Seven Springs Recreational Area Trails

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Total hiking distance covered (accurate to within 21 feet per the GPS) 14.3 Miles

Total time on trail  hrs  minutes  8 hours 33 minutes

Total moving time  hours  minutes  6 hours 39 minutes

Calories burned during hike (me)  4,251

Maximum elevation  feet  4,380 feet

Starting elevation  feet  3,342 feet

Total ascent  feet  1,038 feet

Trails Included

The Seven Springs Recreational Area is a located north of Phoenix just above Carefree.  In the recreational area there are a number of trails labeled The Cave Creek Trail System.  There are two ways into the area, one being up Spur Cross Road in Cave Creek, and the better entry is to continue up Cave Creek Road which turns into FR24 just north of the Bartlett Lake turnoff.  we can continue up FR24 and hike from the Bronco trailhead or as we did continue to the Cave Creek trailhead. There is a $4.00 per vehicle admittance fee.

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The Trailhead	Getting ready to go
Sheryl on the Stile	Up the Trail

The Trailhead parking lot is very good with decent restroom facilities available before starting the hike.  At about 10:00, after getting ready we started down the Cave Creek Trail (Trail #4) toward the Skunk Tank Trail (#246).  As we proceed along the Cave Creek Trail we cross the Seven Springs Campground road and soon come to a stile going over a fence.  This brings us into a beautiful tree shaded area along the creek.  There are a few creek crossings to make but they are easy to cross.  The Cave Creek Trail is a relatively easy trail but after we turn onto the Skunk Tank Trail it becomes steep and more difficult.  All of the trail junctions are well marked but the direction of travel could be confusing from time to time.  I would recommend that anyone hiking these trails at least have a compass if not a GPS system.

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Checking the Map for Directions	Looking up the Mountain
Golf Anyone?	Natures Flowerpot

The Skunk Tank Trail is an old roadbed that has not been maintained as a road but makes a good hiking trail.  It is wide without many high steps to make.  This trail is also frequently traveled and it is very apparent where it goes.  After approximately 2 miles, and climbing to the summit of one of the hills we arrive at the junction of the Quien Sabe Trail (#250).  After turning onto the  Quien Sabe Trail the route becomes less distinct and we have to look for cairns and crushed grass to proceed.  There are a few places where the trail goes through some of the springs and the shade and water calls for a short break  in the hike.  To make the hike even better the rains had made the cacti blooms and flowers spectacular.  It also allowed the Milk Thistle to grow very close to the trail and to about 4 to 5 feet high.  The thistle and acacia did a good job of poking and scratching our legs and arms but that's part of hiking.  Then the trail looks as if it ends.  We are at a fence.  There is a gate to the other side but it is hard to tell if that is the trail.  We decide that it must be and pass through the gate and continue on.

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More Beauty	One of the Springs
Back to the Trail	Just Think, We're Near a City

Shortly thereafter we come to another junction on the trail and look at the direction sign.  This sign tells we that the trail we want, the Cottonwood Trail (#247) is 2 miles in either direction.  One way takes we toward the trailhead where we started, the other takes we toward the trailhead away from where we want to go.  At this point we must rely on knowing which direction we are going.  After turning onto the Skull Mesa (248) trail in the desired direction we start to climb again.  By this time it is mid afternoon and the heat is going higher and higher.  This makes the ascent more difficult, but still worth the effort.  Near the top of the summit we again come upon another gate in the fence and have to pass through. 

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Flowers Everywhere	Even in the Cacti
OW! Foxtails in the Socks	Where is Civilization?
Century Plant Pods	Okay, Which Way is the Shortest?

After joining the Cottonwood Trail we start towards our final destination.  The trail is distinct most of the time, but becomes  confusing and indistinct where we come to the cow grazing area.  The thing that saves we here is knowing that the cows always know the way home so we can follow their spore towards the ranch sites by the campground.  All of a sudden we start seeing trail markers again and that lets we know that we are going the right direction.  After we pass a couple of ranches we descend and join the Cave Creek Trail (#4), the one that we started on in the morning.  This puts we about 2.5 miles from our ultimate destination.

As we end our hike we realize that we have accomplished quite a task.  We started out thinking that the hike was no more that ten miles and packed accordingly.  When it turned out to be 14 miles, we found ourselves short of water with all three of us actually running out about 45 minutes before finishing the hike.  My situation was worse than Ira's or Sheryl's so when we arrived at the Seven Spring’s Campground road I waited until Ira and Sheryl could go the last two tenths of a  mile and get to the car and return to pick me up.  

This hike is an ultimate challenge to be made in the early summer.  I would not recommend it mid summer because it would be exhausting to the best, but it is a hike well worth doing.  Just be overly prepared for the unexpected conditions and enjoy hiking in the wilderness right next to one of the most populated cities in the country

The Hikers

Ira Ungar                                                                   Sheryl Campanile                                        Larry Wayt       

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Larry Wayt (larry@live2hike.org)