Route Editor
Route Scout
Nice Connector by Al_HikesAZ Overview: This is a pleasant hike close to North Phoenix and North Scottsdale with access to abandoned mines. You can hike the Overton Trail out and back, you can use it to create longer or shorter loops with the Go John Trail or you can use it to access State Trust Land if you have your permit. This area is popular with hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. Great facilities and staging areas. Note: The posted official route (as seen to the right) is backwards for map readability on the Cave Creek Recreational Map. The following description reads as you would approach from the SE end nearest a trailhead. Hike: From the Overton East Trailhead (elevation 2,060 feet) head west past the very nice restrooms and picnic area. At .3 miles a small spur joins the trail from the south from the Overton West Trailhead Continue west. Climb a small hill. At .4 miles you reach a small saddle. You can take an excursion to the left onto the Clay Mine Trail to an abandoned mine. This was a mining area and there are a lot of interesting rocks. Continue west on the Overton Trail. The campground is in the distance on your left. You curve around the mountain and begin a modest climb. State Trust Land is on your left. You continue to curve around the mountain until you are heading northeast. At 1.2 miles a spur trail to the northwest leads out of the Cave Creek Recreation Area onto State Trust Land. If you have a State Trust Land Permit, you can hike that area. Continue on the Overton Trail. At 1.9 miles you crest a saddle at 2,445 feet and start downhill. At 2.1 miles you intersect the Go John trail in a riparian area. You now have three choices: 1) turn left to take the longer portion of the Go John Loop and add 4 miles to the loop (or to leave the Cave Creek Recreation area and explore the State Trust Land if you have a State Trust Land Permit) 2) turn right to take the shorter portion of the Go John Loop up the hill to an abandoned mine and then down to the Go John Trailhead and back past the picnic area to the Overton Trailhead (a 1.2 mile trail back to the Overton Trailhead) 3) turn around and make this an out and back on the Overton Trail. The round trip distance for this hike is the out and back on the Overton Trail. Check out the Official Route and Triplogs. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent of 30 deeper Triplog Reviews
Overton Trail - CCRP
The Claymine Trail has been extended from the Overton Trail to the Go John Trail. No longer have to hike by the picnic area and up the paved road through the Go John parking lot. It’s .74 miles long. I took it out and back to add 1.5 miles to the Overton hike I usually do. 6:21 AM start with no wife or dog.
2019-09-16 Sun_Ray
Overton Trail - CCRP
Hiked Overton Trail counter clockwise to the Go John Trail junction and went left to the two mile point. Turned around and went back the same way. There continues to be shade for about 50% of this hike route. Judy had a 6:30 T-time so we were up early. I got a 6 AM start today.
2019-08-14 Sun_Ray
Overton Trail - CCRP
Left the house at 6:20 AM and parked in Overton lot. Judy and I hiked Overton Trail counter clockwise to the Go John Trail junction and went left to the two mile point. We turned around and went back the same way. There continues to be shade for about 50% of this hike route.
2019-08-08 Sun_Ray
Overton Trail - CCRP
Started at Overton lot and went counter clockwise so I could get a gauge on my cardio fitness after knee replacement. Tomorrow will be 3 months. Made it up the hill without stopping....but small steps toward the top. Max HR was 135. I did better than I expected for not doing any cardio for 2 months and easy exercise for the last month. Three hikes this week, something I told myself not to do! With Judy.
2018-02-25 Sun_Ray
Overton Trail - CCRP
First time hiking the trails in CCRP and we both enjoyed the trip. We did three loops, first up was Go John where we cross paths with Angela (Tibber), made our introductions and chatted for a bit, then we headed up the Overton Trail and back down the north leg of Go John, seeing Angela again at the switchbacks, then after a short snack break at the TH we headed out on the Slate and Quartz Trails to complete the third and final loop.
I am not sure what a normal day is like in the park but the traffic seemed really light compared to what I have seen at other parks, which I really enjoyed. There was a haze pretty much the entire day but the temps were really nice.
Nice to finally meet you Angela
I am not sure what a normal day is like in the park but the traffic seemed really light compared to what I have seen at other parks, which I really enjoyed. There was a haze pretty much the entire day but the temps were really nice.
