Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
Hidden in the red rocks of Boynton Canyon, the Subway Cave, Sedona is a classic hiking destination, but finding the turn off to the Subway Cave from the trail isn’t always easy. This post will describe exactly how to take this hike and what you need to know to find the Subway cave entrance and trail spur.
We hiked up to the Subway Cave, up to the end of the Boynton Canyon Trail, and the Boynton Canyon Vista and you can see full details and photos from our hike.
***Please note that on the way to the cave is a sign posted by the National Forest Service. Please read this sign and respect th area as you will be visiting a sacred site with ancient ruins. So not disrupt the ruins or get on the rock walls.
Quick Overview of the Boynton Trail and Subway Cave Sedona Hike
Stats for JUST HIKING TO THE SUBWAY CAVE Distance: A little under 6 miles Elevation Gain: 700 ft. Difficulty: Moderate States for hiking the to the Subway Cave and the end of Boynton Canyon Trail Distance: 7.3 miles out and back (3-4 hours) Elevation Gain: 1,170 feet Difficulty: Moderate to Hard * You can (and should) also add the hike up to the Boynton Canyon Vista - this adds just a short distance to your hike.
The Boynton Canyon Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in Sedona. Many people take the trail to the end, while others prefer to hike up just to the Subway Cave. The Subway Cave is a really amazing rock feature that you climb up inside to see the view out through the subway-shaped rocks. From the Subway Cave, you can also walk on a rather narrow ledge out along the cliff edge where there are some cliff dwellings.
You will see the Subway Cave (sometimes called the Boynton Cave or Boynton Canyon Cave) listed as a ‘secret’ cave – well the secret is out. If you want to hike this trail, we recommend getting here early!
The Boynton Canyon Trail up to the end is worth hiking even if you don’t visit the Subway Cave. The trail winds up through the canyon and is mostly shaded until it ends rather abruptly with views back over the canyon.
The final stopping spot on the Boynton Canyon Trail is the Boynton Canyon Vista Overlook. This spur trail is right near the beginning of the Boynton Canyon Trail and offers a short hike with views out over the Canyon and the Enchantment’s Resort. It is worth adding this to the beginning or end of the hike.
What to Know to Hike the Boynton Trail and Subway Cave Trail, Sedona
Before you head out on your hike up Boynton Canyon, there are a few things you should know.
Best time of year to hike the Boyton Canyon and Subway Cave, Sedona: The best time of year to hike in Sedona is spring and fall when the temperatures are comfortable, but not blazing hot. Generally March-May and Sept-Nov. These are also very popular times, so you will likely find lots of other people exploring Sedona.
Sedona parking passes: Like most places in Sedona, you need a Red Rock Pass to park at the trailhead. You can purchase a day pass for $5 or a week pass for $15 right at the trailhead. You can also use your National Park Access Pass as well.
Hike early and late to avoid the crowds: This is a popular hike and when we arrived at 6:30 am to start the hike the parking lot was half full. By the time we finished hiking, the cars were parked up and down the road. Since the Subway Cave is also small, I imagine that by 9:00 there is a line to get up into the cave. Go early or late to avoid the craziness!
Is the Boynton Canyon Trail and Subway Cave Worth it? Yes – we really enjoyed both the cave and the hike up the canyon.
Looking for more ideas for things to do in Sedona? Check out our 3-day Itinerary or 11 Things to do in Sedona.
How to Find Trailhead to the Subway Cave Hike and Boynton Trail, Arizona
The Boynton Canyon Trailhead is located about 15 minutes to the West of Sedona. From town, take West Arizona 89a West and turn right on Dry Creek Rd. Follow this road for two miles and turn left on Boynton Pass Rd. In 2.5 miles turn right on Boynton Pass Rd and you will see parking almost immediately on the right.
As you drive into the parking lot, you will see the start to the trail with signage on your left.
Looking for more about Sedona? Check out the Best Hikes in Sedona.
Map of Boynton Canyon and Subway Cave, Sedona
Details on the Hike to Boynton Canyon and Subway Cave, Sedona
The trailhead starts right on the road to the Boynton Trailhead parking lot and is well signed (except for the turn onto the Subway Cave Trail). The first part of the hike passes between the canyon wall and the Enchantment Resort. You will follow the easy trail and quickly see an early turn to the right. This is the trail to the Boynton Canyon Vista Overlook. We went to the Overlook on the way back since we wanted to get to the Subway Cave early before it got too crowded.
