Boynton Canyon is often regarded as the most powerful and sacred of the vortices in Sedona.

The Boynton Canyon Vortex is said to be a hot spot for both categories of energy: feminine… an energy entering the earth that embodies goodness and compassion, and masculine… an energy projecting out of the earth embodying strength and confidence.

Native Americans have long believed that the intense vortex energy of sacred and spiritual Sedona acts as an amplifier for the power for change. This swirling and twisting energy is believed to greater allow people to become more open and drawn to what they need. This openness is said to open the door for both physical healing, as well as for a spiritual transformation.

Some people report feeling their body relax and/or begin to tingle. Others feel a deeper connection to the earth. While some people actuallt feel their heart open. None of this sounds awful to me.

Are you a vortex believer?

I do believe in aliens and other life forms beyond what we know with certainty to be true. I’m open-minded (kinda), but not yet fully on board with the intense, larger than life energy force concept just yet however. I do believe the propensity exists for people to have greater spiritual transformations in these sacred lands. I don’t necessarily believe this comes from a tangible energy projecting from, or entering into, the earth. For me, I guess it comes down to scientific proof. Without any scientific proof (that I know of), I’m a bit of a skeptic. If a greater energy force exists, wouldn’t there be a device to measure this activity by now?

I should however mention that although I may not be a believer per se, I have had one of the most memorable, spiritual and moving experiences of my life while hiking in Boynton Canyon.

My Boynton Canyon vortex spiritual journey…

My husband and I hiked to the canyon at the end of the trail around dusk 20+ years ago. We were enjoying a brief getaway after giving birth just four months earlier to our first born. Upon arrival, I heard what sounded like a man singing and chanting. I immediately felt grounded.

We distanced ourselves from this man to give him the privacy, space and respect we felt he was entitled to. We then laid our sleep deprived and exhausted bodies down on the red rock, gazed up at the sky and took it all in.

It was the most enchanting, surreal and spiritual experience I have ever been a part of. So much so that it will remain ingrained and etched inside me forever. We had arrived at the end of the trail at just the perfect time to witness a Native American ceremony of sorts. This memory will live inside me forever.

This spiritual experience is largely responsible for my obsession and great respect for Native American culture and history. The canyon and its sacred ground definitely felt alive and charged like nothing I had ever experienced before – or since!

I may not be a believer but I do however whole-heartedly recognize Sedona, with its rich Native American history and culture and its beautiful trails and red rock, as one of the most spectacular and spiritual areas in the Southwest!

Our Boynton Canyon Hike to the vortex…

My hiking buddy and I began our morning by hiking to the end of the Boynton Canyon trail. We then hiked back down where we picked up the spur trail to the vortex in the final 1/2 mile of the hike.

The total mileage came in at 7 miles. Many people opt to skip the Boynton Canyon out and back. These hikers instead head straight up to the vortex for a short, quick and dirty, out and back hike (no shade on this trail).

The entire Boynton Canyon out and back hike is beautiful from start to finish. The red rock views will distract you from the elevation gain on your journey to the sacred canyon lookout. The trees that line the trail and fill the canyon will offer shade and keep you cool under the unforgiving desert sun.

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Although Sedona in its entirety is considered a vortex, more amped-up vortices (in addition to Boynton Canyon featured here) in the area include Cathedral Rock (feminine), Bell Rock (masculine/feminine balance) and Airport Mesa (masculine). Some people also consider the Chapel of the Holy Cross to be a vortex as well (feminine).

wake WANDER repeat

For other posts on the beautiful Southwest, click here. You can also follow the link below to visit New Mexico’s first state park near Roswell, NM.