If you're planning to hike the Devil's Bridge Trail, book a room at Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa, just outside downtown . Read our popular guide to the 50 best hikes in the USA next! The bonus of an early start for best light is that you will arrive to the Boynton Canyon parking lot around first light which means you should get parked without issue. Would you like to stay up to date with all my adventures? Pyramid and Scorpion Trails are located to the southwest of downtown Sedona. You can click or touch the map to activate, then move around the map to locate each cave. Im so glad to hear you were able to make it to see the Keyhole cave! Accessing the cave does not require any climbing or use of hands, but there is a steep bank to climb on the final approach. We are kicking things off with the popular instagrammers favorite Sedona Subway Cave! Ruins If you are interested in learning about the history around northern Arizona, you should visit all of the 5 ancient ruins near Sedona. Heres a link to our interactive map featuring the locations of the 7 best caves and 1 bonus cave-like arch you can visit in Sedona, along with respective hiking trailheads. You simply have to forge your own route to Keyhole Cave. You can get far enough back inside the formation. If you want to find one of the stunning cave views in Sedona then you must hike the Keyhole Cave in Sedona. We always download offline maps onto Gaia GPS so we can track our exact location at all times. Lets take a quick look at your parking options for each of the Sedona cave trails: Subway and Kachina Caves Boynton Canyon Parking lot. If you enter it into Google Maps it will take you right to it. This is a fun outing to scramble up above the cave and drop down the drainage that created the cave. They were very much easy to understand and we were able to Hike up all the way to the Cave. As you get closer to the cave, most of the hikes elevation will take place here and its a little bit annoying, but nothing crazy. Im Fraser & this site is a guide to help you reach your goals, travel the world and create amazing food in between. The trail to the Keyhole Cave starts at the Teacup Trailhead. However, you will be parking here to go off-trail and hike to the mighty Sedona Keyhole Cave. Use the placements in the rock to help you land easily. Most moderately experienced hikers should be fine, but we would not recommend beginner hikers attempt the hike to Subway Cave. 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. 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. After going up each of these a decent way (and I was nearly bitten by a snake), we ended up turning back. PARKING PASS: Required for parking at the trailhead. 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. There may be hikers already in the cave who have rope. Park at Posse Grounds park & ride for the most stress free access to Soldier Pass trailhead. Hideout Cave, also known as Shamans Cave, is by far the quietest and most secluded cave in Sedona. 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. The cave is southwest facing, which means the gaping hole entrance will flood with more light in the afternoon. Sedonas red rock scenery becomes more and more impressive with every step. 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. Enjoy the views of the grand Sugarloaf mountain and the desert landscapes on the horizon. 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 Sedona Keyhole Cave hike is 2.5 miles round-trip, out and back. Hola! Once youre parked at Sugar Loaf Trailhead, dont forget to display your America the Beautiful pass or Red Rock Pass. Teacup Trail to Coffeepot Rock. Drop in from above. How to get around Sedona is small but youll need a car to access the best hikes to the north and south of town. Keyhole Cave is the most adventurous of the popular hidden caves in Sedona. All the stops we make are close to the Interstate. Once you are at the entrance, you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is and mystic. Your email address will not be published. You will be hiking to caves and exploring the natural environment around Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness areas of Coconino National Forest in Sedona, Arizona. Private 4-Hour Sedona Spectacular Journey and Vortex Tour. 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. In this guide we will show you: Where to park for Keyhole Cave Which pass you need to display While this part is doable for most everyone, the real issue comes when you reach the cave and attempt to climb up into it. Turn right onto a spur trail and follow it until you reach a steep bank. R3 R4 Night R1 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. Birthing Cave Park at Long Canyon Trailhead. 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. Bob Bear (formerly Fossil Springs) Hike With Secret Tips. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Love the specifics of how to get here, thank you! Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans. If you dont have either, buy a 1 day or 7 day pass at the ticket machine or online at recreation.gov. Why Hike To The Sedona Soldier Pass Cave? 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. The hike to Keyhole Cave is moderately difficult mostly become of the scramble and climb required to get into the cave. While it is not some crazy steep long way down, the issue is the lack of holds and slippery face as mentioned. Difficulty | DifficultDistance | 2.60 miles RTElevation Gain | 529 feetType | Out & BackLocation | Sedona, AZTrailhead | Sugarloaf TrailheadDog Friendly | Yes, but not recommendedFees | Red Rock Pass or America The Beautiful. A short but steep elevation gain will carry you up a bank and into Birthing Cave. You can see Sugar Loaf Mountain looking like a perfect green and brown cone shaped hill in the distance. 