Cave Creek Regional Park...Clay Mine, Spur Cross Conservation Area and Jewel of the Creek

Cave Creek Regional Park

May 11 and 12, 2023

Cave Creek, AZ

Our last two days at Cave Creek were spent exploring.  Thursday, we didn't have to venture too far as the trailhead for Clay Mine Trail was just down the street from our site.  

This photo was taken on our sunrise walk with the puppies on Wednesday.  We didn't get up and out quite so early on Thursday to do the hike. 

Clay Mine, which gives the trail it's name, is just under a mile from the campground.  The mine is gated and off limits for safety reasons unless you take a ranger led (on foot or horseback) tour which allows entry to the mine along with history and archeology information.   

Originally, the mine was dug in hopes of finding gold...but it only contained clay.  Years later, a woman bought the land (in the 1930s) and decided to bottle the clay and sell it as a "miracle elixir" that would cure all disease.  She was not being truthful, but her elixir did manage to heal one sickness...dysentery from drinking bad water..  She made a fortune...so much so that her descendants still enjoy the profits today.  

After photos, we ventured along the easy/moderate (in difficulty and elevation) gravel trail towards it's juncture with Overton Trail.  It is one of those trails that can be as long or as short as you like.  

  

When we reached the ridge, we could see Cave Creek Parkway and beyond.

Walking the ridge was my favorite part of the trail.  

Looking left, we were above the old, tall saguaros.  I don't ever remember looking down on them before.

At the juncture with Overton Trail we made a left turn.  Somewhere in the cluster of homes and buildings in the far distance is Belle (our MH). 

We continued on for another 1/2 mile before turning around and heading back the way we had come. 

Later in the day, we made a grocery run, but not without stopping to see The Sundial.  The giant working sundial at Carefree Plaza was erected in 1959 and at the time was the second largest working sundial in the Western Hemisphere. 

This ancient time telling instrument measures 90 feet in diameter.  The shadow casting portion of the dial stands 35 feet above the plaza and extends 72 feet.  

This photo of the shadow on the 2 was taken at 2:11 pm.  

Pretty cool !

There is a small garden and walk in the plaza as well.  The Quiver Tree from Southern Africa stood out as most unique to us.

I liked the water feature complete with catching pools and a stone walk over the pools.

I don't know how Dover does it, but she can squeeze herself into the strangest spots.  We found her in-between Joe's shoes and the ottoman when we returned home.  She doesn't hear us now when we pull in to park and shut the doors.  I miss her greeting us at the door when we arrive.

No matter where we are, Jack will always find the time and a spot to take a nap.  But in his defense, he did play ball first.

And Sally needs a haircut !

Friday was our last day and the only day left to find the namesake for Cave Creek.  We knew before we arrived that the cave part of Cave Creek is located on the banks of the creek tucked away on private land.  Desert Foothills Land Trust has preserved this historic site and conduct informative hikes there six times a year.  That was a no go, but we could visit the creek.   So Friday morning...a little later than planned...we headed out for Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area not too far from the park.  

Before the area was ever a ranch, it had lots of history dating back to the Hohokam who lived there from 800 to 1400.   The Spur Cross Trail we traversed on Friday was once an old stagecoach trail the U.S. Calvary used to patrol the area. History tells us the road followed an old Apache trail as the Apache roamed this area from 1400 to the 1860s.  The trails along the creek which we wanted to hike today were made by miners as they carried their equipment to the canyon and later ranchers used the same trail to drive cattle.  Today, these historic trails are used by many folks for biking, hiking and horseback riding.  It is exciting to think back in time and walk in the steps of history and the people who used to live here.  In January of 2001, these 2,154 acres of history and rugged beauty were designated a "limited use public recreation and conservation area" by the state.   

The spur and cross symbol was the brand for the ranch during the end of its working days.  The ranch history begins in the late 1890s. It is one of the oldest cattle and guest ranches in Arizona. The last owner for Spur Ranch purchased the property in 1945.  It's history ended abruptly after the tragic death of the owner in 1953. The ranch was sold to investors who demolished the buildings to save money on property taxes.   

Our trail of choice was Dragonfly Trail which was to follow Cave Creek and loop back to where we began.  That didn't happen...I had taken a photo of the map, but we couldn't find any signage to designate which way to go.  So, we headed towards the row of green in the photo below...giant cottonwoods.  Surely, that is the creek.

Spur Cross Trail

 But the creek was dry...

Spur Cross Conservation Area is at the top of the list if we make another visit to Cave Creek.

We crossed the dry creek and continued on, but didn't get much further before we turned around...the dang gnats were horrible and I even sprayed my clothes.  Disappointed and still wanting to see the creek, we pulled in at Jewel of the Creek (part of the Desert Foothills Land Trust) which is about two tenths of a mile from the ranch heading back towards town. 

I'm guessing the cave is somewhere in this area, but totally not marked. 

There are several trails here and one leads straight to the creek...fingers crossed.

We could see the tops of the cottonwood trees from the beginning...

Going down...

We could hear the water...

Ta-dah...happy dance time !  It was just a trickle, but that didn't matter...

We crossed the bridge...

just in time to capture a photo of a male Western Tanager...a first sighting for us.

There were lots of dragonflies...

 beautiful old and very tall cottonwood trees...

clear water trickling over the rocks...

a cool breeze and birds singing from way up in the trees that we enjoyed looking for, but never saw.   My day was complete...and it was only 10 am. 

Cave Creek Regional Park has been a perfect getaway.  They can certainly add The Taylors to their list of folks who sing their praises.  I'll close with a few photos I have taken at the park.  

The beautiful Nature Center 

 

 

We came to explore the natural beauty and history of the state we call home.  Both exceeded our expectations...life is good !

HAPPY TRAILS !

(The photos loose clarity in the downloading.  You can click on a photo for a clearer image.)