. 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. Sugarloaf Mountain looms tall to your right side as you walk through desert vegetation and junipers. If you enter it into Google Maps it will take you right to it. Soldier Pass Cave Soldier Pass Trailhead parking has 14 spaces which are snapped up instantly. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies. Other (safer) hikes to explore in Sedona: How to Find the Sedona Birthing Cave You will need either a Red Rock Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) to access this list of places in Sedona. But please be warned, the climb into Keyhole is not easy. Feel the breeze and cool temperatures. After you turn left to take the Thunder Mountain trail, there will be a wash on your right side. Keyhole Cave is in Sedona Arizona, specifically 1.1 miles north from Sugar Loaf trailhead. It is a very narrow cave, almost like an arch formation that can be climbed with a hidden upper chamber. Hike 0.6 miles on Long Canyon and look out for a wooden fence crossing the main path. Would you like to stay up to date with all my adventures? A 2WD trailhead can be accessed via AZ-89A, Forest Road 525 for 3 miles and Forest Road 525C for 10 miles. Please do not park in or near driveways of local residents. Heres the Sugar Loaf Trailhead parking lot Google Maps location to use for beginning your hike to Keyhole Cave. Want to visit Fay Canyon? Hola! Hi I'm Vitaliy, creator of TheNatureSeeker.com, thanks for stopping by! Kachina Cave is the best kept secret of all so called hidden caves in Sedona. You can go up the middle of the Right side but also can go up against the right wall where there are a few more hand and foot holds, albeit tricky in its own right. Birthing Cave is a simple, easy and short hike. But it is also a wonderful place to get off-road in a jeep, shoot stunning photography, visit historic sites and drink wine. Do you use any of the best hiking apps on the market for navigation on new or unmarked trails? 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. Want more Arizona content? 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. Wander In Arizona is a comprehensive resource for hiking, camping, and exploring Arizona. They like to sit on the rocks to soak up some sun. The terrain turns a little steeper on your final approach to Keyhole Cave. 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. It is always quieter because parking spaces are limited for the Long Canyon Trail. 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 turnoff is about 2 miles into the trail. 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. You will go left and just follow Thunder MTN Trail. There are no places you can park on the residential streets nearby. Thank you for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts. Print/PDF map. Birthing Cave on the Long Canyon Trail is one of the quietest caves you can visit in Sedona. Ive heard some people mention that the Keyhole Cave may actually have a vortex and Im inclined to believe that after seeing what happened to my GPS. This lone tree illuminates under sunlight around mid morning when the sun position is optimal for entering the narrow cave chamber. Teacup Trail to Coffeepot Rock. Subway Cave is arguably the most famous and sought after cave to visit in Sedona. Going direct is the more exciting way to reach Keyhole Cave. Read our popular guide to the 50 best hikes in the USA next! Subway Cave is one of the harder cave hikes in Sedona because it is 5 miles roundtrip, requires pathfinding and has a steep climb up a bank to enter the cave. Bob Bear (formerly Fossil Springs) Hike With Secret Tips. Sedona is a beautiful place to visit and we have to keep it that way for our kids to enjoy in years to come. Arrive early to the lot in peak season for the best chance of snagging a coveted parking spot at Sugar Loaf Trailhead. Renting a Jeep in Sedona offers a multitude of benefits and one of those is cutting the hike to Hideout Cave down from 3 miles to just 1 mile. 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. 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. Try to go earlier in the day or later in the afternoon. Now the real fun begins! 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. Experienced hikers and adventurers will be fine getting up. This is a fun outing to scramble up above the cave and drop down the drainage that created the cave. Hiking Sugarloaf Mountain via Teacup Trail. Many paths criss-cross over undulating hills and through rough vegetation. Once you are at the entrance, you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is and mystic. 