Wander In Arizona is a comprehensive resource for hiking, camping, and exploring Arizona. Eventually you will find that the wash narrows a bit and becomes filled with fallen trees and rocks to climb over. 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. Sugar Loaf Trailhead is the best parking lot to use for hiking to Keyhole Cave in Sedona. 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. 5. You are actually starting this hike on Teacup Trail despite the parking area being called Sugar Loaf. Fay Canyon How to hike Fay Canyon Trail to an optional adventure ascent and steep climb to Fay Canyon Arch. Winter and Summer offer quieter periods in Sedona. 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. The cave is accessed via significant off-trail hiking, which means forging a path through rugged desert wilderness. Want more Arizona content? Instead of buying a Red Rock Pass you can simply display your America the Beautiful Pass at all trailheads when hiking to Sedona caves. We personally located and explored all but one of the 7 caves in Sedona during our first visit to the awesome adventure town in Arizona, and we have to say exploring caves is definitely among the best things to do in Sedona. $288.88. 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. The cave is unique for having a single lone tree with green leaves standing beyond the chamber in an exposed area. The hike to Keyhole Cave is not physically tough, but you will need good navigation and pathfinding skills. Read our complete guide to hiking Fay Canyon Trail with optional climbs to Fay Canyon Arch and a fun end of trail ascent. If you are looking for an easy hike, the Doe Mountain trail in Sedona is one of the best, If you are looking for the best Sedona Hot Springs, in this guide, we cover the best hot springs, The best breweries in Sedona should be on your itinerary whether you are a lover of beer or you, Enjoying the stunning Tucson sunset is the perfect way to end your day while exploring this beautiful city. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. It was still difficult due to the sand and slippery rock, though. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking The Birthing Cave In Sedona. Ruins If you are interested in learning about the history around northern Arizona, you should visit all of the 5 ancient ruins near Sedona. 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. Photography Are you more interested in capturing stunning images? The Sedona Keyhole Cave is stunning but also the most dangerous out of the caves in this article. Hideout Cave is one of the caves that looks more attractive with light. Hiking to it is tough (its easy to get lost or stumble into thorns and cactuss which is what happened to me). 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. After you get on the Thunder Mountain Trail, you have two ways to reach the base of the Keyhole Cave in Sedona. Some of the caves are better with sunlight inside and others with no sunlight inside. Other Nearby Trails in . The tunnel shape has a 5 ft gap running exactly vertical from top to bottom as though it has been sliced in half by a wide knife blade. However, you will be parking here to go off-trail and hike to the mighty Sedona Keyhole Cave. Park at the Fay Canyon Trailhead and follow the flat trail for 0.6 miles keeping your eyes on the rock formations to your right side. You use the Sugarloaf Trailhead, which starts with the Teacup Trail, it is located in a little neighborhood just 15 minutes from downtown. The hike to Keyhole Cave begins atSugarloaf Trailheadwhich is tucked back in a Sedona Neighborhood. There are no marked trails leading to the cave and there are several lightly beaten paths you can choose between. How to get around Sedona is small but youll need a car to access the best hikes to the north and south of town. A 4WD trailhead is located an additional 1 mile up Forest Road 9530 which saves 2 miles of hiking total. Instead of buying a Red Rock Pass for your visit to Sedona you can simply display your America the Beautiful Pass at every hiking trailhead. Share. A rope will help you come down safely. 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. 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. Length 2.7 miElevation gain 291 ftRoute type Loop. 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. In addition, thorns and cacti can cause problems and the trail is not marked. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans. 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. Decide which way to go down and take care with your footing when youre ready to leave Keyhole Cave. Aim to arrive inside Birthing Cave between 12pm and 3pm for optimal light conditions. In this guide we will show you: Where to park for Keyhole Cave Which pass you need to display With that said, we imagine the cave would look even better later in the day close to sunset when the light softens and has passed beyond directly entering Keyhole Cave. Keyhole Cave: There is a 2.7-mile round trip hike that is pretty difficult to get to this Sedona cave. The Sedona Keyhole Cave hike is 2.5 miles round-trip, out and back. Unless you strike it lucky with timing of a drop off, you probably won't be able to take one. During these times getting parked at trailheads can be a real challenge. It is made up of 5 or 6 separate tunnel like caverns overlooking Oak Creek. On this path, you will notice many smaller washes branching off the main one. Im Fraser & this site is a guide to help you reach your goals, travel the world and create amazing food in between. A ledge crossing is required with a fair drop to one side which could be dangerous in rain or icy conditions. 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. This approach in combination with a visual guide will help you. The map above shows exactly what you can expect when hiking to Keyhole Cave in Sedona. As long as you see it and make your way towards it in the north, you will arrive at the base of Keyhole Cave. It is truly an adventure finding this one, so keep reading to determine for yourself if youre up for the challenge! This lone tree illuminates under sunlight around mid morning when the sun position is optimal for entering the narrow cave chamber. Generally considered a challenging route. People often bring ropes to help others up and down, which is a great idea. Parking at popular hiking trailheads in Sedona is a real challenge. This is exactly what happened to me too. Read our complete guide to hiking Boynton Canyon Trail into Subway Cave for in depth details and directions for how to access the cave. This is a fun outing to scramble up above the cave and drop down the drainage that created the cave. Once you have made the climb into Keyhole Cave, you find yourself in a UFO shaped upper chamber in which you can walk around in a semi circle (like a crescent moon) from one side of the cave to the other. Hopefully because it is Black Friday weekend, everyone will be shopping rather than hiking. Read our popular guide on how to plan the perfect 1-7 day Sedona itinerary for ideas on how you can spend up to one week exploring this remarkable red rock landscape. 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. You must take the right turn at the split and climb a fairly steep gradient to gain access to Solider Pass Cave in Sedona. View full map. 