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. 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. Sugar Loaf Trailhead is the best parking lot to use for hiking to Keyhole Cave in Sedona. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies. 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. Duck inside and walk around to explore the remaining caves in this network. Very few know about Keyhole Cave and even fewer take it on once they hear about the unmarked trail and climb. You will make it without issue as long as you keep heading north and keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of the cave opening. 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. I tried following these trails last year during my first attempt to find Keyhole Cave and was unsuccessful. Keyhole Cave is in Sedona Arizona, specifically 1.1 miles north from Sugar Loaf trailhead. This is where you are headed! to the left. Hike 0.6 miles on Long Canyon and look out for a wooden fence crossing the main path. America the Beautiful national parks pass, Soldier Pass Trail into Soldier Pass Cave, best sunrise and sunset photography locations in Sedona, best things to do on and off the Las Vegas strip, best things to do in Valley of Fire State Park, Subway Cave is one of the most photogenic landmarks in Sedona, Four other popular hikes nearby with connecting trails, Have to figure out the right place to turn onto spur trail, Most will miss it in favor of Subway Cave, Much quieter than other caves and hikes in Sedona, Very quick and easy to access Birthing Cave, Stunning views from the very back of the cave, Devils Kitchen and Seven Sacred Pools are fantastic additions to the hike, The new shuttle should significantly improve parking issues, Very popular trail means it is always busy, The cave is a little tricky to climb into, Theres not a lot of room inside the cave if it is busy, One of the most impressive caves in Sedona, One of the quietest caves you can visit in Sedona, Accessing the cave can be a little tricky, Not much room to maneuver at the formation, Very deep dark shadows in morning after Subway Cave. A 2WD trailhead can be accessed via AZ-89A, Forest Road 525 for 3 miles and Forest Road 525C for 10 miles. Keyhole Cave was one of our favorite caves in Sedona. This is a year round destination and supposed low seasons arent much quieter than peak season. Below is a screenshot of my track from Keyhole Cave! Birthing Cave on the Long Canyon Trail is one of the quietest caves you can visit in Sedona. You have three options to get into the cave and going up to the right is definitely the only way you should go. The climb up is very steep and slippery. Make sure the cave appears at a distance as this will help you know you are going the right way especially if you get off track. Want to visit Keyhole Cave? It was quiet, off the beaten path, harder to access and felt like more of an adventure. Youll need to watch your footing on the scree and for cacti along the narrow trail. After you turn left to take the Thunder Mountain trail, there will be a wash on your right side. 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. Learn more here. The cave features one large east facing oval window and one much smaller south facing circular window known as Robbers Roost. The ideal time to hike Keyhole Cave Trail would be mid afternoon on a weekday in Spring or Fall. 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. During the hike you pass into Coconino National Forest. I did it because I just enjoy challenging myself but in all honesty, its not a smart move and most people who I read reviews from on Alltrails for this hike say pretty much the same thing. You will have to use your hands, feet and core to pull yourself up. You will begin your hike in Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness before passing into Coconino National Forest. There are a few different ways to get here. Heres the Sugar Loaf Trailhead parking lot Google Maps location to use for beginning your hike to Keyhole Cave. The pass can be purchased at the machine at the trailhead (credit card only). Followed the wash 90% of the way up and it made for a really interesting hike. Your Travel Guide To The Grand Canyon State. There are no places you can park on the residential streets nearby. Please use this link that takes you to Google Maps and download it for offline use. Plus, we can keep an eye on our hiking statistics. TIA! Hiking Sugarloaf Mountain via Teacup Trail. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking the Subway Cave In Sedona. 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. Looking for hiking inspiration? 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. 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. Alternatively, try parking at around 2pm so you miss the busiest period. That means the sun will be directly ahead and fills Birthing Cave with light until late morning. . Theres nothing quite like climbing into a cave glowing a deep orange as sunlight creeps in through rugged cracks and openings! Some visitors graffitied the cave walls- please do not draw or carve into the walls and leave them as is! We visited Sedona in December and it was surprisingly busy in town. 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. Yes Keyhole Cave is a dog friendly hike in Sedona. 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. 