KEYHOLE CAVE in Sedona, AZ: How To Get There

There’s something magical about caves. They offer a sense of mystery and adventure, with hidden chambers, narrow passages, and unusual rock formations. The draw to the physical challenge of climbing and hiking into caves is also what makes them so alluring.

In this blog post, I’ll explain how to get to the Keyhole Cave, one of Sedona’s many jaw-dropping caves.

The Keyhole Cave is not for beginners. So while this challenging hike requires route finding, short but steep elevations, and a final climb into the cave that demands confidence in your rock climbing skills - it’s that extra effort into a little hidden slice of Sedona that makes it one of our favorites.

Before we dive into getting there and things to know before you go, remember this cave, and most of Sedona, are sacred lands and should be treated as such. Please remember to practice Leave No Trace principles.

Okay, let’s get started!

How to hike to the keyhole cave in sedona — Evan and Melanny inside the Keyhole Cave in Sedona

TRAIL STATS

Distance: 2.2 miles out & back

Difficulty: HARD. This isn’t an established trail. It’s overgrown, hard to follow, and steep in some places. The last climb into the cave requires climbing skills

Trailhead Location: Sugarloaf Trailhead

Parking: Parking is limited at the Sugarloaf Trailhead. See alternate parking options below.

Trail Route: see All Trails

Dog Friendly?: Yes, but read the disclaimers below

Exact GPS Location for Keyhole Cave: 34°53'13.9"N 111°47'57.0"W

HIKING TO THE KEYHOLE CAVE

The easiest way to find the cave is by using the trail map Keyhole Cave via Sugarloaf Trail route on All Trails.

PRO TIP - Save the trail to your favorites list within the app so you can access it anytime (even without service).

If for any reason All Trails doesn’t work, I’ve listed instructions below on how to reach the cave and how to get in once you get to the base.

Begin your hike at the Sugarloaf Trailhead.
Around .3 miles in, you’ll reach the Thunder Mountain/Tea Cup trail intersection. Behind this sign, you’ll notice a faint hiking path with a couple of logs laid out in front. This is the official start of the unmarked portion of the hike to the keyhole cave. From here, expect the rest of the trail to be unmaintained.
Follow this path (mostly parallel to the rocky wash) for another .6 miles (.9 mi total from the Sugarloaf trailhead)
After almost a mile, the ascent to the cave begins! From here, the trail is steep, loose, and fully exposed but you should be able to see the cave above you. Use the cave as your guide point. There will be lots of rock scrambling and cactus encounters but don’t get discouraged. You’re so close!
Once you reach the base of the cave there is one last push to actually get “inside”. You can choose one of two possible routes up - we always choose to go far right. It has the best hand and foot holds to pull yourself into the cave. Someone has put in a rope with knots which helps a lot but I wouldn’t place all of my trust in it. And don’t forget - you still have to get down! Personally, we think coming down is harder than going up. The rock always seems to have a dusting of fine sand making it a lot more slippery and steep than it appears.
Regardless of whether you go inside the cave or not, pat yourself on the back for making it all the way here! Take it in and don’t forget to leave no trace! That includes no graffiti, etching your name into the rock, littering, etc. We know you’re a good human but a reminder never hurts!

Keyhole cave trail conditions — Steep section of trail on the last push to the keyhole cave

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Other Routes - The trails in this area all connect together. If you can’t find parking at the Sugarloaf trailhead, try Andante trailhead. Or try taking the shuttle to Soldiers Pass and hiking the Tea Cup trail to get to the Sugarloaf trail area. These are longer routes but they’re beautiful. Check out All Trails maps to get a better idea.

Other Caves - If you’re up for a big day of cave exploring, check out this guide on how to get to the Soldiers Pass Cave.

Dog Friendlyness - Nearly all of the trails in Sedona are dog friendly which makes this even more of a hiking paradise. That said, it’s important to remember that not all dogs are suited for desert hiking. If they are susceptible to overheating, clumsy around cacti, or simply not great at scrambling up/down loose rocks, I would choose another trail in the area. Also, I HIGHLY discourage anyone from trying to get their dog inside the cave. When I’ve visited with just my partner, we take turns climbing into the cave while the other hangs below in a safe area with the dogs. Otherwise, this is a fun trail for any agile two or four-legged creature trying to get off the beaten path and avoid crowds.

Enjoy the trail!

What To Bring and Wear For Hiking In Sedona

It’s the desert, baby! What I’m saying is, you’re going to be encountering a lot of sun exposure and dry air out here. So whether you’re visiting in cooler months (October - March) or warmer months (April - September) - I believe the following are essentials to any Sedona visit.

Backpack

Unlike a day in the mountains, you don’t need a big all-day size pack out here. I think the Inertia 18 H20 from Gregory is perfect for a day hike in Sedona. Plus, it comes with a hydration bladder!

Hydration Reservoir or Water Bottle

Are you team hydration reservoir or water bottle? For hikes, I prefer a reservoir but when not carrying a pack, I love my Flux 1L from HydraPak.

Hiking Boots

You don’t need an aggressive tread here in Sedona. In fact, a running shoe is just fine! But if you’re in the market for new hiking boots, I’ve had these On Running Cloudrock hiking boots for 2 years and they are so comfortable! Available in men’s and women’s styles.

Sunhat

Any hat will do but for more all-around sun protection, take a look at this sunhat.

Sunscreen

You can’t go wrong with Elta MD sunscreen here in Sedona.

Trail snacks

Besides water, trail snacks are probably the next most important thing you could have in your pack or pockets. My personal favorite snack right now is Honey Stinger Waffles. But pack whatever feels right for you! My other go-to snacks are protein bars and pretzels. Remember, there’s no such thing as too many trail snacks!