🌵 Cave Creek, Arizona

About Cave Creek

Cave Creek is a small, western-flavored town in northern Maricopa County, Arizona, sitting on the northern edge of the Phoenix metro area about 33 miles from downtown Phoenix. The 2020 U.S. Census counted just 4,892 residents — small enough to keep its frontier character, close enough for an easy day trip from the Valley.

The town was settled in 1870 by soldiers from Fort McDowell, and in 1873 prospectors from the Bradshaw Mountains found gold here, touching off a mining boom. Its name comes from the cave beside the creek the town grew up around. Cave Creek stayed unincorporated until 1986, when residents voted to form their own town government and protect its western character.

Today Cave Creek is best known for its western saloons, dude-ranch scenery, horseback trails, rodeos and motorcycle culture — plus a streetscape of independent shops and galleries along Cave Creek Road that you will not find anywhere else in the Phoenix area.

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Quick Facts

Facts sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Cave Creek, Arizona Wikipedia article.

The Old West Town

Cave Creek's history reads like a frontier novel. Soldiers from Fort McDowell rode up in 1870 and settled the area; three years later prospectors working down from the Bradshaw Mountains struck gold in the creek, and a rough-and-tumble mining camp followed. The town's name honors the natural cave beside the stream at its heart — a detail preserved in the Cave Creek Museum's history.

When the easy gold played out, Cave Creek reinvented itself around ranching and, later, tourism. The 1960s brought Frontier Town, a pint-sized replica of an 1800s mining settlement built at 6245 E Cave Creek Road, with wooden storefronts, a faux Boot Hill and horse-drawn wagons — still a favorite stop for souvenir shopping today.

Residents voted to incorporate in 1986, and the town has gone out of its way to protect its western character ever since: a preserved Old West commercial strip, and annual traditions like Cave Creek Rodeo Days, Wild West Days and the spring Bike Week motorcycle gathering.

Population & People

With 4,892 residents in the 2020 census, Cave Creek skews older and upscale. The median age is 59.8 years — 36.9% of residents are 65 or older, while only 10.3% are under 18. That profile reflects a town that draws retirees, second-home owners and desert-season visitors.

Median household income was $102,589 and per-capita income $63,573 in the latest Census Bureau estimates, with about 8.9% of residents below the poverty line. The 2020 census also showed a nearly even gender split, with 96.2 males for every 100 females.

Location & Geography

Cave Creek sits in the Sonoran Desert on the northern edge of Scottsdale, with mountains rising behind it that link to the New River Mountains and the Black Hills. Phoenix city limits extend north to Cave Creek's southern border, while the town is bordered east by Carefree, west by New River and Desert Hills, and north by Tonto National Forest.

The town covers 37.72 square miles at 2,553 feet of elevation — noticeably cooler than central Phoenix. Elephant Mountain rises to 3,926 feet in the northern part of town, and the local landmark Black Mountain (3,398 ft) straddles the border with Carefree. Saguaro-studded washes and granite outcrops give the landscape its classic Arizona postcard look.

Climate & Weather

Cave Creek has a semi-arid climate that gets more rainfall than a true desert, and its higher elevation keeps it several degrees cooler than downtown Phoenix. The hot season runs about 3.5 months, from late May into mid-September, when average daily highs reach at least 93°F.

July is the hottest month, with an average high of 102°F and an overnight low near 74°F. Winter is why many people come: mild, sunny days perfect for patio dining, trail riding and balloon flights — and the occasional dusting of snow on the surrounding peaks.

Things to Do

Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area is the crown jewel: a 2,154-acre Maricopa County park bought in 2000 by the state, county and town for $21 million. It protects unusual cacti, striking rock formations, and hundreds of prehistoric Hohokam artifacts, with miles of hiking and equestrian trails minutes from downtown.

Hot-air ballooning is a Cave Creek signature — on calm mornings balloons drift over the desert foothills. The Buffalo Chip Saloon & Steakhouse hosts live bull riding every Wednesday and Friday night, and the Cave Creek Museum (6140 E Skyline Drive, open October–May) tells the mining-era story. Take the narrated tour to see it all:

Local Businesses on Cave Creek Road

Cave Creek Road is the town's main street, lined with independent saloons, steakhouses, galleries and gift shops. These are the local favorites visitors and residents talk about — all still locally owned.

Sources & Further Reading

• Wikipedia: Cave Creek, Arizona
• Town of Cave Creek - official website
• U.S. Census Bureau: Cave Creek quick facts
• Cave Creek Museum
• Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area - Maricopa County Parks
• Frontier Town
• The Buffalo Chip Saloon & Steakhouse