Cave Buttes Recreation Area

Cave Creek Reservoir & North Cave Creek Dam Road

4.1 mi · ▲ 221 ft · 1 hr 29 min

Cave Creek Reservoir & North Cave Creek Dam Road is a 4.1-mile out-and-back in Cave Buttes Recreation Area near Desert Bell Estates II, AZ. The route reaches Cave Creek Reservoir at the turnaround, 2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 221 ft of elevation gain. It scores 30/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi1,542 – 1,660 ft4.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 33.71029, -112.04434
Nearest town Desert Bell Estates II, AZ

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cave Creek Reservoir & North Cave Creek Dam Road

4.1 mi · ▲ 221 ft · 1 hr 29 min

Elevation 1,541–1,659 ft

Out & Back · Cave Buttes Recreation Area

Trailhead: 33.71029, -112.04434

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:05 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  3. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  6. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  7. 0.3 miContinue straight onto North Cave Creek Dam Road, heading N.
  8. 0.6 miBear left, heading E.
  9. 0.3 miReach Cave Creek Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 1.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  11. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  13. 100 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  14. 0.6 miTurn left, heading E.
  15. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

31% dirt69% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:05 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.3 mi in (~35 min). Leave by 5:57 PM for the 6:51 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby