Keyhole Cave and Witches Mountain in Coconino National Forest, AZ

Hike Keyhole Cave and Witches Mountain Coconino National Forest, AZ

Class 3 3.6 miles 1500 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Mar 29, 2024
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Witches Mountain is the local name for Peak 5978, a minor summit located just outside of Sedona. Along the route to reach the summit is a gorgeous cave known as Keyhole Cave, which receives some decent visitation. I should have known better than to start hiking on a crowded Friday afternoon, but the wait for parking at the Sugarloaf Trailhead wasn't too bad. I hiked along the Tea Cup Trail, and when it met a junction with the Thunder Mountain Trail, I continued north on a well-beaten social trail. Witches Mountain sat above, and I could see the grotto that houses Keyhole Cave beneath it.

There are multiple human-carved social trails that generally lead to the cave, so I had no trouble getting there quickly. As I approached the cave's base, the trail became steeper but was still easy to follow. You can scramble (Class 2/3) into the cave to get onto a ledge within, a nice viewpoint toward Capitol Butte's eastern face. Lots of people come here, notable due to the graffiti and boot-slickened sandstone, but it's a nice spot to cool off before starting up to Witches Mountain.

From the base of the cave I was made aware there wouldn't be a clear trail onward. I believe you could get back low and take the wider drainage up to the saddle on Witches Mountain's west side, but rather than do this, I decided to ascend via a minor brushy gully and join the peak's west ridge higher up. This worked out well overall, so I repeated the route on my way back later. The worst part was the first few hundred feet from Keyhole Cave due to some thick brush. I recommend trying to keep high near the base of the peak's sheer face rather than trudge lower down the slope. An animal trail continued beneath the cliff and headed up into the minor gully. The going was easier here, though much steeper and dirtier. I noted a cairn or two and scrambled up a Class 2+ short headwall before gaining the ridgeline above.

Now on the western ridge of Witches Mountain, reaching the summit became a more pleasant endeavor, with only minor brush intruding on my personal space. I stuck to the crest as much as possible, encountering a couple of Class 2 slabs and a Class 3 move up a short cliff band. At a point where a headwall seemed to prevent further access, I wrapped left and scrambled a Class 2+ crack to get a nice view of Witches Mountain directly ahead of me. Aside from some sandy terrain and a brushy finish, the remainder of the ascent didn't exceed Class 2.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Witches Mountain
5977 ft
537 rise

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Sugarloaf Trailhead. Capitol Butte seen left, Witches Mountain center.
Sugarloaf Trailhead. Capitol Butte seen left, Witches Mountain center.
Junction with the Thunder Mountain Trail. I headed north on a social trail.
Junction with the Thunder Mountain Trail. I headed north on a social trail.
Very good social trail.
Very good social trail.
Keyhole Cave and Witches Mountain ahead.
Keyhole Cave and Witches Mountain ahead.
View back
View back
Easy to follow social trail to Keyhole Cave.
Easy to follow social trail to Keyhole Cave.
Approaching Keyhole Cave, view back.
Approaching Keyhole Cave, view back.
Keyhole Cave.
Keyhole Cave.
Easiest scramble to gain the ledge within Keyhole Cave is on the right.
Easiest scramble to gain the ledge within Keyhole Cave is on the right.
View from within Keyhole Cave.
View from within Keyhole Cave.
Just below Keyhole Cave, a shot toward my gully ascent to gain Witches Mountain's ridge.
Just below Keyhole Cave, a shot toward my gully ascent to gain Witches Mountain's ridge.
Brushy at times, but easiest near the cliff base.
Brushy at times, but easiest near the cliff base.
View back down as I work up the gully.
View back down as I work up the gully.
The gully narrows.
The gully narrows.
Some Class 2+.
Some Class 2+.
Top of the gully, view back down.
Top of the gully, view back down.
Starting up the ridge.
Starting up the ridge.
View back down.
View back down.
Witches Mountain ahead.
Witches Mountain ahead.
Approaching a short Class 3 move.
Approaching a short Class 3 move.
Class 3.
Class 3.
Witches Mountain.
Witches Mountain.
Some slabs to scurry over.
Some slabs to scurry over.
A headwall. I wrapped left.
A headwall. I wrapped left.
Class 2+ crack.
Class 2+ crack.
Above the crack, just below, view toward Capitol Butte.
Above the crack, just below, view toward Capitol Butte.
Onward to Witches Mountain.
Onward to Witches Mountain.
Class 2 from here to the summit.
Class 2 from here to the summit.
View back along the ridge.
View back along the ridge.
Witches Mountain summit, view north.
Witches Mountain summit, view north.
Witches Mountain summit, view west.
Witches Mountain summit, view west.
Close-up at some unnamed bumps at the foot of Capitol Butte.
Close-up at some unnamed bumps at the foot of Capitol Butte.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!