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. Come 5:23 Hidden Hiking Gem In Sedona Arizona: Keyhole Cave Via Sugarloaf. Heres the left approach into Keyhole Cave: The bottom section is almost vertical and its smooth which makes it hard to climb. Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. 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. It is best not to go all the way into the cave if you have a fear of heights. Were going to explain everything you need to know about each of the 7 most popular Sedona caves so you can hike to each stunning cavern during your visit to northern Arizona. Please use this link that takes you to Google Maps and download it for offline use. Heres a summary of the 7 caves and one bonus arch you can visit in Sedona: Before we get started with the best hidden Sedona caves, it is important to touch on etiquette. 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. There are small natural foot placements in the sandstone rocks you use the entire way up the right side. Most moderately experienced hikers should be fine, but we would not recommend beginner hikers attempt the hike to Subway Cave. You can of course follow misc small trails North going at the cave and at some point you will get to it. 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. 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. Raven Caves is a very easily accessed series of maze-like caves on the south side of Sedona. 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. Photos (3,140) Directions. Once you are at the massive cave entrance you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is inside. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. However, sunrise and early morning is the best time to visit Hideout Cave when its larger east facing window allows the most light in. You can see Sugar Loaf Mountain looking like a perfect green and brown cone shaped hill in the distance. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Keyhole Cave Park at Sugar Loaf / Teacup Trailhead which has 14 spaces. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For the best light conditions, plan to be here in the late morning or noon to get splendid pictures. Experienced hikers and adventurers will be fine getting up. Take this wash and follow that up to the right until reaching the base of the cave, and this part is easy, and you cannot get lost at all. Since the hike begins within a neighborhood dont forget to be quiet and considerate of the residents that live there. *Please note this post may contain affiliate links. Are you looking for directions and tips on how to find and access the best caves in Sedona? We recommend only climbing up inside the cave if you are a seasoned hiker, athletic and have ropes and do not mind heights. Hiking Sugarloaf Mountain via Teacup Trail. Arriving early to trailheads is essential for the best chance of getting parked. We hiked to Hideout Cave and arrived inside by 11.30am. The climb up is very steep and slippery. Be advised, if not using the authors GPX files, the final leg may not be very clear. There wasnt a lot of information online that I could find, and trying to follow others vague directions proved to be ineffective. The trail was hard to follow, we didnt know exactly where it started or ended, and we ended up bushwhacking and being way off of where we needed to be. At the bottom turn right and you will find the first cave. 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. The exciting hike to Keyhole Cave in Sedona is not on any map, the trail is not marked with signs and the cave access climb is challenging. Your pictures are great. From the 2WD parking area you have a 3 mile roundtrip hike with 450 ft elevation gain, but from the 4WD parking area the hike is just 1 mile round trip with 200 ft elevation. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Soldier Pass Cave Soldier Pass Trailhead parking has 14 spaces which are snapped up instantly. There may be hikers already in the cave who have rope. Once you are at the entrance, you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is and mystic. Recommended A Complete Guide To Hiking The Seven Sacred Pools In Sedona. 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. Want to visit Birthing Cave? 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. Sedonas red rock scenery becomes more and more impressive with every step. While it is a tough hike, it is the least visited Sedona cave. When researching which caves to explore in Sedona, we never saw any mention of Kachina Cave. Bob Bear (formerly Fossil Springs) Hike With Secret Tips. 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). Sedona is one of the best places to visit in the US and finding caves is among the most exciting things to do for first time visitors to the area. The cave is southwest facing, which means the gaping hole entrance will flood with more light in the afternoon. Want to visit Hideout Cave? Did you know you can actually make it an all-time epic cave hike day by combining this with Soldiers Pass to see that stunning cave. Head over to our Arizona travel guides to explore the best of Grand Canyon, Sedona and beyond. It is best to wear fully covered clothing as there are cacti with long and thick thorns and animals like rattlesnakes and other insects. 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 good news is you will only be on Teacup Trail for 0.4 miles until you reach a trail crossroads with Thunder Mountain Trail. Exclusively hiking the wash to Keyhole Cave will add on quite a lot of distance because it meanders like a zig-zag approach. Keep Sugar Loaf Mountain slightly left of center and follow the lightly beaten trails or wash back to the Teacup / Thunder Mountain Trail crossroads. Most importantly, wear a good pair of hiking shoes that will facilitate an easier hike overall. Chances are high you will have Kachina Cave to yourself and the tree makes for a stunning subject to photograph surrounded by quintessential orange and red sandstone rocks. Now you have to get up there. A short climb with a ledge walk to access the cave is moderately difficult but comparatively straight forward. WHAT IS THE ELEVATION GAIN OF THE KEYHOLE CAVE IN SEDONA? It is a very narrow cave, almost like an arch formation that can be climbed with a hidden upper chamber. Kachina Cave is the best kept secret of all so called hidden caves in Sedona. The cave features one large east facing oval window and one much smaller south facing circular window known as Robbers Roost. But that said, you can also take the trail in the north which goes to the cave. You simply have to forge your own route to Keyhole Cave. It has an unobstructed views stretching miles over desert vegetation with nothing to block sunlight. Las Vegas Heading to Vegas on your Southwest adventure? 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. 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. Keyhole Cave is located in the rocky ridge running from Coffee Pot Rock toward Thunder. 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. Hike through the red rocks to explore some of Sedona's more spiritual side. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Once youre done exploring this area, its just a matter of heading back down south to reach the parking lot to complete this hike. If youre short on time, this is the adventure hike for you. Find all the transport options for your trip from Brea to Sedona right here. 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. 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