How to Find the Secret Birthing Cave Sedona, Arizona
After hiking to the Soldiers Pass Cave, we couldn’t wait to explore more secret Sedona caves. The Birthing Cave Sedona, Arizona is another stunning landmark you can’t miss, nestled in the cliffs of the high red rocks.
This cave is shaped in a really fascinating, unique way, surrounded by the beautiful desert landscape. The trail is lesser-known than most of the other hikes in Sedona, and when you’re lucky enough you can have the cave all to yourself.
Even though the trail to the Birthing Cave is kind of easy, you need to know the directions to finally find this cave in Arizona. Without doing research on several websites beforehand, we would have gotten lost on the trail more than once.
To make it easier for you, we have shared detailed instructions on how to find the Birthing Cave Sedona, what to expect on the Long Canyon Trail Sedona, and a lot of useful tips for your upcoming hiking experience in Sedona.
Our Other Resources for Sedona:
- 15 Best Things to Do in Sedona, Arizona
- 19 Can’t Miss Hikes in Sedona
- Devils Bridge Sedona: Detailed Hiking Guide
- Hike Cathedral Rock Sedona: The Complete Guide
- Soldiers Pass Trail: How to Find the Hidden Cave
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What to Bring: Top 5 Hiking Essentials
Insulated Water Bottle: We found out very quickly that having a good insulated water bottle makes a world of difference on our hiking trips. l Hydro Flask
Durable Hiking Footwear: Hiking on different terrain requires sturdy hiking boots you can trust. We totally count on the Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Hiking Boot. l Columbia
Comfortable Hiking Socks: Trust us, a quality hiking sock with a good cushion can make a huge difference in how your feet will feel after any hike. l Darn Tough
Photography Gear: Peak Design with its many smart photography accessories makes capturing our adventurous hiking moments so much easier. l Peak Design
Read the Full Guide: What You Should be Packing for a Hike: The Essentials + Extras
Getting to the Birthing Cave Sedona Trailhead
To get to the Birthing Cave Sedona, you have to hike on the Long Canyon trail Sedona. The trailhead is just under 7 miles away from the center of Sedona.
Coming from there, you want to begin heading south on 89A. At the first traffic circle, you will take the 2nd exit. At the next traffic circle, continue straight to remain on 89A.
Then, make a right-hand turn onto Dry Creek Road. Follow this road for about 2 miles. When the road changes to Boynton Pass Road, continue straight. At the stop sign, take the right-hand turn onto Long Canyon Road.
The Long Canyon trailhead will be about 0.6 of a mile down the road on your left-hand side. It is just around the bend from the Mescal trailhead.
Parking for the Birthing Cave Sedona
Parking is very limited at the Long Canyon trailhead. There is no official parking lot, just free space on the dirt next to the road. There, you can leave your car.
Like many of the popular parking lots for the hikes in Sedona , open spaces go quickly! We suggest arriving early to secure a spot along the road of the trailhead, especially if you are visiting during the busier times of the year.
Missed Out on a Parking Spot at the Trailhead?
- Find parking along the road further away.
- Wait for a free spot. If you are feeling a little lucky and have some time, you can always wait around for a parking spot to become available. Since the Birthing Cave Hike Sedona is pretty quick, new spots should open up more often.
- Try parking at the nearby Mescal trailhead you passed on Long Canyon Road. Look for the Mescal connector trail which connects Mescal trail to Long Canyon trail Sedona. Then, continue to the Birthing Cave Hike Sedona.
- Reconsider coming back to see this intriguing Sedona cave at another time. This is definitely one of the must-do easy hikes in Sedona
- Check out more unique Sedona caverns. Just about 8 miles away, you will find Soldiers Pass Trail which will lead you to another hidden cave in Arizona. The Soldiers Pass Cave is very popular and the parking lot can’t hold a lot of cars either. But who knows, maybe you will be lucky to catch a spot over there. To find the cave, you will definitely need instructions.
