Get Hooked on the Maricopa Trail in 2021

SPUR CROSS-MARICOPA TRAIL

Beautiful back country on the Maricopa Trail

Sometimes, an addiction is a good thing.  Swapping a junk food obsession or a movie streaming fixation for a commitment to healthful foods and regular outdoor recreation are the kinds of addictions that improve quality of life.  Kicking bad habits isn’t easy, but hiking can help wean even the most devout triple-burger-with-the-works aficionados off the artery-hardening stuff.

The route crosses Cave Creek several times

That’s because, like eating potato chips, once you start, it’s difficult to stop.  And when you really get into it, you’ll be inspired to get fit to take on longer, more difficult treks.

A bird verifies Audubon Arizona important bird area

As with goals in general, it helps to have a plan. 

An old forest service sign on the Maricopa Trail

For Phoenix-area hikers, there’s a ready-made plan already in place. It’s called the Maricopa Trail.  The 315-mile route circumnavigates the Valley, connecting 10 county regional parks, urban centers, suburbs and national forest trails.  Outfitted with dozens of trailheads and community access points, the trail is easily accessed from anywhere in the Valley.  While the route is still expanding and improving, the main course is complete. There’s a beginning, middle and end which makes it a perfect choice for anybody who wants to earn the feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing a long-distance hike without committing to a months-long, non-stop journey. This one can be knocked off in approachable day hikes. 

The Maricopa Trail is 315-mile route

The route passes through a stony corridor

Of course, to get “addicted” it’s best to start with the juiciest segment.  While naming the “best” segment of the Maricopa Trail is purely subjective, the bit that goes from Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area in Cave Creek to the Skull Mesa trailhead in Tonto National Forest is as fine a candidate as any.

Rich in biodiversity, ecozones, history and scenic beauty, this short, easy hike is a great way to sample and possibly get hooked on the Maricopa Trail. Begin by hiking north on the Spur Cross Trail, an old ranch road that has been incorporated into the trail.  Right from the start, the hike embodies a remote feel as it delves into hilly back country along the leafy corridor of Cave Creek.  The waterway fosters a healthy community of cottonwoods, sycamores and mesquite trees where many species of birds thrive in the area that has been named an important bird area by Audubon Arizona. 

An abandoned corral on the Maricopa Trail

The Tonto National Forest boundary

After a mild uphill walk and a couple of usually dry creek crossings, the trail enters Tonto National Forest. Staying close to the creek bed, the last mile passes through rocky corridors and cliffs cluttered with enormous saguaros. A few creek hops later, the path meets the Skull Mesa trailhead where a vintage wood sign displays a map and key mileage notes.

Huge saguaros grow along the route

From this point, the Maricopa Trail continues on through one of its most remote, rugged and mountainous sections.  But for an introductory outing, the wood sign makes for a good turnaround point that will inspire you to come back for more.

Elephant Mtn is a dominate feature on the hike

LENGTH:  4 miles roundtrip

RATING: easy

ELEVATION: 2,263 – 2,407 feet

GETTING THERE:

Spur Cross ranch Conservation Area:

37622 N Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek.

From Loop 101 in Phoenix, take Cave Creek Road north to Spur Cross Road (on the left just as you enter the downtown area) and go 4.5 miles north to the parking area. 

FEE: $3 per person daily fee. Bring exact change.

INFO:

https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/things-to-do/activity/maps/

Metate-Spur Cross Loop

Metate-Spur Cross Loop

Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area

Snow-covered Skull Mesa reflects in Cave Creek

A wet autumn and snowy start to 2019 has boosted the benefits of hiking in Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area in Cave Creek. 

Located just a few clicks north of Metro Phoenix, the 2,154-acre preserve has a surprisingly remote feel, a variety of hiking trails and a plethora of native vegetation that bursts with color when infused with a little extra precipitation.

Saguaros on the Metate Trail

The site, which is part of the Maricopa County parks system, bumps up against the foothills of Tonto National Forest where mountain-borne moisture flows through the area’s creeks, washes and drainages in year-round fits and spurts.

Tonto National Forest peaks seen from Spur Cross Trail

Spur Cross Trail

Sometimes the water arrives in a rage such as during spring snow melt season and monsoon rains, but mostly, the water that spills over the site’s hiking trails passes through in lazy trickles.  Getting around the water-centric park rarely means getting your feet wet, though. When water levels are high, the park ranger places plank bridges to assist crossings of Cave Creek.

Skull Mesa had a dusting of snow on January 1, 2019.

There's a bumper crop of wolf berries this season.

This year, ample moisture has coaxed out the greenery in a big way making a hike on the classic Metate-Spur Cross loop a botanical smorgasbord.  This short, moderate-rating hike is a perfect place to introduce winter visitors to area trails. Desert newbies will be awed by the medley of ecosystems and even locals will likely gain wider appreciation for the rare cocktail of vegetation living in this tiny plot. 

