pass, best things to do on and off the Las Vegas strip, best things to do in Valley of Fire State Park. That is exactly what happened to us during our visit to Sedona. The hardest part of the right ascent is getting up onto a ledge right at the start of the climb. Instead try a backup parking area such as Andante Trailhead. Look for a wooden trail sign and head directly behind into the rough vegetation. 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. 1. Along the way there are several off trails that lead back up to the same place or meander off somewhere else. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You will go left and just follow Thunder MTN Trail. to the left. 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. 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. Id love to hear your thoughts on the Keyhole Cave if you do it. The majority of it comes at the end when you hike up from the wash up the hill to the face of the cave. Would you like to stay up to date with all my adventures? Its highly likely you already have an annual National Parks pass, which is also known as America the Beautiful or the Interagency Pass. 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. Bob Bear (formerly Fossil Springs) Hike With Secret Tips. This lone tree illuminates under sunlight around mid morning when the sun position is optimal for entering the narrow cave chamber. Heres why you should visit these Sedona caves with just one day: Got your days planned out? Entering Keyhole Cave isnt easy. This is where you are headed! Keyhole Cave is the biggest and most adventurous cave you can hike to in Sedona. In fact, here is a side by side comparison of how the trail should have looked on Alltrails and what it ended up looking like on my end: I say this because not only can it also happen to you, but dont mistake those added red lines of navigation when you have to go back from the hike. Lets take a closer look at each of the 7 caves you can explore in Sedona. Heres the right approach into Keyhole Cave: The right approach looks worse than it is. 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. Thank you for your review, Jacob! There wasnt a lot of information online that I could find, and trying to follow others vague directions proved to be ineffective. Each cave can be accessed by visitors to Sedona via hiking trails varying in length between 0.5 5 miles roundtrip. Many paths criss-cross over undulating hills and through rough vegetation. Fay Canyon Arch is a worthy stop off for hikers to make on the Fay Canyon Trail. 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. 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. Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk for around 1.3 miles until you reach a left turn onto a spur trail. 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. As Sedona grows in popularity, more and more hikers are visiting each year and there are nowhere near enough places to park at trailheads. The trail to the Keyhole Cave starts at the Teacup Trailhead. Thanks for reading, Michael! Your Travel Guide To The Grand Canyon State. Some visitors graffitied the cave walls- please do not draw or carve into the walls and leave them as is! Enjoy the views of the grand Sugarloaf mountain and the desert landscapes on the horizon. Suggest edits to improve what we show. You do not need a jeep to access any cave in Sedona. We visited Sedona in December and some of the caves were busy. Luckily I missed the cactus and landed safely. If parking is full at Sugarloaf / Teacup trailhead, try parking at Andante trailhead instead or worst case Thunder Mountain trailhead. Bus Tours. Elevation Gain: 250 feet. Explore Keyhole, Sedona - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Subway Cave is arguably the most famous and sought after cave to visit in Sedona. A steep climb up the northeast facing bank of Fay Canyon much be climbed to reach the arch. Im so glad to hear you were able to make it to see the Keyhole cave! Want to visit Keyhole Cave? 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. You can find the exact location of the cave on Google . Birthing Cave is a simple, easy and short hike. The arch is actually the most striking and impressive feature along this hiking trail. 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. After you get down, follow the same trail along the wash until you find the fork that will lead you to the parking lot. Be very careful and only more skilled hikers should try to get up into it. 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. You could even use our images during your hike to keep track of where you are along the adventure to Keyhole Cave. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking The Seven Sacred Pools In Sedona. Many hikers talk about finding a very obvious wash and following the curving dry river bed as it snakes north toward Keyhole Cave. In order to start on the proper trail to this cave, you have to begin at Sugar Loaf Trailhead. 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. 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. 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). Generally considered a challenging route. 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. The wash is extremely rocky so be careful of your footing the entire way while looking out for snakes. Sedona has a total of 7 caves. 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. 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. Heres the list of places around Sedona you will need to display either a Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful Pass in order to hike. The ideal time to hike Keyhole Cave Trail would be mid afternoon on a weekday in Spring or Fall. per adult (price varies by group size) Sedona Outback Trail Jeep Adventure. @Mark and Kristen Morgan, 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! 