- Enjoy more things to do in Sedona.
How to Hike on the Long Canyon Trail to the Birthing Cave Sedona
General Information about the Birthing Cave Hike Sedona
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2 miles
Type of Hike: Out and Back
Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
Elevation Gain: about 300 ft
Location: Long Canyon Road
Trailhead: Long Canyon Trail Sedona
When to Hike: Hiking to Birthing Cave Arizona is great all year long
Red Rock Pass: Not required (Learn more about the hiking passes in Sedona below)
The Birthing Cave hike Sedona is one of the easier trails in the area with one of the most unique features. To reach the famous cave in Arizona it is a quick and easy walk from the trailhead.
Start out at the Long Canyon trailhead to head to the Birthing Cave Sedona. The path is mainly wide, flat, and consists of loosely packed red dirt for the majority of the way until you reach the Birthing Cave Sedona. As you walk, enjoy the red rock scenery.
Note: Watch out for the Mountain Bikers speeding up and down the trail.
After walking for about 10 minutes (when you hike at a moderate pace like us) you will reach a fork in the trail which will be noticeable by a set of logs along the trail. At the fork in the trail, take the smaller path to the left toward the red rock cliffs in the distance.
This trail will keep you on track to reach the Birthing Cave Sedona.
If you are keeping relatively the same pace, you will reach a wooden fence after about 8 more minutes.
Look directly at the fence, and you will see the second set of logs along the trail at your left. Turn left and step over the logs.
The trail is small, hard to see, and heads towards the towering red cliff in front of you. You should see a barbed wire fence on your right. As long as you see this wire, you are on the right track!
If you have walked past a wooden fence (see picture), you have gone the wrong way. Don’t worry if this happens. It can happen easily. Even we missed it at first. Just turn around and walk back to the fence.
Always remember to leave no trace. In case you get lost, please do your best to retrace your steps until you find the right trail again. Do not go off the trail to find your way to the Birthing Cave Sedona.
As you get closer to the cliff in front of you, see if you can spot the entrance to the cave. It is nestled in the rock and almost looks like a heart from the outside.
Follow the small quaint trail for about another 10 minutes or so. When the Birthing Cave Sedona is almost next to you, you have to turn off the small trail to your right.
There, you will find a short, steep, rocky trail. Just head up and you will be at the base of the Birthing Cave Sedona.
Inside the Birthing Cave Sedona
You have made it to the Birthing Cave in Arizona, now what?
Once you are in the Birthing Cave Sedona, turn around and look outside for a minute. Enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of the red rocks and the lush forests of Sedona. It is a pretty fantastic view.
Now climb into the Birthing Cave a little more. The cave is large but shallow which leaves very little room to move around and explore.
You can climb around the walls and even try to reach a little hole that sits higher in the back of the Birthing Cave Sedona walls.
Be careful when you climb around. The walls are very smooth in most of the spots and there is nothing to really hold on to. Moving slowly and using your hands can help to make your way around. We highly recommend wearing a pair of hiking boots with good traction.
The most popular spot in the Birthing Cave in Arizona is walking out on the ledges (the side walls). Here is where most of the photos you see on the internet are taken. If you plan on going out there, be careful and watch your footing.
After enjoying the views from inside and outside of the Birthing Cave in Arizona, it is time to hike back. To finish up your Birthing Cave hike Sedona, retrace your steps back along the Long Canyon Trail Sedona.
Wondering why the cave is called the Birthing Cave? The indigenous Hopi people, who lived in Sedona a long time ago, sent their pregnant women to the Birthing Cave Arizona when it was time for them to give birth. Can you imagine hiking up this steep trail right before going into labor to have your baby in an isolated cave?
More Hiking Trails in Sedona, Arizona
- Devil’s Bridge Trail
Devils Bridge is a natural sandstone arch. It is easily one of Sedona’s most popular features and trails. There are few different hiking options to reach the bridge. The best part is you can even take a walk across the arch if you are feeling adventurous.
