If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Pin It For Your Hike! After you get down, follow the same trail along the wash until you find the fork that will lead you to the parking lot. 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. Sedona swimming holes are some of the best places to cool off in the city when the temperatures soar. Now you have to get up there. It is definitely worth visiting Keyhole Cave, the biggest cave you can hike to in Sedona on your itinerary. Follow the obvious path leading to a short downhill climb. Unlike the other Sedona Caves which require a bit of hike into the forest depths before seeing the cave, you can spot the Keyhole Cave Sedona way off in the distance, a giant hole amidst the mountains, which is the mouth of the cave. It was still difficult due to the sand and slippery rock, though. But back to finding the keyhole cave! Subway Cave is east facing which means you should try to access the cave as early in the day as possible for best light. Birthing Cave is a relaxing cave to visit thanks to a relatively easy hike and spectacular views. 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. After you park in the lot, it is easy to find the trail and start at the Sugarloaf Trailhead. 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. Hi I'm Vitaliy, creator of TheNatureSeeker.com, thanks for stopping by! Many paths criss-cross over undulating hills and through rough vegetation. Pyramid and Scorpion Trails are located to the southwest of downtown Sedona. This angle looking straight ahead is exactly where you started the hike to Keyhole Cave. I personally loved this hike, but its not for everyone and I hope these instructions (and warnings) are helpful to you! So watch your footing and for cacti along the narrow trail. Check out Hiking for Beginners 101- The Best Guide for New Hikers to get started! Want to visit Subway Cave? This was the right time to get on an actual trail because we were close enough to the base and we could see it, so we knew the trail led directly to it. It is straight back and looks like a giant gaping hole in the mountainside. Private 4-Hour Sedona Spectacular Journey and Vortex Tour. Keyhole Cave: There is a 2.7-mile round trip hike that is pretty difficult to get to this Sedona cave. It isnt that far until youll reach a sign marking the intersection. Trailhead: 2065 Buena Vista Dr, Sedona, AZ 86336. There are a few different ways to get here. Once youre parked at Sugar Loaf Trailhead, dont forget to display your America the Beautiful pass or Red Rock Pass. The views from the grand entrance of the caves are surreal and much better than the pictures you see. Thank you so much for the response! Keyhole Cave is a southwest facing cave located in Coconino National Forest to the north of downtown Sedona. Instead of buying a Red Rock Pass you can simply display your America the Beautiful Pass at all trailheads when hiking to Sedona caves. This is the easiest cant miss way to go. Know where you are going ahead of time and always have a way to keep yourself on trail. PARKING PASS: Required for parking at the trailhead. Your email address will not be published. Bob Bear (formerly Fossil Springs) Hike With Secret Tips. The majority of it comes at the end when you hike up from the wash up the hill to the face of the cave. This is exactly what happened to me too. 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. Sugar Loaf Trailhead is the best parking lot to use for hiking to Keyhole Cave in Sedona. If youre looking for an escape from the crowds at Cathedral Rock Trail and Devils Bridge Trail, head out responsibly into the Sedona wilderness and climb into Keyhole Cave. Read our complete guide to hiking Boynton Canyon Trail into Subway Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. Keyhole Cave is the biggest and most adventurous cave you can hike to in Sedona. You will have problems finding your way back in the dark. Recommended. Solider Pass Cave Soldier Pass Trail. This leads to a short climb up rocks and a left turn will bring you around the north side of Hideout Cave. It is not a cave in the traditional sense of the word but the Sedona landscape can be framed from behind the arch similarly to that inside most of the caves on this list. Difficulty: Moderate. The trailhead is in an old Sedona neighborhood, and the cave faces the town and Airport Mesa. Posted on Last updated: December 18, 2022. 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! 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. The Sedona Keyhole Cave is stunning but also the most dangerous out of the caves in this article. You will begin from the parking lot and start the hike at Teacup Trail. Looking for a adventurous way to explore Sedona's Keyhole Cave? As you reach closer, along the way, you can see the gaping mouth of the cave in the distance. The above Summit is also worth a visit if you have extra time. Keyhole Cave Access: Sugarloaf One of the largest alcoves in the area, Keyhole Cave can actually be seen from many places in West Sedona. As Sedona grows in popularity, more and more hikers are visiting each year and there are nowhere near enough places to park at trailheads. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans. The sun had already moved so far round to the south that the cave was in dark and deep shadow. 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. The climb up is very steep and slippery. We wouldnt recommend taking dogs to any of the caves as they are unsafe and often require climbing. Hideout Cave has both east and south facing windows allowing light to illuminate the its cavernous chamber. One way to do this is with a GPS system or app. 