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Showing posts with label Fruits of the Desert Hike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fruits of the Desert Hike. Show all posts

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Fruits of the Desert Guided Hikes

FRUITS OF THE DESERT GUIDED HIKES
Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, Cave Creek
Saguaro fruits ripen in early July
The Rim is on fire, Flagstaff is covered in smoke, there's a blaze on Mt.Graham and who knows what other wildfires will break out and cause closures to our high-country hiking trails over the next few weeks?  Of course, we must first be concerned with the safety of firefighters and the communities surrounding the blazes. No matter how badly we Valley dwellers want to escape the heat and hike in the cool pines, we should stay out of the way. So, what? Give up hiking until the monsoon comes? No way. Instead, stay in town and take part in a hike that celebrates the annual ripening of saguaro fruits.  Ranger Kevin Smith at Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area in Cave Creek has educational hikes planned for July 1, 7 and 8 that focus on the identification of wild foods hiding in plain sight along local trails.
Harvesting saguaro fruits
The treks start early and end before the heat of day kicks in. Ranger Smith leads participants into the hills above Cave Creek and demonstrates traditional techniques for harvesting cactus fruits and other desert delicacies.  And, yes, the tour includes free tastes. So, why not learn a little bit about native Sonoran Desert edibles while getting your exercise and waiting for the rains to return. There’s no need to sign up, just show up promptly at 7 a.m.
Plus, this program is part of the “County Parks are Getting Wet 
‘n’ Wild this Summer” promotion. At the end of the hikes, there will be a drawing for a family four-pack (4 free tickets) to the Wet ‘n’ Wild Water Park.
Engelmann prickly pear fruit
LENGTH: variable but usually 2-3 miles
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 2,200' - 2,800'
Tasty jojoba seeds

GETTING THERE:
From Loop 101 in north Phoenix, exit at Cave Creek Road and drive 15 miles north to Spur Cross Ranch Road, turn left and continue 4.2 miles to the parking lot on the left.
FEE: $3 per person permit required. Bring exact change for the self-serve pay station.
INFO:

Monday, July 6, 2015

SUMMER HIKES AT SPUR CROSS RANCH

SUMMER HIKES AT SPUR CROSS RANCH
Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area
The solar oasis is a popular stop on Spur Cross Ranch hikes

With the Valley now fully saturated in triple-digit temperatures, some hikers (you, perhaps?) are having difficulty wrangling enough motivation to hit the trails. Necessary early starts to beat the heat, lack of company or aversion to making long drives to the cooler climes of Arizona's high country are common excuses for July-August hiking slumps. However, there is an easy solution for summer trekking doldrums: the hiking events at Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area in Cave Creek. Located just 30 miles north of Phoenix where a combination of slightly higher elevations and mountain breezes make for cooler temperatures, the conservation area has seven miles of non-motorized-use trails that wind through a wide variety of terrains and historical sites.
Led by Ranger Kevin Smith, event hikes are presented in an interactive, learn-as-you-walk format. Hikes cover topics such as getting to know the area, riparian biomes, edible plants, geology and prehistoric cultures. A favorite among adults and kids alike are the full moon and nighttime flashlight/ black light tours. Many desert critters are most active after dark and there's always a high probability of reptile, mammal and raptor sightings with fluorescent scorpion exposures to boot.
Here's a partial list of upcoming hikes:
Saturday, July 11: Fruits of the Desert. Harvest saguaro fruits!
Friday, July 17: Exploring the Dragonfly Trail. Hike in a desert oasis and see a rock art gallery.
Saturday, July 18: Life Along the Creek. Amazing plant and animal discoveries.
Saturday, August 29: Full Moon Hike. This must-do, desert classic runs from 7:30-9:30 p.m..
TIME:
Morning hikes begin at 7 a.m. and last roughly 3 hours.
FEE: $3 per person. Free for ages under 16. Bring exact change for self-serve pay station.
REGISTRATION: not required, just show up on time.
GETTING THERE:
44000 N. Spur Cross Road, Cave Creek.
From the intersection of Carefree Highway and Cave Creek Road head north on Cave Creek Road about 2.5 miles to Spur Cross Road. Turn north for approximately 4.5 miles to the public parking area. After 3 miles the road turns to all-weather graded. The last 1.5 miles can be confusing; continue north on the graded road past the green house, through the tall gateposts and on past the horse corrals to the signed public parking area on the right.
INFO: Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area
480-488-6623