a creek side walk that climbs to impressive desert views
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.
