Mountain Biking at Cave Creek Regional Park: Best Trails & Route Recommendations
Cave Creek may not be the first name that comes up when you talk about the mountain biking around Phoenix, but on a recent visit, I did a big ride around this trail network and I was pleasantly surprised.
The trails may not be smooth, buff, and mountain bike-tailored like Hawes or fast and flowy like Brown’s Ranch, but they are beautiful and offer more of a backcountry experience (which I love!).
As always, though, it’s important to know what you’re getting into, though, so in this post I’ve put together all the info and tips you need for a great day of Cave Creek mountain biking.
Quick Tips
For mountain biking at Cave Creek
TWW Take
Please note that these are my personal opinions – you may argue otherwise! And if so, state your case (politely) in the comments 🙂
Fun-ness Factor
Trail Variety
Average Difficulty
Should You Ride Cave Creek?
What I like
What I don’t
Planning Your Cave Creek Rides
Best trails to hit
There honestly aren’t a ton of trails around Cave Creek, but the ones that are there definitely vary on the fun factor. Here’s what I recommend sticking to:
- Spur Cross (intermediate)
- Overton (⬇️) (intermediate)
- Slate (intermediate)
- Go John Loop (advanced)
Tip: Slate trail is named because it goes through patches and slabs of slate rock. It’s pretty cool.
Route recommendations
- Go John Loop (intermediate) – a good loop that has a little bit of everything from techy climbs to fun descents. The east side of the Go John Loop is more technical than the west and some riders may need to walk sections.
- Cave Creek Classic Route (intermediate+) – This is a classic ride in Cave Creek. It mostly follows the annual Cave Creek Cactus Classic (C4) race route.
It’s a big ride – over 20 miles – but I found that the miles ticked by relatively quickly. There are some steep, loose climbs and some chunky descents, but overall I really enjoyed it. It’s a rugged, backcountry ride if you’re into that kind of thing!
Cave Creek Regional Park Trail Map
FAQs & Planning Tips
🚗 Getting there: Cave Creek Regional Park is located north of Phoenix in the town of Cave Creek. Unlike the rest of sprawling Phoenix, Cave Creek actually feels like you’ve left the city and entered a different town. It’s cute, it’s artsy, and it kind of feels like the Wild West (in a very chic, upscale way). I wish I’d had more time to explore the main street and shops, but we did stop for an ice cream post-ride at The City Creamery, which I highly recommend!
🅿️ Parking: We parked at Flat Tire Bike Shop (great bike shop if you need anything!) in Cave Creek. This is a good place to start if you want to do the big loop through Cave Creek Regional Park that I recommend below. If you want to do the shorter Go John Loop that I recommend above, you can park at the Nature Center.
🎟️ Entrance fee: Like all of the Maricopa Parks around Phoenix, there is an entrance fee for Cave Cave.
- If you park at the Nature Center, the entrance fee is $7/person
- If you park at the bike shop or the Spur Cross Trailhead and/or enter through Spur Cross Conservation Area, the fee is $3/person (cash only)
🗺️ Navigating the trails: The trails are mostly well-signed with maps at every major intersection, but I still recommend having a mountain bike trail app downloaded to your phone.
💧 Water: There is no water at the trailheads or on the trails. Bring all that you need with you and your pack essentials.
📅 How many days: You really just need one day to Explore Cave Creek Regional Park. Choose either the Go John Loop or the 20-mile classic.
☀️ When to go: Winter (November through March) is ideal for mountain biking in Phoenix.
🚲 What type of bike to bring: A short or mid-travel full-suspension bike would be best. You could also get away with a hardtail.
⚡️ E-bikes: Class 1 pedal-assist e-bike are allowed at Cave Creek Regional Park.
🏕️ Camping: There is a nice campground at Cave Creek that provides easy access to the trails. It has bathrooms, hot showers, picnic tables, fire rings, and potable water. Reservations are highly recommended, especially during the peak winter months.
Need gear recs?
Head over to my gear closet! I’m always testing out new pieces of bike gear and if I really like them, they earn a place on this page.
Ready to head out and explore the trails at Cave Creek? I hope this post gives you all the info to choose the best trails and routes for your ride.
I really enjoyed my time at Cave Creek. Even though the trails aren’t ‘the best’ or curated for mountain bikers, the park is beautiful and has an awesome backcountry feel, especially if you ride Spur Cross Trail.
Have you done any mountain biking at Cave Creek? What’s your favorite route or trails to ride? What questions do you still have? Leave a comment below!
I’ve ridden the Cave Creek classic Ruit, and I love it. I am going to be out there in March, but I have no one to ride it with. Any suggestions on finding someone who knows the Ruit well who can do the ride with me?
Hi Steve – there’s a Facebook group called Hawesaholics that is pretty active. I’ve used it to find group rides and people to ride with around Phoenix. It’s worth a try. There’s also a great bike shop in Cave Creek (Flat Tire Bike Shop) – they might be able to connect you with some local riders. Have fun!
Thank you so much for all the great info! Your guides are so well done! See you on the trail!
So glad you find them helpful! Have fun out there 🙂