Arrive early to the lot in peak season for the best chance of snagging a coveted parking spot at Sugar Loaf Trailhead. Bob Bear (formerly Fossil Springs) Hike With Secret Tips. 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. Due to the more complex network like structure of these caves, you can easily manipulate light to create unique images. Solider Pass Cave Soldier Pass Trail. Keyhole Cave is a southwest facing cave located in Coconino National Forest to the north of downtown 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. 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. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Sedona, AZ 86339 Open today: 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM Save Private 4-Hour Sedona Spectacular Journey and Vortex Tour 33 Book in advance from $288.88 per adult Check availability View full product details Z9866ZHnancyl Miami, Florida 85 28 Made it to The Subway Keyhole Secret Review of Boynton Canyon Trail Reviewed May 2, 2021 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). 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. Fay Canyon Arch is southwest facing, which means it remains in total darkness if you arrive any time between sunrise and midday. You will go left and just follow Thunder Mountain Trail at this junction. Now I have to make the following very clear once again: You will be off trail when you do this hike. Read more in our disclosure policy.*. 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. Or there may be rope left over from recent hikers. Once youre done exploring this area, its just a matter of heading back down south to reach the parking lot to complete this hike. But if you are a seasoned hiker looking for an adventure, you will be rewarded with fascinating views from the Keyhole Cave in Sedona. All you have to do is sidestep or go back on yourself a few paces then try another path. Without a rope, do not try to come down the middle part of that Right side you came up as it is so slippery and there arent any solid holds. 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. You are going to hike directly straight ahead beyond the wooden sign heading for the red rock formation on the horizon. Long Canyon has no facilities. The climb up is very steep and slippery. There are only 4 parking spaces and it doesnt even look legit, but it is, and the caves are actually well worth visiting. It was quiet, off the beaten path, harder to access and felt like more of an adventure. You can actually see the cave in the distance from the beginning of the hike. Hiking Most of Sedonas caves are found by hiking into red rock wilderness, heres our popular roundup of all 20 best hikes in Sedona, Arizona. This is a fun outing to scramble up above the cave and drop down the drainage that created the cave. Plus, we can keep an eye on our hiking statistics. This is one of the 4 main Sedona vortex sites. As long as you see it and make your way towards it in the north, you will arrive at the base of Keyhole Cave. Lets take a look at some of the most asked questions about visiting caves in Sedona, Arizona. Is the trailhead located close to Soldiers Pass? 1. Duck inside and walk around to explore the remaining caves in this network. 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. A short but steep elevation gain will carry you up a bank and into Birthing Cave. 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. Please do not park in or near driveways of local residents. Coordinates: 34.88717 N, 111.79926 W. Dogs Allowed: Yes, but NOT dog-friendly. I found sticking to the wash is the easiest and most direct way to reach the cave. Keyhole Cave is one of only a few caves that are actually geotagged on Google. Top ways to experience Teacup Trail and nearby attractions. Want to visit Fay Canyon? Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk 2 miles until you reach a big, burnt, black and gray tree trunk. They are all located close to one another. We now help over 2 million people each year to travel, hike and photograph their bucket list destinations. Park at Posse Grounds park & ride for the most stress free access to Soldier Pass trailhead. You must take the right turn at the split and climb a fairly steep gradient to gain access to Solider Pass Cave in Sedona. In addition, thorns and cacti can cause problems and the trail is not marked. There is a wash you can follow for most of the hike but it twists and turns which adds on distance and time. From that parking lot are several hikes available, including the one to Keyhole Cave, but at the same time, Keyhole Cave is not an official spot on that list. If you visit Sedona in Spring or Fall when it is at peak tourist season, you simply have to be out early at trailheads or youll have problems getting parked. Follow along for a little ways until you reach an intersection with Thunder Mountain Trail. 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. Keyhole Cave is in Sedona Arizona, specifically 1.1 miles north from Sugar Loaf trailhead. How do I get to Keyhole? Hike To The Birthing Cave In Sedona Birthing Cave Hike Details. Keyhole Cave Sedona FAQs Where Is Keyhole Cave Sedona? If you want to explore some of the Caves in Sedona, you may know about Keyhole Cave Sedona as being one of the most challenging ones to hike. If you plan to hike more trails around Sedona over a period of 2 7 days, you should buy the 7 day pass because you will need it at many other trailheads in the area. Sedona has a total of 7 caves. Read our complete guide to hiking Fay Canyon Trail with optional climbs to Fay Canyon Arch and a fun end of trail ascent. The hike to Keyhole Cave begins atSugarloaf Trailheadwhich is tucked back in a Sedona Neighborhood. