If you’re looking for something a little different from Sedona’s famous red rock hikes, Raven’s Cave Sedona is worth adding to your itinerary.
Instead of hiking to a summit or a large panoramic overlook, the main attraction is a hidden cave tucked into the hillside. The trail is short and relatively easy, making it a fun Sedona adventure that doesn’t require spending half the day hiking.
We really enjoyed Raven’s Cave because it felt different from the other trails we completed. The cave was fun to explore, the views through the natural openings were beautiful, and the entire experience only took us about 45 minutes.
This Raven’s Cave Sedona trail guide covers how to find the trail, parking, difficulty, what to bring, whether it is suitable for kids, and one overlook you should not miss before heading back down.
Finding Raven’s Cave was surprisingly easy.
The trail was well marked, and we had no trouble locating it. As you get close, you should see signs directing you toward the trailhead, so there isn’t much guesswork involved.
Getting to the trail also felt much less stressful than some of Sedona’s more remote hikes. We did not have to spend time wondering whether we were headed in the correct direction, which made this an easy activity to add to our day.
If you are building several short hikes into the same trip, my Best Easy Hikes in Sedona for Beginners compares Raven’s Cave with other manageable trails and scenic stops.
Parking was probably the only part that made me a little nervous before arriving.
The parking area is very small, with only a handful of spaces available. Fortunately, we visited in the mid-morning and were still able to find a spot without waiting.
Wendy’s Tip: Arrive earlier in the day if possible, especially during Sedona’s busier travel seasons. The lot can fill quickly, and getting there early gives you the best chance of finding a space.
A rental car is the easiest way to reach Raven’s Cave and combine it with other trails or viewpoints around Sedona. You can compare rates through Discover Cars.
Overall, I would consider Raven’s Cave an easy hike.
The trail itself is not particularly difficult and does not require advanced hiking experience. Most of the walk is manageable for anyone comfortable on a short outdoor trail.
The only section that requires a little more attention is getting inside the cave. You will need to watch your footing and have decent balance as you climb into it.
I would not call this section difficult, but it is a little trickier than the rest of the hike. Once you make it inside, you will quickly understand why so many people complete the short walk.
Travelers looking for another easy red rock hike with more flexibility in how far they walk may also want to read my Bell Rock Trail Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Hiking.
The Raven’s Cave trail is only about half a mile round trip.
We spent roughly 45 minutes there, which included walking to the cave, climbing inside, exploring, taking photos, and stopping to enjoy the views.
You could complete the hike more quickly if you simply walked to the cave and back. However, I would leave enough time to explore the cave openings and continue uphill to the shaded overlook before returning to your car.
The short distance makes Raven’s Cave especially easy to combine with other Sedona hikes, viewpoints, or attractions on the same day.
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it.
The trail was easy to follow at first, but I did get a little confused when we got close to the cave.
You will eventually reach a point where you can see red rocks in the distance. From there, go to the right and walk down a set of natural rock “stairs.”
Once you reach the bottom, look to your left. The cave entrance is near a tree and can be easy to miss if you are expecting it to be directly in front of you.
The cave itself is the main attraction.
One of my favorite parts was looking through the natural openings in the rock. The “peek holes” frame the surrounding landscape and create some unique photo opportunities that you do not find on most Sedona hikes.
You are not getting huge panoramic views throughout the entire trail. The scenery from inside the cave is what makes the hike memorable.
The openings also make the cave more interesting to explore because each one gives you a slightly different view of the surrounding red rocks and landscape.
Raven’s Cave is also included in my Best Photo Spots in Sedona: 9 Scenic Locations I Loved if you are planning your trip around photography locations.
I think Raven’s Cave could be a fun hike for families, but I would use caution with younger children.
The trail itself is easy, but there are a few drop-offs around the cave area. Older kids who listen well and are comfortable hiking would probably have a great time exploring it.
I would not let small children wander around the cave without close supervision. Parents will also need to help younger kids carefully climb into the cave and move around the uneven areas.
You do not need much gear for this hike.
I would bring:
Since the trail is short, there is no need to pack a large amount of hiking equipment. Comfortable shoes with decent grip will be useful when climbing into the cave and walking up to the overlook.
A compact small Osprey backpack would hold water, sunscreen, and your phone without feeling excessive for such a short hike. I also like carrying a Brita Water Bottle while traveling so I can refill it throughout the day.
