Trail Guide for the Sedona Subway

[@papajon62]

Thanks, Jerry! My son and I are coming to AZ end of February / early March from Georgia for a week, thinking we’ll do two day in Sedona. I think this will make the list!

[@Ashley_Schaeffer]

I recently got a place in Sedona and truly love the atmosphere here! The off-season is amazing for exploring these caves as they are very crowded during the high-seasons. Awesome video Jerry!

[@jaywalker5561]

Can't believe it. I had to piece together clues to figure out where it was and you just laid it out. Hope it stays safe

[@JerryArizona]

I purposefully did not make a video about this place for over a year after it blew up on Instagram. But I was there a couple times over the past few weeks.....the cat's out of the bag. Literally everyone we saw in the canyon was there for the Subway. There are multiple blogs and videos on how to find it. Figured I'd make my own to at least mention to be respectful of other people and the ruins/petroglyphs.

[@patt.5584]

@@JerryArizona My first thought was, "I can't believe he posted this video". Then I remembered the last two times I was there it was absolutely packed with people and I have seen multiple posts regarding how to get there. Thank you for not posting anything until you knew the cat was out of the bag. Wish it had never gotten out of the bag as there are several groups I know that go there regularly to help try and clean the graffiti from the ruins now, but not much else that can be done about it now but preach "leave no trace" as you did. Thanks for that.

[@JerryArizona]

I've filmed, edited and uploaded videos....then watched them and decided not to publish. We didn't even go to Boynton this day for the Subway. I will make a video of the hike we were there for, but no specifics. And I couldn't find the trailhead even though I'd been there the week before, so it's not easy to figure out without specifics. I suppose this video just makes things worse, but NOT making this video obviously didn't do anything to stop this from happening.

[@Zaitz17]

I was there 3 weeks ago. Wish I knew about that tree! Overshot the trail by quarter mile but eventually made it. If the climb in looks too intimidating lots of people were climbing up the side route to the ruins and then walking around to the cave. Great video Jerry!!

[@JerryArizona]

Yeah, forgot to mention the side route. As someone used to this type of thing, I just take the most direct route 99% of the time....

[@jakewhite4321]

Where was this video last week when I was in Sedona? I totally could have thrown this one in with soldiers pass, the birthing cave, and Devils bridge. The more I watch the channel, the more I want to move to AZ.

[@JerryArizona]

Oh, man, you're going to hate the next several videos then. Spent two weekends up in Boynton Canyon. Absolutely amazing.

[@jakewhite4321]

@@JerryArizona well…dang

[@HikerT]

Thank you so much, Jerry Arizona! I came to Sedona for my 50th and your directions got us straight to the Subway. It was just stunning, and I am so glad I made it there.

[@JerryArizona]

Glad I could help.

[@splunk7120]

I just did this hike. Highly suggest going early (on the trail at 5:15 am). Got to the subway around 6:15 and had the entire place to ourselves until 7:30. After that a steady stream of people for at least then next hour and i assume the whole day. Make sure to bring a headlamp though! Thanks Jerry!

[@cathymoore1739]

I've come close up on Bighorn Sheep before but didn't scare me like those critters at the beginning would!! Yikes!! LOL As usual a nice video & nice pitch for Leave No Trace with respect for ruins & glyphs. I can see why the location has exploded with that photo. I agree that all it takes is the few Instragram photos and the flood gates are opened. I can imagine that chute getting jammed now; like a mini Angel's Landing. A whole new breed of people have discovered & flocked to the outdoors. We can only hope they eventually listen & learn to love & respect the wild places as most of us old outdoorsy folks do. I've talked to a couple Ranger friends about this very thing and basically that is their take on it - educate the public & start with the youngsters.

[@eraserewrite]

Went there today only to get stopped by a family saying that they weren’t able to find it after the branch off. It was getting dark, and I ended up hiking with them back. Watching this so I can avenge my past self.

[@JerryArizona]

I was just there last weekend and there are definitely plenty of 'social trails' that get confusing. The turn off at the tree is key and there are some branching trails after that that can lead people off course. If you have a GPS (Gaia or Alltrails on iPhone work fine) you can see if you can find a GPS track online. A quick Google search brought up a route on Alltrails for me. Best of luck to you.

