Weekend Warriors Arizona Hiking Guide

CAVE CREEK

If hiking a creek side walk that climbs to impressive desert views appeals to you, then you'll like this hike.

HOW TO GET THERE

This hike is located near Carefree, AZ.

To get to the trailhead: from the Phoenix/Mesa area, take HWY-101 North to the Pima Road exit. Take Pima road North to Cave Creek Road. Turn East (Right) on Cave Creek Road. Soon, there will be a Tonto National Forest sign on the right (This is about 6 miles from Carefree). From this point, this road becomes FR 24. Continue 12 miles from the Tonto National Forest sign to the Cave Creek Trailhead parking area.  FR 24 is graded dirt and passable to all vehicles, although you might want to leave that new Mercedes in your garage. As of January, 2003, there is a $4 fee to enter the park area.       

RATING

Be Aware of: Fee for parking.

30 yr old Recommendation: Walking along water in the central deserts of Arizona is always a treat. The climb halfway through the hike to views of the area were an added bonus. This hike is rated Moderate. 

DETAILS

Elevation change: about 1000 ft gain. 

Distance: The loop hike described is 8.0 miles round trip. 

Time: It took us 4.5 hours of hiking, with a short break for snacks.

Time of year: All year (hike only during the cooler parts of the day in Summer)

Solitude: Pretty good, especially considering the close proximity to the Phoenix area. Solitude is better on the Skunk Tank Trail return leg. Expect to see 10-25 other hikers during the course of the day.      

The hike starts at the Cave Creek Trailhead parking area. The trail starts south, passing the campgrounds and an access road before it reaches Cave Creek 0.5 miles from the parking area. For the loop hike described, turn west along the Cave Creek Trail.   

This trail follows the creek, even crossing it a few times. The walking here is mostly flat and pleasant. This is one of those rare locations in Arizona where water flows year round, and the surrounding vegetation is reflective of that. Impressive shade trees including Walnut, Ash, and Sycamore shade the hiker on this trail. There are also some good photo opportunities here, so bring your camera.

After about 3.5 miles of hiking on the Cave Creek Trail, the trail crosses the creek for the final time and you reach the junction of the Cave Creek Trail and the Skunk Tank Trail. Be alert here, as the Cave Creek Trail continues for a total of 10.5 miles and you could miss the creek crossing if you aren't looking for it. The junction of the Cave Creek Trail and Skunk Tank Trail is well marked. Once on the Skunk Tank trail, the trail quickly switchbacks up one side of Skunk Tank Canyon. The total elevation gain of this hike is in the next 1.5 miles of this trail. As the trail goes higher, you are greeted with more and more views of the surrounding desert. Now the vegetation turns to the more traditional desert cacti of Saguaro and Cholla.

After about 2.5 miles on the Skunk Tank Trail, you reach the intersection of the Quien Sabe Trail. Continue on the Skunk Tank trail, which now becomes an old mining road. The walk begins to loose the elevation that was gained earlier as you get closer and closer to Cave Creek. The trail ends 2.3 miles later at the Cottonwood Creek Trail. Turn left on this trail to get back to the creek and follow the Cave Creek trail back to the parking area.

[View of Cave Creek]

[Views after climbing out of the canyon]

return to top...

This write-up was done after a hike during the end of January, 2003.