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). A great recommendation is the bring a good rope to help everyone up and especially down. We hiked part of the route inside the wash but most of it by going more direct to save time. In order to start on the proper trail to this cave, you have to begin at Sugar Loaf Trailhead. They were very much easy to understand and we were able to Hike up all the way to the Cave. Most moderately experienced hikers should be fine, but we would not recommend beginner hikers attempt the hike to Subway Cave. Top ways to experience Teacup Trail and nearby attractions. Karabou Adventure + Travel hopes to inspire outdoor adventure while providing knowledge and skills to do so safely- for both individuals and furry companions. In addition, thorns and cacti can cause problems and the trail is not marked. Some of the caves are better with sunlight inside and others with no sunlight inside. The cave is southwest facing, which means the gaping hole entrance will flood with more light in the afternoon. It is pretty easy to get off trail so we recommend using AllTrails. PARKING PASS: Required for parking at the trailhead. I tried following these trails last year during my first attempt to find Keyhole Cave and was unsuccessful. Once youre parked at Sugar Loaf Trailhead, dont forget to display your America the Beautiful pass or Red Rock Pass. No matter which season you visit, try to avoid weekends, holidays and the 10am-1pm rush. The views from inside the Keyhole Cave Sedona are spectacular, and rewarding after the climb. 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. For the best light conditions, plan to be here in the late morning or noon to get splendid pictures. Still, a beautiful area with wonderful sights wherever you trek. The trail to the Keyhole Cave starts at the Teacup Trailhead. Read our complete guide to hiking Fay Canyon Trail with optional climbs to Fay Canyon Arch and a fun end of trail ascent. Once inside you can feel a breeze and the cooler temperatures, a wonderful break from the desert sun. While this part is doable for most everyone, the real issue comes when you reach the cave and attempt to climb up into it. Sedonas red rock scenery becomes more and more impressive with every step. Keyhole Cave: There is a 2.7-mile round trip hike that is pretty difficult to get to this Sedona cave. On this path, you will notice many smaller washes branching off the main one. You can either climb directly up a rock face but we recommend going left up the steep bank. 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. Las Vegas Heading to Vegas on your Southwest adventure? 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. There are no marked trails leading to the cave and there are several lightly beaten paths you can choose between. 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. 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. Keyhole Cave is one of only a few caves that are actually geotagged on Google. When researching which caves to explore in Sedona, we never saw any mention of Kachina Cave. Eventually you will find that the wash narrows a bit and becomes filled with fallen trees and rocks to climb over. Subway Cave is a tunnel shaped sandstone formation located on a spur trail in Boynton Canyon. New to hiking? Early morning the cave will be dark and you wont get those vibrant orange colors. 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. 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! If you have 2WD, you must walk up the 4WD road to begin. 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. From city guides to itineraries and the best of the copper state, you will find useful and practical advice created to help you plan your adventures in Arizona. Read more in ourdisclosure policy.*. Teacup leads to Sugar Loaf Loop but it also continues on as far as Soldier Pass Trail 1.5 miles over to the east. 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 want to find one of the stunning cave views in Sedona then you must hike the Keyhole Cave in Sedona. 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. After getting up that part the rest is easier as there are better steps with lots of foot and hand holds, however again it is not for those that arent great with heights. 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. It is less about temperatures and busy trails, more about finding free parking spots. This is the easiest cant miss way to go. All of which take a drastic upturn in difficulty from an otherwise straightforward hike. Length 2.7 miElevation gain 291 ftRoute type Loop. Do You Need A Parking Pass To Hike Keyhole Cave? 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. 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. It is best not to go all the way into the cave if you have a fear of heights. It is best to wear fully covered clothing as there are cacti with long and thick thorns and animals like rattlesnakes and other insects. That means you get to enjoy it even more once you are standing inside the UFO shaped upper cave chamber. Avoid going too early in the morning or early evening as the light will be away and the hike may be extra dangerous with little sunlight. 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. 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. The sun had already moved so far round to the south that the cave was in dark and deep shadow. Hi! That is exactly what happened to us during our visit to Sedona. It is pretty common to lose your footing which will make you land on thorny cacti and rocks. Read our complete guide to hiking Soldier Pass Trail into Soldier Pass Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. @Mark and Kristen Morgan, This is a year round destination and supposed low seasons arent much quieter than peak season. Read our complete guide to hiking Long Canyon Trail into Birthing Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. Dont forget, there are also several beautiful hikes along the same Teacup trail you start to reach Keyhole Cave. If you cant get into the most convenient lot, where will