[@eraserewrite]

@@JerryArizona Thanks for the response! Definitely going to mark the trails before I go and save the offline maps! My signal died 1.4 mile in.

[@bvandyke10]

I remember all the research I had to do on my own to find this place. Now it’s widely available to everyone haha

[@JerryArizona]

Yeah. Now you just follow the group in front of you. We were actually up there to go to another place. Didn't see another person for 95% of the time we were in the canyon. I won't be giving any information on that hike....

[@koreanature]

My best friend, OMG! So wonderful! I really love this! Thank you so much!

[@jakesonaplane_]

Good timing as you said this one is no longer a secret. 2.05 miles from TH sign to the social trail turnoff. I agree climbing straight up was pretty easy and it was worth sticking around at the cave, the crowds always seemed to come and go. Even on a Friday had it all to myself for a bit :)

[@JerryArizona]

Same tactic as any place that's popular. Go early. Go late. Go when the weather isn't the best. You can find ways around the crowds.

[@travismolly4654]

This channel is awesome 👌

[@ttmallard]

Cool place, Munds Mt got me hooked in the areas hike&biking ancient pieces of modern trails, missed this one thx for beta 🍺

[@JerryArizona]

I've been told I need to go check out Munds. Haven't made it yet though.

[@ttmallard]

@@JerryArizona It's not easy to hike to get to the east saddle with the ancient trail up, a major trail the canyon up the SE side gets to a saddle at 34°51'42"N 111°42'21"W. From Schnebly Hill lookout, the 4wd road can get there connecting trails, I rode a mt bike from the lookout. The ancient trails on the SE heavily eroded from moving tons of acorns off the sides of the mesa, inter-planted beargrass for instant basketmaking. After making the mesa top for a 1/4mi or so if you go offtrail to the NW to the edge for the view, you'll go back ... there's a campsite, I never camped there, too Sacred. Cheers 🍺

[@emotionaleatingadvice7969]

Thank you! Can't wait to hike this one!!

[@hoaphuong003]

Always love your videos. We never visit Sedona before. What’s the best time of the year to visit on cool weather? Thank You!

[@JerryArizona]

Probably October/November. And again in the spring. They just got snow last weekend. You can obviously go year round, but I prefer fall/spring.

[@thenatureseekerdudevitaliy97]

Thank you so much for this man! Going to Sedona soon and this was one of the spots I was anxious to check out.

[@SergeCousineau]

Nice video and great infos , would like to see this one day 👍 Have a great week and merry Christmas 🎄🎅🏻 Serge H&S 👩‍❤️‍👨🌈🇨🇦

[@bobalanadventures2024]

Thanks for the information. Just added this place to my bucket list.

[@w9jim]

Another one to add to my ever-growing To Do list.

[@JerryArizona]

A long hiking list is a good thing.

[@MarcellinusVD]

Were there last year and had indeed troubles finding it, but we got there in the end :)

[@mhtinla]

Sedona Subway refers to either the Subway restaurant in town, or a technical slot canyon near Soldiers Pass.... Perhaps that's why this one is called Subway Cave.

[@JerryArizona]

Yeah....I you're definitely right. But it's tough to call this a cave. Or even 'the subway'. Covered that in the description, but it is what it is, I guess.

[@alexlz3369]

Thank you so much! Forgot about this lil place!...

[@julierstjohn]

Thank you, loved the content ❤️

[@naomi_travels36]

Do you know if we can use an America the Beautiful Annual Pass in lieu of the Red Rocks pass? And thank you for your very informative videos!

[@JerryArizona]

99.9% certain you can use the America the Beautiful. My friend uses his all the time up there.

[@kathleenjackson4248]

Thanks so much! This is a great help!

[@margarethsieh4283]

what time of the day did you take the picture of the cave where one side of it light up with golden glow? did you start in the morning or afternoon?

[@JerryArizona]

I think we left the trailhead around 7AM. Not sure what time we were there. Probably between 8 & 9.

