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Boynton Canyon in Sedona is famous for the Subway Cave, however, there’s arguably a much better hike in Boynton Canyon that experienced hikers should take!
Each time we’ve gone to Sedona, we’ve tried to find more social trails, the trails that are made from the locals and kept a secret from the tourist. They’re trails that veer off of main trails like Boyton Canyon Trail, and often lead to beautiful untouched discovery.
This Boynton Canyon Sedona hike is just that. A full day of adventuring, bushwacking and following social trails to caves, cliff dwellings, a painted wall, and arguably the best view of Boynton Canyon around.
This truly is a full day and should only be done by experienced hikers who have a good sense of direction… as there are no established trails for this Boynton Canyon Loop and it’s easy to get lost up here!
We strongly recommend wearing extremely grippy shoes for this hike and carrying a backpack with snacks and a water bladder.
Parking For the Boynton Canyon Sedona Loop
- Parking Lot Coordinates | 34.907356, -111.848582
- Parking Fee | $5 in parking lot or free on road or with national park pass
The Boynton Canyon Trailhead parking lot gets full really early. In fact, when we arrived to the trailhead at 9:00AM in the off-season, the parking lot was already full.
There is free parking for Boynton Canyon Trailhead back on Boynton Canyon Road if you don’t want to pay or the parking lot is full.
At the trailhead, you’ll find a pit toilet (bring hand sanitizer) and a trash bag usually inside the pit toilet door.
What to Expect On This Epic Sedona Hike
This loop hike was one of our favorite hikes in Sedona, Arizona. Once getting off the main Boynton Canyon trail, we were not only completely by ourselves the entire hike, but it’s also a hike full of all the best parts of Sedona.
The views are amazing… legitimately some of the best views in Sedona. There are multiple cliff dwellings, a cave, and a wall that’s naturally painted with the minerals trickling down.
There’s a good mix of shade and sun on this hike, but we definitely recommend sun protection! Check out what other things you should have when hiking in Sedona here.
While we talk about the Boynton Canyon Vortex below, and there’s also the Subway Cave, we recommend adding one or both of them on at the end of your hike, if you have the energy.
This is a big, big day of hiking. And honestly, we didn’t have the energy to add anything extra to the day, making us have to come back to see the vortex and Subway Cave.
Making The Most Out Of This Guide | Saving Coordinates
Maps.me is an offline map app we have used for over a decade. It’s safe to say we love this app. Before your trip to Sedona, download Maps.Me and the Flagstaff/Sedona region.
You can then pin each of the coordinates we talk about in this post, leaving notes on each pin to help you as you complete this hike. It will definitely help significantly to have the coordinates pinned while you’re out on the trails!
A Deeper Look | We’ve done a post all about maps.me where we show you how to pin and how we use this app.
Hiking to Kachina Cave
- Coordinates For Leaving Boynton Canyon Trail | 34.92065, -111.855882
- Cave Coordinates | 34.920187, -111.859385
Kachina Cave is the first main point of interest on the Boynton Canyon Sedona Loop. To access this cave, you have to take a social trail, that’s unmarked, but relatively easy to follow.
As you hike along the Boynton Canyon trail, you’ll be passing the Enchantment Resort on the left. Almost immediately after the resort ends, there’s a social trail to the left, with logs across the path. (This is a very usual thing for social trails that lead to awesome things… same thing happened for Keyhole Cave!).
You’ll know you’re in the right area if you start walking up the wash and you see a forest service sign that talks about removing artifacts from the archilogical sites in this area.
Continue up the wash through the tunnel of trees. Once you see an outlet to the right with a red rock spire in the view, exit the wash and hike up to the spire.
From here, you have two options. There’s a faint social trail leading along the edge of the red rocks you can follow, up into the wash, or you can do what we did.
Get some rock climbing in, and climb up to the base of the spire, soak in the views, and then cross the red slick rock ledge back towards the wash (towards the resort). You’ll find the trail at the wash, where you’ll continue hiking up the wash until you see your first cliff dwelling on the right.
