CAMP CREEK FALLS

CAMP CREEK FALLS
Cave Creek

The innocuous, wildfire-tinged roadside pullout that marks the beginning of this hike gives little insight to the wonders that lie in the canyons below. This unmarked route ventures into the craggy desert canyons of Blue Wash and Camp Creek. Although this is not an “official” trail, it’s easy to stay on course by simply following the obvious footpaths and bends in the canyon. The first of several tricky spots happens at roughly the half-mile point where the trail seems to dead-end over a dry waterfall. From here, veer right and hike up above the rise following a narrow path-of-use. Once back in the gully, there are several more minor hand-over-foot rock scrambles to overcome before Blue Wash meets the wide, sandy course of Camp Creek. At this “T” intersection, head left and hike upstream, hopping the many rivulets that flow in lacy, meandering currents. Soon, the rangy walls of a box canyon open up to reveal a cascade of water tumbling over a 20-foot-high granite escarpment. From here, those with good route-finding skills can opt to scramble up to the top of the falls and continue hiking north along Camp Creek where water-hungry reeds and velvet ash trees live side-by-side with drought tolerant cactuses and acacia trees.

LENGTH: 3.5 miles round-trip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 3,243-2,643 feet

GETTING THERE:
From the Loop 101 in Scottsdale, take the Pima/Princess Road exit. Go north on Pima Road for 13 miles to Cave Creek Road. Turn right (east) onto Cave Creek Road and continue 6.5 miles just past a sign on the right that reads “Blue Wash #1”. Park in the gravel turnouts on either side of the road. The trail begins near the cottonwood trees.

Information:
fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/rec-hiking-index.shtml, (480) 595-3300

SEARS KAY RUINS

Sears Kay Ruins
Tonto National Forest

Although we may never fully understand how a group of ancient people known as the Hohokam eeked out a living on the seemingly inhospitable ridgelines above Cave Creek; we can still marvel at the brilliance and utility of their architecture. Archeologists believe the Sears Kay Ruins site was first inhabited by an agrarian culture around 1500 C.E.. A conglomerate of 40 lichen-encrusted stone foundations clearly shows the arrangement of living quarters, storage rooms and ceremonial chambers within the village while abundant informational signage helps visitors understand what life must have been like for the farmers who inhabited this rugged terrain and who also left an indelible footprint on the landscape for future generations to explore before abandoning their hilltop fortress.

LENGTH: 1.2 miles roundtrip
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 3,300 – 3,550 feet
GETTING THERE: From Scottsdale, go north on Pima Road to Cave Creek Road. Turn right onto Cave Creek Road and continue for 7 miles and turn right at the signed turn off for the ruins.

INFORMATION: (480) 595-3300,
fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/rogs/hikingtrail/ccrd/SearsKay.pdf