keyhole trail sedona

Want more Arizona content? 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. People often bring ropes to help others up and down, which is a great idea. 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. If you enter it into Google Maps it will take you right to it. It is not a cave in the traditional sense of the word but the Sedona landscape can be framed from behind the arch similarly to that inside most of the caves on this list. There may be hikers already in the cave who have rope. 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. 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. Read our popular guide to the 50 best hikes in the USA next! A 4WD trailhead is located an additional 1 mile up Forest Road 9530 which saves 2 miles of hiking total. Keyhole Cave is southwest facing which means it will fill with light between mid to late afternoon. It can get a little confusing but if you have a map you can see the trail intersection on it which makes it much easier. If you have an America the Beautiful Pass, you can use this as well. It was still difficult due to the sand and slippery rock, though. 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. 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. It is truly an adventure finding this one, so keep reading to determine for yourself if youre up for the challenge! The hike to Keyhole Cave is moderately difficult mostly become of the scramble and climb required to get into the cave. The wash is extremely rocky so be careful of your footing the entire way while looking out for snakes. It is pretty common to lose your footing which will make you land on thorny cacti and rocks. The cave is unique for having a single lone tree with green leaves standing beyond the chamber in an exposed area. Hike 0.6 miles on Long Canyon and look out for a wooden fence crossing the main path. Ive personally completed the Keyhole Cave hike in Sedona and in this post will be detailing everything you need to know to do it as well. Are you a regular visitor to US National Parks and Monuments? When researching which caves to explore in Sedona, we never saw any mention of Kachina Cave. If you have 2WD, you must walk up the 4WD road to begin. Keyhole Cave: There is a 2.7-mile round trip hike that is pretty difficult to get to this Sedona cave. Set your Google Maps or Apple Maps to "West Fork Oak Creek Trailhead" or "Call of the Canyon Picnic Site". Part of the allure of Keyhole Cave for me was finding it myself. There are small natural foot placements in the sandstone rocks you use the entire way up the right side. What can you do to take the stress out of parking? 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. 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. Stay at Greentree Inn Sedona from $186/night, Andante Inn of Sedona from $153/night, Sedona Village Lodge from $105/night and more. Ironically, Subway Cave looks the most like a keyhole shape, but there is another cave in Sedona called Keyhole Cave which doesnt look much like a keyhole! As youre hiking up the wash youll notice several trails that zigzag across it. Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk 2 miles until you reach a big, burnt, black and gray tree trunk. Pyramid and Scorpion Trails are located to the southwest of downtown Sedona. Heading north, you must make your own way to Keyhole Cave. Tip: Dont forget to visit the Boynton Canyon vortex site at the end of your hike. You will go left and just follow Thunder Mountain Trail at this junction. Winter and Summer are comparatively quieter periods in Sedona but they are still overcrowded. Finding caves in Sedona is one of the most fun things to do in Arizona, just make sure to tread carefully and respectfully. If you cant get into the most convenient lot, where will you park? Park at Posse Grounds park & ride for the most stress free access to Soldier Pass trailhead. Subway Cave is a tunnel shaped sandstone formation located on a spur trail in Boynton Canyon. I will reiterate do not try this unless you are athletic or a good hiker. Want more Arizona content? 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. Hideout Cave has both east and south facing windows allowing light to illuminate the its cavernous chamber. Once you climb the steep bank, walk behind Fay Canyon Arch and use a wide angle lens to frame green trees and red rocks behind the arch. The cave features one large east facing oval window and one much smaller south facing circular window known as Robbers Roost. I would not recommend this for anyone scared of heights, who dont have shoes with great grip or for the lesser athletic. Heres the Sugar Loaf Trailhead parking lot Google Maps location to use for beginning your hike to Keyhole Cave. 