Exit the wash and walk through the cliff dwelling, following the crevice of the two red rocks. You’ll soon turn the corner to the famous Kachina Tree/Cave.
Kachina Tree Cliff Dwellings
Walking through the Kachina Tree cave, continue along the red rock ledge. The views here are stunning. We decided this was a great place to have some lunch and enjoy the views.
Continuing along the red rock ledge as it wraps around the canyon walls, you’ll come across another cliff dwelling. This cliff dwelling you can actually see when you’re at the spires below!
Kachina Cave To Viewpoint + Turn Around Spot
- Viewpoint Coordinates | 34.919478, -111.859645
When you finish soaking in the views and enjoying a snack, head back through the cave and up the rest of the wash.
At the top of the wash, you’ll find youself on the top of the section of red rock. Wander around and enjoy the views from all the different angles!
We loved this spot and think it would be a great place to catch a gorgeous Sedona sunset if not completing the entire Boynton Canyon Sedona Loop.
If at any point getting to this location you were second guessing the trails, worried about the heights, or got a little lost, now is the time to turn around and head back down the way you came instead of doing the entire loop. It’s not worth your safety to get hurt or lost up here with nobody around.
Turn Around Or The Painted Wall
- Painted Wall Coordinates | 34.921329, -111.862513
If you’re feeling comfortable to continue on the trail, this is where the real bushwacking begins!
From the viewpoint looking into Sedona, turn around 180 degrees and look into the canyon. On the right side, there’s a white colored wall in the ditance that looks like a half pipe. This is your target.
Start hiking, or I should really say bushwhacking, towards the white wall, keeping it in eye site and staying as close to that level of the wall as you can.
It’s really just blazing your own path. There is a very faint trail along the canyon wall but lots of bushwhacking and scratches are coming your way.
At the beginning of the half pipe is where you’ll find that beautiful painted wall. The painted wall here is so beautiful.
It’s something so different than all the other things in Sedona you see, and although the pictures don’t do justice, it was one of my favorite parts of this entire loop.
The Painted Wall to The Best Boynton Canyon Views
- Best Boynton Canyon View Coordinates | 34.923291, -111.865336
Passing through the painted wall, continue hiking along the ledge.
Hiking in Sedona brought on a fear of heights I had no idea I even had. In fact, there were many times on hikes I ended up in tears, afraid of the sheer drops right next to me.
However, I’m happy to report this short section hiking along the ledge isn’t bad here. The ledge is actually pretty wide, and it’s not a straight drop off to the side. Plus, the painted wall is a nice distraction!
At the edge of the ledge, there’s more bushwhacking waiting. Take the trail of least resistance up to the saddle inbetween the towering red rocks, and holy smokes, you’re going to be blown away.
Both Jay and I agree that the view here is easily one of the best views in all of Sedona. This view is the prized view on the Boynton Canyon Sedona Loop!
Canyon Views to Women’s Village
- Women’s Village Coordinates | 34.923111, -111.863617
Finishing up soaking in the views, from looking at the views into the canyon, turn right. You’ll be heading down a wash to the right to Women’s Village.
This wash goes down the opposite side of the painted wall you just walked by. As you go between the large red rocks along the saddle, you’ll begin to see a wash scramble.
Take this scramble down just a short ways, and you’ll see the ledge that Women’s Village is on.
Women’s Village to Boynton Canyon Trail
- Coordinates Where Women’s Village Wash Connects To Boynton Canyon Trail | 34.923616, -111.857548
From Women’s Village, you’ll head straight down the wash, all the way to the Boynton Canyon Trail.
This wash is tricky to manuever over large boulders and under lots of downed trees and debri. There are some super steep parts, and areas of jumping down from rocks, so be sure to take care as you make your way down the wash.
Jay and I had to help each other out in a couple of places. Take your time, going slow and you’ll make it through.
