A desert jewel of a hike…read more Enjoy the cooler 70s and 80s while they are lasting. We recently hiked one of our favorite spots, Jewel of the Creek at Spur Cross Ranch. I haven't ventured to the longer trails on the northern side but I may have to check out it now that my kids are older. The Dragonfly Trail is a loop just under 2 miles and is truly scenic. It's a spot I recommend to tourists who want to be amongst the Saguaros. There's plenty of shaded areas, fairly easy footing, not much elevation change, plenty of wildlife, and water! We've been coming up here since toddler stage when the kids used to just splash in the stream. The dogs have loved the hike and swimming at the end of the trail as well. It's makes for a beautifully perfect Cave Creek day

GREAT HIKE for all levels. Beautiful cactus. Very remote so keep driving until you get there…read more Extra parking beyond parking lot by rescue farm.

The park is well maintained and there is a good bit of parking near the trailheads. With the new…read moreyear, it is $10/car to enter or you can purchase an annual pass that covers all of the Maricopa County Parks (this is a great deal if you live here and enjoy getting outdoors). It has probably been ten years since I was last at this park -- mostly because I live on the opposite end of the Valley, but I still remember hiking the Go John Trail from twice that long ago. (Back then, we didn't have Internet-based recommendation systems or online trail guides, so we relied on books or the maps provided at the ranger stations.) That trail is no joke and the climb was a bit of a surprise as it has roughly 849 ft of elevation gain with some 10-15% grades over the course of nearly 6 miles. The elevation gain means some really nice desert views. I was here this time for a trail race, which is not run by the park, but we used the facilities and trails, which were well maintained and amazing to run on. I had a family of deer run across the trail about 100 yds in front of me on the home stretch of the race. I recommend all of the Maricopa County Parks and this one is no exception: each one has its own character and they're all worth visiting.

Slate Trail is a really enjoyable hike with classic Sonoran Desert scenery--towering saguaros,…read morerocky hillsides, and wide open views that make it feel peaceful without being remote. Parking was easy, and I appreciated the clean, convenient restrooms at the trailhead. That said, I do think the trail is slightly misrated. While it's listed as easy, the rocky footing and a few stretches with noticeable incline push it more into easy-moderate territory. It's absolutely doable, but hikers should be prepared for uneven terrain and some effort, especially if they're expecting a flat stroll. I brought my walking stick, and I'm glad I did. Overall, this is a beautiful, well-kept trail and a great way to experience Cave Creek Regional Park. With a more accurate difficulty rating, it would be a near-perfect hike.

Any walker/hiker must now start very early to get their trail hike. The incline begins quickly and…read morewill get your heart beating within 15 minutes of walking. It is a steep incline until you hit the entrance. From there it is loose dirt with some portions being slight flat. However if you want to reach the summit, it's a good uphill climb. At least, coming back is all downhill and you have to dig in. Free street parking. Just be courteous to those who live nearby and off the trail.

How do you rate a hike like this?! 5 stars with alot of asterisks!…read more My fiancé is the experienced hiker. Lover of trail runs, marathons, and completing the types of challenging hikes they make documentaries about, this hike albeit steep was a breeze. He ran a few miles to the trailhead, hiked the mountain, then ran back to the hotel three times during our stay. I, on the other hand am not a fan of early mornings or strenuous hikes but I do love a good challenge. In lieu of beating my time up Toms Thumb, I tackled Black Mountain solo, and let me tell you, if my 4'11", geriatric knee having, asthmatic, former athlete self can complete this hike, you can too! Yes, it's pretty dang steep. I wish someone would have warned me that instead of riding switchbacks, you are climbing straight up, gaining elevation very quickly, but it does make for a fun change of pace. Personally, it took me an hour up, and an hour down (so two hours total), and my partner made it up in 30 minutes, and down in around the same (so an hour total). Here are a few tips no matter your skill level: *bring water, a snack or two, sunscreen, sunshades, and considering how steep this bad boy is, wear hiking shoes with good grips. I hiked in October 2024, so I'm not sure if you'd need to modify for other times of the year. *know that although there are a good amount of shops if you make it to the Spanish Village, there aren't a ton of walkable roads in the surrounding town of carefree. In fact, there are a few residents that live on this mountain, and may encounter cars on your way up to the trailhead marker. *all trails is an amazing app to have handy for this and other solo hikes if you're going alone or would like to track your time/ensure you stay on the trail (it buzzed a few times to alert me that I was no longer on the trail...whoops) *the view is nice...even if you don't make it to the top, you're in for a visual treat!

03/05/2026. 72 deg. Arrived around 10AM. Walked to to office…read moreand paid. The lady there was very helpful asking what distance and how much elevation we would like to do that day. She then gave us a map and highlighted the trail. Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! Cave Ck. was flowing and wildflowers were blooming. Saguaros were castle-like. We had a great time. Did about 3 miles.