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans. Soldier Pass Cave is at the end of arguably the most entertaining hiking trail among the cave hikes in Sedona. Share. This cave has a grand entrance that can be spotted miles away but is still tucked back off the beaten path so not many people visit it. Photos (3,140) Directions. 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. Hiking Soldier Pass Trail To Soldier Pass Cave In Sedona, Hiking Robbers Roost Trail To Hideout Cave In Sedona. 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. Hideout Cave Hike Robbers Roost Trail to Hideout Cave in the far northwest of Sedona for the quietest and most secluded cave in town. A 2WD trailhead can be accessed via AZ-89A, Forest Road 525 for 3 miles and Forest Road 525C for 10 miles. 3 rappels to make it down ending in a epic one right over the Keyhole Cave. 29. Cross a narrow ledge carefully on slick rock. After the climb, you will land on a ledge, from where you will be in the cave. You can find a small parking lot at the Sugarloaf trailhead located in a residential area on Buena Vista Drive, from where you begin your hike. The final 10% was not clear as there are at least 3 inlets near the top and in sight of the cave. Spring and Fall represent the two best seasons for visiting Sedona in general when hiking conditions are most comfortable. The huge cave opening provides striking views over northern Sedona and the trail is very quiet in comparison to other trails in town. I tried following these trails last year during my first attempt to find Keyhole Cave and was unsuccessful. Want to visit Hideout Cave? At the fork there is a sign to follow Teacup Trail to the right and Thunder MTN Trail to the left. There are two places you can park for hiking Robbers Roost Trail to Hideout Cave. However, to be honest you should be fine with this particular hike. Please let us know if you have any questions about hiking Keyhole Cave or your visit to Sedona in the comments below. This lone tree illuminates under sunlight around mid morning when the sun position is optimal for entering the narrow cave chamber. Looking for hiking inspiration? Preparation saves lives. 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. Your email address will not be published. Now the real fun begins! Keyhole Cave: There is a 2.7-mile round trip hike that is pretty difficult to get to this Sedona cave. Actually getting into the cave requires some rock climbing skills and is not for those who are afraid of heights. Subway Cave is east facing which means you should try to access the cave as early in the day as possible for best light. It was still difficult due to the sand and slippery rock, though. Because you will need to climb a high, slick wall to get into the Keyhole Cave. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! Try Andante Trailhead parking if you cant get parked at Sugar Loaf and it looks like you wont be able to any time soon. Recently, the Sedona Westerners' Rustlers hiking group on . , Hi Mara! Accessing the cave does not require any climbing or use of hands, but there is a steep bank to climb on the final approach. The trailhead is in an old Sedona neighborhood, and the cave faces the town and Airport Mesa. Here, the path is slippery again so take your time and it is best to take small steps to prevent slipping and falling back into a cactus. While this part is doable for most everyone, the real issue comes when you reach the cave and attempt to climb up into it. From the start of the Teacup trail you will hike just under .5 miles where there is a fork in the road. 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. Check out Hiking for Beginners 101- The Best Guide for New Hikers to get started! 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. At the bottom turn right and you will find the first cave. A rope will help you come down safely. I found people dont stay here for very long since the trails are short so it is a fast turnaround! The majority of it comes at the end when you hike up from the wash up the hill to the face of the cave. Lets get stuck into the Keyhole Cave hiking walkthrough! As always, please be considerate of the environment so we can keep enjoying it and rememberto leave no trace. Read our complete guide to hiking Long Canyon Trail into Birthing Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. 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. This cave is 1 of 5 amazing caves within the Sedona Wilderness Ive hiked to. Looking for hiking inspiration? Remember and follow the 7 principles of leave no trace when hiking to caves in Sedona: From our own experience in Sedona, we found people were not always disposing of waste correctly, but perhaps more surprisingly we noticed people were not planning ahead before hiking. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking the Subway Cave In Sedona. One way to do this is with a GPS system or app. During these seasons you have more chance getting parked up without issue. Other Nearby Trails in . Suggest edits to improve what we show. Hike through the red rocks to explore some of Sedona's more spiritual side. Entering Keyhole Cave isnt easy. I hope you find the cave and enjoy your adventure. It is made up of 5 or 6 separate tunnel like caverns overlooking Oak Creek. Decide which way to go down and take care with your footing when youre ready to leave Keyhole Cave. If you only plan to hike to caves in Sedona and no other trails, you will need to display a pass for the following caves: You can buy a Red Rock Pass at this specific recreation.gov site in advance, or you can buy one from a ticket machine in select parking lots. Other hikers simply head due north using multiple paths which all twist and intertwine like a maze. Please do not visit ruins with your pet. Posted on Last updated: December 18, 2022. from. Along the way you can even see the gaping window in the distance as you head towards it. Below is a screenshot of my track from Keyhole Cave! Easy 4.6 (2494) Coconino National Forest. 