Once you make the roughly quarter-mile trek from the paved path to the beginning of Black Mountain Trail behind the town of Cave Creek, the real work to reach the summit begins.
This primitive trail reminds hikers to “hike at your own risk” for good reason. It’s a steep and fairly intense climb from the get-go that gets the heart pumping and the legs burning quickly, making it one of the best cardio conditioning trails nearby.
Photos by Andreas Schmalz
Trail apps rank it right up there in terms of difficulty with Piestewa Peak or Camelback Mountain―minus the intense rock scramble to the very top. (Sorry, Camelback, I still love you!) You still need shoes with good grip, but it is a bit easier to take this trail slow and steady as it is less trafficked than the others.
The roughly 1-mile ascent begins on a dirt path (with some loose rock and jagged slate areas along the path) and the climb continues for more than half the total distance before you reach an overlook to take in the first city views, water up and catch your breath before continuing.
Once you feel like you’ve just about reached the summit, false alarm, you’re not quite there yet. When you do reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic city views and the American flag waving in the wind.
Photo by Andreas Schmalz
On the trip down, use caution on the steep descent and keep an eye out for jagged and loose rocks. The round-trip hike is roughly 2.2 miles.
Black Mountain Trail
N. School House Road, Cave Creek
From Cave Creek Road, head south on School House Road to street parking and trailhead.