A Complete Guide to Hiking the Birthing Cave in Sedona

CONSIDERING A VISIT TO BIRTHING CAVE IN SEDONA?

You’ve come to the right place! We’ve been visiting Sedona since 2016 and have hiked to the Birthing Cave. Throughout all our travels over the years, Sedona is one of the places that we always long to get back to. The landscape, fresh air, and the plethora of amazing Sedona hiking trails make it a great place for a vacation.

If you’re looking for a unique and less crowded hike, we are here to tell you about the amazing Birthing Cave in Sedona. It is a short hike in the area and is still a hidden gem.

About the Birthing Cave Hike

The Birthing Cave in Sedona is an easy hike in the area. The trail is pretty wide and flat until you reach the final ascent into the cave. There are beautiful views of red rocks throughout the entire hike, and we had a great time enjoying the atmosphere and letting our kids run on the trail.

Why is it called the Birthing Cave?

The Birthing Cave gets its name from the indigenous Hopi people who inhabited Sedona. The pregnant women came to the Birthing Cave when it was time for them to deliver their babies. It was a spiritual and uplifting place for them.

Best Time to Visit the Birthing Cave in Sedona

Around midday, the cave will be in full shade with a well-lit background. If you want to take pictures in the cave, this is the best time to visit the Birthing Cave.

Another beautiful time to take pictures is at sunrise or sunset. Right at dusk, the red color from the rocks really starts to pop with cotton candy skies overhead.

Getting to the Birthing Cave Trailhead

The Birthing Cave Trail starts at the Long Canyon Trailhead off of Long Canyon Road. It is not an official parking lot, just a large dirt space on the side of the road. There are not a lot of parking spots here but there are some additional spots along the road. We found parking here relatively easy although we visited at a less popular hiking time.

There is pretty limited cell service at the trailhead and throughout the hike so it is a good idea to download the map and save the GPS coordinates ahead of time.  

Birthing Cave Hike in Sedona Details

• Trail Length: 2 miles
• Elevation Gain: 291 Feet
• Route Type: Out & Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• GPS Location for Birthing Cave: 34°54’46.9″N 111°50’10.0″W

How long is the hike to the birthing cave in Sedona?

The hike into the birthing cave in Sedona is two miles roundtrip. Plan on spending about two hours for the hike and enjoying time in the Birthing Cave. It is a quick and easy two hours.

How difficult is the Birthing Cave Hike?

The majority of the Birthing Cave hike in Sedona is very easy. It is a flat trail that is plenty wide for hikers and mountain bikers. The trail is mostly dirt with only a few rocks and tree roots.

However, the final descent into the cave is more challenging. It is a steep, narrow trail lined with cacti and rocks.

Don’t let this scare you from visiting this shallow cave though. My twins who were four at the time climbed into the cave with a little bit of help.

The Birthing Cave in Sedona Trail

You will start at the Long Canyon Trailhead. There are no facilities at this trailhead.

After starting your hike, you will pass a golf course on the right. After 0.6 miles from the trailhead, you will reach a fork in the road. The left side will be blocked by a log and brush. Take that path.

We used our Google maps to ensure we didn’t miss the turn.

After about a half-mile on this path, the trail curves to the left with the cliffs on your right. The depression in the cliff wall is where the Birthing Cave in Sedona is.

It wasn’t super obvious to us where this was so I’m glad we had the GPS coordinators (34°54’46.9″N 111°50’10.0″W) of the cave saved. It made finding the cave a lot easier. Up until the descent into the cave, the trail is flat and wide enough the kids could run around and explore.

NOTE: This is also a mountain biking trail so make sure to quickly scoot over if they pass by.

The Birthing Cave in Sedona

The Birthing Cave is a large cave nestled into the cliff’s edge that overlooks the Sedona vista. The cave and overlooking views are beautiful.  

If you’re up for a climbing challenge, try to climb into the seat found in the back of the cave known as the belly button. It is a challenge to climb but doable. It is fun to try to scramble up the side of the cave.

Is the Birthing Cave a Vortex in Sedona?

Sedona is famous for the vortexes throughout the area. These are believed to be special spots on earth where spiritual energy is felt. The Birthing Cave is one of these vortexes.

Hopi women used to come to this cave to give birth and some hikers experience feelings of strong feminine and sexual energy in the cave.

If you are interested in visiting more of the energy vortexes, a Sedona Vortex Tour from Arizona Safari Jeep Tours is a great experience. They are a very well-established and highly recommended tour group operating out of Sedona.

The tour is a great opportunity to learn more about the history of Sedona and the extraordinary vortex sites in the area. Learning the history of each vortex site really adds to the enlightened feeling and experience.