Spur Cross Conservation Area (also known as the Jewel of Cave Creek) was such a magical experience…read more-- I totally see why it's called "the Jewel" One of the most beautiful and peaceful hikes I've done since moving to Arizona. Helpful tip for newcomers: when you drive in, you'll first see a small parking lot on the left (only about 8-10 spaces and it fills quickly). If it's full, keep driving about a quarter mile -- there's a much larger parking area on the right with restrooms, trail maps, and the entry station. Parking is free and it's $5 to enter (worth it). The restrooms were very clean and the staff were super friendly and helpful. The trails are absolutely stunning. The scenery changes throughout -- desert views, red rocks, mountains, wildflowers, and even a beautiful creek It honestly felt like walking through another world. The hike is mostly relaxed and scenic with some light elevation, very doable and peaceful. Everything was well maintained and clearly marked. As someone new to Arizona (from Michigan), I was blown away by the beauty here. If you're looking for a scenic, peaceful, and truly special hiking experience near Cave Creek, I highly recommend it. I'll definitely be back Thank you

Very nice. Clean, well marked trails and great views. We hiked from the main parking area to the…read morenorthwest corner of the lot, paid our $3.00 per person fee (yep, $3.00 to walk on a publicly funded trail) taking the access trail to the Spur Cross Trail to the Boca Grande Loop to the Dragonfly Loop, passing the stables, then back to the parking lot. Again, very scenic the entire route. Oh, and keep to the right when leaving the Dragonfly Loop Trail on the trail in front of the stables instead of walking on the road. That particular trail is difficult to find if you are not looking out for it. It keeps you out of the way of vehicles driving that gravel/dirt road. Starts out with an immediate climb for most of the elevation noted, but is quite easy the rest of the way.

I'm giving this a 5 star rating for the following reasons, keeping in mind it's more of a trail…read moresystem than a park to take the girl on a picnic. Unless, of course, your girl likes to picnic nestled amongst the cacti. In that case... Sorry. I got distracted and lost the trail. Anyway... 5 stars for ample parking, lots of variety, (mostly) well-marked trails and trails specifically reserved for foot (people and animals) traffic. Even tho I bike, it's nice being somewhat assured you're not going to be sporting new chonies at a moment's notice when some kid bombs around a corner and plows into you so hard you end up sharing UnderArmor. Not many places here have natural running water so it was nice seeing the creek so full. Lots of kids and birds were enjoying it. I chose to hike to Skull Mesa, which honestly is a bitch if you're not used to long ish hikes (I'm not). Great views at the top if you make it, and if you have time you'll get to see some ancient Hohokam ruins. 3 bucks at the gate to get in, btw. Some people think parks should be free. I'm happy to pay a nominal fee to keep the parks operating. Hope you enjoy the pics as much as I enjoyed taking them.

What a beautiful trail! And such a pleasant/ easy hike. The most effort you put in here is driving…read moreall the way past Cave Creek, other than that, it's such a peaceful & relaxing place. We hiked over to Camp Creek Falls and back. Couldn't have been more than 3 miles round trip. I didn't look at my watch afterwards. During the golden hour it was gorgeous. I fully recommend this place. But please, it's a super clean and well kept trail. Keep it that way. Otherwise I'll regret sharing it on yelp ;)

Not a challenge to hike, some up & down areas with small hills to climb. Beautiful scenery and…read moreworth the hike to see the waterfalls. Great during rainy season. One to definitely go on.

This hike is located near Carefree, AZ. And is hard to find without these directions:…read more 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 12.2 miles from the Tonto National Forest sign to the Cave Creek Trailhead parking area (next to the campground). FR 24 is graded dirt and passable to all vehicles, although you might want to leave that new Mercedes in your garage. As of April, 2013, this area requires a Tonto pass, which costs $6 and is available throughout the Phoenix area.

I have never HIKED before, I enjoyed the heat and experience. Extra or bigger water a necessity…read morenext time! Mostly took the CLAY MINE trail, which for the record was SHUT OFF.. went to look at a mine and it was gated closed :( Only 6 bucks to enter the area, look forward to returning.

Another glorious morning to explore the gateway Desert Awareness Park. It was cool and…read morecomfortable. It was nice to be outdoors enjoying the views. A good way to start the day! They have their own parking area.

Lovely park with loads of info about the flora and fauna of the Sonoran desert. It's in Cave Creek.read more

Great little trail hot as all can be early in the am. Signs of animal life nothing really troubling…read moreto write about. Tons of cacti. So when MTN biking be mindful of the hikers because one wrong move might throw you into a whole bunch of cacti real fast. Bring water almost all trails will state the water index you need if you aren't accustomed to the heat bring double. This area has no potable water (no drinking) has restrooms at trial head and a ton of parking

What a fabulous hike!! And can go all the way up to the top of the mountain with the Ridgeback…read moreOverlook/ Apache Wash Loop. The scenery is so amazing!!! Not super hard but long and very rocky. The views at the top make it more than worth it!!!

Wow one of the best places ever…read more Seriously, get great trails great rocks, cool artifacts to look at, (but not touch;) !! Peridot Quartzite Agate Garnet schist Chalcedony

Not the most breathtaking views but it was a picture perfect day for a hike, and I wanted to see…read moresaguaro cacti. Some of the cacti were in the upwards of 30 feet tall. They look like stick figures with arms raised toward the sun in the fields. I took the four mile D trail "Over the Mountain Loop." It does not matter which direction if you are completing the entire trail, but I would go with the "start" direction if you only want to do part of the trail as it heads toward the side of the mountain with a better view. Multiple signs with mile count and QR code. Even though it was only 60 degrees, it was warm in the sun with a gentle breeze. Got to say hello to a horned owl nested in a cactus umbra. I would not have seen it except a fellow hiker who visits every year told me to look over the fence. Not a large parking lot and not any nearby alternatives, so be patient. A ranger was cutting off traffic from the trailer only parking, and she was recording license plates.