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| Spur Cross to Cave Crk Petroglyphs, AZ | |
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| | Spur Cross to Cave Crk Petroglyphs, AZ | | | |
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Spur Cross to Cave Crk Petroglyphs, AZ
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| Hiking | 7.52 Miles |
614 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.52 Miles | 5 Hrs 47 Mns | | 1.69 mph |
| 614 ft AEG | 1 Hour 20 Mns Break | | | |
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none
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| no partners | | This was a day hike with my cousin who was visiting from Washington State. Our destination was the well-known petroglyphs about 3.75 miles up Cave Creek from the Spur Cross parking lot. The route starts out on a section of the Spur Cross Trail which follows the old Forest Service Road #48 up Cave Creek passing into the Tonto National Forest and ending at the boundary to the long abandoned 6L Ranch. The petroglyphs are about 0.2 miles past the rusty gate and sign marking the old ranch boundary.
The trail is well worn and maintained as it follows the old road to the Spur Cross Park boundary. From there the trail is not maintained but easy to follow on the old roadbed until reaching a point about 0.8 miles past the turnoff to Cave Crk Trail #4. From there the old road has been washed out by numerous flash floods over the years but just follow the most worn of the various trails all leading up the canyon. The creek bed was dry with no wet crossings until we got to the last crossing before the intersection with Cave Crk Trail #4. There was water in the creek bed at the several crossings after that, but all could be easily crossed by hopping on rocks. There is an active cattle grazing lease starting at a barbed wire fence and gate just past the Trail #4 intersection. That area becomes heavily worn by the cattle approximately a half mile past the gate and the extreme abundance of their excrement results in a strong smell reminiscent of a cattle feed lot. Fortunately, my cousin grew up on a farm in the country and I'm not sure she even noticed the smell.
Other than the cattle stink, it was an enjoyable trek on a beautiful day. |
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Wildflowers Observation None
There were no wildflowers showing due to the long drought this winter. |
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