Once you get to the bottom of the wash, and it levels out a trail starts zigzagging back-and-forth across the wash until it ultimately hangs on to the right side of the wash just before connecting to the wash again. Take this zigzag trail to make this part of the hike easier.
Just when you think you’re in the completely wrong place, you’ll see a trail sign from the forest service talking about artifacts in the area. This sign is your sign that you’re almost back to the main Boynton Canyon Trail again!
You’ll soon see light colored sand and that’s the main trail. Hallelujah. You did it!
1.5 miles on the back on the “easy trail” to the parking lot.
More in Boynton Canyon
While the Boynton Canyon Sedona Loop is a full day in itself, we understand that some people are extreme hikers and might want to add on some more hiking to their day.
Within Boynton Canyon there are a couple of alternative trails to take, one leading to a vortex, and the other to the famous Subway Cave.
Boynton Canyon Vortex
- Coordinates For Leaving Boynton Canyon Trail | 34.910547, -111.849577
- Boynton Canyon Vortex Coordinates | 34.911741, -111.848234
- Travel Guide | The Boynton Canyon Vortex Need To Know
There is a vortex in Boynton Canyon, the Kachina Woman Vortex, that’s a short out and back towards the trailhead of Boynton Canyon. While we didn’t have the energy to do this added bit at the end of the hike, more power to you if you do!
About .6 miles from the parking lot, there’s a sign that says, “vista point”. Hiking back from the Boynton Canyon Loop, you’ll see the back of this sign on the left side of the trail, nearly at the end of the Enchantment Resort.
You’ll actually be able to see the vortex from the trail, and it’s a great place to visit in the evenings, as the construction nearby will be complete and the stars will start to shine!
After hiking up to the vortex, you’ll have about a 15 minute walk back to the Boynton Canyon Trailhead parking.
Read More | Our Complete Guide to the Kachina Woman Vortex in Boynton Canyon.
The Subway Cave
- Coordinates For Leaving Boynton Canyon Trail | 34.927791, -111.861844
- Subway Cave Coordinates | 34.932365, -111.862797
The Subway Cave is easily one of the most famous caves in Sedona. It’s rather interesting though, because it’s a pretty difficult cave to get into, there are always loads of people there, and if I’m being honest, it’s not the best cave around.
With that said, we’ve hiked to the Subway Cave three different times. Each time trying to catch the best lighting and the fewest people. We can report back and say there’s always people at the Subway Cave.
Thankfully, the famous shot is easy to get with most people being super accommodating and respectful of everyone else trying to get their shot!
To hike to the Subway Cave after coming down from Women’s Village, you take a left up Boynton Canyon Trail. Follow the trail for about half a mile, until a large open area on the right with a big tree.
This is the social trail that goes to the Subway Cave. It’s easy to miss, but once you’re on it it’s also easy to see!
If you download the free offline map app, Maps.Me, you’ll be able to see the exact trail to the Subway Cave.
One Of Our Favorite Hikes in Sedona
This truly is one of our all time favorite hikes in Sedona. But there are other great hikes nearby too!
Like the hike to Altar Cave. This trail takes you to five different caves all within a mile of each other, and ends at one of the best sunsets in Sedona.
And if you’re looking for an easier hike that’s off the beaten path, with not much use, check out the hike to Keyhole Cave. This hike is short, and has an easy to follow social trail with not much elevation gain!
Internet Safety in Sedona
We recommend having a VPN when traveling. VPNs protect your privacy and security when using the internet from public spaces. You also get access to your home country’s subscriptions abroad — aka, Amazon, Netflix, and the like.
Grab Special Deal for a 2-Year VPN Plan.
More on Sedona Travel
Each time we’ve visited Sedona, we’ve camped for free in Sedona and have truly enjoyed getting out in nature and sleeping with the red rock views. While there’s a lot to know about Sedona, some of it not so great.. a trip to Sedona can be truly magical, especially with the help of our Sedona travel guides!
If you’re looking to camp in Sedona, but want to escape the colder evenings, check out renting an RV through RVShare below.
