Youll take Teacup Trail which starts right at the trailhead. Along the way you can even see the gaping window in the distance as you head towards it. As you reach closer, along the way, you can see the gaping mouth of the cave in the distance. It is best to avoid hiking during or after flash floods season. There wasnt a lot of information online that I could find, and trying to follow others vague directions proved to be ineffective. 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. *Please note this post may contain affiliate links. Be very careful as your coming back down! Fay Canyon Arch is southwest facing, which means it remains in total darkness if you arrive any time between sunrise and midday. Going next weekend, being that it is the weekend after thanksgiving Im worried about how busy it will be in parking areas. 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. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. How to get around Sedona is small but youll need a car to access the best hikes to the north and south of town. Please do not visit ruins with your pet. Have a great time! The hardest part of the hike awaits you here. . Do you use any of the best hiking apps on the market for navigation on new or unmarked trails? 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. You do not need a jeep to access any cave in Sedona. Wander In Arizona participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Want to visit Birthing Cave? Your email address will not be published. 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. The terrain turns a little steeper on your final approach to Keyhole Cave. In Sedona, there are at least 7 caves you can hike to and explore. Part of the allure of Keyhole Cave for me was finding it myself. Las Vegas Heading to Vegas on your Southwest adventure? The beginning isnt too bad but it is the middle where people get stuck as it is slippery and there are not really any holds to get to the next part. Please let us know if you have any questions about hiking Keyhole Cave or your visit to Sedona in the comments below. The trail to the Keyhole Cave starts at the Teacup Trailhead. 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). Coming down you will want to go against that wall on the front of the entrance (down the Right side you came up). Or you can buy one at a ticket machine when you arrive in person at either parking lot listed further in this guide. That means you get to enjoy it even more once you are standing inside the UFO shaped upper cave chamber. Keyhole Cave is one of only a few caves that are actually geotagged on Google. Photos (3,140) Directions. Use Jim Thompson and hike Cibola Trail or park at Posse Grounds Park & Ride for the Sedona shuttle. 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, but it is also a wonderful place to get off-road in a jeep, shoot stunning photography, visit historic sites and drink wine. However, be aware Soldier Pass Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Sedona so it is always busy. 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. Getting down is harder than getting up as there is no support to rely on unless you have the ropes. . 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. Trailhead: 2065 Buena Vista Dr, Sedona, AZ 86336. Thank you for sharing it will come in handy when we hike this in 2 wks. Dont forget, there are also several beautiful hikes along the same Teacup trail you start to reach Keyhole Cave. We visited Sedona in December and some of the caves were busy. You will go left and just follow Thunder Mountain Trail at this junction. You will begin your hike in Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness before passing into Coconino National Forest. Hi I'm Vitaliy, creator of TheNatureSeeker.com, thanks for stopping by! You will make it without issue as long as you keep heading north and keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of the cave opening. View full map. Some of the caves are better with sunlight inside and others with no sunlight inside. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking the Subway Cave In Sedona. Heres the left approach into Keyhole Cave: The bottom section is almost vertical and its smooth which makes it hard to climb. Soldier Pass Hike to Devils Kitchen and Seven Sacred Pools before climbing into Soldier Pass Cave on the family friendly Soldier Pass Trail in Sedona. Heading north, you must make your own way to Keyhole Cave. On this path, you will notice many smaller washes branching off the main one. You can click or touch the map to activate, then move around the map to locate each 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. At just 2.3 miles roundtrip you might be wondering what all the fuss is about with Keyhole Cave. People often bring ropes to help others up and down, which is a great idea. Below is a screenshot of my track from Keyhole Cave! You can use Sugar Loaf Mountain as your landmark to aim for on the hike back. Many paths criss-cross over undulating hills and through rough vegetation. During the hike you pass into Coconino National Forest. One of the most impressive caves in Sedona, Try parking at Andante if Sugar Loaf Trailhead parking is full, Go direct off-trail to save time vs the wash, Take rope if youre not confident of climbing into Keyhole Cave, Keyhole Cave has the best light between lunch and late afternoon. New to hiking? Hiking Robbers Roost Trail To Hideout Cave In Sedona, Travertine Hot Springs: Directions, Tips & Pools. 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. You use the Sugarloaf Trailhead, which starts with the Teacup Trail, it is located in a little neighborhood just 15 minutes from downtown. Read our popular guide to the 50 best hikes in the USA next! A ledge crossing is required with a fair drop to one side which could be dangerous in rain or icy conditions. 