Spur Cross to CCRA - Maricopa Trail, AZ

When completed, the Maricopa Trail will be a 242-mile loop encircling the county, connecting 9 of 10 MCPR parks. Roughly three years in the making, about 80 miles have been completed as of November 2009. Completion is planned within the next 5 years. Sections of the Arizona Trail and Maricopa Trail on Arizona State Trust land were purchased as perpetual rights of way. Recreation permits are not required on these trails unless you leave the width of the trail.


This hike describes Segments 19, 18, and 17, from the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area southwest to Cave Creek Recreation Area. The Spur Cross Trail (Segment 19), one of the earlier fragments of the Maricopa Trail to be completed, was recognized with an Environmental Excellence Award of Merit by Valley Forward. When I hiked it with 15 members of the Friends Hiking Club in April 2010, the area was lush, green, and covered with desert flowers. There is no water along the trail, so bring plenty.Maricopa Trail Segment 19 begins in the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area and follows the well-marked Spur Cross Trail west for 4.2 miles along the southern base of Elephant Mountain. Gradually gaining 450 feet, the trail crosses several washes until it reaches the park boundary, marked by a barbed wire gate. Once through the gate, the trail enters the Tonto National Forest and becomes Segment 18.

The next 2 miles are fairly level as it follows old dirt roads south and west, offering excellent views of the surrounding areas of Cave Creek and Desert Hills. At this point, the trail turns south for 0.3 miles, jogs right through a cattle guard, then continues south another mile. Here one has the option of turning west on Maricopa Trail Segment 16 for 6 miles to the Anthem trailhead, or east 1.2 miles on Segment 17, which turns south and enters the Cave Creek Recreation Area at the Go John Trail. Continue south on the Go John Trail for 1.3 miles to the CCRA trailhead, for a total of 10 miles.

2010-04-04 Moovyoaz