How to find the Kachina Tree Cave off Boynton Canyon in Sedona, AZ
On one long stretch of cliff side, surprisingly close to the Enchantment resort in Sedona, AZ, lies the Kachina Tree and cave (or arch depending how you look at it). It’s a relatively short hike - taking us less than an hour to reach the top from the Boynton Canyon trailhead. Although the route finding isn’t highly involved, there is a lot of steep rock scrambling making this hike difficult. But with a little determination, anyone can reach the top!
A Quick Note: Boynton Canyon in Sedona is a wonderland for those wanting to find beautiful, sacred, and ancient sites. With a little route finding and our (hopefully) helpful guidance, you can enjoy these places as well. That said, please be mindful, courteous, and respectful of any one of these locations. We want to leave them just as we found them. Remember to leave no trace!
STATS
Distance: ~ 4 miles (out and back)
Difficulty: Hard (see sketchiness level)
Sketchiness Level: High (lots of rock scrambling and steep loose dirt)
Best Time to Photograph: 9am - 11am (we arrived around 1pm and the light was still okay)
Parking: Boynton Canyon Trailhead
Parking Fee: $5/day or $15/week. An “America The Beautiful” annual national park pass is accepted as well.
HOW TO GET THERE
Begin at the Boynton Canyon Trail head and hike about 1.8 miles until you reach the “Boynton Canyon TH PKG” and “Boynton Canyon” trail sign. It’s towards the end of the Enchantment resort.
A few hundred feet past the sign you’ll cross over a rocky wash and only a few steps after that you’ll see a faint trail on the left (see indication on photo below) that takes you into the trees.
Boynton Canyon Trail Intersection
Rocky wash on Boynton Canyon Trail
View from outside the trail entrance to Kachina Tree
Shortly after you turn onto the side trail you’ll see a USFS sign with reminders for protecting and preserving archaeological sites. This is how you’ll know you’re on the correct trail.
From here, the “trail” follows a smaller and narrow rocky wash. Expect to duck under a few tree branches.
Use the rock spire on your right as your landmark to help with navigation. You’ll want to stay to the left of it, the trail will never take you around the right side.
US Forest Service sign posted on tree
Tammy ducking under a fallen tree
Looking up at the rock spire right of the trail
Half way up the climb you’ll come to a cliff dwelling. Cross over the dwelling on the left and keeping following the canyon wall to ascend up the next rocky wash/drainage.
The wash will eventually flatten out and the trail will veer to the right ending at the red rock canyon walls. From here, the tree and cave/arch are just around the corner looking out to Boynton Canyon.
After reaching the Kachina Tree, keep exploring around the ledges. You never know what else you’ll come across.
RECAP
Hike around 1.8 miles on Boynton Canyon Trail
After the Enchantment resort TH sign, cross a rocky wash and turn left onto a faint trail under the trees.
Keep an eye out for the USFS Historical Site sign to confirm you’re on the correct trail.
Follow the trail up along the narrow rocky wash
Stay to the left of the rock spire as you climb up.
Cross over the Sinagua cliff dwelling and continue traveling up the rocky drainage
The trail will flatten out and veer right towards the canyon walls. The tree and cave are just around the corner overlooking Boynton Canyon and the Enchantment Resort.
Want to keep exploring? Here are a few more options in the area
Visit the “Million Dollar Ruins” located on another offshoot trail from the Boynton Canyon Trail.
Visit “The Subway” located a little further down via the same Boynton Canyon Trail. Tip: It’s location is marked on the “Boynton Canyon” All Trails map
Complete the 7.3 mile out and back Boynton Canyon Trail
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