Nice to finally meet you Angela
2017-10-21 hikerdw
Overton Trail - CCRP
JAS-Slate-Quartz-GoJ-Overton
Subtitle: MISTified by the Marine Layer in the desert 
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This was a workout hike for me. Mainly wanted to do Overton down rather than up. Wanted an extra mile or two so started with Go John to Jasper to Slate to Quartz (met a couple bikers there), to Go John where on the east side I ran into hikerdw and his son. He says "you look familiar", "Tibber?" and once I looked up and at Dave, I recognized him too. I asked what he thot that dust was in the distance and he thot it was more of a moisture mist. The humidity was 34% this morning so that made sense. The mist also seemed to filter the sun. I heard what route they were planning and said I would probably see them over on the Overton.
I continued on my hike where I saw a couple more hikers and a trio of bike riders in the distance. The mist was all around so I had to stop and take a picture or two as I don't recall seeing such a phenomenon in the desert before. I climbed up the hills of Go John and onto and down the Overton where I indeed did run into Dave and Ryan(?). We said it was nice to have some shade on this side and I told them how they could get to Slate Trail from Go John/Jasper combo.
I finished off the Overton where I started running into a few more hikers and bikers before arriving back at the parking lot. I had a good hike. Trail is nice and I can see where they do some work now and again to keep it that way.
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This was a workout hike for me. Mainly wanted to do Overton down rather than up. Wanted an extra mile or two so started with Go John to Jasper to Slate to Quartz (met a couple bikers there), to Go John where on the east side I ran into hikerdw and his son. He says "you look familiar", "Tibber?" and once I looked up and at Dave, I recognized him too. I asked what he thot that dust was in the distance and he thot it was more of a moisture mist. The humidity was 34% this morning so that made sense. The mist also seemed to filter the sun. I heard what route they were planning and said I would probably see them over on the Overton.
I continued on my hike where I saw a couple more hikers and a trio of bike riders in the distance. The mist was all around so I had to stop and take a picture or two as I don't recall seeing such a phenomenon in the desert before. I climbed up the hills of Go John and onto and down the Overton where I indeed did run into Dave and Ryan(?). We said it was nice to have some shade on this side and I told them how they could get to Slate Trail from Go John/Jasper combo.
I finished off the Overton where I started running into a few more hikers and bikers before arriving back at the parking lot. I had a good hike. Trail is nice and I can see where they do some work now and again to keep it that way.
2017-10-21 tibber
Overton Trail - CCRP
Have had left knee issues. Had right replaced in January 2009 and at that time the plan was to have left done 3 months later. Well during rehab my left started giving me less pain so here we are 8 years later. I just completed a series of 3 shots of Orthovisc a cushioning liquid. It's been about 5 weeks since I last hiked. Have ridden my bike 5-10 miles a few times and taken a once a week spin class. Bottom line.... my knee felt at about 90% this morning. 
With Judy, clockwise from Overton parking lot. This AM had a cloud cover and at 6:45 it was about 75 degrees. Surprised we were the only car in Overton lot and only one car in Go John lot.
With Judy, clockwise from Overton parking lot. This AM had a cloud cover and at 6:45 it was about 75 degrees. Surprised we were the only car in Overton lot and only one car in Go John lot.
2017-07-17 Sun_Ray
Overton Trail - CCRP
I parked at the Overton TH and went left or clockwise. When I hit the Go John Trail junction I went left heading North on the Go John... at the hairpin turn or where the Maricopa Trail brakes off I turned around and went back the same way. Our friend Debra's hybrid Overton hike.
AVE HR:113
HIGH HR:143
AVE HR:113
HIGH HR:143
2016-10-27 Sun_Ray
Overton Trail - CCRP
I parked at the Overton TH and went left or clockwise. When I hit the Go John Trail junction I went left heading North on the Go John... at the hairpin turn or where the Maricopa Trail brakes off I turned around and went back the same way. Our friend Debra's hybrid Overton hike. With Debra and Judy.
AVE HR:102
MAX HR:133
AVE HR:102
MAX HR:133
2016-10-05 Sun_Ray
Overton Trail - CCRP
I parked at the Overton TH and went left or clockwise. When I hit the Go John Trail junction I went left heading North on the Go John... at the hairpin turn or where the Maricopa Trail brakes off I turned around and went back the same way. Our friend Debra's hybrid Overton hike. Ran Route Scout for the first time! Gave me miles as 5.05 and AEG as 643. I can see the number of waypoints on Scout but my Garmin 235 GPS watch does not give me the number of waypoints so don't know which one has the most points. Liked the each mile recap of time and AEG for that mile as I like to estimate the AEG and it gives me per mile where my watch just gives the total at end of hike. 
AVE HR: 111
HIGH HR: 143
AVE HR: 111
HIGH HR: 143
2016-09-19 Sun_Ray