Boynton Vista Trail
This trail is about 0.3 miles after the start of the hike and is just under a half-mile round trip. The trail ascends somewhat steeply to a red rock stack where you get excellent views out over the valley and up Boynton Canyon. You can climb around on some of the rocks and for a short trail, it’s worth the effort for the views.
The Boynton Pass Vortex is also on this pass so many people hike here to experience the vortex. We saw people meditating, doing Yoga and simply relaxing here.
Boynton Canyon Trail
From here, the trail is relatively flat and meanders gently up the canyon. After you pass the end of the Enchantment Resort, the trail is very pretty and you have views both up and down the canyon through the trees. If you are hiking to the end of Boynton Canyon first, you can simply continue up the trail until the end. The main trail is obvious the whole way up. If you are heading straight to the Subway Cave, you will want to start paying attention and look for the trail on the right.
Subway Cave Trail
The Subway Cave Trail can be hard to find. You will find many small trails that leave the main trail and head to the right. We found many people on our way down the trail asking for directions. The trail is about 2 miles from the trailhead on the right and is pretty wide at the entrance. Once you pass the end of the Enchantment Resort, you will want to hike for another 15 minutes and start looking for the trail.
The start of the trail does not have a sign, but there is a distinct tree on the opposite side of the trail (look for the Alligator Juniper Trail). There was also a large arrow on the trail made from wood that you can see in the image below.
If you miss the start of the trail, the forest begins to change right after the trail and you will be in a forest of tall pine trees.
Once you are on the trail, it is pretty easy to follow, although it does get narrower as it makes its way up the canyon. Once the trail gets to the base of the rock wall, it follows the small canyon to the right (go further into the canyon). The trail gets a bit steeper from here and you will go up some rocks – this is the hardest part of the hike.
The trail ends right at the start of the Subway Cave. The cave looks like the photo below where you can see a rock ramp that leads up into a break in the canyon wall. Scrample up this ramp and you are right in the cave. When you turn around you have views out through these amazing rock shapes to the canyon beyond.
The Subway Cave has two ledges you can walk out onto which both make excellent photos. If you take the right ledge out to where I am, you can actually walk around to the other side that leads to some cliff dwellings, although there are some big drop-offs. I wouldn’t recommend doing this if you are afraid of heights.
We arrived early and there were just a few folks there, but later in the day, there can be a long line of people waiting to take photos. Plan to be here about an hour or so in case you need to wait.
Hiking the Rest of the Way up Boynton Canyon
Once you’ve enjoyed the Subway Cave, you can either head back down the trail, or finish up to the top of Boynton Canyon. We really enjoyed the rest of the hike up the canyon. The forest changes and feels deeper and cooler. The trail does gain a bit more elevation and then ends rather abruptly on an exposed rock. From here you have views right up to the end of the canyon and back down from where you came from.
How to Find the Boynton Canyon Vortex
In addition to being a tremendous hike, there is also a Vortex on the Boynton Canyon Hike. The Vortex is said to be located at the top of the Boynton Vista Hike, although I read a few other takes on the exact location. Sedona.net has a helpful map of the Vortex’s in Sedona.
Other Amazing Hikes in Sedona:
- Brins Mesa and Soldier Pass
- Birthing Cave Hike
- Devil’s Bridge Hike
- Broken Arrow Trail to Submarine Rocks and Chicken Point
Summary of Tips for Hiking to the Subway Cave Sedona
This is an excellent hike in Sedona and one of the most popular hikes in the area. Here are 5 tips to know when enjoying the Subway Cave and Boynton Canyon Hike:
- Location: The Subway Cave is located in Sedona, Arizona, near the town of Flagstaff. It is situated in the Coconino National Forest, specifically in the Lava River Cave area.
- Natural Formation: Subway Cave is a lava tube cave formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago. It offers a unique underground experience with its intriguing geological features.
- This is an incredibly popular hiking trail and we recommend getting there early. Try to arrive before 6:30 or late in the day.
- Preserve and Respect: As a natural wonder, Subway Cave should be treated with care. Remember to respect the environment by staying on designated paths, not littering, and refraining from damaging any formations within the cave. Always practice Leave no Trace.
- Safety Considerations: Due to the cave’s nature, it is essential to prioritize safety and use caution climbing up into the cave.