If you are visiting during warmer weather, my What to Wear in Sedona in June includes the clothing, shoes, and practical items that worked for us during our trip.
One of my favorite discoveries actually came after we finished exploring Raven’s Cave.
Once you climb out, continue walking straight uphill until you reach a shady overlook. We thought it was a great place to cool down, relax for a few minutes, and take a few more photos before heading back.
Wendy’s Tip: This overlook is easy to miss, so don’t head straight back to the parking area after leaving the cave.
I think Raven’s Cave Sedona is worth visiting if you want a short, easy hike that feels different from Sedona’s more recognizable trails.
If you are searching for a challenging hike with nonstop panoramic views, this probably is not the best option. The trail is short, and most of the experience centers around exploring the cave rather than hiking through constantly changing scenery.
However, Raven’s Cave offers a completely different experience from places like Bell Rock or West Fork Trail, which is exactly why I enjoyed it.
It works especially well for travelers looking for hidden gems in Sedona, families with older children, photographers, or anyone who wants a quick outdoor activity that does not take up most of the day.
Raven’s Cave ended up being one of the most unique hikes we completed in Sedona.
It was not the longest hike, the hardest hike, or even the most scenic hike (yet, still scenic). But that is not really the point. Exploring the cave and looking through the natural openings made it feel completely different from the other trails in the area.
I loved that it was quick, easy to reach, and did not require a huge time commitment. The shaded overlook above the cave was also an unexpected bonus and gave us another quiet place to stop before heading back down.
If you want to add an easy Sedona cave hike to your itinerary or experience something beyond the area’s iconic red rock viewpoints, I would recommend Raven’s Cave.
If you end up booking anything for your trip, using my affiliate links helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. I spend a lot of time researching and writing these guides, so I really appreciate the support.
Booked this Bryson City yurt for the ‘ber months and it’s already my top fall pick this year. 🍂
The Junaluska Yurt sleeps six but feels more like a stylish cabin than a yurt, two real queen bedrooms with actual doors, a full kitchen, and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. Check-in is just a door code texted to your phone, no lobby, no waiting.
The real win is outside: wraparound porch, private fire pit, free firewood, a gas grill, and Smoky Mountain sunsets that stop you mid-sentence, picture all of that with October color on the ridgeline. Heads up, the last stretch in is a gravel road, so skip the low-profile rental, and there’s no restaurant onsite, you’re minutes from Bryson City, Dillsboro, and Sylva for dinner.
Two to three nights is the sweet spot. (We actually stayed in the dead of winter and it was still stunning, fall just takes it up a notch.) Full review linked in bio.
Italian food felt like the last thing I expected to find in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains... until I sat down at Ilda in Sylva.🍝
They call it Italian-Appalachian, and that’s not just a tagline. Homemade pasta, craft cocktails, local ingredients pulled straight from the mountains around it, this is the kind of meal that makes you forget you’re two hours from the nearest city. It’s cozy, it’s a little upscale, and it is not a walk-in kind of place, call ahead, because tables go fast on weekends.
It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. But if you’re already making the trip out to Sylva, this is the one reservation worth planning your day around.
Full write-up, including what to order, link in bio.
Booked my fall cabin before September even started, and I’m not sorry about it. 🍂
These are the stays that make you actually want the cold to hurry up fireplaces, mountain views, the kind of porch you don’t leave. Not every one of these is going to fit every trip, but if a cozy fall getaway is on your radar, this is the roundup to start with.
One of my favorite travel seasons is almost here, and I have zero chill about it. 🍁✈️
There’s just something about fall trips cooler air, apple orchards, that first flannel of the season, food that actually makes sense with the weather again. I’m already mentally packing for it before September even starts.
If fall is your favorite time to travel too, tell me where you’re headed... I’m taking notes for the list.
Pack your bags... ✈️🧳My hiking and road trip gear shop just got a refresh, and this is everything that actually earns a spot in my bag. The dry bag pulls double duty for beach days and trail days, the Osprey backpack is the one I grab for anything motorcycle or day-hike related, and the GoPro comes with me literally everywhere at this point.
Nothing on this list is filler it’s all stuff I’ve used, packed, and repacked more times than I can count. Full shop linked in my bio if you want to build out your own kit before your next trip.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
