Scenic Drives
Cave Creek Canyon (Forest
Road 42)/ Portal-to-Paradise (Forest Road 42B) Loop
In Cave Creek you’ll find spectacular scenery, world class birdwatching,
a riparian area teeming with unique wildlife, and a number of Forest
recreation amenities to help you enjoy all those natural wonders. On
this drive, you’ll get a good picture of what’s in store
for you even before you enter the Forest. The soaring cliffs of Cave
Creek Canyon, pocked with caves and punctuated with pinnacles, come into
view well before you arrive. A short distance inside the Forest boundary,
there is a Visitor Information Center to provide you with valuable information,
including books, pamphlets, and maps to help you more fully enjoy all
that this very special area has to offer.
Most who come here do at least a little birdwatching. This is one of
the best places in the southwest to see the elegant trogon. Among the
two hundred plus species that have been sighted here, there are many
notable ones, such as the rose-breasted becard, olive warbler, red-faced
warbler, magnificent hummingbird and blue-throated hummingbird.
There are several Forest campgrounds in Cave Creek Canyon, as well
as a number of trails that lead deeper into all that wonderful scenery.
And if you’re not interested in doing a long hike, there is a short
one to a scenic vista between Stewart Campground and South Fork Road.
After leaving Cave Creek Canyon, the drive turns northwest through
the old mining town of Paradise before heading southwest back to
Portal. Much of this section of the drive leads through an open
area of high
desert providing good views of Silver Peak and Portal Peaks and
another perspective on the colorful cliffs of Cave Creek Canyon.
Attractions:
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
Location: South of Portal; 150 miles east of Tucson.
Access: 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.
Mileage/Driving Time: About 17 miles, 2 hours round trip
from Portal.
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.
Elevation: 5,000'-6,500'
Season: All year, though the road is occasionally closed
during winter snow storms.
For further information contact: Douglas Ranger District
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