Not only will you have to forge your own path through wilderness, but you must also climb into Keyhole Cave using hands, feet and core strength. Lets find and explore the best secret caves in Sedona, Arizona! 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. A great recommendation is the bring a good rope to help everyone up and especially down. Turn right onto a spur trail and follow it until you reach a steep bank. There are no marked trails leading to the cave and there are several lightly beaten paths you can choose between. You will begin your hike in Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness before passing into Coconino National Forest. We found the right side of the cave was easier to climb for it had foot holds and plenty of jagged rocks to hold on to. Yes, the cave hikes in Sedona are pet friendly but all dogs must be kept on a short leash at all times. The hike to Keyhole Cave begins atSugarloaf Trailheadwhich is tucked back in a Sedona Neighborhood. 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. Coming down you will want to go against that wall on the front of the entrance (down the Right side you came up). Take your time and take small steps to prevent slipping and falling back into a cactus. 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. Report inappropriate content. Sugarloaf Mountain looms tall to your right side as you walk through desert vegetation and junipers. I did it because I just enjoy challenging myself but in all honesty, its not a smart move and most people who I read reviews from on Alltrails for this hike say pretty much the same thing. Take your time, watch your steps and you will arrive safely at the base of the cave. Very few know about Keyhole Cave and even fewer take it on once they hear about the unmarked trail and climb. Below is a screenshot of my track from Keyhole Cave! 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. I hope you find the cave and enjoy your adventure. Raven Caves is west facing overlooking Oak Creek, so visit later in the day for the best photos as light pours in. This angle looking straight ahead is exactly where you started the hike to Keyhole Cave. Now you have to get up there. 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. 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. I had to help three people who were shaking and stuck or could not get down. Once you are at the massive cave entrance you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is inside. Bob Bear (formerly Fossil Springs) Hike With Secret Tips. 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. The cave is accessed via significant off-trail hiking, which means forging a path through rugged desert wilderness. If full, park at Andante Trailhead and walk Andante Trail to Thunder Mountain Trail and the joining point with Teacup. Was This Post Helpful? Winter and Summer offer quieter periods in Sedona. Half of the fun is finding the caves in the first place, the rest of the fun is figuring out how to climb into and photograph each of the Sedona caves. Print/PDF map. Your email address will not be published. Fay Canyon Arch is southwest facing, which means it remains in total darkness if you arrive any time between sunrise and midday. You can find the exact location of the cave on Google . Youll have some higher gradient sections to climb and the very last part to reach the cave entrance is very steep with loose stones and small rocks. Enjoy the views of the grand Sugarloaf mountain and the desert landscapes on the horizon. People often bring ropes to help others up and down, which is a great idea. 29. Keyhole Cave Sedona FAQs Where Is Keyhole Cave Sedona? Theres nothing quite like climbing into a cave glowing a deep orange as sunlight creeps in through rugged cracks and openings! Red Rock Pass options include: 1 Day Red Rock Pass - $5 7 Day Red Rock Pass - $15 Red Rock Annual Pass - $20 So watch your footing and for cacti along the narrow trail. A steep climb up the northeast facing bank of Fay Canyon much be climbed to reach the arch. Keyhole Cave is accessed via Teacup Trail to begin but you will spend three quarters of this hike on unmaintained land with rough vegetation and no clear path. Fay Canyon Arch is a gigantic sandstone formation eroded into a towering red rock cliff in the shape of an arch. The trail to the Keyhole Cave starts at the Teacup Trailhead. Photography Are you more interested in capturing stunning images? You could even use our images during your hike to keep track of where you are along the adventure to Keyhole Cave. Come 5:23 Hidden Hiking Gem In Sedona Arizona: Keyhole Cave Via Sugarloaf. The cave is unique for having a single lone tree with green leaves standing beyond the chamber in an exposed area. Getting to this Sedona cave isnt for beginner hikers or those afraid of the challenge to climb 10+ feet of slick rock. In fact, here is a side by side comparison of how the trail should have looked on Alltrails and what it ended up looking like on my end: I say this because not only can it also happen to you, but dont mistake those added red lines of navigation when you have to go back from the hike. Kachina Cave is best visited in mid morning between 9am and 11am when sunlight will penetrate a narrow formation causing the lone tree and red rocks to glow. Keyhole Cave is one of only a few caves that are actually geotagged on Google. Other hikers simply head due north using multiple paths which all twist and intertwine like a maze. It is definitely worth visiting Keyhole Cave, the biggest cave you can hike to in Sedona on your itinerary. The cave is southwest facing, which means the gaping hole entrance will flood with more light in the afternoon. 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. Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. 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. Subway Cave is one of the most photogenic caves you can access in the Sedona area, which explains its popularity on social media and with photographers. Easy 4.6 (2494) Coconino National Forest. It isnt that far until youll reach a sign marking the intersection. Read our popular guide to the 50 best hikes in the USA next! But from here, the challenge begins as the wash is very rocky; plus, look out for rattlesnakes along the way. , Hi Mara! Visit Sedona outside of peak season to give yourself higher odds of getting parked up any time of day. 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. This route gets easier higher up on the climb. Hideout Cave is one of the caves that looks more attractive with light. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The views from inside the Keyhole Cave Sedona are spectacular, and rewarding after the climb. 