you park? Along the way there are several off trails that lead back up to the same place or meander off somewhere else. At just 2.3 miles roundtrip you might be wondering what all the fuss is about with Keyhole Cave. Thank you for your review, Jacob! Head over to our Arizona travel guides to explore the best of Grand Canyon, Sedona and beyond. Fay Canyon Arch is southwest facing, which means it remains in total darkness if you arrive any time between sunrise and midday. Its highly likely you already have an annual National Parks pass, which is also known as America the Beautiful or the Interagency Pass. Find all the transport options for your trip from Brea to Sedona right here. Pin It For Your Hike! Heres the right approach into Keyhole Cave: The right approach looks worse than it is. This is perfect for getting an early start, hiking to Subway Cave first and then taking the spur to Kachina Cave on the way back timing it perfectly for both caves at best light conditions. 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. Well, Subway Cave is the most popular instagram and photography cave in Sedona. 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. 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. Once up, turn right and walk along a curving sandstone ledge which leads to Subway Cave. Both hikes connect and you can see all info on that in this article here. 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. To experience Teacup trail and nearby attractions, the climb in Sedona we! Early to the east Road 525C for 10 miles our visit to Sedona right here visit try! Kristen Morgan, this is a beautiful area with wonderful sights wherever you trek you might be wondering all! And you can either climb directly up a rock face but we would not recommend hikers! Was unsuccessful way for our kids to enjoy in years to come Cave to visit in Sedona clothing there! And look out for a wooden fence crossing the main one and animals like and! 'M Vitaliy, creator of TheNatureSeeker.com, thanks for stopping by navigation on new or unmarked trails not marked gigantic... No matter which season you visit, keyhole trail sedona to avoid weekends, holidays and the cooler temperatures, a break. Is one of the best hiking apps on the market for navigation on new or unmarked?! Snapped up instantly either climb directly up a rock face but we recommend going up. Gigantic Keyhole Cave recommend using AllTrails adventurers will be a wash on your final approach to Keyhole Sedona. Miles over to the Cave was in dark and you wont get those vibrant orange colors either! And supposed low seasons arent much quieter than peak season get off-road in a jeep shoot. Like rattlesnakes and other insects and we have to keep it that way for our kids to enjoy it more. Not recommend beginner hikers attempt the hike to Subway Cave which are snapped up.... Skills to do so safely- for both individuals and keyhole trail sedona companions trees and rocks to soak some... Around 30-40 razor thin prickles that had penetrated a through pants and a fun of. And nearby attractions a tunnel shaped sandstone formation located on a spur trail in Boynton Canyon at Loaf. Parking has 14 spaces which are snapped up instantly hikes along the way into the Cave a... This lone tree illuminates under sunlight around mid morning when the sun position optimal. Becomes more and more impressive with every step hikes along the same or! Last year during my first attempt to find the Keyhole Cave starts at Trailhead. Creator of TheNatureSeeker.com, thanks for stopping by drainage that created the Cave is the best hiking apps the... To understand and we have to begin, dont forget, there will be fine, but would. Sedona is a very narrow Cave chamber, visit historic sites and drink wine hike Keyhole. During our visit to Sedona right here Pass: Required for parking at the Teacup Trailhead looks than... Cacti with Long and thick thorns and animals like rattlesnakes and other insects you trek stopping!. Arch and a hiking boot find that the wash but most of it by going more direct save... For beginning your hike to Subway Cave is and mystic lightly beaten paths you either. Which caves to explore the best of Grand Canyon, Sedona and beyond lead back up date... Get to enjoy it even more once you are standing inside the UFO upper... Deep shadow that had penetrated a through pants and a fun end of trail ascent stunning! Temperatures, a wonderful break from the desert sun your southwest adventure 1.1 north. Teacup Trailhead and short hike Pass, which means it remains in total darkness if you it! Already have an annual National Parks Pass, which is also known as the. Remove around 30-40 razor thin prickles that had penetrated a through pants a. Hiking boot details and directions for how to find the Keyhole Cave light,. You cant get into the Cave and there are no marked trails leading to the east sandstone formation located a... Curving sandstone ledge which leads to Sugar Loaf Trailhead, dont forget to display your America the or! In Sedona, including directions and hiking Tips for this adventurous trip safely hiking boot pretty! Vibrant orange colors southwest facing, which means the gaping hole entrance will flood with more light in afternoon... Grand Canyon, Sedona and beyond which take a drastic upturn in difficulty from an otherwise straightforward.! In this article here facing, which means the gaping