Boynton Vista is a short, easy hike to a nice viewpoint that some believe is the location of the Boynton Vista Vortex, a place where you can feel the earth’s energy. Vortex or not, you’ll be revitalized by the stunning natural beauty of Sedona and the wind on your face. Next to the viewpoint is Kachina Woman Rock, and adventurous hikers can go up behind it to a very small “cave” known as the womb.

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Trail Description

There’s no way around it—the parking situation for the Boynton Trailhead, quite frankly, sucks. Since this is the same trailhead for the super popular Subway Cave, you’ll be sharing it with dozens of other cars. If you’re not to the trailhead first thing in the morning, you’ll be parking along the street. If you sleep in, you might be parking waaaaaay down the street.

Deadman’s Pass Trail

From the trailhead, you’ll start on the Deadman’s Pass trail for a short distance until a well-marked junction with Boynton Canyon Trail.

Boynton Canyon Trail

The Boynton Canyon Trail starts out skirting the outside of the Enchantment Resort, and before you get past it, you’ll start to see Kachina Woman Rock off to your right.

Watch for a trail sign marking the trail to the Vista, and turn right. For some odd reason, the trail sign claims it’s 2 miles round trip to the Boynton Vista. Don’t panic, it isn’t. When I arrived at the vista, my GPS unit said I had gone about half a mile since the trailhead.

Follow this trail as it curves around and then goes up a short, steep section to the viewpoint. Though the trail is rocky, it’s pretty easy and suitable for most people. There are wire baskets of rocks marking the route.

Boynton Vista

I have to admit that the wind picked up noticeably when we arrived at the viewpoint. Was it the Boynton Vista Vortex? You decide.

Regardless, you’ll have a nice view into Boynton Canyon.

At the viewpoint, you’ll be greeted by an “End of Trail” sign, but it’s obvious that many people continue. We followed the trail for a while just to see where it went, and the answer was “nowhere.” Along the way, we met some other people who were trying to find the Subway Cave, so it could be all those lost souls making a crisscrossing network of aimless trails all over the place.

The Womb (Optional)

For adventurous hikers, you have the option to go up behind Kachina Woman Rock and visit a small cave known as “the womb.”

Additional mileage 0.2
Additional elevation gain 82 feet

There are two options for getting to the womb. If you don’t mind a bit of a scramble, you can go around the right side of the Kachina Woman and climb up a crack. This is the short way.

If you think that looks like a broken neck waiting to happen, you can also go around the left side of Kachina Woman until you find a place where you can climb up to the higher level. Then make your way back toward her. Many others have done this, so the path should be pretty easy to find.

We scrambled up the crack and went down the other side, so both options are reflected on the map.

Once you get behind Kachina Woman, you’ll find the womb. It’s just a couple small cavities you can sit in. Twins?

But, if you want to make it seem super cool to your friends, use the 0.5x camera.

And there you have the stuff Instagram is made of.

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Map & Directions

Location Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness, Sedona, Arizona

From Highway 89A, go north on Dry Creek Road in West Sedona. That will turn into Boynton Pass Road. Keep left at the fork. Turn right onto Boynton Canyon Road. The Boynton Canyon Trailhead will be on your right. This is a very popular hike, so go early enough to find parking or allow extra time to park on the street. Make sure you do not park in a tow away zone because we have seen cars with citations that parked there.

Fees/Passes Red Rocks Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required. Pay kiosk at the trailhead.

Trailhead Facilities Pit toilets

Download KML or GPX

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