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. Thanks for reading, Michael! No matter which season you visit, try to avoid weekends, holidays and the 10am-2pm rush. While this part is doable for most everyone, the real issue comes when you reach the cave and attempt to climb up into it. Unless you strike it lucky with timing of a drop off, you probably won't be able to take one. Keyhole Cave is one of only a few caves that are actually geotagged on Google. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Love the specifics of how to get here, thank you! Cross a narrow ledge carefully on slick rock. Devil's Bridge Trail Stats. Want to visit Hideout Cave? We took the right approach both on the way up and down. Were going to explain everything you need to know about each of the 7 most popular Sedona caves so you can hike to each stunning cavern during your visit to northern Arizona. If you want to find one of the stunning cave views in Sedona then you must hike the Keyhole Cave in Sedona. 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. Thank you for your review, Jacob! Robbers Roost Trail is located 21 miles northwest of downtown Sedona on Forest Road 525C. While the trail is moderate the very end to get into the cave is extremely difficult and dangerous. 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. Red Rock Pass options include: 1 Day Red Rock Pass - $5 7 Day Red Rock Pass - $15 Red Rock Annual Pass - $20 Required fields are marked *. Take your time and take small steps to prevent slipping and falling back into a cactus. We recommend only climbing up inside the cave if you are a seasoned hiker, athletic and have ropes and do not mind heights. 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. 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. It is pretty easy to find and you start at the Sugarloaf Trailhead. Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. Winter and Summer offer quieter periods in Sedona. Coming down you will want to go against that wall on the front of the entrance (down the Right side you came up). If there is rain or recent rain and you cant go up the wash, or you want to go direct, then just follow the trails North directed at the cave, and you will eventually run into it. Las Vegas Heading to Vegas on your Southwest adventure? Our advice is not to worry about being able to find Keyhole Cave. Later in the day the cave will be in deep and dark shadows. LOCATION: West Sedona, in Boynton Pass PET FRIENDLY: No. 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. It is pretty easy to get off trail so we recommend using AllTrails. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking the Subway Cave In Sedona. There are two ways you can hike the fantastic Pyramid and Scorpion trails. The trail was hard to follow, we didnt know exactly where it started or ended, and we ended up bushwhacking and being way off of where we needed to be. Kachina Cave is the best kept secret of all so called hidden caves in Sedona. Preparation saves lives. Would you like to stay up to date with all my adventures? 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. Be very careful and only more skilled hikers should try to get up into it. Check out 5 of the best Sedona Caves and how to find them for more! Keep following the curving dry river bed for about 0.75 miles as it snakes north toward Keyhole Cave. Getting into the Sedona Keyhole cave is difficult. Please let us know if you have any questions about hiking Keyhole Cave or your visit to Sedona in the comments below. This is a fun outing to scramble up above the cave and drop down the drainage that created the cave. Come 5:23 Hidden Hiking Gem In Sedona Arizona: Keyhole Cave Via Sugarloaf. During these times getting parked at trailheads can be a real challenge. You will find Subway Cave to be among the busiest on this list of best caves in Sedona but the natural beauty of this formation is well worth dealing with the crowds. 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. But please be warned, the climb into Keyhole is not easy. Do you use any of the best hiking apps on the market for navigation on new or unmarked trails? 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. Zoom in and out to see hiking trail routes from trailhead to cave. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi! Or there may be rope left over from recent hikers. But they come with a higher price tag and more crowds. 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. The trail is entirely in the wilderness with no shelter, so it is not recommended to do this in the summer. The Sedona Keyhole Cave hike is 2.5 miles round-trip, out and back. Along the way there are several off trails that lead back up to the same place or meander off somewhere else. Length 2.7 miElevation gain 291 ftRoute type Loop. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking The Birthing Cave In Sedona. The cave is southwest facing, which means the gaping hole entrance will flood with more light in the afternoon. Perfect! Going direct is the more exciting way to reach Keyhole Cave. Actually getting into the cave requires some rock climbing skills and is not for those who are afraid of heights. For those who have appreciated Munds Wagon Trail and Cow Pies, this trail takes it to the next level. The hike to Keyhole Cave begins at Sugarloaf Trailhead which is tucked back in a Sedona Neighborhood. If full, park at Andante Trailhead and walk Andante Trail to Thunder Mountain Trail and the joining point with Teacup. 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. 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. 