Cave Creek Trail

[fairweather8588]

Hows the Cave Creek Trail doing after the wildfire?

[Al_HikesAZ]

Hows the Cave Creek Trail doing after the wildfire?

Here are my observations. I hiked this in October 2005 as soon as they let us back in. I haven't been back since but I will definitely go back. I just have had other priorities.

The area along the creek did not have too much damage from the fire. The fire sort of jumped it. The hills along the creek were devastated.

The real damage to the Seven Springs campground and the Cave Creek Trail area came from the floods. The developed campgrounds had concrete pads tossed around like frisbees. The creek had debris 12' up in the trees, but basically the creek area survived.

The Forest Service sent in rehab crews and they did a great job reestablishing the trails. They won't have enough money in the budget to repair the developed campground at Seven Springs, but that's ok with me, I never camped there anyway. I prefer the less developed areas. The wildlife along the creek seemed to survive the fire and floods ok. I was surprised when I looked down and saw a little desert tortoise truckin' along the trail. The javelina along the Skunk Tank trail acted a little aggressive in October 2005, probably jealously guarding their food sources. I was packin' and I considered using for some "shock & awe". Should be more food for them now so I'm not sure if they would act the same way.

[SouthwestNative]

You have to pay to get in now at cave creek and seven springs has closed all camping areas now. Don't know when they will open if they ever will.

[Tough_Boots]

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[ASUAviator]

Pay to get in where?? The campgrounds have been closed since May of last year due to $$$. I think you can still rent out the group site?

As for the fire, I remember how cool and thick the junipers used to be up there. But relatively speaking, the area is coming around fairly well. Not hard to imagine another fire going through there with all the dry grass tho

[SouthwestNative]

You have to pay at spurr cross conservation area in cave creek and for seven springs your right about it closed but they even closed the 2 picknick/campground area just before the big paved parking lot now but the paper out there said that not enough people go there to up keep it and some other stuff don't quite remember all it said. What i know is everything but the bathrooms At the big paved parking lot are locked. The only two things to do out there are hike the trails starting there or just drive straight through it if your heading to sheeps crossing or the Indian ruins out there.

[nonot]

Do you have to pay at seven springs now that they closed everything?

[SouthwestNative]

Oh and for the fire you can still see where it burned but the plants are coming back but someone or some people keep lighting fires on the side of the road where the guard rails are it seems like every time I go a new section is ether burned all the way where they have to replace it or is burned partly.

[SouthwestNative]

No you don't have to pay at seven springs

[RowdyandMe]

Ok, I have heard different stories on Seven Springs. One is you have to pay. the 2nd is no its free. So can anyone for sure tell if I would need to pay and if yes where?

[chumley]

You don't have to pay.

[RowdyandMe]

@chumley
Thanks next question can a corolla make it to the trailhead?

[cactuscat]

Yes ... at least my Sentra did a few times - don't know what shape the road is in currently.

[chumley]

It's a well-maintained forest road. If it's wet there are a few places where it can get a little bit muddy, and after rain, it might have gotten rutted out due to people driving on it while it was muddy. But even so, a Corolla should be able to make it 99% of the time.

[mazatzal]

No fee for hiking and corolla can do it easy peasy. You will love it there it's great. The flowers in '05 were out of this world and "they" are comparing 2015 to 2005

[RowdyandMe]

Thanks for all the input it was a great hike.