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. You will have to climb some steep and slick walls. It is always quieter because parking spaces are limited for the Long Canyon Trail. In this post Ive included all the details and directions you need to know in order to successfully find Keyhole cave and have a safe adventure. 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. Along the way there are several off trails that lead back up to the same place or meander off somewhere else. 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. Read our complete guide to hiking Long Canyon Trail into Birthing Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. This trail is very exposed and the climb up to it gets steep- I would not want to do this one in the summer! 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. You will begin the hike to Keyhole Cave in Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. 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. 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. Try this 2.7-mile loop trail near Sedona, Arizona. In my case, I went left and climbed to get to the proper areas. 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. It is best to wear fully covered clothing as there are cacti with long and thick thorns and animals like rattlesnakes and other insects. They were very much easy to understand and we were able to Hike up all the way to the Cave. You have three options to get into the cave and going up to the right is definitely the only way you should go. 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 you're planning to hike the Devil's Bridge Trail, book a room at Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa, just outside downtown . There are small natural foot placements in the sandstone rocks you use the entire way up the right side. Some branches hang low over the trail and you may need to use two hands to step over some large rock areas, but overall the wash is extremely easy to follow and traverse. Instead of buying a Red Rock Pass you can simply display your America the Beautiful Pass at all trailheads when hiking to Sedona caves. The hike itself is easy to moderate but getting up into the cave can be quite sketchy. Keyhole Cave, Sedona Arizona Super exciting, I found one of Sedona's best kept secrets and it's truly magical! You'll probably see a good amount of hikers here as there are a lot of popular routes in the area. However, to avoid needing to double-back or going the wrong way for a little just follow the wash the entire way to the base of the cave. Be advised, if not using the authors GPX files, the final leg may not be very clear. 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. Distance: 1.6 miles round trip (out and back) Time to Summit: 30 minutes to an hour. We went down the same way we went up, which is right as you approach the cave, but left if you are inside the cave looking out. 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. 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. One way to do this is with a GPS system or app. 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. Easy 4.6 (2494) Coconino National Forest. Instead, go direct and keep following lightly beaten paths where possible. 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. 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. Once you do reach the cave, itll be a gigantic opening thats difficult to miss and you may likely find other people there too (I saw at least 2 people before others came as I left). Spring and Fall represent the two best seasons for visiting Sedona in general when hiking conditions are most comfortable. From there you will walk through a wash and climb a steep unmarked bank trail to reach the cave area. Ideally, it is best to sit down and use your hands to move slowly for better support, instead of being upright, which can also feel scary. The majority of it comes at the end when you hike up from the wash up the hill to the face of the cave. After the climb, you will land on a ledge, from where you will be in the cave. Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. Enjoy the views of the grand Sugarloaf mountain and the desert landscapes on the horizon. Other hikers simply head due north using multiple paths which all twist and intertwine like a maze. After you turn left to take the Thunder Mountain trail, there will be a wash on your right side. It is straight back and looks like a giant gaping hole in the mountainside. Trail Length: 2 miles out and back Trailhead Location: Long Canyon Trailhead Exact GPS Location for Birthing Cave: 3454'46.9N 11150'10.0W ; Hiking Time: 2 hours total Permits: None.Note: Any trailhead with toilets requires a Red Rock Pass ($5-day use fee). I always recommend tracking yourself or following an already made track so you can check in and be sure youre on the right path. 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. However, the wash is flatter, more consistent and you wont have to go back on yourself at any point. 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 Access: Sugarloaf One of the largest alcoves in the area, Keyhole Cave can actually be seen from many places in West Sedona. Find all the transport options for your trip from Brea to Sedona right here. Now there are 2 ways to navigate your way to this: 1) The first way is visual: Again, you will be able to see the cave from the parking lot and you can see the direction in which its at and keep heading in it. After the climb, you will notice many smaller washes branching off the main.! Fuss is about with Keyhole Cave during the hike back when you hike all... 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