Need a fun day trip or weekend escape in the Sonoran Desert? Head to Cave Creek! Explore Old West charm, hike scenic desert trails, browse quirky shops, and savor Southwestern flavors. Whether you're riding horseback, catching live music in a rustic saloon, or hiking among towering saguaros, Cave Creek offers a lively mix of nature, culture, and cowboy spirit.
Cave Creek, AZ Highlights:
- Cave Creek Regional Park: Hike, mountain bike, or horseback ride through rugged desert landscapes filled with saguaros and panoramic views.
- Frontier Town: Step back into the Old West at this recreated 1880s street with boutiques, a blacksmith shop, and rustic eateries.
- Buffalo Chip Saloon & Steakhouse: Enjoy authentic Western dining, country dancing, and live bull riding shows on the weekends.
- Desert Foothills Land Trust Trails: Explore peaceful, protected desert trails perfect for spotting wildlife and vibrant desert blooms.
- Rare Earth Gallery: Browse dazzling crystals, minerals, jewelry, and art pieces inspired by the natural beauty of the desert.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Cave Creek is during the fall through spring (October–April). Enjoy sunny, mild weather perfect for hiking, festivals, and patio dining. Summer is very hot, but indoor attractions, nighttime events, and nearby pools offer ways to stay cool.
How to Get There
- If you are traveling by car: Cave Creek is located about 40 minutes north of downtown Phoenix via AZ-101 and Cave Creek Road.
- By Plane: The nearest major airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), about a 45-minute drive.
- By Shuttle: Private shuttles and rideshares are available from the airport to Cave Creek.
Where to Stay
- Prickly Pear Inn – Stylish boutique hotel located right in the heart of Cave Creek, perfect for walking to shops and restaurants.
- Rancho Mañana Resort – Tranquil resort featuring spacious casitas, an 18-hole golf course, spa services, and a relaxing desert setting.
- Spur Cross Inn Bed and Breakfast – Cozy, historic inn with beautiful desert views and warm Southwestern hospitality.
Best Things to Do
⮕ Connect with Nature and Rescue Stories at Wild at Heart
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Wild at Heart is a non-profit rescue center for birds of prey in Cave Creek. Its main purpose is to rescue injured hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons, rehabilitate them, and then release them back into the wild. But they also relocate burrowing owls who have been displaced, oversee species recovery programs, provide educational presentations, and supervise habitat improvement projects.
The rescue center features 54 aviaries and an indoor critical-care room for raptors that need ongoing medical treatment, or just short-term care.
Visitors are welcome to tour the center outside of the busy season, May and June. Tours are free although visitors are encouraged to make a generous donation. Tours also need to be scheduled at least one week in advance.
Address: Wild at Heart, 31840 N 45th St, Cave Creek, AZ 85331, Phone: 602-493-5090
⮕ If You’re Ready for Scenic Adventures, Hike Spur Cross Ranch Trail
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The Spur Cross Ranch Trail
is a six-mile trail, roundtrip. It cuts straight across the width of the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area (one mile) before climbing mountainous Tonto National Forest. At the start of the trail visitors will enjoy stunning big-sky vistas of purple mountains and saguaros before it funnels into a slender trail along Cave and Cottonwood creeks.
Along the way they’ll pass by a wide variety of Arizona desert flora and fauna including sycamores, mesquites, bobcats, deer, and mountains lions. Considered an out-and-back trail, visitors can technically travel much further than three miles in, however it’s recommended to turn around at mile three, due to numerous washes which are tricky to navigate.
Address: Spur Cross Ranch Trail, 44000 Spur Cross Road, Cave Creek, AZ
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
⮕ Explore Rugged Beauty and Open Skies at Cave Creek Regional Park
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Cave Creek Regional Park is an expansive 2,922-acre park located in the upper Sonoran Desert. This mostly undisturbed natural oasis provides over 11 miles of joint-use trails, 55 picnic sites, 44 campsites, and sweeping views of the desert in every direction. Trails can be used for mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding.
They range in difficulty from easy to hard with some trails as short as 0.2 miles while others span 5.8 miles. The Slate Trail is ideal for beginners while the Go John Trail is reserved for more advanced hikers, bikers, and riders.
Visitors can also partake in ranger led hikes departing from the nearby Nature Center.
Address: Cave Creek Regional Park, 37900 E. Cave Creek Parkway, Cave Creek, AZ, Phone: 623-465-0431
⮕ Saddle Up for a True Western Experience with Cave Creek Trail Rides
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Cave Creek Trail Rides
provide safe and memorable horseback riding excursions in the Phoenix area. They offer seven distinct experiences from a one-hour loop tour, ideal for young children to a three-hour tour, perfect for seasoned riders who are a minimum age of ten years old.
The latter travels through the Cave Creek Recreation Area along the Go John Trail, it passes through varying eco-systems, backcountry passes, and several mines. Cave Creek features a specialty tour as well, the Historic Clay Mine Ride. This 1.5-hour adventure leaves from the corrals, crosses the mountain, and ends at the historic mine where visitors will then dismount and enjoy a guided tour inside the mine before returning to the corrals.
Address: Cave Creek Trail Rides, 37019 North 32nd Street, Cave Creek, AZ, Phone: 623-742-6700
Activities and Attractions for Couples:
⮕ Step Into Local Legends and Artifacts at the Cave Creek Museum
© Cave Creek Museum
Cave Creek Museum preserves artifacts pertaining to the culture, history, and legacy of Cave Creek, the neighboring town of Carefree, and the foothills area in between the two. This is done through research, education, and interpretive exhibits. Displays in the museum’s north wing feature a replica of a Hohokam house, and several displays of prehistoric artifacts pertaining to the Hohokam and Salado Indians.
