Area Parks and Trails

Cave Creek Trails
The Town of Cave Creek maintains a network of multi-use trails that connects portions of the Town, providing access to Cave Creek Regional Park,  Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, the Tonto National Forest, and linkages to the 314-mile Maricopa Trail and the Desert Foothills Land Trust properties. These trails offer hiking, biking and horseback riding. Please check the maps below to see what type of usage is permitted for each trail.

Stop into the Cave Creek Tourism Bureau for trail maps and additional information.
6061 E. Cave Creek Road, immediately west of the Dairy Queen.
480-525-2049

Cave Creek Regional Park

Ranging in elevation from 2,000 feet to 3,060, this desert oasis provides any hiker and equestrian majestic views. Horse rides are also available. For more information on hikes and other events, please visit their site @ www.maricopacountyparks.net/park-locator/cave-creek-regional-park/

• Trail Maps for Cave Creek Regional Park:
  • Cave Creek Regional Park Map (PDF)
  • Cave Creek Regional Park Map- Campground (PDF)

Desert Awareness Park

The Desert Awareness Park is located just north of Cave Creek’s town core on Vermeersch Road. This town park is for young and old alike. With the hum of traffic muffled by desert trees and the rolling topography, civilization seems to disappear, though hints of it remain with scattered housing and, more on the scene, a children’s playground, ramadas and barbecues for picnickers. https://hollandcenter.org/desert-awareness-park/

Desert Foothills Land Trust

The Desert Foothills Land Trust works with communities and partners to protect, preserve, and steward sensitive land and species for the survival of the fragile Sonoran Desert. For more information on hikes and other events, please visit their site @ www.dflt.org

• Trail Maps for the Desert Foothills Land Trust
  • Desert Foothills Land Trust (PDF)

Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area

The conservation area encompasses 2,154 acres of diverse, rugged upper Sonoran Desert 5 miles north of Cave Creek. For information on hikes and other events, please visit their site @ www.maricopacountyparks.net/park-locator/spur-cross-ranch-conservation-area/

• Trail Maps for Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area
  • Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area Map (PDF)

Other Maps

• Trail Maps for the Tonto National Forest Cave Creek Ranger District
  • Tonto National Forest Boundaries
  • Map of the entire Tonto National Forest (must be purchased through the National Forest)
  • Recreation Map, including information about hikes at the Cave Creek Ranger District
• Trail Maps for the Maricopa Trail (more than 300 miles of connected trails that encompasses Maricopa County and links to 10 regional parks)
  • All Maricopa Trail Maps

State Trust Land

State trust land borders many of the county parks and open spaces within the Town of Cave Creek. A permit must be secured from the state land department for recreational uses of state land.

View the Arizona State Land Department Recreational Use page for additional information.

Annual Passes for Spur Cross 

The Annual Passes provide a convenient and affordable way to visit Maricopa County’s regional parks. The passes provide day-use access to more than 120,000 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert parkland, and 100% of the proceeds from the pass sales are used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services. This brochure outlines the various types of Annual Passes available. 

• Annual Pass brochure (PDF)