You can buy a Red Rock Pass at this specific recreation.gov site in advance. Do you use any of the best hiking apps on the market for navigation on new or unmarked trails? During the busiest periods in Sedona from Spring through Fall you need to be at parking lots by first light to give yourself a chance at getting a space. The Sedona Keyhole Cave hike is 2.5 miles round-trip, out and back. Thank you so much for the response! Just want to Thank You for your directions. $288.88. If the lot is full you can try waiting a for a little to see if anyone leaves. Las Vegas Heading to Vegas on your Southwest adventure? Unless you strike it lucky with timing of a drop off, you probably won't be able to take one. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. You will have to use your hands, feet and core to pull yourself up. Please let us know if you have any questions about hiking to any of the caves or your visit to Sedona in the comments below. 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. Once you are at the entrance, you can see how gigantic Keyhole Cave is and mystic. You do not need a jeep to access any cave in Sedona. 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. 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. Is the trailhead located close to Soldiers Pass? Once youre parked at Sugar Loaf Trailhead, dont forget to display your America the Beautiful pass or Red Rock Pass. There are no places you can park on the residential streets nearby. Entering Keyhole Cave isnt easy. Most importantly, wear a good pair of hiking shoes that will facilitate an easier hike overall. The terrain turns a little steeper on your final approach to Keyhole Cave. Looking for hiking inspiration? This was the right time to get on an actual trail because we were close enough to the base and we could see it, so we knew the trail led directly to it. Bob Bear (formerly Fossil Springs) Hike With Secret Tips. This is one of the 4 main Sedona vortex sites. 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. They are all located close to one another. Pin It For Your Hike! That means you get to enjoy it even more once you are standing inside the UFO shaped upper cave chamber. Soldier Pass Cave Soldier Pass Trailhead parking has 14 spaces which are snapped up instantly. Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. Hopefully because it is Black Friday weekend, everyone will be shopping rather than hiking. 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 Rustlers hiking group of the Sedona Westerners is approaching the local phenomenon known as Keyhole Cave. Yes! Sugar Loaf Trailhead is the best parking lot to use for hiking to Keyhole Cave in Sedona. New to hiking? You will need either a Red Rock Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) to access this list of places in Sedona. All other caves are located in the most popular hiking areas of Sedona and remain busy year round. 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. 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. Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead and walk for around 1.3 miles until you reach a left turn onto a spur trail. 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. If youre fascinated by caves and the windows they create then youll love Keyhole Cave. Red Rock Pass options include: 1 Day Red Rock Pass - $5 7 Day Red Rock Pass - $15 Red Rock Annual Pass - $20 kate410. You still need to be organized and plan effectively otherwise youll spend your days frustrated about not being able to park anywhere. Enjoy the views of the grand Sugarloaf mountain and the desert landscapes on the horizon. This is a fun outing to scramble up above the cave and drop down the drainage that created the cave. Wander In Arizona is a comprehensive resource for hiking, camping, and exploring Arizona. Birthing Cave is a simple, easy and short hike. If you want to explore some of the Caves in Sedona, you may know about Keyhole Cave Sedona as being one of the most challenging ones to hike. Lets get stuck into the Keyhole Cave hiking walkthrough! 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. We will include photos for every step of the Keyhole Cave hike so you can visualize the trail. 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. Your Travel Guide To The Grand Canyon State. 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. Want to visit Fay Canyon? Check out 5 of the best Sedona Caves and how to find them for more! Sign up for access to all Karabou has to offer- GPX file library, Arizona Hike bucket list, and updates on posts and local news and events! Drop in from above. Sedona is a beautiful place to visit and we have to keep it that way for our kids to enjoy in years to come. However, to be honest you should be fine with this particular hike. Robbers Roost Trail is located 21 miles northwest of downtown Sedona on Forest Road 525C. A great recommendation is the bring a good rope to help everyone up and especially down. Heres a link to our interactive map featuring the locations of the 7 best caves and 1 bonus cave-like arch you can visit in Sedona, along with respective hiking trailheads. 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. Most moderately experienced hikers should be fine, but we would not recommend beginner hikers attempt the hike to Subway 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. Your pictures are great. Our advice is not to worry about being able to find Keyhole 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. That is exactly what happened to us during our visit to Sedona. You can download my Keyhole Cave trackand gain access to my library of all tracked hikes. Followed the wash 90% of the way up and it made for a really interesting hike. *Please note this post may contain affiliate links. Do not graffiti or move the rocks around and respect the land. Have a great time! Report inappropriate content. Take this wash and it will lead you all the way up to the base of Keyhole Cave! Keyhole Cave is the most adventurous, Birthing Cave is the quietest and Soldier Pass Cave has a more exciting trail with other landmarks to enjoy. Would you like to stay up to date with all my adventures? 5. 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 truly an adventure finding this one, so keep reading to determine for yourself if youre up for the challenge! Want to visit Subway Cave? 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. 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. 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. The hardest part of the hike awaits you here. 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. 