Cave Creek is a quirky town northeast of Phoenix. It is a town with Old West style. In Cave Creek, it is not uncommon to see people riding horseback on Main Street. The locals are friendly and happily share their town with those who visit.
Nearby Tonto National Forest and the Sonoran Desert provide outdoor adventures. Some of the favorites are hot air ballooning, horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. Cave Creek is also home to unique shopping opportunities and some mouthwatering restaurants. This list features some of the best things to see and do in Cave Creek.
Arizona Balloon Safaris
Randy Long owns Arizona Balloon Safaris. He is a licensed, accomplished FAA commercial balloon pilot with 30 years of experience. Since opening in 1991, over 4000 flights for over 50,000 passengers have been logged by him.
Mother Nature determines the exact location in the Sonoran Desert to launch a flight. A hot air balloon trip lasts for five to seven miles. Heights as high as 5000 feet above ground are reached. The trip provides a 360-degree unobstructed view of the beautiful desert landscape. The adventure includes a sit-down champagne breakfast when returning, a balloonist ceremony, and a first flight certificate.
Black Mountain Trail
The 1.1-mile footpath has an elevation of 1200 feet. It reaches the summit of Black Mountain. The mountain is almost 3400 feet above sea level. Visitors drive about two-thirds of the way to reach the trail.
There is parking available along Schoolhouse Road. The trail is easy to spot. It is among the most popular courses. Black Mountain is one of the area's tallest summits. It has a rather steep incline. Climbers are rewarded with the surrounding area's scenic vistas upon reaching the top.
Cave Creek Museum
Artifacts pertain to the legacy, history, and culture of Cave Creek, the town of Carefree, and the foothills between them. Displays in the museum's north wing feature a Hohokam house replica and collections of prehistoric artifacts that pertain to the Salado and Hohokam Indians.
The focus of the south wing is on pioneer life in the area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It includes rich mining and ranching history. The museum also boasts a restored Historic Cave Creek Church, research library, gazebo, native botanical garden, and a tubercular cabin.
Desert Foothill Library
The library was created to share ideas, culture, and knowledge by offering the Cave Creek community responsive and personalized learning opportunities, resources, and services. It includes kid and teen-focused programs, such as story time and college planning.
A digital library also provides practical online tools like reading recommendations, test prep tools, tax information, jobseeker opportunities, and career resources. The library has an outdoor terrace with a fireplace and waterfall perfect for weddings, meetings, and events. There is also a botanical garden, prep kitchen, and conference rooms thar overlook scenic mountain vistas.
El Encanto
This family-owned restaurant is a beautiful Mission-style property. In the courtyard is a large, serene pond. The stunning covered patio is decorated with tile-painted furniture and wrought iron. It overlooks a beautiful water fixture containing playful wildlife.
You will find a majestic blue heron, quacking ducks, cooing owls, and slow-moving turtles. Diners can purchase cups of birdseed to interact with the animals. The menu comprises authentic Mexican dishes that exquisitely complement the enchanting ambiance.
There are staples, such as overstuffed fajitas, tacos, and enchiladas. The signature dish is Pollo Fundido. It is a roasted chicken breast, onions, and peppers rolled in a crispy tortilla and covered with a spicy, gooey sauce containing cheddar, cream cheese, and jalapeno.
Frontier Town
Frontier Town is in the heart of Cave Creek. Visitors feel they have been transported back in time to the Old West. Main Street is lined with Udder Delights Milk Soaps and Creams, Suzanne's Hot Stuff, Happy Hogan Hut Unique Creations, Debra Ortega's Native American Jewelry and Arts, lovely boutiques, and more.
The town has Boot Heel Cemetery and gallows. Frontier Town reminds visitors how wild the Old West was with re-enactments, such as duels. It hosts country music concerts and features an event pavilion and charming white chapel ideal for rustic-style weddings.
Grace Museum of America
The museum is nestled among the mountains of the Sonoran Desert. It houses historical artifacts from distinguished periods of American history. Grace Voss Frederick opened the museum to display the transition of a great nation from a primitive country.
There are significant 19th and 20th-century items in the museum. They include antiques and original mannequins, and personal artifacts Frederick collected throughout her travels and life. Two-hour tours of the museum feature live and recorded descriptions of the displays.
Johnny Ringo's Carefree Adventures
The Johnny Ringo Adventures are jeep tours of the Tonto National Forest and the Sonoran Desert. Guides are incredibly knowledgeable about native plants and animal life, archeological artifacts, natural waterfalls, and prehistoric Native American ruins. You may choose from four options.
They are Four Peaks Adventure, Hidden Treasures of Cave Creek, Above it All, and Gold Mine. The first one mentioned is a six-hour tour covering 18 miles through the forest and desert at Four Peaks Mountain. There, guests enjoy an educational walk in nature that stops at Mud Springs before you climb a bit higher to see an extraordinary view of Ponderosa pines.
Massacre Cave
The cave is in Canyon de Chelly. It is well-known for an 1805 mass murder. Spanish raiders attacked native Americans. The villagers hid in this cave. More than 115 Native Americans died in the cave. Visitors can tour the cave and its surrounding areas, including a site called 'The Place Where Two Fell Off.' Here, a Spanish soldier attacked a Navajo woman. The attack caused both to fall to their death in the canyon.
MTM Ranch
Visitors at MTM Ranch have an exciting opportunity to explore the jaw-dropping landscape of Arizona from the saddle. That is how the first pioneer settlers saw it. It covers 870 acres just waiting to be uncovered. An enthusiastic wrangler guides a few hours of experiencing the desert wilderness and beauty. The time varies from an hour to a half-day trail ride.
Rare Earth Gallery
This one-of-a-kind destination showcases all kinds of fossils, gemstones, and minerals as home décor pieces. It is the most extensive gallery of its kind anywhere. The gallery attracts enthusiasts from all over the world. It has a vast array of overwhelming, colorful Mother Earth gifts that find their way into a home or office décor. Wayne Helfand put this enormous collection together over 40 years. He is a rock hound who traveled, searching for the most original and beautiful gems from the Earth.
Spur Cross Ranch Trail
The six-mile roundtrip trail cuts across the Spur Cross Ranch Conversation Area before you climb in the mountainous Tonto National Forest. At the beginning of the course, you enjoy stunning blue-sky vistas of saguaros and purple mountains. The trial then funnels into a narrower path along the Cottonwood and Cave creeks. You will pass a variety of the desert's flora and fauna, including mountain lions, deer, bobcats, mesquites, and sycamores.