Part of the allure of Keyhole Cave for me was finding it myself. All of which take a drastic upturn in difficulty from an otherwise straightforward hike. There is a shuttle now to Soldiers pass and we cant drive. Grand Canyon Just 2 hours from Sedona is the incredible Grand Canyon South Rim, create your wishlist from the best hikes at Grand Canyon South Rim. You can find the exact location of the cave on Google . Cross a narrow ledge carefully on slick rock. Birthing Cave is east facing which means it is best visited between midday and late afternoon. There may be hikers already in the cave who have rope. Coming down you will want to go against that wall on the front of the entrance (down the Right side you came up). Heres the Sugar Loaf Trailhead parking lot Google Maps location to use for beginning your hike to Keyhole Cave. People often bring ropes to help others up and down, which is a great idea. Robbers Roost Trail is located 21 miles northwest of downtown Sedona on Forest Road 525C. 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. Tip: Dont forget to visit the Boynton Canyon vortex site at the end of your hike. Parking at popular hiking trailheads in Sedona is a real challenge. Unless you strike it lucky with timing of a drop off, you probably won't be able to take one. That is exactly what happened to us during our visit to Sedona. The hike itself is easy to moderate but getting up into the cave can be quite sketchy. Take your time and take small steps to prevent slipping and falling back into a cactus. The arch is actually the most striking and impressive feature along this hiking trail. You will go left and just follow Thunder MTN Trail. 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. 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. That means you get to enjoy it even more once you are standing inside the UFO shaped upper cave chamber. That means the sun will be directly ahead and fills Birthing Cave with light until late morning. Youll be traversing in a wash so be aware of the possibility of flash floods. One way to do this is with a GPS system or app. However, in doing so I had times when I was in deep wooded areas with trees that had a lot of thorns, cactuss that were stinging me and overall, the hiking experience for about a mile or more was not very pleasant. Hike 0.6 miles on Long Canyon and look out for a wooden fence crossing the main path. Be advised, if not using the authors GPX files, the final leg may not be very clear. While it is not some crazy steep long way down, the issue is the lack of holds and slippery face as mentioned. What Trailhead Do You Use to Access The Sedona Keyhole Cave 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. Read our popular guide to the 50 best hikes in the USA next! Its still a good idea to try getting parked early in the morning so you beat the mid morning rush. Note that since it is a residential neighbourhood, you cannot park on the road. 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. The hike itself is moderate but getting into the cave itself definitely takes it to difficult+. Because you will need to climb a high, slick wall to get into the Keyhole Cave. Looking for hiking inspiration? Want to visit Subway Cave? Pin It For Your Hike! However, you should take rope along if you have any doubts about being able to pull yourself up a steep rock face using small foot placements. Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk for around 1.3 miles until you reach a left turn onto a spur trail. It has an unobstructed views stretching miles over desert vegetation with nothing to block sunlight. The Seven Sacred Pools Sedona is one of the popular stops for those hiking Soldiers Pass Trail or the, Read More Keyhole Cave Sedona How To Hike To This Adventurous CaveContinue. Hiking is one of the best things to do in Sedona and Keyhole Cave is one of our favorite hidden trails in town. At the Sugarloaf Trailhead youre actually able to spot Keyhole Cave way off in the distance. Want to visit Birthing Cave? Going direct is the more exciting way to reach Keyhole Cave. Stay at Greentree Inn Sedona from $186/night, Andante Inn of Sedona from $153/night, Sedona Village Lodge from $105/night and more. At the fork there is a sign to follow Teacup Trail to the right and Thunder MTN Trail to the left. 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. 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. To make your way, you will have to use your hands, feet and core to pull yourself up. Were not climbers and we dont have any experience with ropes but we made it up the right side easily enough. Soldier Pass Cave is at the end of arguably the most entertaining hiking trail among the cave hikes in Sedona. Consider taking the Sedona shuttle. From there it is pretty simple with just three turns along the way! No matter which you choose, one way to ensure you have not wandered off is to make sure you see the cave in the distance in front of you. Andante Trailhead is your best backup option. Hi Samantha, glad to hear you're heading to Sedona! After you turn left to take the Thunder Mountain trail, there will be a wash on your right side. Preparation saves lives. A ledge crossing is required with a fair drop to one side which could be dangerous in rain or icy conditions. The terrain turns a little steeper on your final approach to Keyhole Cave. Getting down is harder than getting up as there is no support to rely on unless you have the ropes. Generally considered an easy route. Difficulty: Moderate. Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk 2 miles until you reach a big, burnt, black and gray tree trunk. Youll have to duck to move around the cave network but you can shoot some interesting photos here. 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. I tried following these trails last year during my first attempt to find Keyhole Cave and was unsuccessful. Youll take Teacup Trail which starts right at the trailhead. Sugarloaf Mountain looms tall to your right side as you walk through desert vegetation and junipers. Move around Keyhole Cave to the far right side. For the best light conditions, plan to be here in the late morning or noon to get splendid pictures. 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 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. 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. This route gets easier higher up on the climb. During these times getting parked at trailheads can be a real challenge. It is located along the popular Boynton Canyon Trail but 99% of hikers on this path are headed to Subway Cave and probably dont even know Kachina Cave exists. Later in the day the cave will be in deep and dark shadows. 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. You can sit or stand right on the edge and someone behind you can take a photo of you as a silhouette against the light outside the cave. Set your Google Maps or Apple Maps to "West Fork Oak Creek Trailhead" or "Call of the Canyon Picnic Site". 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. Do You Need A Parking Pass To Hike Keyhole Cave? Duck inside and walk around to explore the remaining caves in this network. If you enter it into Google Maps it will take you right to it. The Sedona Keyhole Cave hike is 2.5 miles round-trip, out and back. 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. I needed to help 3/5 people get up and down who had gone into the cave. On the teacup trail, you will see the majestic Sugarloaf mountain on your right and the views get prettier along with the distinct desert vegetation as you walk along the trail. No matter which season you visit, try to avoid weekends, holidays and the 10am-2pm rush. The trail is entirely in the wilderness with no shelter, so it is not recommended to do this in the summer. 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. Keyhole Cave Park at Sugar Loaf / Teacup Trailhead which has 14 spaces. You can still get parked during the day but you might have to sit in a line or park a long way away from the trail you want to hike. Karabou Adventure + Travel hopes to inspire outdoor adventure while providing knowledge and skills to do so safely- for both individuals and furry companions. 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. 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. 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