How To Get To The Boynton Canyon Vortex (2024)
Are you planning a hike to the Boynton canyon vortex? You’ve come to the right place.
The Boynton Canyon vortex is one of the most easily accessible Sedona vortexes. It’s a 1.1 mile round trip hike through the shady forest landscape to an amazing overlook.
The overlook is in between two rock formations known as Kachina Woman Rock and Warrior Butte, which is where the vortex is thought to be.
Here are step by step directions for getting to the Boynton Canyon vortex, including where to park, and a map you can download for offline use.
How To Get To The Boynton Canyon Vortex
- Length: 1.1 miles roundtrip
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 20-30 minutes
To get to the Boynton Canyon vortex, you’ll park at the Boynton Canyon Trailhead. Parking is $5/day or covered with a Daily Red Rock Pass.
You’ll begin hiking the Boynton Canyon Trail for around a half mile until you see the trail marker for Boynton Canyon Vista on the right. This is a really easy flat trail shaded by pine trees so it’s perfect for any time of year.
Once you turn off onto Boynton Canyon Vista Trail, you’ll continue hiking until the trail dead ends, and you see stairs on the left.
From here, you’ll climb up the stairs until you reach the “End of Trail” sign. This is where the vortex is said to be.
On the right, you’ll see the Kachina Woman Rock, a pillar shaped rock formation that’s long been considered sacred to the Hopi tribe.
To the left, you’ll see the Warrior Butte, a knoll that many people climb on top of it to get a sweeping view of the pine forests.
This is considered a balanced energy vortex, with a downflow of energy from the canyon, and an upflow of energy from towering buttes like Warrior butte.
Here you also have an incredible view of the surrounding Ponderosa pine forests and mountains.
Whether or not you believe in energy vortexes, this is an amazing hike if you want to enjoy the serenity of nature. Additionally, there’s often no crowds here if you visit on a weekday, unlike more popular vortexes like Airport Mesa or Bell Rock.
After hiking the Boynton Canyon vista trail, you can continue hiking the Boynton Canyon Trail. The Boynton Canyon Trail is a mostly flat trail over the ridges of the canyon walls.
Another interesting and popular stop along this hike is the secret Subway Cave, a red-orange sandstone cave located around 2.5 miles into the hike.
To get to the Subway Cave, you’ll continue hiking along the Boynton Canyon trail, until you reach the Vista Spur Trail. At around 2.5-3 miles into the hike, you’ll see an arrow made of branches pointing to the right, where you’ll turn for the Subway Cave.
Once you turn, it’s a short climb up the rocks to the inside of the cave. The trail to the Subway Cave is a little over 5 miles round trip, and you can expect it to take 2 to 3 hours.
Boynton Canyon Vortex Map
Prefer watching? Check out our video below!
Boynton Canyon Vortex FAQs:
How long is the Boynton Canyon vortex hike?
The Boynton Canyon Vortex is 1.1 miles round trip, and only takes 20-30 minutes depending on your speed.
How difficult is the Boynton Canyon vortex hike?
The Boynton Canyon vortex hike is one of the shortest and easiest hiking trails in Sedona, so it’s perfect for beginners.
What is the Kachina Woman Rock?
The Kachina Woman Rock is a tall rock spire located at the end of the Boynton Canyon Vista Trail, that can be seen at the entrance of Boynton Canyon.
This rock formation is thought to be inhabited by the “Kachina Woman” , a sacred spirit that acts as a protector and guardian of the Hopi tribe.
Is Boynton Canyon Vista trail dog-friendly?
Yes, the Boynton Canyon vista trail is dog-friendly as long as they’re kept on a leash. The trail is mostly flat, but there’s a small set of stairs at the end of the trail.
Is Boynton Canyon Vista trail wheelchair accessible?
No, the Boynton Canyon Vista trail is not wheelchair accessible as it has a set of stairs at the end of the trail right before you reach the vortex.
When’s the best time to hike the Boynton Canyon vortex?
I highly recommend hiking Boynton Canyon vortex during the weekday if you want to relax in nature, away from crowds. I hiked it on a Friday afternoon and I was the only one there!
What is a Sedona energy vortex?
Sedona’s energy vortexes are sites thought to have an increased level of energy entering or projecting out of the earth. The idea of Sedona’s energy vortexes originated in the early 1980s when the New Age psychic Page Bryant began identifying different vortex locations throughout town.
There’s no scientific claims to back up the vortexes, but they happen to be located at some of the most scenic viewpoints throughout Sedona. The four main vortex sites are Airport Mesa, Boynton Canyon, Cathedral Rock, and Bell Rock, with Airport Mesa and Boynton Canyon being the most accessible.
Each vortex site is classified as being an “upflow” (masculine), or downflow (feminine) of energy. Many people visit these sites to meditate, do yoga, or simply enjoy the red rock vistas.
What’s the best Sedona vortex hike?
Boynton Canyon is my favorite Sedona vortex hike, because it’s short, and has unbeatable views of the forest and mountains. But if you’re up for a challenge, the Cathedral Rock vortex offers even more spectacular views, from nearly 5,000 feet in elevation!
Another great short hike is the Airport Mesa vortex, which is less than a 0.25 mile hike if you can find a parking spot right by the vortex. There’s a small free parking lot by the vortex, where you may be able to find a spot on a weekday.
From this parking lot, it’s just a short hike up the Summit Trail to the top of a mound, where you’ll have a panoramic view of West Sedona and mountains like Cathedral Rock and Coffee Pot Rock.
Related articles you may be interested in: