On our recent trip to Sedona, we made friends with a local on one of our hikes. During our conversations, Renanuel told us about his favorite hike in Sedona, which turns out to be the secret Subway cave that Dustin and I have been wanting to visit. With Renanuel’s directions, we were both excitedly headed to the trail the next day. The secret Subway Cave on Boynton Canyon Trail is such a beautiful place. Photos didn’t really prepare us for how magical this place really is. With respect to Renanuel, we won’t disclose its exact location, but we will give you a few tips for your research.
Note: Please make sure to respect this beautiful place and the surround areas. Always practice LEAVE NO TRACE. This means no loud music, no graffiti and pack out what you pack in! Please help us protect this place for generations to come!
Stats
Where
Boynton Canyon Trail:
Boynton Canyon Trail, Sedona, AZ 86336
34°54’27.6″N 111°50’56.7″W
Parking
Decent size paved parking lot
Restroom
There are restrooms here
Fee
Parking is free if you have the Annual National Parks – America the Beautiful or Red Rock pass. Otherwise, it will cost $5 to park. You can pay using an automated machine at the trailhead. It only accepts credit cards.
Weather
Distance
6 miles + depends on with you want to finish Boynton Canyon Trail or not.
Elevation Gain
738 ft
Level
Moderate due to steep climb into the cave and route-finding skills.
Time:
2 – 4 hours
Pet-friendly
Dogs are allowed but they need to be leashed. We wouldn’t recommend bring your pups though.
Ideal Weather
Falls and Springs are the best seasons to go.
Ideal Time
Mornings will give you more light to find your way in and out.
The Adventure
Getting to Boynton Canyon trail trailhead
Boynton Canyon Trail trailhead is pretty easy to find. You should be able to use your GPS to find yourself. It is located on Boynton Bypass Road, just up the road from Fay Canyon Trail. In fact, if you still have energy left about Boynton Canyon Trail, Fay Canyon is a short hike that will make a great addition to your adventure day. There is a decent size parking lot right in front of the trailhead.
The Hike to the Secret Subway Cave
The first 2 miles of this trail are pretty well-marked. The trail alternates from flat dirt trail to rocky terrain. After about 0.13 miles from the trailhead, you’ll come to your first junction. Follow the sign for Boynton Canyon. About 0.2 from the first junction is the fork for Boynton Pass Vortex Trail. This vortex trail makes a great detour if you have some extra time. We decided to skip it on this trip and continue straight on Boynton Canyon Trail.
After this fork, the trail runs along with the Enchantment Resort. Once you hike past the resort, about 2 miles from the trailhead, veer right off the main trail to follow the creek bed. Apparently, there is another route through the trees that will take you to the cave. However, we followed the creek bed all the way there. It seems easier this way for us. We actually walked past the cave without knowing, since it was hidden higher up, between the cliffs. Luckily, we heard some people talking above us. They ended up showing us the way to go up and walk around to the cave. It’s very easy to get lost once you go off the main trail. Make sure to carry a tracking device with you. Cellphones are not very reliable here. Our Garmin inReach GPS was a life-saver when we needed to find our way back.
Secret Subway Cave and Ancient Ruins
From outside, the Subway cave doesn’t seem like much. It just looks like a gap between the two walls. When you get close to it, you’ll see a steep ramp leading up to the top. It is not as bad as it looks. There are a couple of slippery areas but it’s manageable. Don’t forget, if you go up, you have to go back down. It is trickier going down. Please know your personal limit.
Only when you’re up inside that you can truly take in the beauty of this cave. It is incredible. When we were there, we were entirely alone. It was such an incredible feeling being here. Once inside, you can go either right or left along the rock ledge for photos. The right rock ledge actually curves around and connects over to the small pathway that leads to the ancient ruin. The trickiest part is that roundabout. Just take your time and go slow. Make sure to lean away from the cliff. Make sure to keep an eye out for petroglyphs near the ruin.
The Way Back
As we about to finish our time at the cave, we’ve run into Charles. Charles is an avid long-distance hiker. He actually came here through the second route we mentioned. However, he couldn’t find the trail to go back out so he ended up following us through the creek bed back to the main trail. We’re glad we’ve run into Charles. He was such an amazing human being. Can’t wait to visit some of the places he mentioned.
Once we got back to the main trail, Charles decided to continue on and finish Boynton Canyon Trail. We headed back toward the parking since we wanted to check out the Bell Rock Climb. Boynton Canyon Trail and the Subway Cave was such an amazing experience. We can’t wait to do it again. If you’re in Sedona, don’t forget to check out our related posts below for more awesome things to do in Sedona!
These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
adventure gear
Good hiking shoes are recommended on these adventures. Vy uses the Merrell Women’s Moab 2 hiking boots
Dustin’s shoes are Targhee III Waterproof
There isn’t a lot of shade in the desert. Make sure to use lots of sunscreens! We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, Stream2Sea SPF 30.
Face sunscreen is also important. We love these tinted, organic All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter.
You should always bring plenty of water. Vy loves the Camelback L.U.X.E.
For shorter hikes, the Patagonia Women’s Nine Trails Pack 18L is perfect to hold water and your essentials.
If you want something lighter, we love the packable Patagonia Women’s Houdini® Jacket and Patagonia Men’s Houdini® Jacket
It’s pretty easy to get lost on this trail so a reliable GPS tracking is recommended. We use Garmin inReach.
other things to bring
Always good to bring some snacks with you. For healthy and easy snacks, check out some of our recipes.
camera gear
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