The south wing focuses on the area’s pioneer life in the late 19th to early 20th centuries including its rich ranching and mining history. Cave Creek Museum also boasts a tubercular cabin, native botanical garden, gazebo, research library, and a restored Historic Cave Creek Church.
Address: 6140 E Skyline Drive, Cave Creek, AZ, Phone: 480-488-2764
⮕ Challenge Yourself and Conquer Views on the Black Mountain Trail
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With an elevation gain of over 1,200 feet, the Black Mountain Trail is a 1.1. Mile footpath that reaches Black Mountain’s summit. The mountain itself is nearly 3,400 feet above sea level so visitors will need to drive almost two-thirds of the way up the mountain to reach the trailhead. Cars can park along south Schoolhouse Road, the trailhead is easy to spot from the road. It’s one of the most popular trails to climb due to its height and difficulty, Black Mountain is one of the tallest summits in the area with a relatively steep incline. Those who reach the top are rewarded with scenic vistas of the surrounding area.
Address: Black Mountain Trail, 37622 N Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ
⮕ Find Your Next Great Read or Relaxing Retreat at Desert Foothills Library
© Desert Foothills Library
Desert Foothills Library was created to foster the sharing of knowledge, culture, and ideas by offering personalized and responsive services, resources, and learning opportunities for the community of Cave Creek. This includes teen and kid focused programs such as college planning and story time. They also provide a digital library as well as a wealth of practical online tools like career resources, jobseeker opportunities, tax information, test prep tools, and reading recommendations. The library is equipped with conference rooms overlooking scenic mountain vistas, a prep kitchen, a botanical garden, and an outdoor terrace with a waterfall and fireplace, ideal for events, meetings, and weddings.
Address: Desert Foothills Library, 38443 North Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek, AZ, Phone: 480-488-2286
⮕ If You Want to Time Travel to the Old West, Visit Frontier Town
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Situated in the heart of Cave Creek, Frontier Town offers visitors an old west experience. They’ll feel as though they’ve been transported through time as they walk along Main Street, which is lined with lovely boutique shops. Debra Ortega’s Native American Jewelry & Arts, Happy Hogan Hut Unique Creations, Suzanne’s Hot Stuff, and Udder Delight Milk Soaps & Creams are a few specialties. Home to a gallows and Boot Hill Cemetery, Frontier Town reminds visitors of the wildness of the Old West with public re-enactments like duels. It also hosts several events such as country music concerts, and features a charming white chapel, and an event pavilion perfect for rustic-style weddings.
Address: Frontier Town, 6245 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ, Phone: 480-488-9129
Where to Eat
- El Encanto – Beautiful Mexican restaurant with outdoor dining beside a duck pond, serving classic dishes and margaritas.
- Harold’s Cave Creek Corral – Legendary Western bar and grill offering hearty American fare, live music, and a lively game-day atmosphere.
- The Grotto Café – Laid-back café with great coffee, homemade sandwiches, and sunny patio seating.
If you are interested in local events:
- Cave Creek Rodeo Days (March) – Celebrate Cave Creek’s cowboy spirit with professional rodeo events, a lively parade, and dances.
- Cave Creek Balloon Festival (January) – Enjoy hot air balloon glows, live music, and family fun at this colorful evening event.
- Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour (November) – Visit artists’ studios, meet local creators, and shop for unique Southwestern artworks.
If you are looking for unique day trips within 30 Minutes of Cave Creek, Arizona:
- Carefree, AZ (5–10 min) – Visit this artsy sister town with the famous Carefree Desert Gardens and outdoor art installations.
- Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area (15 min) – Hike rugged desert landscapes, spot ancient petroglyphs, and enjoy peaceful nature trails.
- Lake Pleasant Regional Park (30 min) – Boat, fish, paddleboard, and swim at this scenic desert reservoir north of Phoenix.
- Desert Foothills Library (5–10 min) – Visit a beautiful community library with local history exhibits, art galleries, and hiking trail maps.
- North Scottsdale (20–30 min) – Explore upscale shopping, golf courses, and dining along Scottsdale Road and the surrounding desert preserves.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- A quirky town 45 minutes northeast of Phoenix and 2.5 hours from Tucson, Cave Creek is an Old West style Arizona town where it’s just as common to see horseback riders trotting along Main Street as it is to see a motorcycle cruising by.
- It’s got that small town char
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Where is Cave Creek, Arizona located?
- A quirky town 45 minutes northeast of Phoenix and 2.5 hours from Tucson, Cave Creek is an Old West-style Arizona town where it’s just as common to see horseback riders trotting along Main Street as it is to see a motorcycle cruising by.
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What is the atmosphere like in Cave Creek?
- It’s got that small-town charm where locals are friendly and excited to share their town with visitors.
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What outdoor activities can visitors enjoy in Cave Creek?
- With the Sonoran Desert and Tonto National Forest nearby, there is no shortage of outdoor adventures to be had on your day trip.
- Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and hot air ballooning are a few favorites.
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What dining and shopping options are available in Cave Creek?
- It’s also home to several mouthwatering restaurants and numerous unique shopping opportunities.
m where locals are friendly and excited to share their town with visitors.
- With the Sonoran Desert and Tonto National Forest nearby there is no shortage of outdoor adventures to be had on your day trip.
- Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and hot air ballooning are a few favorites.
- It’s also home to several mouthwatering restaurants and numerous unique shopping opportunities.
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