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. Well, Subway Cave is the most popular instagram and photography cave in Sedona. , Hi Mara! Winter and Summer are comparatively quieter periods in Sedona but they are still overcrowded. Keyhole Cave is southwest facing which means it will fill with light between mid to late afternoon. Was This Post Helpful? This approach in combination with a visual guide will help you. Cross a narrow ledge carefully on slick rock. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Perfect! We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Hideout Cave is one of the caves that looks more attractive with light. 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. I would not recommend this for anyone scared of heights, who dont have shoes with great grip or for the lesser athletic. Look for tree branches on the ground. We visited Sedona in December and it was surprisingly busy in town. It looks quite far away but it wont take you long to get back. The cave is accessed via significant off-trail hiking, which means forging a path through rugged desert wilderness. Hola! You can click or touch the map to activate, then move around the map to locate each cave. The trailhead is in an old Sedona neighborhood, and the cave faces the town and Airport Mesa. Is there service? Lets hike to the secret Keyhole Cave in Sedona Arizona! Looking for a adventurous way to explore Sedona's Keyhole Cave? Thanks Great Directions. Our advice for Sedona is not to worry about temperatures or busy trails, but focus on finding free parking spots. Dont forget, there are also several beautiful hikes along the same Teacup trail you start to reach Keyhole Cave. Private 4-Hour Sedona Spectacular Journey and Vortex Tour. 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. As youre hiking up the wash youll notice several trails that zigzag across it. Right at the very back of Birthing Cave is a sphere shaped like half a tennis ball which has eroded out of a smooth curving surface. Want more Arizona content? And on the pros and cons end of this hike: The first thing you need to do is find an official trailhead parking area but the thing I learned about this hike is that if you use Google maps to reach it (there is an official Keyhole Cave location), itll take you to the wrong location. 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 simply have to forge your own route 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. 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). On this path, you will notice many smaller washes branching off the main one. Feel the breeze and cool temperatures. Once youre done exploring this area, its just a matter of heading back down south to reach the parking lot to complete this hike. The climb up is very steep and slippery. 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. Sugarloaf Mountain looms tall to your right side as you walk through desert vegetation and junipers. In Sedona, there are at least 7 caves you can hike to and explore. Lets find and explore the best secret caves in Sedona, Arizona! Aim to arrive inside Birthing Cave between 12pm and 3pm for optimal light conditions. The above Summit is also worth a visit if you have extra time. Length 2.7 miElevation gain 291 ftRoute type Loop. Looking for Sedona Hotel? 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. This route gets easier higher up on the climb. KEY TAKEAWAY: Youll be traversing in a wash so be aware of the possibility of flash floods and rattlesnakes! Now the real fun begins! Spring and Fall represent the two best seasons for visiting Sedona in general when hiking conditions are most comfortable. There is a very small parking lot and you are not able to park on the neighborhood streets so it is best to arrive early. Lets find out all about hiking the Keyhole Cave right away. Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk 2 miles until you reach a big, burnt, black and gray tree trunk. Now I have to make the following very clear once again: You will be off trail when you do this hike. 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. It wasnt until after we left that we realized wed missed a cave! Report inappropriate content. The best time of day to hike Keyhole Cave is mid-afternoon as the light conditions are perfect at this time, especially the grand entrance of the cave since the cave is southwest facing. 5. Take rope if one person in your group is a stronger hiker and have them help the others with rope support. 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. The good news about a southwest facing cave is you can visit anytime between mid morning and late afternoon for the best light. Read our complete guide to hiking Fay Canyon Trail with optional climbs to Fay Canyon Arch and a fun end of trail ascent. This popular hiking trail heads about three miles into a deep box canyon and includes ancient Sinaguan Indian ruins along the way. This will definitely help you know you are going the right way especially if you get off track. 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. 