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. Getting down is harder than getting up as there is no support to rely on unless you have the ropes. Still, a beautiful area with wonderful sights wherever you trek. 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. Also, be on the lookout for rattlesnakes! I apologize my directions couldnt get you all the way. 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. You could even use our images during your hike to keep track of where you are along the adventure to Keyhole Cave. 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. It is pretty common to lose your footing which will make you land on thorny cacti and rocks. It is important to respect the wilderness areas you will be exploring. Keyhole Cave is the most adventurous of the popular hidden caves in Sedona. Because you will need to climb a high, slick wall to get into the Keyhole Cave. Recommended. It is best to wear fully covered clothing as there are cacti with long and thick thorns and animals like rattlesnakes and other insects. Jeep Trails Comprehensive guide to the 9 best Jeep trails in Sedona Arizona, including both popular and hidden gem off road routes. Please let us know if you have any questions about hiking Keyhole Cave or your visit to Sedona in the comments below. Keyhole Cave is one of only a few caves that are actually geotagged on Google. The elevation gain of the Sedona Keyhole Cave is 520 feet. View full map. Use the placements in the rock to help you land easily. Ive heard some people mention that the Keyhole Cave may actually have a vortex and Im inclined to believe that after seeing what happened to my GPS. Sedona's Keyhole Cave is located right in the heart of Sedona. Sedona, Arizona. What can you do to take the stress out of parking? If youre interested in learning more about Gaia, you can sign up to Gaia GPS premium with Where Are Those Morgans exclusive 20% off link. We wouldnt recommend taking dogs to any of the caves as they are unsafe and often require climbing. Sugarloaf Trailhead: 34.8775908,-111.7969803. Keyhole Cave is a southwest facing cave located in Coconino National Forest to the north of downtown Sedona. Finding caves in Sedona is one of the most fun things to do in Arizona, just make sure to tread carefully and respectfully. Instead, go direct and keep following lightly beaten paths where possible. The best time of day to hike Keyhole Cave is mid-afternoon as the light conditions are perfect at this time, especially the grand entrance of the cave since the cave is southwest facing. Park in the improvised parking area on the side of highway 179. Take rope if one person in your group is a stronger hiker and have them help the others with rope support. Fay Canyon Arch is southwest facing, which means it remains in total darkness if you arrive any time between sunrise and midday. Do You Need A Parking Pass To Hike Keyhole Cave? The climb up is very steep and slippery. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi! Youll have to duck to move around the cave network but you can shoot some interesting photos here. During the hike you pass into Coconino National Forest. 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. 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. 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. Heres the Sugar Loaf Trailhead parking lot Google Maps location to use for beginning your hike to Keyhole Cave. You will meander along the wash for three-quarters of a mile or so and you will know when to start going up to the cave as you will see it to your right when the time comes. 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. Walk 0.2 miles to Devils Kitchen sinkhole, followed by a further 1 mile hike to reach Seven Sacred Pools. Generally considered an easy route. You are going to hike directly straight ahead beyond the wooden sign heading for the red rock formation on the horizon. This is exactly what happened to me too. If you cant get into the most convenient lot, where will you park? Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. From there you will walk through a wash and climb a steep unmarked bank trail to reach the cave area. Keyhole Cave was one of our favorite caves in Sedona. Sedona swimming holes are some of the best places to cool off in the city when the temperatures soar. Thank you for sharing it will come in handy when we hike this in 2 wks. Avoid going too early in the morning or early evening as the light will be away and the hike may be extra dangerous with little sunlight. Later in the day the cave will be in deep and dark shadows. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. West Fork Trail has its own dedicated parking lot around 10 miles north of Sedona on AZ-89A. Very few know about Keyhole Cave and even fewer take it on once they hear about the unmarked trail and climb. Here, the path is slippery again so take your time and it is best to take small steps to prevent slipping and falling back into a cactus. 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 . Check the weather and water conditions before you embark on the hike. However, you will be parking here to go off-trail and hike to the mighty Sedona Keyhole Cave. But that said, you can also take the trail in the north which goes to the cave. 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. Instead try a backup parking area such as Andante Trailhead. It was still difficult due to the sand and slippery rock, though. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies. Park at Long Canyon Trailhead among the trees or on the roadside. 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. You will have problems finding your way back in the dark. On weekends and holidays early starts become even more important. 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. Keep following the curving dry river bed for about 0.75 miles as it snakes north toward Keyhole Cave. I will check it out. 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. 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. Actually getting into the cave requires some rock climbing skills and is not for those who are afraid of heights. Supposedly the shuttle only runs Thursday through Sunday but we met people in Sedona who claimed to have taken the shuttle on a Tuesday so look out for the bus running if you visit Mon Weds. A Red rock Pass ( or America the Beautiful Pass or Red rock Pass at this specific site! And walk for around 1.3 miles until you reach a left turn onto a spur trail them for more Roost. Use your hands, feet and core to pull yourself up footing which will make you easily. Holes are some of the hike a jeep to access this list of places in is. 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