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. You are going to hike directly straight ahead beyond the wooden sign heading for the red rock formation on the horizon. Distance: 1.6 miles round trip (out and back) Time to Summit: 30 minutes to an hour. Want to visit Hideout Cave? Aim to arrive inside Birthing Cave between 12pm and 3pm for optimal light conditions. Are you looking for directions and tips on how to find and access the best caves in Sedona? Karabou Adventure + Travel is a participant of 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. There are a few different ways to get here. You will go left and just follow Thunder MTN Trail. This lone tree illuminates under sunlight around mid morning when the sun position is optimal for entering the narrow cave chamber. PARKING PASS: Required for parking at the trailhead. Looking for hiking inspiration? If you dont have either, buy a 1 day or 7 day pass at the ticket machine or online at recreation.gov. It is best not to go all the way into the cave if you have a fear of heights. Sedona, Arizona. Easy 4.6 (2494) Coconino National Forest. The Sedona Keyhole Cave is stunning but also the most dangerous out of the caves in this article. How do I get to Keyhole? Accessing the cave does not require any climbing or use of hands, but there is a steep bank to climb on the final approach. Actually getting into the cave requires some rock climbing skills and is not for those who are afraid of heights. 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). Always consider backup parking areas before setting off for a trail. You have three options to get into the cave and going up to the right is definitely the only way you should go. If you're going on a road trip from Los Angeles to Sedona, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Anaheim, Phoenix, Greater Palm Springs, Palm Springs, Scottsdale, Temecula, Laguna Beach, Prescott, Joshua Tree National Park, and Cottonwood and top places to visit like Wilson Creek Winery and Big Bear . Lets take a look at some of the most asked questions about visiting caves in Sedona, Arizona. Photos (3,140) Directions. 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. Rome2rio makes travelling from Brea to Sedona easy. Your Travel Guide To The Grand Canyon State. 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. Take your time, watch your steps and you will arrive safely at the base of the cave. Most importantly, wear a good pair of hiking shoes that will facilitate an easier hike overall. Keyhole Cave is in Sedona Arizona, specifically 1.1 miles north from Sugar Loaf trailhead. With that said, if there is rain or recent rain and you cant go up the wash then just follow the trails North directing at the cave and you will eventually run into it. Once you are at the massive cave entrance you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is inside. However, they are also the busiest times of year, which also means the most expensive. Keyhole Cave is stunning, but its one of many others which I will one day do a post on, but in the meantime, heres a few other hikes, including cave hikes you can try: I have more posts on Sedona which you can find by simply using the search on my site, but just know that if youre not feeling the hike to Keyhole Cave after what you saw here, dont do it as there are so many other cool and safer hikes to try out in Sedona. The out and back hike to Keyhole Cave is moderately difficult, but a challenging scramble and climb is required to access the upper cave chamber. You will begin the hike at Teacup Trail at the right, another name for Sugarloaf. We now help over 2 million people each year to travel, hike and photograph their bucket list destinations. Perfect! Fortunately I had vocal help from someone who saw more than I did and told me where to put my hands and feet. Teacup Trail to Coffeepot Rock. The cave is southwest facing, which means the gaping hole entrance will flood with more light in the afternoon. 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. The cave is accessed via significant off-trail hiking, which means forging a path through rugged desert wilderness. Keep Sugar Loaf Mountain slightly left of center and follow the lightly beaten trails or wash back to the Teacup / Thunder Mountain Trail crossroads. But do not count on others being able to help you climb into Keyhole Cave. The hardest part of the right ascent is getting up onto a ledge right at the start of the climb. 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. Keyhole Cave Access: Sugarloaf One of the largest alcoves in the area, Keyhole Cave can actually be seen from many places in West Sedona. Once you are at the entrance, you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is and mystic. Thank you for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts. The trail is entirely in the wilderness with no shelter, so it is not recommended to do this in the summer. 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. Please do not park in or near driveways of local residents. There is a wash you can follow for most of the hike but it twists and turns which adds on distance and time. Cave features one large east facing oval window and one much smaller south facing circular window as... Take the stress out of the most asked questions about visiting caves in Sedona Arizona, just sure! The entrance, you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave for me finding! 1 mile up Forest Road 9530 which saves 2 miles until you a. Mention of Kachina Cave of hiking total more than i did and told me to. 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