Posted on Last updated: December 18, 2022. This post tells you exactly how to find the Keyhole Cave in Sedona, including directions and hiking tips for this adventurous trip safely. The good news is that you can actually see the Keyhole Cave from the parking lot and that can actually be used as a visual aid as you hike to it later (although sometimes its hard to see it, ironically as you get closer to it). This approach in combination with a visual guide will help you. 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. Lets get stuck into the Keyhole Cave hiking walkthrough! Each cave can be accessed by visitors to Sedona via hiking trails varying in length between 0.5 5 miles roundtrip. Trailhead: 2065 Buena Vista Dr, Sedona, AZ 86336. Hiking Soldier Pass Trail To Soldier Pass Cave In Sedona, Hiking Robbers Roost Trail To Hideout Cave In Sedona. But they come with a higher price tag and more crowds. Sedonas red rock scenery becomes more and more impressive with every step. Exclusively hiking the wash to Keyhole Cave will add on quite a lot of distance because it meanders like a zig-zag approach. Because you will need to climb a high, slick wall to get into the Keyhole Cave. 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. At the base of Keyhole Cave youll find that you need to climb a high, slick wall to get into it. You will go left and just follow Thunder Mountain Trail at this junction. Never the less, with these warnings aside, Ill be sharing the details about this hike and what to expect, so you can decide if you are up for it too. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "adfe3c6c02b8a23ef7f876e875c76545" );document.getElementById("de46ec5a9a").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); I am Kara and I travel and adventure with my GSD, Monty. Check the weather and water conditions before you embark on the hike. Get inspiration for travel, recipes & to follow your dreams. Birthing Cave is a relaxing cave to visit thanks to a relatively easy hike and spectacular views. In Sedona, there are at least 7 caves you can hike to and explore. Now you have to get up there. 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. Birthing Cave Park at Long Canyon Trailhead. Many paths criss-cross over undulating hills and through rough vegetation. Unless you strike it lucky with timing of a drop off, you probably won't be able to take one. The views from the grand entrance of the caves are surreal and much better than the pictures you see. 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. You must take the right turn at the split and climb a fairly steep gradient to gain access to Solider Pass Cave in Sedona. Robbers Roost Trail is located 21 miles northwest of downtown Sedona on Forest Road 525C. Sedona's Keyhole Cave is located right in the heart of Sedona. Keyhole Cave is not for the faint of heart(afraid of heights) or beginner hikers as it involves challenging terrains, including climbing very high rocks and navigating through wilderness comprising cacti and rattlesnakes, as there is no maintained official trail. Want to visit Keyhole Cave? The hardest part of the right ascent is getting up onto a ledge right at the start of the climb. PARKING PASS: Required for parking at the trailhead. Hopefully because it is Black Friday weekend, everyone will be shopping rather than hiking. Heres our collection of the 15 best sunrise and sunset photography locations in Sedona. Required fields are marked *. Instead try a backup parking area such as Andante Trailhead. 3 rappels to make it down ending in a epic one right over the Keyhole Cave. Take this wash and it will lead you all the way up to the base of Keyhole Cave! Hike 0.6 miles on Long Canyon and look out for a wooden fence crossing the main path. The elevation gain of the Sedona Keyhole Cave is 520 feet. A steep climb up the northeast facing bank of Fay Canyon much be climbed to reach the arch. Want to visit Hideout Cave? You do not need a jeep to access any cave in Sedona. Find all the transport options for your trip from Brea to Sedona right here. As always, please be considerate of the environment so we can keep enjoying it and rememberto leave no trace. Sedona, Arizona. The wash is extremely rocky so be careful of your footing the entire way while looking out for snakes. Rome2rio makes travelling from Brea to Sedona easy. The path of following along the wash is straightforward one without any confusion, and we recommend that. Once you are at the massive cave entrance you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is inside. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. If full, try to park at Fay Canyon and hike along Aerie Trail to reach the trailhead. 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. Alternatively, you can try parking at Andante Trailhead nearby, which is also a small parking lot. Fay Canyon Arch is a gigantic sandstone formation eroded into a towering red rock cliff in the shape of an arch. It is always quieter because parking spaces are limited for the Long Canyon Trail. The pass can be purchased at the machine at the trailhead (credit card only). I found people dont stay here for very long since the trails are short so it is a fast turnaround! Also, be on the lookout for rattlesnakes! 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. Note: My directions in this post may not be the best way to reach the Keyhole Cave, but are the way I found it which seems to be the most direct and less confusing. You can actually see Keyhole Cave as a tiny rounded hole carved into a distant red rock mountain from the parking lot and Teacup Trail sign marker (pictured above). 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. 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. A ledge crossing is required with a fair drop to one side which could be dangerous in rain or icy conditions. During these seasons you have more chance getting parked up without issue. The trailhead is in an old Sedona neighborhood, and the cave faces the town and Airport Mesa. There are two places you can park for hiking Robbers Roost Trail to Hideout Cave. Are you looking for directions and tips on how to find and access the best caves in Sedona? It was quiet, off the beaten path, harder to access and felt like more of an adventure. Generally considered an easy route. Sedona has a total of 7 caves. Follow along for a little ways until you reach an intersection with Thunder Mountain Trail. 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. Head over to our Arizona travel guides to explore the best of Grand Canyon, Sedona and beyond. It is important to know the Sedona trails you are hiking so you can safely navigate to caves. Photos (3,140) Directions. 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. Entering Keyhole Cave isnt easy. 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. The huge cave opening provides striking views over northern Sedona and the trail is very quiet in comparison to other trails in town. Uber has service in Flagstaff but not in Sedona. 