Although the preserve is the smallest of the ten county parks, it has the most diverse and profuse collection of Sonoran Desert plant species growing within its hilly space. 

Cave Creek flows across the Spur Cross Trail.

Recent storms have caused the desert to bloom.

To optimize the plant tour, begin hiking northwest (go left at the main trailhead kiosk) on the Spur Cross Trail.  The wide path makes a gradual descent among acres of brittlebush, jojoba and multiple species of cacti.  Most prominent here are wolfberry shrubs dripping in ripe orange fruits and a demonstration garden of agaves. 

Tiny Desert rock peas bloom along the trails.

In less than a half-mile, the ragged floodplain of Cave Creek hosts a riparian community of cottonwoods, willows and bunches of desert marigolds sprouting from the sandy corridor.  Cross the creek and head right on the Metate Trail for a walk through a massive saguaro forest and an enchanting mesquite bosque—a streamside gallery forest .

Wild cucumber vine on the Towhee Trail

Be sure to make a stop at the solar oasis, a wildlife water hole and an ancient Native American metate or grinding stone. A detour on the 0.2-mile Towhee Trail reveals a damp, birdy enclave entwined with wild cucumber vines and desert hackberry shrubs.

Plank bridges aid creek crossings.

After a second creek crossing, the trail heads up an embankment where ocotillo, cholla and prickly pear cacti dress the walk on a ridge high above the water while sweet views of New River and Skull Mesas stand as imposing bastions on the horizons.  

Brittlebush colors the Metate Trail

At the 1.3-mile point, head right on the Spur Cross Trail for the final leg back to the trailhead.  For a longer trek, consult the park website for maps or to join a ranger-led hike to the many hidden gems within the preserve.

Ancient Native American grinding stone (metate). 

New River Mesa seen from Metate Trail

LENGTH: 2.2 mile loop

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 2179 – 2250 feet

GETTING THERE:

Spur Cross ranch Conservation Area:

37622 N Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek.

From Loop 101 in Phoenix, take Cave Creek Road north to Spur Cross Road (on the left just as you enter the downtown area) and go 4.5 miles north to the parking area. 

FEE: $3 per person daily fee. Bring exact change for the self-serve kiosk.

INFO & MAPS:

https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/park-locator/spur-cross-ranch-conservation-area/

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FAIRY DUSTER LOOP & MARIPOSA HILL TRAIL

TWO NEW TRAILS IN SPUR CROSS

Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, Cave Creek

Elephant Mountain stands out over fresh-cut Fairy Duster Loop

If you image the trails of Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area as an ice cream sundae, Fairy Duster Loop and Mariposa Hill Trail are the whipped cream and cherry on the top. Neither trail requires much effort to hike, but they perfectly complement the area's more rough-hewn, difficult routes with soft footing and sweet views. Opened in January 2016, they offer short, pretty detours that connect with backbone route Spur Cross Trail (Maricopa Trail) to explore new territory on the site's east side.

Fairy Duster Loop traces the foothills above mesquite-cluttered Cottonwood Wash where profuse plant life makes the trek sort of like hiking through a mini botanical garden. In addition to the shrub for which it's named, plants you'll find along the flowing path include joboba, buckwheat, filaree, ratany, cholla cactus, brittle bush and dozens of wildflowers, making it a good choice for a springtime bloom snooping hike.

Mariposa Hill Trail is named for a delicate lily that decorates its flanks. This trail follows what used to be Old Cottonwood Canyon Road to a lookout point with big views of Cave Creek and the saguaro-studded mountains of Tonto National Forest.

These fresh-cut routes can be hiked alone or tagged on to old favorites like the Metate Trail, for a longer loop. Here's one trail mix option.

From the trailhead, hike 0.1-mile north on Spur Cross Trail (SX) , turn right onto Fairy Duster Loop. Hike the 0.6-mile loop, then head 0.7-mile north (right) on SX to Mariposa Hill Trail. Hike 0.2-mile to the top and then back down. Continue 0.2 mile on SX to Metate Trail, follow it 0.8 mile back to SX, turn left and go 0.3 -mile back to the trailhead.

LENGTH: 2.9 miles (loop described here)

ELEVATION: 2,200'-2,468' (loop described here)

Fairy Duster Loop: 0.6-mile loop (2,330' - 2,385')

Mariposa Hill: 0.2 one way (2,400' - 2,468')

RATING: easy-moderate

FEE: $3 daily per person. Bring exact change for the self-serve permit kiosk.

GETTING THERE:

From Loop 101 in north Phoenix, exit at Cave Creek Road and drive 15 miles north to Spur Cross Ranch Road. This is an easy-to-miss junction located just before entering the busy main drag of Cave Creek. It is signed and the turn off is on the left. From here, the road jogs north and then makes a tight turn to the left at Grapevine. Continue 4.2 miles to the parking lot on the left. The last mile of the road is good dirt.

