I wasn't expecting desert flowers, so I hunted for saguaro.
The Phoenix Sonoran Preserve is in far north Phoenix. There’s two units, South and North, separated by Sonoran Desert Drive and Cave Buttes Recreation Area. Despite its name, Cave Buttes is no longer open to the public. The “recreation area” is now used for flood control along Cave Creek. In the map below, Cave Creek runs up the middle of my loop, between Cliff Walk Trail and Esplanade Trail.
I hiked the Badger Brawl Trail, Cliff Walk Trail, Esplanade Trail and Apache Wash Trail counter-clockwise. Note the north-seeking arrow: I had to rotate the map so it would fit. See the GPS file below.Badger Brawl Trail crossing Cave Creek. The terrain is otherwise flat, so you can see (left to right) Granite Mountain, Four Peaks, Tom’s Thumb, McDowell Peak, Thompson Peak, and other points east.Badger Brawl Trail and Cliff Walk Trail. There are directional signs at every intersection. Some have a QR code; some don’t. Not sure why. 🤔Cave Creek and Cliff Walk Trail’s eponymous “cliff”. Really a 30 ft. caliche bluff. You really need a mid-afternoon, or later, sun for decent lighting. In the distance, the black mountain is … uh … Black Mountain.Maricopa County Flood Control District gauge 20507. If you go down & left, an official shortcut — ignore the “do not enter” signs — follows the powerline for ¼ mile across Cave Creek to Esplanade Trail, shaving two miles off this loop.
Cliff Walk Trail and Esplanade Trail meet at the Carefree Highway bridge over Cave Creek. I didn’t see any graffiti, but then I did not check too close.More saguaro on Esplanade Trail. Apache Wash Trail, Badger Brawl Trail, Cliff Walk Trail & Esplanade Trail are all rated 🟢 (easy) — even for mountain bikes.It was 57° when I started, but an unseasonably warm 83° when I finished, so I stopped at Culver’s for post-hike refreshment. Does hiking food get any better than Oreo & cheesecake-flavored custard? 🤗
Directions: From northbound I-17, take exit 222 to Dove Valley Rd. Turn right. In 5.1 miles, turn left into the Apache Wash Trailhead. From the Loop 101, take exit 28 to Cave Creek Rd. Turn north. In 4.7 miles, turn left onto Sonoran Desert Dr. In 4.0 miles, turn right into the Apache Wash Trailhead.
