Cave Creek, AZ: Valley of the Sun Chapter, Go John Trail

Total distance: 5.8 miles; Elevation: ~411 ft

Meet at 6:45 am @ Go John Trailhead Parking for departure @ 7:00 am

Cave Creek Regional Park is located north of Phoenix, and became part of Maricopa County’s regional park system in 1963. This 2,922-acre park sits in the upper Sonoran Desert and ranges in elevation from 2,000 feet to 3,060 feet. This desert oasis provides any hiker and equestrian majestic views. The Go John Trail loops around a mountain to provide the illusion of being miles away from civilization. The loop is 5.8 miles long, with a total elevation change of 411 ft, giving it a “Moderate” to “Moderately Difficult” rating. It takes about 2-1/2 hours on average to complete it. There is little shade, so bring a hat and enough water, and let’s try to get going before it gets hot.

FACILITIES: NO WATER. There are vault toilets at the start.

BRING: Sturdy walking shoes, recommended 2 Liters of water, a hat, leave-no-trace toilet kit, sunglasses, sunscreen, snacks/lunch if desired. Walking sticks are not required but recommended.