INFO:

Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area:

http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/spur_cross/

TORTUGA-SPUR CROSS LOOP

TORTUGA-SPUR CROSS LOOP

Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area

Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area is a pristine swath of preserve snuggling up to Cave Creek. It's got everything you'd expect of a Sonoran Desert hiking destination with some unexpected extras to boot. Complementing a community of gigantic saguaros, skulking coyotes, mesquite bosques and  fragrant creosote are a smattering of Native American archeological sites and ruins of mining operations that are best explored via regularly scheduled guided hikes.  With so much to see and do within the Ranch, it can be difficult to decide where to start.  That's where the popular Tortuga-Spur Cross Loop hike comes in handy. Along its 3.6-mile circuit, the trail samples both the rough terrain round the base of Elephant Mountain and the slinky, fresh-cut tread of Spur Cross Trail. A moderate uphill slog on an old 4x4 road leads to a crest overlooking water-scoured gorges, cacti-cluttered cliffs and the riparian wonders of the Jewel of the Creek Preserve. From here, a barely discernable maze of trails braided through surrounding hills and valleys belie a bevy of connecting routes that link the park with adjacent suburbs and the wilds of Tonto National Forest. 

LENGTH:  3.6 miles

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION:  2,200' - 2,800'

FEE: $3 daily fee per person.  Exact change is required for the self-pay station

GETTING THERE:

From Loop 101 in Phoenix, take Cave Creek Road north to Spur Cross Road (on the left just as you enter the downtown area) and go 4.5 miles to the parking area.

INFO: Maricopa County Parks & Recreation

http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/spur_cross/

MAP:

http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/spur_cross/pdf/2012/spur-cross-8x11.pdf

SPUR CROSS-METATE-TOWHEE LOOP

SPUR CROSS-METATE-TOWHEE LOOP Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, Cave Creek This short loop hike makes for an excellent introduction to the diverse bio zones of Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area. The route wanders through rare mesquite bosques, creekside riparian habitats and a forest of some of the most outrageous saguaro cactuses anywhere. Handy steppingstones make short work of crossing usually shallow Cave Creek while gentle uphill grades lead to high ledges where views of famous local geological features like Elephant Mountain, Sugarloaf and Skull Mesa soar over pristine swaths of Sonoran desert. The route is well signed and maintained. Park rangers and volunteers offer a full schedule of public programs that range from hikes to archeological sites to talks on native flora and fauna. Check out the Web site below for details. HIKE DIRECTIONS: From the permit kiosk, hike straight ahead on the wide dirt road to the first major trail junction and take the left leg (heading northwest) of the Spur Cross Trail (SX). Follow SX 0.2 mile to the Metate Trail (MT) junction, hang a right (northeast) and follow MT 0.2 mile to the Towhee Trail (TW). Veer right onto TW, which will rejoin MT in 0.2 mile. Follow MT 0.5 mile back to SX, hang a right (south) and continue 1.5 miles back to the trailhead. LENGTH: 2.8-mile loop RATING: easy ELEVATION: 2,200 – 2,300 feet BEST SEASONS: October - April GETTING THERE: Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area is located approximately 35 miles north of central Phoenix. Interstate 17, State Route 51, and Loop 101 can all be used to reach the park. 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 dirt and is passable by sedan. 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. FEE: $3 daily fee per person. Bring exact change for the self-serve permit kiosk. FACILITIES: port-o-potties INFORMATION & MAP: www.maricopa.gov/parks/spur_cross/Directions.aspx

SPUR CROSS HERITAGE SITES

SPUR CROSS HERITAGE SITES Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area Maricopa County Parks To the untrained eye, the desert hillsides that flank Cave Creek stand in an awesome, yet harsh beauty. The rich strips of riparian life that thrive in the immediate area of the water are rare pockets of life in this unforgiving, arid environment. Still, footprints on the muddy banks of the creek and the hidden remnants of past human populations hint at the area’s robust history. Observant hikers will easily find tracks of bobcats, javalina, deer, shore birds, skunks and lizards. However, finding the human elements requires a bit more effort. That’s where the park rangers and docents come in. In order to protect the dozens of fragile archeological sites in the area, their locations are not advertised. Still, the park rangers offer regular guided hikes to some of them. From the deeply incised, simple etchings of the Desert Archaic peoples who lived in the area from roughly 5000 B.C.E to 200 C.E. to the crumbling foundations of a dude ranch that had its heyday in the 1940s, Spur Cross Conservation Area is cluttered with the leavings of humanity from pre-history to modern times. Most of the ruins are those of the Hohokam people (1200 – 700 C.E.) and they range from intricate images of game animals and artistic symbols tapped into rock veneer to stone frames of multi-room living quarters and a magnificent mountain top fortress. In addition to the outstanding visuals on the hikes, there's a healthy dose of learnin’ included in each outing. So, if you walk away without picking up something you didn’t already know; then you just weren’t paying attention. To participate in a Spur Cross ranger-led hike, visit:http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/spur%5Fcross/