# Cave Creek

Cave Creek is a small town north of Phoenix and part of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. It is a popular destination for equestrians, bikers, and those seeking high-end resort lifestyles.

## Get in

Cave Creek is most easily accessed by heading north of Phoenix on I-17.

## Get around

The entire town is connected through a network of horse, hiking and mountain bike trails.

## See

* 33.828987-111.9483031 Cave Creek Museum, 6140 E Skyline Dr, ☏ +1 480-488-2764. Oct-May: W-Th 1-4:30PM, F 10AM-4:30PM, Sa Su 1-4:30PM. Has a number of exhibits examining the history of the Cave Creek area, from pre-Columbian to the end of the 19th century. $5 (adults), $3 (seniors), $2 (students 12+), free (children under 12).
* 33.892434-111.9693592 Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, 44000 N Spur Cross Rd, ☏ +1 602-506-2930, fax: +1 480-488-2263, spurcrossranch@mail.maricopa.gov. Daylight hours. Between the town of Cave Creek and Tonto National Forest, the Spur Cross conservation offers a wide expanse of trails through a fertile section of the Sonoran Desert, suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. See Hohokam ruins and petroglyphs. Guided tours available.

## Do
### Outdoor activities

* 33.818875-111.9360321 Black Mountain Summit Park. Has a number of good trails, suitable for hiking and mountain biking.
* 33.884663-111.9536942 Arizona Horseback Adventures, 44029 N Spur Cross Rd, ☏ +1 480-488-9117, toll-free: +1 800-758-9530. Guided horse rides through Spur Cross.
* 33.826714-112.0121633 Cave Creek Trail Rides, 37019 N 32nd St, ☏ +1 623-742-6700, info@cavecreektrailrides.com. Oct 13 - May 12. Guided horse rides through Cave Creek Park.
* 33.833635-111.9569074 Rancho Mañana Golf, 5734 E Rancho Mañana Blvd, ☏ +1 480-488-0398. A former dude ranch turned golf course.
* Spur Cross Cycles (Bike rentals in Cave Creek), 6738 E Cave Creek Rd #3-4, ☏ +1 480-256-2453, SpurCrossCycles@gmail.com. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Road and mountain bike rentals conveniently located near Spur Cross Recreation Area, Cave Creek Park, the Black Canyon Trail and Cave Creek/Carefree area resorts. $30-50/half-day, $45-65/full-day.
* 33.831872-111.9476915 Flat Tire Bike Shop, 6033 E Cave Creek Rd, ☏ +1 480-488-5261. M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Weekly Sunday morning bike ride.
* 33.829651-111.9317276 Extreme Arizona ATV Rental, 6061 E Cave Creek Rd, ☏ +1 480-488-8529.

### Festivals and fairs

* Wild West Days, WildWestDaysCaveCreek@yahoo.com. Takes place annually at the end of October or early November. Parades, rodeos, car shows, arts and crafts, food, music, and various other events.
* 33.821741-112.0211257 Cave Creek Fiesta Days, Cave Creek Memorial Arena, 37201 N 28th St, ☏ +1 480-488-4043, fax: +1 623-738-1850, info@cavecreekprorodeo.com. Weekend rodeo event with parade, music, food, dance, vendors, and a golf tournament. Takes place annually in early April.
* Magic Bird Festivals, in downtown Carefree (east of Cave Creek), ☏ +1 480-488-2014, fax: +1 480-488-1052, ccmagicbird@aol.com. Holds several arts and crafts festivals between November and April.
* Thunderbird Arts and Wine Festivals. Fine arts and wine tasting.
* Hidden in the Hills Artists' Studio Tour, ☏ +1 480-575-6624. Annual free self-guided tour among around 45 home studios with 150 participating artists. Takes place over the last two weekends of November.
* AZ Bike Week. Typically takes place at the end of March/start of April.

## Buy

* 33.831543-111.9455821 Frontier Town, 6245 E Cave Creek Rd. A faux old-west town with tourist shops and restaurants.
* 33.830132-111.9287452 Stagecoach Village, 7100 E Cave Creek Rd (Corner of Galloway and Cave Creek Rd). A newer western themed shopping plaza set up as a village.
* Art galleries, Main St. Cave Creek has many fine art galleries along its main street. The second Friday of every month is Art Night – the studios stay open until 9PM.
* 33.832766-111.9428553 Thieves' Market, 6424 E Cave Creek Rd, ☏ +1 480-329-6118. First Sa of the month Oct-May, 9AM-3PM. A monthly flea market where shoppers can find an eclectic mix of items, including second-hand goods and arts and crafts. $1 (entry fee).

