Where to begin if you want to hike the Maricopa Trail
Sometimes, an addiction is a good thing. Swapping a junk food obsession or movie streaming fixation for a commitment to healthful foods and regular outdoor recreation are the kinds of addictions that improve quality of life. Kicking bad habits isn’t easy, but hiking can help wean even the most devout triple-burger-with-the-works aficionados off the artery-hardening stuff.
That’s because, like eating potato chips, once you start hiking, it’s difficult to stop. And when you really get into it, you’ll be inspired to get fit to take on longer, more difficult treks.
As with goals in general, it helps to have a plan. For Phoenix-area hikers, there’s a ready-made plan already in place. It’s called the Maricopa Trail.
The 315-mile route circumnavigates the Valley, connecting 10 county parks, urban centers, suburbs and national forest trails. Outfitted with dozens of trailheads and community access points, the trail is accessible from anywhere in the Valley.
While the route is still expanding and improving, the main course is complete. There’s a beginning, middle and end, which makes it a perfect choice for anybody who wants to earn the feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing a long-distance hike without committing to a months-long, nonstop journey. The Maricopa Trail can be knocked off in approachable day hikes.
To kick off your habit, start with the juiciest segment. While naming the “best” segment of the Maricopa Trail is purely subjective, the bit that goes from Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area in Cave Creek to the Skull Mesa trailhead in Tonto National Forest is as fine a candidate as any.
Rich in biodiversity, ecozones, history and scenic beauty, this short, easy hike is a great way to sample and get hooked on the Maricopa Trail.
Begin by hiking north on the Spur Cross Trail, an old ranch road. Right
from the start, the hike embodies a remote feel as it delves into hilly backcountry along the leafy corridor of Cave Creek. The waterway fosters a healthy community of cottonwood, sycamore and mesquite trees where many species of birds thrive in an area that has been named an important bird area by Audubon Arizona.
After a mild uphill walk and a couple of usually dry creek crossings, the trail enters Tonto National Forest. Staying close to the creek bed, the last mile passes through rocky corridors and
cliffs cluttered with enormous saguaros. A few creek hops later, the path meets the Skull Mesa trailhead, where a vintage wood sign displays a map and key mileage notes.
From this point, the Maricopa Trail continues on through one of its more remote, rugged and mountainous sections. But for an introductory outing, the wood sign makes for a good turnaround point that will inspire you to come back for more.