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.

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.

This volunteer maintained trailhead is very well marked, with multiple benches for enjoying the…read moreviews or the river canyon to the west or the desert to the east and south. We were a bit early for the wildflower and flowering cactus display but did see a nice carpet of yellow ground cover around the healthy looking saguaros. The total loop trail is 1.8 miles and easy to moderate. You can also connect on the southern end to the Black Canyon City trailhead and hike down to the Agua Fria River and, river level permitting, continue west up the hill for an "as long as you want" hike into the foothills. The parking area at the High Desert Trailhead is on the southern end of the municipal park which has restrooms, children's play areas and a ball field. This is a great place to take a break and stretch your legs if you are traveling north on I-17, and it is off the road just enough that tourist do not seem to stop here.

Great place to do easy hiking close to Phoenix. Not a crowded trail. Gets you close to nature and…read morefresh air.

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!

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 ;)

The kids, dogs, and I spent 3 hours hiking and playing in the AZ desert. It's been a couple of…read moreyears since we've gone. This time of the year, the water is pretty low, but there's water and a waterfall, so the kids and dogs loved it! We had the waterfall to ourselves for a good half hour. My daughter played with her mermaids, and my son enjoyed rock climbing above the falls. It was wonderful being in the fresh AZ nature... until we had to hike back uphill to the car. The top thing to know is to turn LEFT at the American flag. There are some well placed rocks pointing the way. Also, you do have to climb down and over some big rocks... You do have to climb down and over some big rocks. And then back up and over them on the way back. Be sure to save energy for the hike back because it's inclined the whole way. Don't forget sunscreen! Maybe take water shoes if the kids want to play in the water. Stop by Raven's View restaurant on the way home. Enjoy!

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

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.

The Sunset Point Scenic Overlook is off Interstate 17. It has stunning views of the surrounding…read moredesert and a large sundial in the center. It appeared as though large groups of people visit for the photos. I have visited in the summer and winter and the views are much prettier in the summer. It is dog friendly and has waste bags and waste disposal available. There are picnic areas, vending machines and bathrooms. It is an easy in and easy out rest stop.

Its a nice rest stop and when we were there, a bunch of food trucks from a Fry Bread vendor to an…read moreIce Cream vendor were there. There's ample parking, bathrooms, and picnic area.