## Eat
### Budget

* 33.832057-111.9481691 Big Earl's Greasy Eats, 6135 E Cave Creek Rd, ☏ +1 480-575-7889, kimberlybrennan@msn.com. Su-W 7AM-10PM. A 1950s style burger joint. On Friday nights, classic car enthusiasts can be found in the parking lot.
* Barro's Pizza, 30815 N Cave Creek Rd #132, ☏ +1 480-419-9161. Su-Th 10:30AM-10PM, F,Sa 10:30PM-11PM. A popular pizza shop in Cave Creek. Customers can either eat in at the store or take out. Delivery is extra.

### Mid-range

* 33.832614-111.9455352 El Encanto, 6248 E Cave Creek Rd, ☏ +1 480-488-1752, info@elencantorestaurants.com. M-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 9AM-10PM. Fine Mexican dining in a romantic setting. Large duck pond and live classic guitar on the weekends.
* 33.833136-111.9349023 The Horny Toad, 6738 E Cave Creek Rd, ☏ +1 480-488-9542, info@theHornyToad.com. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F,Sa 11AM-11PM. Fried food and tourist kitsch.

### Splurge

* 33.82851-111.9289494 Le Sans Souci Restaurant, 7030 E Bella Vista Dr, ☏ +1 480-488-2856. Fine French dining. Come for dinner or the four course Sunday brunch.
* 33.83261-111.9561725 Tonto Bar and Grill, 5736 E Rancho Mañana Blvd, ☏ +1 480-488-0698. Daily 11AM-9PM. Next to the Rancho Mañana golf course. Casual gourmet version of Cartwrights.

## Drink

* 33.832396-111.9344751 The Hideaway, 6746 E Cave Creek Rd, ☏ +1 480-595-0358. Daily 10AM-2AM (bar), 10AM-10PM (kitchen). Famous biker bar. Look out for local Sonny Barger.
* 33.830277-111.9330032 Harold's Cave Creek Corral (Gavigan's), 6895 E Cave Creek Rd, ☏ +1 480-488-1906, fax: +1 480-488-9313, haroldscorral@qwestoffice.net. Local cowboy bar/restaurant with a strong Steelers following. Live music and line dancing. Play poker with the locals and get a few tips on your stocks while you're at the table.
* 33.831059-111.9344463 Buffalo Chip Saloon & Steakhouse (The Chip), 6811 E Cave Creek Rd, ☏ +1 480-488-9118. Daily 10AM-2:30AM. Green Bay Packers/Cowboy bar. Live bull ridding on Thursday nights. Free dance lessons. Rival bar of Harold's Corral.

## Sleep

* 33.850405-112.0253041 Full Circle Ranch Bed and Breakfast, 40205 N 26th St, ☏ +1 623-742-0390. $50-240.
* 33.83584-111.9419622 Spur Cross Bed and Breakfast, 38555 N School House Rd, ☏ +1 480-321-9982, Carolyn@spurcrossbnb.com. $139-250.
* 33.831817-111.9441723 Tumbleweed Hotel, 6333 E Cave Creek Rd, ☏ +1 480-488-3668, contact@tumbleweedhotel.com. Family-run hotel with 16 rooms and eight Casita apartments. The only main street hotel in Cave Creek. Local hospitality since 1971. $79-189.

### Camping

* 33.824687-112.0182774 Cave Creek Park, 37019 N Lava Ln, ☏ +1 623-465-0431, fax: +1 623-465-9284. Space for RVs and camping along with clean hot showers, trails, and a rodeo arena. Electric hook-ups available; reservations can be made online. $10-35.

## Go next

* Bartlet Lake, 20808 E Bartlett Rd. Carefee (20 miles east of Cave Creek).
* Lake Pleasant, 41835 N Castle Hot Springs Rd, Morristown (20 miles west of Cave Creek).
* The town of Carefree shares a main street with Cave Creek.
* Cave Creek is often associated with North Scottsdale (Arizona)
* Tonto National Forest (just north of Cave Creek).