Subway Cave (Boynton Canyon): The Off-Trail Detour
Subway Cave is a sandstone alcove tucked above the main Boynton Canyon Trail, accessed by an unmarked spur that climbs steeply for a quarter mile. The cave itself is a beautiful curved tunnel of red sandstone — the photo most visitors come for shows a hiker silhouetted in the cave's mouth — but the route to reach it is unsigned, exposed, and easy to lose.
Trail overview
The total mileage is about 4.4 miles round-trip from the Boynton Canyon trailhead, with the last quarter mile climbing roughly 200 feet on an unmaintained social trail. The official Boynton Canyon Trail does not visit the cave; you leave the main trail about 1.1 miles in and ascend a faint cairned route to the alcove. The whole detour adds 30-45 minutes to a Boynton Canyon hike.
What to expect
The spur turns right (north) off the main Boynton trail at a small cairned junction approximately 1.1 miles from the trailhead — look for a stack of stones and a faint path heading up toward a low cliff band. From there the route climbs steeply through soft sand, then traverses up and right along the cliff base, then finishes with a short scramble up a slickrock ramp to the cave mouth. The interior is a curved corridor maybe forty feet long, with the iconic round opening at the far end framing the canyon and the surrounding red rock.
The cave is genuinely beautiful — the curved walls catch warm reflected light in mid-morning — but the trail to reach it is on an indigenous Yavapai-Apache cultural landscape and the area is sensitive. Stay on the cairned route, do not camp, do not light fires, and pack out everything including any food scraps.
Permits + parking
Same as Boynton Canyon Trail — Red Rock Pass required at the Boynton Canyon trailhead at the end of Boynton Pass Road. The cave is not signed at the trailhead and the spur is not marked on the official Forest Service map; the route persists because of regular use.
Best time to go
Mid-morning, when the sun angle lights up the cave\'s interior most dramatically. Avoid weekends if you can — the cave is a small space and queuing for the framed photo gets awkward when there are six groups waiting. Cool months (October through April) are easier on the exposed approach; summer afternoons are unpleasant on the steep south-facing scramble.
Difficulty + safety
Moderate-to-hard. The main Boynton trail to the junction is easy; the spur is steep, exposed in places, and unsigned. Wear proper trail shoes — the slickrock ramp at the top is unforgiving in flat-soled sneakers. Bring 1.5 litres of water per person, more in summer. The cave entrance has a drop of about ten feet on the canyon-facing side; keep small children well back from the edge while inside.
Combining with the main Boynton Canyon hike
Most groups do the Subway Cave detour on the same outing as the main Boynton Canyon Trail — visit the cave first while you still have fresh legs, then descend back to the main trail and continue another mile or two into the canyon proper before turning around. Total mileage for the combined route runs about 7-8 miles depending on how far you push into Boynton Canyon, and most fit hikers finish in four to five hours. If you only have time for one, the cave detour is the more photographic; the main Boynton Canyon walk is the more contemplative.
Stay nearby
The Boynton trailhead is a ten-minute drive from our West Sedona rentals; guests doing both Boynton Canyon and Subway Cave in one trip are usually back at the property by lunchtime. See our Sedona vacation rentals for properties close to the trailhead, and consult Visit Sedona\'s Boynton Canyon page for current advisories.
