Cave Creek Canyon

Area Status: Open

Cave Creek header

Title:	Portal sign
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Title:	Cave Creek Information Center
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Title:	South Fork Trail #243
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Title:	Cave Creek page 2 flyer
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At a Glance

Area Amenities:	Interpretive Site, Tent camping, Camping trailer, Fee charged for some activities, Picnic tables, Toilets, Drinking water, Parking
Permit Info:	None
Open Season:	Year Around
Closest Towns:	South of Portal; 150 miles east of Tucson
Information Center:	Constructed in the 1920s as a ranger station, the Visitor Information Center is a source for information about the canyon. Inside you will find a friendly ranger or volunteer who will answer all your questions, supply you with maps and brochures, and give you tips on the best places to go. Read More

General Information

Directions:

From Tucson, take I-10 east for 139 miles (you’ll cross the New Mexico border). Turn right (south) on US 80 and drive 28 miles, then turn right (west) 7 miles into Portal. From Douglas, take US 80 approximately 50 miles east toward Rodeo, New Mexico. Two miles past Rodeo, turn left (west) on the road to Portal. From Portal, drive south on Forest Road 42 for 9 miles to the Paradise turnoff. Turn right on FR 42B and continue 3 miles to Paradise. Turn right (still FR 42B) and drive 5 miles back to Portal.

Activities

Campground Camping

Idlewilde Campground

Idlewilde Campground is a first-come, first-served campground tucked among the riparian woodland along on Cave Creek.

Stewart Campground

Stewart Campground is a cool, shady streamside camp where sites are clustered under a healthy stand of Arizona cypress trees, with some picturesque old sycamores closer to the streamside.

Sunny Flat Campground

Campsites are clustered around a grassy meadow in this relatively open streamside camp. All sites are shaded, some more than others, and all are reasonably close to Cave Creek.

Herb Martyr Campground

The Herb Martyr trailhead, located near Herb Martyr campgound, is one of the popular birdwatching and overall hiking areas in Cave Creek Canyon.

Cabin Rentals

Rooms with a View Rental Cabins

Unique opportunities for the adventurous in Arizona's wildest locations.
Portal Bunkhouse
Portal CCC House

Rock Climbing

Please refer to Mountain Project:Chiricahua Mountains Rock Climbing for information about rock climbing in Cave Creek Canyon.

Follow Leave No Trace for Rock Climbing principles.

Viewing Wildlife

Wildlife Viewing

Owing to the location, perennial water, and varied topography, Cave Creek Canyon is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife. The canyon is also a world-class birding destination with 370 bird species, including migratory species at the northern end of their range. Spring, summer, and fall are the best seasons to see trogons and hummingbirds. Winter is good for nesting raptors. Other common wildlife in the canyon year-round include Coues white-tailed deer, Gould’s turkey, black bear, coati, and numerous species of bats, lizards, snakes, ants, beetles, and butterflies. Best Birding Spots: All campgrounds, South Fork Road, the first mile of South Fork Trail, and the Nature Trail.

Scenic Driving

Spectacular cliffs, caves, peaks. Cool, clear stream; lush riparian forest. World-class birdwatching. Campgrounds, picnic areas and hiking trails. Visitor Information Center with interpretive programs. Road Conditions: The first 5 miles south of Portal are paved, but rough. The remainder of the roads are gravel and suitable for passenger vehicles. Portions of this road can be made impassable by snow in winter or mud in summer. Season: All year, though the road is occasionally closed during winter snow storms.

Cave Creek Canyon

At a Glance

General Information