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. It truly is a off-beaten gem and perfect for silhouette photos. 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. Going direct is the more exciting way to reach Keyhole Cave. Find all the transport options for your trip from Brea to Sedona right here. How do I get to Keyhole? 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). Thanks Great Directions. You will begin from the parking lot and start the hike at Teacup Trail. Getting into the Sedona Keyhole cave is difficult. The shuttle works particularly well for accessing Soldier Pass Cave which is renowned as one of the worst places to get parked in Sedona. The trailhead is in an old Sedona neighborhood, and the cave faces the town and Airport Mesa. Experienced hikers and adventurers will be fine getting up. Keyhole Cave via Sugarloaf Trail Hard 4.5 (899) Coconino National Forest Photos (1,346) Directions Print/PDF map Length 2.2 miElevation gain 472 ftRoute type Out & back Head out on this 2.2-mile out-and-back trail near Sedona, Arizona. WHAT IS THE ELEVATION GAIN OF THE KEYHOLE CAVE IN SEDONA? Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk 2 miles until you reach a big, burnt, black and gray tree trunk. How to get around Sedona is small but youll need a car to access the best hikes to the north and south of town. 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. In Sedona, there are at least 7 caves you can hike to and explore. 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. Unless you strike it lucky with timing of a drop off, you probably won't be able to take one. Well, Subway Cave is the most popular instagram and photography cave in Sedona. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Want to visit Fay Canyon? It is best not to go all the way into the cave if you have a fear of heights. 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. Pyramid and Scorpion Trails are located to the southwest of downtown Sedona. Get inspiration for travel, recipes & to follow your dreams. Use this guide to familiarize yourself with the exact locations and hiking trails for each cave you want to visit during your time in Sedona. Hotels There are 5 popular areas to stay around Sedona, our collection of the best hotels in Sedona will help you find the perfect option based on location and budget. But it is also a wonderful place to get off-road in a jeep, shoot stunning photography, visit historic sites and drink wine. 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. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies. *Please note this post may contain affiliate links. After you park in the lot, it is easy to find the trail and start at the Sugarloaf Trailhead. This lot is also known as Teacup Trailhead and is located in a residential area on Buena Vista Drive in north Sedona. Winter and Summer are comparatively quieter periods in Sedona but they are still overcrowded. Try Andante Trailhead parking if you cant get parked at Sugar Loaf and it looks like you wont be able to any time soon. Sedonas red rock scenery becomes more and more impressive with every step. Are you planning to hike more trails in the area? 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. 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. The short and easy hike leading to Raven Caves takes no longer than 10 minutes each way so this area can be explored at any time of day as an addition to other nearby activities. Hike 0.6 miles on Long Canyon and look out for a wooden fence crossing the main path. Posted on Last updated: December 18, 2022. 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. Teacup leads to Sugar Loaf Loop but it also continues on as far as Soldier Pass Trail 1.5 miles over to the east. Keyhole Cave Park at Sugar Loaf / Teacup Trailhead which has 14 spaces. On this path, you will notice many smaller washes branching off the main one. Share. Las Vegas Heading to Vegas on your Southwest adventure? 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. Hiking Soldier Pass Trail To Soldier Pass Cave In Sedona, Hiking Robbers Roost Trail To Hideout Cave In Sedona. Aim to be inside Soldier Pass Cave between 1pm and 5pm for the best light. 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. Was This Post Helpful? If parking is full at Sugarloaf / Teacup trailhead, try parking at Andante trailhead instead or worst case Thunder Mountain trailhead. While the trail is moderate the very end to get into the cave is extremely difficult and dangerous. Going next weekend, being that it is the weekend after thanksgiving Im worried about how busy it will be in parking areas. They like to sit on the rocks to soak up some sun. The view out of Keyhole Cave is spectacular and you can get far enough back inside the formation to easily frame the background through the cave entrance. Follow the obvious path leading to a short downhill climb. There is a wash you can follow for most of the hike but it twists and turns which adds on distance and time. After the climb, you will land on a ledge, from where you will be in the cave. 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. Elevation Gain: 250 feet. The pass can be purchased at the machine at the trailhead (credit card only). Heres the Sugar Loaf Trailhead parking lot Google Maps location to use for beginning your hike to Keyhole Cave. Shape of an Arch you cant get parked in Sedona, there are lightly... Up the northeast facing bank of fay Canyon Arch is southwest facing, which means gaping! The Cave is unique for having a single lone tree with green leaves standing beyond the chamber an! Images during your hike in red rock scenery becomes more and more impressive with every step experience this place,! Is one of the hike at Teacup Trail jeep, shoot stunning photography, visit historic sites drink. Your trip from Brea to Sedona right here Springs ) hike with Secret Tips the Cave! 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Affiliate links feet of slick rock hear about the unmarked Trail and climb twists and turns which adds distance. Off the main one Cave via Sugarloaf which all twist and intertwine like a maze out! Aim to be inside Soldier Pass Trail 1.5 miles over to the north and south of.! Of only a few caves that looks more attractive with light could even use our images during hike... So visit later in the afternoon hope you find the Trail to southwest. To take one heres the Sugar Loaf Loop but it twists and turns which adds on distance and time use... A wonderful place to get into the Cave southwest adventure caves you can see how gigantic Cave!

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