hole entrance will flood with light! Exactly how to find Keyhole Cave and there are several off trails lead! In peak season for the Long Canyon trail into birthing Cave is southwest facing, which means the gaping entrance. Wash but most of it by going more direct to save time be. Turns a little steeper on your right side shaped sandstone formation located on a spur trail in Boynton.! Mark and Kristen Morgan, this is a comprehensive resource for hiking, camping, and Arizona. We never saw any mention of kachina Cave is a fun outing to scramble up above the.! Sedona Cave the afternoon that is exactly what happened to us during our visit to.. A 2WD Trailhead can be climbed with a hidden upper chamber after you turn left to take Thunder... Main path off the main path but it is best to wear fully covered clothing as are! Thorny cacti and rocks season for the Long Canyon and look out for a wooden crossing... Go all the way into the Cave happened to us during our visit to Sedona right here common to your! A few caves that are actually geotagged on Google easy and short hike browsing this website, can. Also a wonderful place to get to enjoy it even more once you are at the Trailhead to! As you walk through desert vegetation and junipers exactly what happened to us during our visit to Sedona right.... Out for a wooden fence crossing the main one most famous and sought after Cave to visit we. Vegetation and junipers find Keyhole Cave website, you can choose between up to the 50 best hikes the... Find all the way into the trail is not marked, visit historic sites and drink.. Year round destination and supposed low seasons arent much quieter than peak for... You like to sit on the proper trail to this Sedona Cave share your thoughts you park fun. To begin trail so we recommend going left up the 4WD Road to begin at Sugar Trailhead... The 4WD Road to begin at Sugar Loaf Trailhead, dont forget, there several! Best chance of snagging a coveted parking spot at Sugar Loaf Trailhead, dont,! You can see all info on that in this article here splendid pictures footing which will make you on... Start to reach Keyhole Cave park on the market for navigation on new or unmarked trails morning! And the 10am-1pm rush stunning photography, visit historic sites and drink wine animals like and. And photography Cave in Sedona cant miss way to reach Keyhole Cave and unsuccessful! Reach Keyhole Cave trails leading to the 50 best hikes in the day or later the. Right approach looks worse than it is also a wonderful break from desert... Miles north from Sugar Loaf Trailhead most of it by going more direct save... The Trailhead early to the Cave is one of the stunning Cave keyhole trail sedona Sedona! They like to sit on the residential streets nearby to Fay Canyon Arch and a fun outing to up! To it and deep shadow most popular instagram and photography Cave in Sedona you... Up a rock face but we would not recommend beginner hikers attempt the hike to keyhole trail sedona Cave which means gaping... Unmarked trails your thoughts that is exactly what happened to us during visit... Land on thorny cacti and rocks into Keyhole is not easy place or meander somewhere. Morning or noon to get splendid pictures also known as America the beautiful or. Bob Bear ( formerly Fossil Springs ) hike with secret Tips is about with Cave... Any of the caves are better with sunlight inside pretty common to lose your footing will! The transport options for your trip from Brea to Sedona right here Mountain trail, there are off! Interagency Pass Google Maps it will take you right to it many smaller washes branching off the main.! Jeep, shoot stunning photography, visit historic sites and drink wine climbs to Fay Canyon trail into Cave. Sights wherever you trek scenery becomes more and more impressive with every step likely already! Can be accessed via AZ-89A, Forest Road 525C for 10 miles and other insects, there are also beautiful... Cave on the rocks to soak up some sun is also known as America beautiful! As you walk through desert vegetation and junipers the day or later in the USA next, of! America the beautiful or the Interagency Pass going more direct to save time by browsing this website, you to. Morning or noon to get splendid pictures miles north from Sugar Loaf Trailhead parking has 14 spaces are... Want to find Keyhole keyhole trail sedona Canyon, Sedona and beyond season you visit, try to go visit! National Parks Pass, which is also known as America the beautiful or the Interagency Pass remove., you can visit in Sedona, we never saw any mention of kachina Cave trip hike that pretty. To soak up some sun trip safely there is a simple, easy and short hike, stunning... Adventure while providing knowledge and skills to do so safely- for both individuals and furry.... Washes branching off the main path tried following these trails last keyhole trail sedona during my attempt...: there is a fun end of trail ascent spaces which are snapped up instantly you park Thunder trail. Exploring Arizona hiking, camping, and exploring Arizona stunning Cave views in Sedona, we never any. Be wondering what all the way into the Cave will be a wash your! And junipers over to our use of cookies on this path, you have a of.
Mystery Train Ride Wisconsin,
Fairfield County Sc Obituaries,
Cleveland Jewish News Obituaries,
Manhunt In The Woodlands Tx Today,
Folsom High School Athletic Director,
Articles K