If the Safari Jeep Tour doesn’t fit your needs, there are many other Sedona vortex tours available.

Check Prices for Sedona Vortex Tour Here!

Best Photo Opportunities at the Birthing Cave

You will need to bring a wide angle lens to capture the cave in one photo. We used our Go-Pro and it worked great. Just using a cell phone camera will not capture the entire outline of the cave.

While we were in the cave, someone came up and asked for directions to the Birthing Cave because it wasn’t what she expected it to look like. See the pictures below to compare the wide-angle Go-Pro compared to a cell phone.

If you do have a wide-angle lens, the seat at the back of the cave is a great place to capture the outline of the cave and amazing views of Sedona.

If you want to capture the entire outline of the shape but don’t have a fancy camera, you can easily purchase a wide-angle lens for your cell phone camera that will allow you to fit the entire cave in your frame. It is fun to get a picture with the entire outline of the cave and it is easy to install and use the lens.

Check Prices for Wide-Angle Phone Lens on Amazon Here!

Is the Birthing Cave in Sedona dog friendly?

Dogs are allowed on the Birthing Cave trail as long as they are on a leash. Remember to clean up after your furry friends.

The Birthing Cave in Sedona Conclusion

Overall, this was a great hike for our family, including our two four-year-olds. The only part of the hike they needed help with was the ascent into the cave and the descent out of the cave. This section of the trail is pretty narrow, cacti line the trail and it is pretty steep.

Once we made it to the cave, they had fun sliding down the walls of the cave and climbing up to the seat in the back of the cave with Coltin. This was one of our favorite Sedona hiking trails.

Other Sedona Caves

Sedona is full of beautiful rock formations and many of them are caves. Visiting the caves is one of the best things to do in Sedona. Here are four different caves to explore in addition to the Birthing Cave.

Soldier’s Pass Cave: There is a 3.5-mile round-trip hike to Soldier Pass Cave. Along the way, you will pass 7 Sacred Pools and Devil’s Kitchen. The trail is pretty easy until the final descent into the cave.

Boynton Canyon Subway Cave: This is not a well-marked cave so be sure you have good directions before heading out. It is .6 miles off the main Boynton Cayton trail. The turnoff is about 2 miles into the trail.

Keyhole Cave: There is a 2.7-mile round trip hike that is pretty difficult to get to this Sedona cave. While it is a tough hike, it is the least visited Sedona cave. You will have to climb some steep and slick walls. The trail to the Keyhole Cave starts at the Teacup Trailhead.

Other Nearby Trails in Sedona

We love hiking in the Sedona area. There are so many other beautiful hikes and areas to explore. Here are some other nearby trails to check out!

Cathedral Rock: Hiking Cathedral Rock is something you can’t miss in Sedona! It is a beautiful place to take pictures and watch the sunset. There is some rock scrambling required to get to the top but it is well worth the effort.

Devils Bridge: This is another photogenic Sedona hiking trail. Devil’s Bridge is a beautiful natural sandstone arch you can walk across. The trail is 4.2 miles roundtrip.

Bell Rock: If you are visiting with little kids, Bell Rock is a great trail to let them explore and hike. There are beautiful views of the Sedona area, and it is an easy place to explore.

Soldiers Pass: There is a lot to see on Soldiers Pass, like 7 sacred pools and the Devil’s Kitchen. At the end of the trail, you can access the Soldier Pass Cave. The hike is relatively easy until the final scramble up the hill into the cave. If the hike is too much for you, you can still enjoy time at the arch and base of the cave.

Tip: If you’re going to be camping, check out all of the great dispersed camping options in Sedona.

Additional Sedona Travel Blogs

Sedona is such a magical place to visit. Every time we find ourselves in Arizona, we stop by, even if it is just for a couple of days. The beautiful scenery and amazing hiking trails make it a great place to visit. It is also a great place to drive through if you are heading out on a road trip through the American Southwest.

If you’re looking for more info on traveling to Sedona, Arizona, check out these additional Sedona travel guides:

• 18 Unbelievable Trails for Hiking in Sedona
• Everything to Know About Hiking Cathedral Rock in Sedona
• A Complete Guide to Hiking the Birthing Cave in Sedona
• Everything You Need to Know About Hiking Devil’s Bridge
• How to Hike Soldier Pass Trail and Soldier Pass Cave
• 12 Best Spots for Dispersed Camping in Sedona
• 9 Best Sedona Vortex Tours
• Sedona to Antelope Canyon: A Complete Roadtrip Guide
• 28 Best Things to Do in Sedona with Kids
• A Complete Guide to Hiking Bell Rock In Sedona
• Broken Arrow Trail: Driving and Hiking This Sedona Trail