| when | Trip Report : December 28, 2013 | ||
| Trip Report : March 28, 2009 | |||
| Trip Report : December 31, 1999 | |||
| where | Cave Creek Recreation Area, Tonto National Forest | ||
| the hike |
This loop trail has a nice amount of variety, with shaded forest areas,
exposed open meadows, switchbacks and 7 stream crossings.
The trail itself varies from mostly single track to a section of wide
path to a very narrow stretch with steep drop offs to one side.
Vegetation along the loop varies from lower Sonoran saguaro (including
a rare crested saguaro), cholla and desert grasses, to sugar sumac and
some juniper trees to a leafy riparian community of mostly Arizona
sycamore, but also some ash, alder and Arizona walnut.
The Skunk Tank Trail starts at its junction with Cottonwood Trail #247, just south of FR 24B at elevation 3440'. Several spots along Trail #246 have sweeping vista views. For 2.6 miles the trail climbs to an elevation of 4080' at the junction with Quien Sabe Trail #250. From there, the trail drops 1160' over the next 2.3 miles, passing by Skunk Tank and edging along Skunk Tank Canyon, Joining Cave Creek Trail #4 at an elevation of 2920'. Trail #4 stays near Cave Creek, a perennial stream, for its entire length, with slight ups and downs along the way. The stream is habitat for longfin dace, fathead minnow, green sunfish, and the endangered Gila top minnow. We will have an opportunity to stop at the creek and dip your feet in the cool waters about halfway through the hike, which will refresh you for the rest of the hike! This hike is described in Footloose from Phoenix, by Ted Tenny, pages 46-51. |
||
| distance | 10.2 miles | ||
| time | 7-8 hours | ||
| EC | +-1,800' elevation change | ||
| elevations | 2978' (Cave Creek crossing) to 4066' (northwest of Quien Sabe) | ||
| starting at |
|
||
| on trail | 100% — Cave Creek #4, Cottonwood #247, Skunk Tank #246 | ||
| rating | "B" Rate yourself as a hiker. | ||
| dogs allowed | no | ||
| cost | Sharing gas expenses with the driver. The club also allows voluntary contributions of $5 per non-member. |
||
| weather | Cave Creek | ||
| meet | 6:00 AM at the AJ’s Fine Foods parking lot, 18271 N. Pima Rd., 1/4 mile North of Loop 101 in Scottsdale (DC Ranch Crossing shopping center). We will make carpooling arrangements here. | ||
| drive |
Loop 101 to Exit #36 Pima/Princess Rd., north to AJ’s parking
lot on east side of street. (NOTE: There are two exits on Loop 101 that
say Pima Rd. Do NOT take the exit #42, which is Pima at 90th Street).
From the parking lot, Take Pima Road north 11 miles to Cave Creek Road. Take a right (east) on Cave Creek Road. At 4.1 miles you reach Bartlett Dam Road. Go straight, following the sign to Seven Springs Road. At 6.9 miles you pass the Sears Kay Ruins. The pavement ends at 8.6 miles. High clearance vehicles are not needed. You pass the Bronco Trailhead at 11.6 miles and the road is now marked Forest Road 24. At 15.4 miles you pass a private ranch. At 15.7 miles you pass the Seven Springs Campground and the Cave Creek Trailhead is on your left at 16 miles. During wet weather, a high clearance vehicle is recommended. Don’t go when the washes are flowing. |
||
| maps | Todd’s Desert Hiking Guide, click on “map”. | ||
| profile | Cave Creek/Skunk Tank Loop, click on “Elevation Profile”. |
| Schedule of Events | Arizona Trailblazers Home Page |
| updated August 4, 2016 | © Copyright 2016, Arizona Trailblazers. All rights reserved. |