We love hiking in Arizona.

When we have the occasion to take some first time Arizona hikers out on the trail, our first choice is to head for the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area.

Located north of Scottsdale, in Cave Creek, Arizona, the  Spur Cross Ranch Conservation area is the newest addition to Maricopa County’s Regional Parks System.  The conservation area encompasses 2,154 acres of diverse, rugged upper Sonoran Desert.

This north Valley location contains fascinating archaeology sites and lush riparian areas along Cave Creek, which flows throughout the winter months. Remnants of early mining and ranching, from which the park gets its name, are still apparent in the park.

This area is a must see for all wildflower lovers in the spring. The abundant vegetation present in the conservation area provides a rich habitat for a diverse assemblage of wildlife.

Easy hiking trail just north of Scottsdale

This 2.3 mile loop is very well groomed and offers expansive views of the Sonoran desert.  With half of the loop hugging Cave Creek you will enjoy lush greenery, massive saguaros, large boulders strewn about by ancient volcanoes, and a jaunt through the remnants of an early Arizona ranch.

Trail Directions:

• From the parking lot, head .2 miles to the kiosk and restrooms.
• Head in a northeasterly direction .9 miles on the Spur Cross (Maricopa Trail).
• At the trail marker, turn left and proceed .8 miles on the Metate Trail.
• About half way through the Metate Trail, you will come across a marker for the Towhee Trail.  This is a short .2 mile trail that will take you down near the creek and loop you back to the Metate Trail.  We like it, and recommend it.
• After again reaching the Metate Trail, head left until you find signs directing you back towards the parking lot.

This is a popular and well traveled trail.  While you are very likely to encounter others along the trail, we recommend you find a quiet spot and let your ears take in the beauty of the area as well.

It was sunny, 50º, 9:00 in the morning, and we were staying at the fabulous Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona.

When we planned our trip to Sedona, Arizona we planned to bring our hiking gear, and get out on the trails.  Little did we know that the Boynton Canyon Trail lay right outside our door at the resort.

The Boynton Canyon Trail is a fairly easy, 2.5 mile trail, that will give you a nice 5 mile hike out and back.

We joined the trail out the back door of the Mii Amo Spa, and were quickly rewarded with canyon views of the entire resort.

As we meandered in and out of the morning shadows, we found ourselves on the sandy floor of the canyon heading northwesterly back into the depths of the canyon.   As we continued, the sounds of modernity faded into the distance, and we began to enjoy the sounds of the songbirds, the rustling of small lizards in the leaves, the solitude of the early morning, the sounds of the wind singing through the tops of the pine trees, the growing number of oak trees the farther we journeyed, and the incredible vistas that were available in absolutely every direction.

As we were making our way down the trail, a young gal came zipping along the trail and passed us on her own trek on the glorious trail.  Another 10 minutes down the trail I noticed fresh human barefoot tracks on the trail.  We later smiled when we caught the same young gal hiking back, shoes in hand.

Because of our particular time constraints, we were unable to complete the entire journey, and were forced to turn back before we reached the trails end.

As we made our way back, we noticed that the trail was now becoming fairly busy with others who had likely put away their late breakfasts, and were now out enjoying this canyon trail as well.

We were no longer enjoying solitude as folks were busily chatting their way down the trail.  We got many questions like:  “how much farther is the trail?”

As we were approaching the resort entrance we heard a noisy Japanese couple making their way along the trail.  When they approached us the woman inquired, in very broken English, “Can you feel the vortex?  Oh, the vortex is making me very happy today”, as she gleefully pranced her way along the trail.

As she passed, we looked at each other, gave each other a knowing smile, and finished off the last leg of our morning hike.

The Boynton Canyon Trail should be an easy hike for any baby boomer, and is one that in our book shouldn’t be missed when coming to Sedona.

Big thumbs up!

Go check out our video/photographs of our recent hike on the Tom’s Thumb Trail in Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

The Go John Trail is found in Cave Creek Regional Park, which is part of the Maricopa County Parks system.  The Maricopa County Parks system is the nation’s largest county park system, and contains over 120,000 acres spread over 10 very different and unique parks.

The Go John Trail (map) is a moderate 5.8 mile loop that will take you roughly three hours to complete.  With this trail, you can expect a few hearty, heart pounding inclines, on well groomed trails, with rewarding long range views of the valley, and the nearby Tonto National Forest.

We have probably hiked this particular trail 30 times because of its proximity to our home, the varied landscapes presented, and the wonderful exercise afforded.

A word of caution:  when hiking in Arizona make absolutely certain that you have plenty of water with you, and never, ever hike without telling someone where you are going, and when they should expect your return.

As of this writing,  a day pass is only $6 per car.