Children's Cave Trail - Picacho State Park, AZ

Overview
Picacho Peak State Park has more than the tough and challenging trail to the top of the peak. There is a little nook called Children's Cave on a small hill at the end of a short trail that is perfect for family hiking.


Hike
Right at the beginning of Barrett Loop are some parking spots, a restroom, and a small sign for Children's Cave Trail. Park here and follow the trail from the sign, which immediately crosses a shallow wash over a well-built bridge. Then the trail continues west, with a few informative signs along the way, slowly gaining elevation. There is a bend to the left and a little bit more climb, with some cables for some protection against the downhill next to the trail before the cave shows up. The cave itself is just tall enough for an adolescent to walk in without ducking (thus the name, probably) and is only a few feet deep.There are a few other cool things near here to check out, depending on the group. A few dozen yards up the road from the trailhead is a small playground area with some of the coolest swings I've seen. There are several pavilions for picnics and plenty of unnamed trails, some connecting to Nature Trail, to bump up the total mileage of your hike.

2017-08-10 jacobemerick