[@margarethsieh4283]

@@JerryArizona thank you. I do plan start mt hike right after breakfast. can't wait

[@catravelershr7600]

Awesome 😎

[@peterpete67]

Awesome video man!

[@Jeff-rx4de]

Says look for tree doesn't tell you which way to turn at tree.

[@JerryArizona]

“Looking up canyon you’ll see a social trail that branches to the right”. And I point to it and show us turning off the main trail. So, turn right at the tree.

[@Schroedb87]

Do you think this is pet friendly or too many cacti?

[@JerryArizona]

The last bit up into the 'cave' isn't pet friendly. There are often javelina on this trail, so keep that in mind. There are some rocky sections that really small dogs might not like. I'm not a pet owner, so I would recommend you confirm pets are allowed with the Red Rock Ranger District though.

[@Schroedb87]

@@JerryArizona OK thanks for the info!

[@375santa]

Been to Sedona 5yrs ago. Not this spot.

[@appyguy]

Just follow the hordes of people and you'll find the cave ;-) LoL

[@JerryArizona]

Right? I wasn't going to make this video, but after going there twice and seeing that basically everyone in Boynton was going there (and lots were somehow lost), I figured I'd make it any way. Cat's already out of the bag on this one so I thought maybe I'd say leave the petroglyphs alone and keep a few people from wandering off trail into the wilderness.

[@Vile_412]

Oof… how long before people start whining about revealing their secret spot.

[@JerryArizona]

Having been there twice in the past two weeks, I have to say that this is the least secret secret spot I've ever been to.

[@tomziller]

In "backpacking the narrows" at 19:51, Tina says "I don't know that I've ever hated people as much as I hated them then". Well guess what you guys, you are part of the problem. I feel conflicted saying this because I like your videos and I have personally benefited from them. But publicizing an unmarked, unmaintained, culturally and archaeologically sensitive place is not a good thing. If you advertise it, people will come. And saying, as you do in your intro, that the floodgates are already open so we may as well open them even wider makes no sense to me at all. I have also benefited from google street view when planning adventures, and for a while I wanted to contribute and put up a few good ones myself. But eventually I realized that by publicizing the places I love I was just contributing to their eventual destruction by being loved to death. Telling everyone with an internet connection how to get to these places is ultimately a huge mistake. The last thing Sedona needs is a few hundred or few thousand more people scrambling up to this cave. My suggestion is to remove this video and limit yourselves to places that are officially maintained and regulated. But to be honest, any publicity video, even of officially maintained areas, is still a problem. If you love these places, and you certainly appear to, then ask yourself, if you come back next year and there are 10x as many people as the last time you were there, are you going to be comfortable with the fact that you contributed to it?

[@JerryArizona]

As I've said a few times to commentors, I didn't do a video on this for a long time just because I did not want to contribute to making it the next Devil's Bridge. But then I went there...Literally everyone in that canyon was going to the 'Secret Subway Cave'. It isn't a secret anymore. You're right, I guess. Maybe this cracks open the floodgates a little more. But if you search it, there are dozens and dozens of videos already. So I figured I'd add to leave the ruins alone and be respectful of the site and other people. Can't really argue much though. I do see your point and it's always a fine line when you do what I do. Hopefully the City of Sedona implements some proposals to limit/control tourism. Even if it makes it harder for me to get there, I would welcome it. The town is not set up for the crowds that go there. As an odd coincidence, Tina was watching the Narrows video last night and she basically said that at least getting outdoors is good for people. And the wilderness is for all of us. So yeah. Everyone has a right to see these places even if we'd prefer to have them all to ourselves.

[@adanflores4523]

Selfish humans wanting things all themselves the goodness of the world was meant to be explored, if you’re so worried about what it would do to the site maybe go out there and clean it and look after it yourself, maybe that’s your purpose in life but don’t discouraged others from exploring new places for themselves,

[@gboog27]

What would the city of, Sedona, say Jerry? You know better, Jerry! Remember how excited you were in your videos trying to find this place?! Let All Trails and the young kids be the spoiler. Not you and what obviously seems to be the motive of $$ and fame. Look at me!!! This majestic place is Sedona…not Jerry world! 1000 views a day bro, 8 days in.