Reach Subway Cave by hiking Boynton Canyon Trail about 2 miles, then taking the unsigned right spur near the alligator juniper.
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The hardest part of how to get to Subway Cave, Sedona is not driving to the trailhead; it is spotting the unmarked side path at the right moment. Start at Boynton Canyon Trailhead in West Sedona, follow Boynton Canyon Trail into the canyon, then turn right toward the cliff band near the large alligator juniper tree.
Plan on a moderate half-day hike, not a roadside cave stop. The main trail is easy to follow, but the cave approach adds route-finding, slick sandstone, narrow ledges, and a short scramble that can feel exposed for hikers who dislike heights.
Subway Cave itself has no entry booth, so skip anything that looks like standalone cave admission. Paid Sedona activities make sense only if you want a guided red-rock day instead of finding an unsigned spur on your own, and current options are easier to compare here:
Getting To Subway Cave From Boynton Canyon Trail
Subway Cave is reached from Boynton Canyon Trail No. 47, with the trailhead near the entrance to Enchantment Resort in West Sedona. Driving is the simplest access method because the trailhead sits at the end of Boynton Canyon Road, away from central Uptown Sedona.
From Sedona, head west on State Route 89A, turn north on Dry Creek Road, then follow signs toward Boynton Canyon. The official trailhead GPS is 34°54’28.1″N 111°50’56.6″W, and the parking area sits just outside the resort entrance.
A Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is required for parking at Boynton Canyon Trailhead. Coconino National Forest lists Boynton Canyon Trail No. 47 as a 6-mile out-and-back hike with 931 feet of elevation gain on its Boynton Canyon Trail No. 47 page.
Access check: Boynton Canyon is on Coconino National Forest land, and fire, road, or maintenance orders can close the area. If Boynton Canyon Road or the trailhead is closed, do not try to reach Subway Cave that day.
How Do You Find The Subway Cave Turnoff?
The Subway Cave turnoff is roughly 2 miles from Boynton Canyon Trailhead and is not marked by an official sign. Look for a large alligator juniper on the left side of the main trail; the spur to Subway Cave starts on the right side, almost across from that tree.
The first 0.3 miles from the trailhead pass the Boynton Vista junction, a short spur many hikers save for the return. Stay on the Boynton Canyon Trail, keep moving into the canyon, and watch the vegetation change from open scrub to more shaded trees.
Near the 2-mile mark, the alligator juniper has dark, blocky bark and stands out from the smaller trees around it. After you turn right onto the narrow spur, follow the worn path toward the red cliffs for about 0.3 to 0.4 miles.
One confusing split appears near a dry wash and a broken tree stump. Stay right toward the cliff wall rather than crossing the wash into the trees; if the canyon suddenly feels like a taller pine forest, you likely walked past the cave spur on the main trail.
| Route Point | What To Do | Detail That Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Boynton Canyon Trailhead | Start on Boynton Canyon Trail No. 47 | Parking pass required; pit toilet usually near the lot |
| Early signed junction | Stay with Boynton Canyon | Do not branch toward Deadman Pass |
| Boynton Vista junction | Skip or save for later | About 0.3 miles from the start |
| Resort-side stretch | Keep following the main trail | Flat red dirt, then more shade inside the canyon |
| Alligator juniper | Look left, then turn right | Roughly 2 miles in; no official cave sign |
| Narrow spur path | Walk toward the red cliffs | About 0.3 to 0.4 miles from the main trail |
| Dry wash split | Stay right toward the wall | Crossing the wash sends you away from the cave |
| Base of Subway Cave | Choose whether to scramble up | Slickrock and ledges make the last move the hardest |
Is Subway Cave Hard To Reach?
Subway Cave is moderate overall because most of Boynton Canyon Trail is gradual, but the last few minutes into the cave are the real test. The entrance involves slickrock, loose sand over stone, and ledges where a fall could hurt.
Most fit hikers can reach the base of the cave with normal day-hiking gear. Getting inside the alcove is different: the direct route climbs a slanted rock chute, and the left-side rim route reaches the cave by a narrower ledge.
- Wear hiking shoes with real tread; smooth sneakers slide on sandy sandstone.
- Carry at least 2 liters of water per person in warm weather.
- Turn back if the rock is wet, icy, or crowded enough that people are pushing past each other.
- Give the cliff dwellings and any cultural sites a wide berth; do not climb, sit on, or touch them.
Children who are steady hikers may handle the main trail, but the cave entrance is not a place to carry a child or rush a nervous hiker. People with limited mobility should enjoy Boynton Canyon Trail itself and skip the scramble.
Parking, Timing, And Trail Etiquette
Boynton Canyon Trailhead parking fills early during spring, fall, weekends, and holiday periods. Arrive near sunrise for the best chance at a space, or be ready to use legal roadside overflow only where signs allow it.
The best weather windows are spring and fall, with winter also workable on dry days. Summer hiking is possible only with an early start, more water than you think you need, and a hard turnaround time before the heat builds.
Subway Cave became popular because the photo angle is easy to recognize, but the land around it is fragile. Stay on the worn route, pack out every item you bring, and keep your visit short inside the cave so other hikers do not bunch up on the ledges.
Where To Stay For An Early Boynton Canyon Start
West Sedona is the easiest base for Subway Cave because it keeps the drive to Dry Creek Road short and avoids the heaviest Uptown traffic. Uptown Sedona works better if restaurants and walkable evenings matter more than a fast trailhead start.
For this hike, compare stays on the west side of town first, then widen to Uptown or the Village of Oak Creek if prices jump. A map view helps because two hotels that look close on paper can sit on opposite sides of slow Sedona traffic.
The Smoothest Plan For Subway Cave
The best self-guided plan is to start early, hike straight to Subway Cave before the day crowd builds, then decide on the Boynton Vista spur on the way back. The cave should be the first target because route-finding and ledge traffic get more annoying later in the day.
- Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead with the required pass displayed.
- Follow Boynton Canyon Trail and ignore side routes unless you are saving Boynton Vista for later.
- At roughly 2 miles, find the alligator juniper on the left and take the right-side spur toward the cliffs.
- At the dry wash split, stay right toward the wall.
- At the base of Subway Cave, climb only if the rock is dry, your shoes grip well, and the ledge is not packed with hikers.
- Return the same way, then add Boynton Vista only if you still have water, time, and energy.
Subway Cave rewards patient hikers, not hurried ones. The route is short enough for a half day, but the right call is simple: skip the cave interior if the scramble feels unsafe, because Boynton Canyon is still worth the hike without standing inside the alcove.
References & Sources
- Coconino National Forest.“Boynton Canyon Trail No. 47.”Confirms the official trailhead location, pass requirement, distance, elevation gain, and access details for Boynton Canyon Trail.