Sedona

Majestic red rocks rise above a sea of side-by-sides, their engines serenading you as you sip your $12 smoothie in the shade of a crystal shop. Sure, the trails are packed, the permits are elusive, and the parking lots are their own spiritual tests—but isn’t that part of the charm? Nothing builds character like wrestling with a booking system at dawn just to stand shoulder-to-shoulder at Cathedral Rock. And when the sun sets, painting the cliffs in fire, you’ll understand why everyone and their cousin showed up here, too. Honestly, it’s a madhouse—and absolutely worth it.

Kachina Tree via Boyton Canyon Trail

This trail is a little guessing game between you and Google Maps. And when you finally climb up to the cave, heart pounding and calves burning, you’ll be rewarded with… a natural sandstone alcove featuring a little tree. If you’re a little uneasy with heights, the scramble up to the Kachina Tree Cave might get your heart racing in ways no vortex energy ever could. I may have pushed myself to the very brink of tears—but only the brink. Totally worth it for that surreal moment when you pull yourself into the cave, look back at the view, and realize, yep, you’re definitely higher up than you thought. 

The trail loops left around the back on the Enchantment Resort, and just after the trail curves back 90-degree to the right, start looking for that perfect spot where the path suddenly widens in one spot. Kinda like a place to stand to get out of the way of on coming hikers. You’ll see random little offshoot trails weaving around bushes, leading into the brush like they know something you don’t.

Key Facts:

• Total Distance: 2.7 miles round trip – A nice, manageable distance that won’t completely ruin your day.
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging if you dont like heights.
• Elevation Gain: 350 feet depending the route and rerouting you do to get up the canyon.
• Best Time to Go: In the morning to catch the sunlight just right as it hits the tree. Use the Suncal site!
• GPS for Kachina Tree: 34°55’11.6″N 111°51’34.4″W    Save this to your google maps to referece once you’re on the trail. Like a little google map compass.