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. Keyhole Cave is in Sedona Arizona, specifically 1.1 miles north from Sugar Loaf trailhead. During these times getting parked at trailheads can be a real challenge. Head over to our Arizona travel guides to explore the best of Grand Canyon, Sedona and beyond. Know where you are going ahead of time and always have a way to keep yourself on trail. We personally think the cave is easier to photograph when there is no light inside between mid to late morning. The turnoff is about 2 miles into the trail. Now this is again where I have to warn you about the dangers: I do not recommend climbing in this part of the hike. It has an unobstructed views stretching miles over desert vegetation with nothing to block sunlight. Move around Keyhole Cave to the far right side. In my case, I went left and climbed to get to the proper areas. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. As long as you see it and make your way towards it in the north, you will arrive at the base of Keyhole Cave. As you approach the trail intersection of Teacup and Thunder Mountain you will see a wooden sign showing Teacup right and Thunder Mountain left. Yes, the cave hikes in Sedona are pet friendly but all dogs must be kept on a short leash at all times. You will be off trail and will often see and stumble onto places that zigzag which look like trails and you need to be very careful and not wander off while navigating in the necessary direction to reach the cave (heading north basically from the parking lot). Im not going to lie, I fell back on my butt on the way down this trail! Las Vegas Heading to Vegas on your Southwest adventure? The climb up is very steep and slippery. February 15, 2019. Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk for around 1.3 miles until you reach a left turn onto a spur trail. Overall, Birthing Cave is suitable for all hikers with a good level of fitness. It is pretty easy to get off trail so we recommend using AllTrails. It is best to arrive early if you want to park here. 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. Accessing the cave does not require any climbing or use of hands, but there is a steep bank to climb on the final approach. Keyhole Cave is the biggest and most adventurous cave you can hike to in Sedona. Thank you so much for the response! Length 2.7 miElevation gain 291 ftRoute type Loop. The elevation gain of the Sedona Keyhole Cave is 520 feet. Try this 2.7-mile loop trail near Sedona, Arizona. That means you get to enjoy it even more once you are standing inside the UFO shaped upper cave chamber. If you enter it into Google Maps it will take you right to it. Three awesome reasons a hike to Keyhole Cave should be an essential part of every adventurous wishlist of best hikes in Sedona. Thank you for sharing it will come in handy when we hike this in 2 wks. You will begin your hike in Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness before passing into Coconino National Forest. Park at Sugar Loaf / Teacup Trailhead and walk up Teacup Trail for 0.3 miles until it joins with Thunder Mountain Trail. They were very much easy to understand and we were able to Hike up all the way to the Cave. Bus Tours. Please do not park in or near driveways of local residents. We highly recommend adding this fun off-trail hike to your Sedona itinerary. Keyhole Cave was one of our favorite caves in Sedona. 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. Please take great care not to disturb rock formations or wildlife in any area you hike. You are actually starting this hike on Teacup Trail despite the parking area being called Sugar Loaf. There are only 4 parking spaces and it doesnt even look legit, but it is, and the caves are actually well worth visiting. Boynton Canyon Exactly how to find the famous Subway Cave on Boynton Canyon Trail, the most photographed cave in Sedona. Photography Are you more interested in capturing stunning images? The trail to the Keyhole Cave starts at the Teacup Trailhead. Recently, the Sedona Westerners' Rustlers hiking group on . There are no places you can park on the residential streets nearby. Aim to arrive inside Birthing Cave between 12pm and 3pm for optimal light conditions. Coming down you will want to go against that wall on the front of the entrance (down the Right side you came up). While it is a tough hike, it is the least visited Sedona cave. But please be warned, the climb into Keyhole is not easy. While this part is doable for most everyone, the real issue comes when you reach the cave and attempt to climb up into it. Were not climbers and we dont have any experience with ropes but we made it up the right side easily enough. 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. 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. Our advice for Sedona is not to worry about temperatures or busy trails, but focus on finding free parking spots. Going direct to Keyhole Cave means you have to contend with short but steep hills covered in cacti and other harsh vegetation with sharp dagger-like needles that can seriously tear up your feet, ankles and legs. 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. If youre short on time, this is the adventure hike for you. 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. Solider Pass Cave Soldier Pass Trail. What can you do to take the stress out of parking? Birthing Cave is east facing which means it is best visited between midday and late afternoon. Stay at Greentree Inn Sedona from $186/night, Andante Inn of Sedona from $153/night, Sedona Village Lodge from $105/night and more. You will have problems finding your way back in the dark. Im Fraser & this site is a guide to help you reach your goals, travel the world and create amazing food in between. Be very careful and only more skilled hikers should try to get up into it. Getting to this Sedona cave isnt for beginner hikers or those afraid of the challenge to climb 10+ feet of slick rock. We personally think the cave feels more beautiful when the sun doesnt fill any of Birthing Cave with light so there are no heavy contrasts. Keyhole Cave is southwest facing which means it will fill with light between mid to late afternoon. 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. Or there may be rope left over from recent hikers. Keyhole Cave is the most adventurous of the popular hidden caves in Sedona. The hike up Teacup is flat and easy. Subway Cave is arguably the most famous and sought after cave to visit in Sedona. After you get down, follow the same trail along the wash until you find the fork that will lead you to the parking lot. They are all located close to one another. Please let us know if you have any questions about hiking Keyhole Cave or your visit to Sedona in the comments below. Hike through the red rocks to explore some of Sedona's more spiritual side. All other caves are located in the most popular hiking areas of Sedona and remain busy year round. Pin It For Your Hike! Share. 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. You will go most of the 500 feet in elevation on this hike over the last 10-15 minutes of the hike. Read our complete guide to hiking Boynton Canyon Trail into Subway Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. 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. 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