Birthing Cave
The Birthing Cave is an easy social trail that branches off the Long Canyon system trail. Despite the claims New Age practitioners, there is no ethnographic or archaeological evidence that Native American women ever used this location to give birth.
The name comes from the fact that the seep spring at the back of the alcove resembles, shall we say... female reproductive anatomy. Such springs are extremely common in the Sedona area, so there is no reason to believe this one was designated for pregnant women.
What attracts most visitors these days is the possibility of having their picture taken while sitting or standing on a high, narrow ledge with Thunder Mountain in the background (shown below). Be aware that climbing up and down from this ledge exposes you to a potentially fatal fall.
The cliff dwellings above the Birthing Cave (shown below) were most likely built because of the water in the spring below, which was more abundant in the wetter climate that existed 700-900 years ago. Most visitors to the Birthing Cave never actually see the ruins even though it's only a short hike to reach them.
FINDING THE SOCIAL TRAIL
Visiting the Birthing Cave is most often done as an out-and-back hike from the parking area on Long Canyon Road. Approximately 0.75 miles from the parking area look for the old fence posts (shown below). Here the trail breaks to the left and is easy to follow if you just stick to the old fence line.
HIKE DETAILS
RATED: Easy
TOTAL DISTANCE
6,2 miles out and back
6,2 miles out and back
ELEVATION GAIN
850 ft
850 ft
EST. HIKING TIME
4 hours round trip
4 hours round trip
BEST TIME TO GO
All year
All year
PET FRIENDLY
No. Please do not visit ruins with your pet.
No. Please do not visit ruins with your pet.