Best Hikes In Sedona: How To Find The Kachina Tree Cave

This video provides directions on how to find and hike the beautiful Kachina Tree Cave in Sedona. The hike is rated as moderate due to some route finding and a short but steep climb to reach the Kachina Tree.
It's 3.2 miles out and back from the nearest parking area, with an elevation gain of 545 ft. Allow about 2.5 hours of hike time. The best light for photography is early morning. Mountain bikes and drones are not allowed here. Pets must be leashed at all times in the Coconino National Forest. Please pick up after your pet and pack it out. Also, do not take your pet to archaeological sites.
The trailhead is located 3 miles from West Sedona near the Enchantment Resort. Park either at the forest service parking area on Boynton Pass Road, where a Red Rock pass is required, or along the roadside back at the intersection, which is free of charge.
There are three major trailheads leading out of this one tiny parking lot: the Airie, Deadmans Pass and Boynton Canyon. Take the Boynton Canyon trail heading north, cross the wash, and turn left at the first intersection, where the Deadmans Pass trail continues straight.
The next landmark to find is the trail leading to the Boynton Vista Overlook. This trail leads to the base of Kachina Woman Rock, a short side hike that will add about 30 minutes and 200 ft of elevation gain.
For the next 9/10ths of a mile the Boynton Canyon trail skirts around the Enchantment Resort. At 1.1 miles from the parking area the trail drops down to the canyon floor and crosses the wash again. The section of the trail just before it drops down is a good place to get a visual fix on your final destination. Find the big water tank just above the Enchantment.
From here it is approximately 1/10th of a mile farther to the turn off for the Kachina Tree Cave. CORRECTION FROM VIDEO: look for a social trail breaking to the left at GPS coordinates 34.920711, -111.856111, then follow the wash to a forest service sign announcing the presence of archaeological sites in the area. Shortly after you pass this sign the social trail climbs out of the wash. Look for this large spire sticking up on the right. The social trail starts toward it, but quickly bends to follow a bench along the right side of the same wash you were just in.
Be aware this route will zig-zag across the wash several times, ending up on the opposite side from the Kachina Cave just before the final climb. Along the way you'll pass an ancient Sinagua cliff dwelling, located almost directly underneath the cave you're climbing up to. To continue up beyond the ruin, stay close to the back wall and cross the wash. Upon arriving you'll discover this famous "cave" is actually an arch of beautifully streaked sandstone. The heroic little tree growing in this unlikely spot, which is nicely lit most mornings, is an Emory Oak. The little ledge this all sits upon wraps around the base of the arch, and can be explored in both directions... IF you aren't too afraid of heights.
At this point you might be wondering, "Could this hike possibly get any better?" and the answer is absolutely! That's because there are numerous cliff dwellings and photogenic viewpoints that you could add to extend this hike and make it more challenging. Any of these would be a worthy destination on its own, but added to the Kachina Tree is sure to make for a day that you'll never forget. They include Grandmother's Cave, Warriors Cave, the Terrace and Women's Village, just to name a few.
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