- Cathedral Rock Trail
A quick steep trail will lead you up to the top of one of Sedona’s most popular red rock formations, Cathedral Rock. If you are looking for a little bit of rock scrambling and challenge, give this trail a try.
- Soldier Pass Trail
The Soldier Pass trail will lead you into the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness and to some interesting Sedona features along the way. One of those being the Soldier Pass Cave. This trail will definitely keep your interest the entire time.
How Long Does it Take to Hike to the Birthing Cave?
Since it is a quick, short, and easy Sedona hike, you should plan for roughly 2 hours.
We were lucky enough to have the cave in Arizona all to ourselves for our whole stay when we visited on a rainy early morning in July. We spent about an hour taking photos and enjoying the views from inside this Sedona hidden cave.
On our way back, we passed a lot of hikers, who were on their way to the cave. So waking up early definitely helps avoid the crowds on this Sedona hiking trail.
Top Tip: Are you looking for another quick and short (but very steep) hike? Then, take the trail up to Cathedral Rock.
Do You Need a Pass to Hike in Sedona?
No pass is required for this hike. You just need a Red Rock Pass or equivalent pass at trailheads on the National Forest Land, that have facilities, e.g. restrooms.
Top Tip: Plan on exploring other can’t miss hikes in Sedona? Then you will need to purchase a Red Rock Pass or equivalent pass (America The Beautiful Pass) and place it on your windshield. Find out more about purchasing a Red Rock Pass here.
Tips for Birthing Cave Hike Sedona
1. Keep an eye out for Javelina
Don’t know what a Javelina is? Javelinas look similar to wild boars. They have short coarse hair, short little legs, and a pig-like nose. They are only found in the southwestern part of North America, as well as, Central and South America.
We spotted a herd of them at the start of the trail. If you happen to encounter some Javelinas, please make sure to maintain a proper distance from them and respect their home.
2. Wear appropriate hiking footwear
Even though this is a flat and easy trail in most of the parts, hiking up the steep hill at the end and climbing around in the cave, requires appropriate hiking footwear. Shoes with good traction will help you find more grip on the smooth canyon walls.
3. Plan on sharing the Birthing Cave with fellow hikers
There will most likely be other hikers on the trail with you searching for the Birthing Cave Sedona so plan time for taking pictures and explore inside the cave. You will most likely have to wait your turn. We were extremely fortunate to get the Birthing Cave to ourselves for quite some time. Hopefully, this will happen for you too!
4. Leave No Trace
Anytime you enjoy the outdoors, it is imperative to follow Leave No Trace principles. The general idea is to leave nature the way it is so that the next generations can enjoy it too.
If you should get lost on your way, please don’t take shortcuts. Simply take the path you came from. Then you won’t get lost again.
5. Capturing the Best Photographs of the Birthing Cave Arizona
To capture the entire Birthing Cave which emphasizes the uncommon shape, you will need to bring a wide-angle lens. The wider your lens, the better.
The best spot within the cave to capture this precious shot is from the hole that sits high on the back wall of the cave. Unfortunately, this spot is not the easiest to reach.
We used our GoPro wide-angle lens and were satisfied with the outcome. Using your phone’s camera will not fully capture the entirety of the Birthing Cave.
Final Thoughts on the Birthing Cave Sedona
We understand that by writing this post, more people will get drawn to this amazing hidden treasure in Sedona, which might soon get as popular as Devils Bridge or Soldiers Pass Cave.
On the one side, we would like this place to remain hidden, but on the other side, we believe that the world is here to be explored by everyone. The instructions above should give everyone the opportunity to admire the natural beauty of the sacred Birthing Cave Sedona.
As responsible outdoor lovers, please remember to follow Leave No Trace principles to assure that the Birthing Cave stays as beautiful as it is right now.
Did you find these hiking directions to the Birthing Cave Sedona to be helpful? What is your favourite landmark in Sedona?
Share your experiences with us or drop a question in the comments below!
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