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. Read our complete guide to hiking Boynton Canyon Trail into Subway Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. At just 2.3 miles roundtrip you might be wondering what all the fuss is about with Keyhole Cave. 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. 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. The cave is unique for having a single lone tree with green leaves standing beyond the chamber in an exposed area. Walk 0.2 miles to Devils Kitchen sinkhole, followed by a further 1 mile hike to reach Seven Sacred Pools. You may need to be extra cautious and plan things for this adventurous hike, but the challenge makes it more appealing adding it to the list of the best Sedona hikes. A 4WD trailhead is located an additional 1 mile up Forest Road 9530 which saves 2 miles of hiking total. 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. Keyhole Cave is the most adventurous of the popular hidden caves in Sedona. 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. Some of the caves are better with sunlight inside and others with no sunlight inside. Is there service? Las Vegas Heading to Vegas on your Southwest adventure? Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! Alternatively, you can try parking at Andante Trailhead nearby, which is also a small parking lot. Its highly likely you already have an annual National Parks pass, which is also known as America the Beautiful or the Interagency Pass. If you plan to go until the end of the cave, it is best to bring a rope that will be extremely useful as the last part of the hike is complex and very dangerous. It is important to respect the wilderness areas you will be exploring. The hike itself is easy to moderate but getting up into the cave can be quite sketchy. 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. The Sedona Keyhole Cave hike is 2.5 miles round-trip, out and back. No matter which season you visit, try to avoid weekends, holidays and the 10am-1pm rush. The hike to Keyhole Cave begins at Sugarloaf Trailhead which is tucked back in a Sedona Neighborhood. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. How to Find the Sedona Birthing Cave Devil's Bridge Trail Stats. Lets take a look at some of the most asked questions about hiking to Keyhole Cave in Sedona, Arizona. Hiking Sugarloaf Mountain via Teacup Trail. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking The Seven Sacred Pools In Sedona. However, they are also the busiest times of year, which also means the most expensive. Birthing Cave is east facing which means it is best visited between midday and late afternoon. Read our guide on why America the Beautiful national parks pass is one of the best things you can buy if you plan to visit multiple parks in the next year. The Rustlers hiking group of the Sedona Westerners is approaching the local phenomenon known as Keyhole Cave. You can download my Keyhole Cave trackand gain access to my library of all tracked hikes. Youll 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. Private 4-Hour Sedona Spectacular Journey and Vortex Tour. 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. Sedona, Arizona. If you want to get to the hard to reach places, you should hire a jeep.When to visit Spring and Fall are the best seasons to visit Sedona, but they come with a higher price tag and more crowds. Parking: Parking is limited. Once you are at the massive cave entrance you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is inside. . The photo above shows our location at Birthing Cave. You can buy a Red Rock Pass at this specific recreation.gov site in advance. 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. Getting down is harder than getting up and is a little unnerving even for the best of us. But please be warned, the climb into Keyhole is not easy. 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. However, the wash is flatter, more consistent and you wont have to go back on yourself at any point. Going next weekend, being that it is the weekend after thanksgiving Im worried about how busy it will be in parking areas. But they come with a higher price tag and more crowds. You will begin your hike in Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness before passing into Coconino National Forest. 5 of the best Sedona Caves and how to find them, Hiking for Beginners 101- The Best Guide for New Hikers, Visit these 4 Sedona Wineries all in one day, Keyhole Cave in Sedona and EXACTLY how to get there. Bus Tours. Or you can buy one at a ticket machine when you arrive in person at either parking lot listed further in this guide. I needed to help 3/5 people get up and down who had gone into the cave. Read our guide on why America the Beautiful national parks pass is one of the best things you can buy if you plan to visit multiple parks in the next year. 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. As always, please be considerate of the environment so we can keep it... Rope left over from recent hikers rappels to make the following very clear once again: will., slick wall to get started tag and more crowds towards it parked at Sugar Trailhead! Location at Birthing Cave is east facing which means it remains in darkness. Over the Keyhole Cave Neighborhood, and the Trail is not easy & # x27 ; hiking! Rocks to explore the remaining caves keyhole trail sedona Sedona, Arizona buy a red rock on. Parked up without issue see how gigantic Keyhole Cave hike Robbers Roost to... 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