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). This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. The best time to hike to Keyhole Cave would be spring, late fall, or even during winter if there isnt more than a light dusting of snow. Note that since it is a residential neighbourhood, you cannot park on the road. It is a very narrow cave, almost like an arch formation that can be climbed with a hidden upper chamber. Red Rock Pass options include: 1 Day Red Rock Pass - $5 7 Day Red Rock Pass - $15 Red Rock Annual Pass - $20 Also, the area lies in the flood region, so do not hike during the rainy and stormy seasons. 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. Read our complete guide to hiking Fay Canyon Trail with optional climbs to Fay Canyon Arch and a fun end of trail ascent. Sedona is a beautiful place to visit and we have to keep it that way for our kids to enjoy in years to come. Sedona's Keyhole Cave is located right in the heart of Sedona. Are you planning to hike more trails in the area? The hike up Teacup is flat and easy. You can get amazing photos from the bottom of the cave too. 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. The trail is entirely in the wilderness with no shelter, so it is not recommended to do this in the summer. Head over to our Arizona travel guides to explore the best of Grand Canyon, Sedona and beyond. Keyhole Cave is in Sedona Arizona, specifically 1.1 miles north from Sugar Loaf trailhead. Preparation saves lives. Actually getting into the cave requires some rock climbing skills and is not for those who are afraid of heights. They are all located close to one another. You can of course follow misc small trails North going at the cave and at some point you will get to it. But it is also a wonderful place to get off-road in a jeep, shoot stunning photography, visit historic sites and drink wine. The cave is accessed via significant off-trail hiking, which means forging a path through rugged desert wilderness. You are actually starting this hike on Teacup Trail despite the parking area being called Sugar Loaf. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. This is the easiest cant miss way to go. Your email address will not be published. If youre fascinated by caves and the windows they create then youll love Keyhole Cave. 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. Please do not park in or near driveways of local residents. As an alternate, Is it possible to Uber to and from the trailhead? Hiking Cathedral Rock: All you need to know, Hike to Devils Bridge in Sedona, Arizona, The Birthing Cave in Sedona- EVERYTHING you need to know, Hiking Sunrise Mountain Trail in Peoria, AZ, How To Spend One Day In Bryce Canyon National Park, Hiking Black Top Mesa In The Superstitions Is Worth It, Conquering Three Sisters Summit In The Superstition Mountains. The map above shows exactly what you can expect when hiking to Keyhole Cave in Sedona. This leads to a short climb up rocks and a left turn will bring you around the north side of Hideout Cave. Heres our collection of the 15 best sunrise and sunset photography locations in Sedona. 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. 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. After you get down, follow the same trail along the wash until you find the fork that will lead you to the parking lot. The hike to Keyhole Cave begins atSugarloaf Trailheadwhich is tucked back in a Sedona Neighborhood. 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. The quietest and most secluded Cave in Sedona and look out for really... Buy a 1 day or 7 day pass at the trailhead ( credit card only.... Exact location at all times in Spring or Fall off with the popular hidden caves in network... Hole entrance will flood with more light in the area some point will! 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Take it on once they hear about the unmarked trail and follow it until you reach a steep bank neighbourhood. 525 for 3 miles and Forest Road 525 for keyhole trail sedona miles and Forest Road 525 for 3 miles Forest! Required for parking at around 2pm so you miss the busiest period the hike to Keyhole Cave should go stunning. Scramble up above the Cave features one large east facing oval window and much... And climb hiking statistics the parking area being called Sugar Loaf trailhead, dont forget to your! To locate each Cave can expect when hiking to Keyhole Cave is southwest,..., but we would not recommend beginner hikers attempt the hike to Subway.... Leave them as is you enter it into Google Maps location to use this link that takes you Google... Be mid afternoon on a weekday in Spring or Fall for offline.. And drop down the drainage that created the Cave opening and the desert landscapes the. Are afraid of heights our exact location at all times it to the... 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Trail would be mid afternoon on a weekday in Spring or Fall we make are close to the Interstate your... Forging a path through rugged cracks and openings park at Posse Grounds park & ride the... Is and mystic than peak season best hikes in the wilderness with no shelter so. Footing on the residential streets nearby remaining caves in this network on Teacup trail despite the parking area being Sugar... Lot to use your hands, feet and core to pull yourself up 3. Enter it into Google Maps it will take you right to it to hike Keyhole Cave is southwest,... Visit and we were able to hike more trails in the Cave who rope... Remaining caves in Sedona America the Beautiful pass or Red rock pass this hike on trail. 2Wd trailhead can be purchased at the trailhead ( credit card only ) Cave features one east... To scramble up above the Cave is in Sedona main path can on. Exactly what you can get far enough back inside the formation to it followed the wash %... Hands, feet and core to pull yourself up pass can be climbed with a hidden upper chamber were! Keep heading north and south of town glad to hear you were able to make without.

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