3 rappels to make it down ending in a epic one right over the Keyhole Cave. Now I have to make the following very clear once again: You will be off trail when you do this hike. 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. Since the route to get here is in a wash you want to be careful to not hike during or right after a rainstorm. Try to go earlier in the day or later in the afternoon. From there you will walk through a wash and climb a steep unmarked bank trail to reach the cave area. Overall, Birthing Cave is suitable for all hikers with a good level of fitness. The turnoff is about 2 miles into the trail. Lets take a closer look at each of the 7 caves you can explore in Sedona. Im sorry to hear you didnt make it to the cavebut I agree, the area is beautiful regardless. Heres the right approach into Keyhole Cave: The right approach looks worse than it is. Once you are at the massive cave entrance you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is inside. Looking for hiking inspiration? 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. 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! I apologize my directions couldnt get you all the way. Given the length of the trip we usually make short stops at Palm Springs, Blythe or Quartzite, and Phoenix (far side: Happy Valley) and then head on to Sedona. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Be very careful as your coming back down! Be advised, if not using the authors GPX files, the final leg may not be very clear. I needed to help 3/5 people get up and down who had gone into the cave. Also, the area lies in the flood region, so do not hike during the rainy and stormy seasons. Along the way you can even see the gaping window in the distance as you head towards it. A steep climb up the northeast facing bank of Fay Canyon much be climbed to reach the arch. The hike itself is easy to moderate but getting up into the cave can be quite sketchy. Heres why you should visit these Sedona caves with just one day: Got your days planned out? Hola! Decide which way to go down and take care with your footing when youre ready to leave Keyhole Cave. Keyhole Cave is the best cave for adventure seekers to visit in Sedona. The cave is accessed via significant off-trail hiking, which means forging a path through rugged desert wilderness. 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. As I adventure around the Southwest I aim to inspire you to get outdoors while sharing knowledge and skills to do so safely! You could even use our images during your hike to keep track of where you are along the adventure to Keyhole Cave. This is where you are headed! Because you will need to climb a high, slick wall to get into the Keyhole Cave. I would not recommend this for anyone scared of heights, who dont have shoes with great grip or for the lesser athletic. 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. Other hikers simply head due north using multiple paths which all twist and intertwine like a maze. Getting to this Sedona cave isnt for beginner hikers or those afraid of the challenge to climb 10+ feet of slick rock. Why Hike To The Sedona Soldier Pass Cave? Eventually you will find that the wash narrows a bit and becomes filled with fallen trees and rocks to climb over. You'll probably see a good amount of hikers here as there are a lot of popular routes in the area. 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). Im Fraser & this site is a guide to help you reach your goals, travel the world and create amazing food in between. Im not going to lie, I fell back on my butt on the way down this trail! This popular hiking trail heads about three miles into a deep box canyon and includes ancient Sinaguan Indian ruins along the way. The final 10% was not clear as there are at least 3 inlets near the top and in sight of the cave. Keyhole Cave - Parking at Sugar Loaf / Teacup trailhead requires a pass Red Rock Pass 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. We hiked part of the route inside the wash but most of it by going more direct to save time. Tip: Dont forget to visit the Boynton Canyon vortex site at the end of your hike. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Head over to our Arizona travel guides to explore the best of Grand Canyon, Sedona and beyond. Please do not park in or near driveways of local residents. 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. 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. The hike to Keyhole Cave begins at Sugarloaf Trailhead which is tucked back in a Sedona Neighborhood. Youll want to take a left like youre hiking along Thunder Mountain Trail, but just after you turn left there will be a wash on your right side. The hike to Keyhole Cave is not physically tough, but you will need good navigation and pathfinding skills. Hiking Sugarloaf Mountain via Teacup Trail. 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. Subway Cave is arguably the most famous and sought after cave to visit in Sedona. 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. Alternatively, try parking at around 2pm so you miss the busiest period. 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. Id love to hear your thoughts on the Keyhole Cave if you do it. At the Sugarloaf Trailhead youre actually able to spot Keyhole Cave way off in the distance. I found people dont stay here for very long since the trails are short so it is a fast turnaround! We always download offline maps onto Gaia GPS so we can track our exact location at all times. Read our complete guide to hiking Fay Canyon Trail with optional climbs to Fay Canyon Arch and a fun end of trail ascent.
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