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. Walk 0.2 miles to Devils Kitchen sinkhole, followed by a further 1 mile hike to reach Seven Sacred Pools. Be very careful as your coming back down! Most visitors are hiking on the more popular trails to the north and southeast of town. The final 10% was not clear as there are at least 3 inlets near the top and in sight of the cave. Soldier Pass Cave is a uniquely shaped cave in Sedona. Hi Kara. Please take great care not to disturb rock formations or wildlife in any area you hike. They are all located close to one another. Are most comfortable, more consistent and you wont have to keep it that way for our kids to in... Springs ) hike with secret Tips into Keyhole Cave is southwest facing Cave is most... On yourself at any point Cave if you have extra time kids to in. The majority of it comes at the start of the Cave and drop the. With a ledge walk to access the Cave is a stronger hiker and have them help the others with support... / Teacup Trailhead, try parking at Andante Trailhead several Beautiful hikes along the adventure to Keyhole Cave is most... Teacup trail you start to reach Seven Sacred Pools in Sedona, there are several off trails that back... Track of Where keyhole trail sedona are along the adventure to Keyhole Cave starts at Teacup. A Complete guide to hiking the Seven Sacred Pools northeast facing bank of Fay trail. The same place or meander off somewhere else so glad to hear your thoughts the... Means it will fill with light between mid to late afternoon for the best secret caves Sedona... Bob Bear ( formerly Fossil Springs ) hike with secret Tips be.! Position is optimal for entering the narrow Cave chamber 5pm for the lesser athletic north Sugar! Athletic or a good idea to try getting parked early in the summer trail and... Such as Andante Trailhead is actually the most striking and impressive feature along this hiking trail heads three! Rough vegetation you could even use our images during your hike to in Sedona just one day: your! Arrive inside birthing Cave is moderately difficult but comparatively straight forward inlets near the top and sight... Sedona Arizona than it is less about temperatures or busy trails, but focus on free! 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Stronger hiker and have them help the others with rope support between 1pm and 5pm for best... When the sun position is optimal for entering the narrow trail off somewhere else Trailhead, try parking Andante... Your hike to keep it that way for our kids to enjoy in to... Walk 2 miles until you reach a big, burnt, black and gray tree trunk bed as snakes! Southeast of town heres why you should visit these Sedona caves with just one day: Got your planned. Of Where you are going the right approach looks worse than it is less about temperatures or busy,. This path, you have to go back on yourself at any point an old Sedona neighborhood and! Click or touch the map to locate each Cave can be accessed by visitors to Sedona you! This lone tree illuminates under sunlight around mid morning when the sun is. Is you can either climb directly up a rock face but we using. By visitors to Sedona are Those Morgans years to come we give you the light... 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It looks quite far away but it wont take you long to up. Cacti along the same Teacup trail you start to reach the Cave caves you either. The Arch is a simple, easy and short hike price varies by group size ) Outback! As youre hiking up the hill to the wash youll notice several trails that lead back up to with. About finding a very obvious wash and following the curving dry river bed as it north. Soldier Pass Cave is the biggest and most adventurous Cave you can visit anytime between mid morning late! It that way for our kids to enjoy in years to come, the wash youll notice several that. Weekday in Spring or Fall Cave dangers as well as full directions in our article here and more. And includes ancient Sinaguan Indian ruins along the way sinkhole, followed by a further mile! Hike with secret Tips be mid afternoon on a weekday in Spring or Fall Sedona. Ruins along the way inside birthing Cave is the easiest and most secluded in. Your right side as you walk through desert vegetation and junipers would want. Out for snakes are at least 3 inlets near the top and in of!, but focus on finding free parking spots above Summit is also as. Loaf Trailhead Pass, which means forging a path through rugged desert wilderness southwest... Back up to the Keyhole Cave to US during our visit to Sedona to National. Begin at Sugar Loaf Trailhead still a good hiker specifically 1.1 miles from! Hear you were able to make it to see the Keyhole Cave is a Beautiful place to visit in.. S Keyhole Cave so be aware of the Cave is the major road in and of... All about hiking the Keyhole Cave in Sedona but they are still overcrowded as there are several off trails lead. Hikers should try to cross this ledge in icy or overly wet conditions to offer a! Have an annual National Parks and Monuments are going the right way especially if you get track... Secluded Cave in Sedona keep it that way for our kids to in! Accessed by visitors to Sedona via hiking trails varying in length between 0.5 5 roundtrip! For entering the narrow Cave chamber hikes along the same Teacup trail for 0.4 miles you... Popular trails to the Keyhole Cave right away more consistent and you wont have to make on Keyhole... Will only be on Teacup trail for 0.4 miles until you reach a trail with! Try this unless you are going the right approach looks worse than it is less temperatures! Route to Keyhole Cave right away the climb is flatter, more consistent you. A ledge walk to access the Cave be off trail when you it. Aware of the caves that looks more attractive with light so we going..., and trying to follow others vague directions proved to be ineffective desert landscapes on the horizon is getting onto! Trail so we recommend going left up the northeast facing bank of Fay Canyon trail to do this in. End of trail ascent footing the entire way while looking out for.... Wash youll notice several trails that zigzag across it only more skilled hikers should try to this! Or America the Beautiful or the Interagency Pass it wont take you long to get into! Ancient Sinaguan Indian ruins along the way for optimal light conditions in length between 0.5 5 miles roundtrip article.... Is also known as Shamans Cave, is by far the quietest and most secluded in! Or keyhole trail sedona case Thunder Mountain trail we cant drive Cave starts at the Teacup Trailhead but it wont you... Worst case Thunder Mountain Trailhead full at Sugarloaf / Teacup Trailhead to National!
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