The Birthing Cave Trail Fast Facts
Length: 2 miles
Elevation gain: 300 ft.
Type: Out and Back
Dogs: Yes, on a leash
Approximate time to hike: 1.5-2 hours
Red Rock Pass: Not required.
Parking: Long Canyon Trailhead
Good for Instagram photos? Amazing! See our photography pro tips below to get the perfect shot.
About the Birthing Cave Hike
Are you the adventure type? From trails to ATV experiences, Sedona has everything your action-packed heart desires. Head out about 15 minutes out of the city-center of Sedona, and you’ll come across one of Sedona’s most precious hidden gems: the Long Canyon Trailhead that takes you to the unforgettable Birthing Cave in Sedona.
The Birthing Cave is a secluded hidden gem of a hike in Sedona, offering unbelievable panoramic views of the red rock canyons and a fantastic feeling of selflessness as you learn the history behind this great area of land. It’s also an easy hike with minimal elevation gain and short round-trip, making it the perfect choice for a family-friendly day in the sun.
How to Hike to the Birthing Cave in Sedona
The Birthing Cave trailhead hike is about 2 miles roundtrip, and it’s not one of your typical trailheads. Once you stumble across the Long Canyon Trailhead, you’ll need to park your car on the side of the road to start your adventure onto the dirt-led path to the official site of the Birthing Cave. The Birthing Cave Trail is considered by many to be a relatively easy hike. It features wide and flat trails along the way, making it an accessible walk to many.
Long Canyon Trailhead does not have any parking or facilities along its entirety, so make sure you bring plenty of water and other hiking supplies you may need for your trek. We also recommend downloading Offline Google Maps before you head out, as you may lose service close to the trailhead.
Important note: This trail does not require a Red Rock Pass. A Red Rock Pass is a hiking permit needed for most of Sedona’s hiking trailhead; this pass allows you to park and use any facilities along these designated trails.
Once you have meandered through a majority of the trail, you’ll start to see the peak of the cave poke around the corner. The Birthing Cave is a more extensive but shallow cave nestled into a cliff’s edge. The cave interior resembles a heart shape from a distance; the cave ceiling curves up into a point, with the cave’s base also coming to an end.
All in all, the Birthing Cave hike is one of Sedona’s most rewarding treks, especially considering how approachable it is. Hikers of all skill levels will be able to complete the trail without issue, and it’s a great choice for hiking with kids. At the end of the hike, you’re rewarded with one of the best views in Sedona and even have the opportunity to take in some local history. For the time and effort spent, you won’t find a more rewarding trail than the Birthing Cave.
How Sedona’s Birthing Cave Got Its Name
The indiginous Hopi peoples first inhabited the Sedona area, long before you or I came along. They have walked Sedona’s trails and used the land’s resources to survive and overcome for the next generation to do the same. The Hopi believe their people came from the center of the earth and are born of the mother’s womb. The Red Rock region’s Hopis sent their pregnant women to The Birthing Cave in Sedona to give birth. These courageous women would hike up to The Birthing Cave right before going into labor to sit, wait, and pray until their child was born.
Please remember to follow the ‘Leave No Trace Principles’ when visiting The Birthing Cave in Sedona today. This particular avenue means coming with alternate routes to take if you need to reschedule due to trail popularity, disposing of your waste correctly, and considering other visitors while you’re out and about. Please enjoy the Birthing Cave responsibly.
Photography Pro Tips
Bring a wide-lense camera or a camera with a fisheye setting so you’re able to capture the absolute beauty of the Birthing Cave. The panoramic mode on modern iPhones & Androids does a great job as well. The best place to take a photo inside the cave is at the “belly-button” at the very middle back of the enclosure. Try to get to the site early to avoid more massive crowds for uninterrupted nature pictures.