Trade Pavement for Dirt: Exploring the Backcountry from Cave Creek by UTV

You can spend a day in Cave Creek hiking, riding a horse or exploring town.

Or you can climb into a side-by-side, leave Cave Creek Road behind and discover just how quickly civilization disappears.

That's one of the more adventurous things to do in Cave Creek, and something first-time visitors may not realize is available right in town.

Two local companies, Time to Ride AZ and Extreme Arizona, rent UTVs and side-by-sides that can take you from Cave Creek toward the enormous network of roads and trails in the Tonto National Forest.

No tour bus.

No paved scenic highway.

Just desert, mountains, dirt roads, washes and a machine built to explore them.

The Adventure Starts in Town

One of the things that makes Cave Creek particularly interesting for off-road exploring is its location.

You're already sitting at the edge of an enormous amount of public land.

Time to Ride AZ and Extreme Arizona both operate in Cave Creek and offer off-road vehicles for exploring the surrounding desert.

That's a pretty remarkable transition.

One minute you're on Cave Creek Road.

Not long afterward, pavement can be disappearing behind you.

This Is a Different Way to See the Sonoran Desert

Hiking lets you experience the desert slowly.

A UTV changes the scale.

Suddenly you can cover enough ground to watch entire landscapes change.

Saguaros stretch across hillsides. Roads drop into washes and climb toward ridgelines. Mountains that looked distant from Cave Creek gradually become part of the landscape around you.

And instead of seeing the Tonto National Forest through the windshield of a car, you're traveling on the network of backcountry roads that runs through it.

The dust is real.

So are the bumps.

That's part of the fun.

Head Toward the Verde River

One of the natural destinations northeast of Cave Creek is the Verde River.

Time to Ride AZ specifically describes the Verde River as a possible destination for riders taking a longer adventure.

That's where this becomes more than simply driving a recreational vehicle around a dirt track.

You're actually going somewhere.

Pack a lunch, follow the approved route supplied with your rental and suddenly the Verde River can become part of your day.

In warmer weather, the sight of water after miles of Sonoran Desert feels almost improbable.

In cooler months, it's simply a beautiful place to stop, get out of the machine and appreciate how remote the landscape feels.

Horseshoe Reservoir and Dam Country

Farther into this part of the Tonto National Forest is another landscape many Cave Creek visitors never see: Horseshoe Reservoir and Horseshoe Dam.

The Horseshoe area lies northeast of Cave Creek and Carefree within the Tonto National Forest road system.

The approach includes unpaved backcountry roads, and road conditions can vary significantly depending on weather and maintenance.

The landscape changes as you approach the Verde River watershed, with mountains, river habitat and the reservoir providing a dramatic contrast to the dry upland desert closer to Cave Creek.

Horseshoe is also a reminder of something that's easy to forget when looking at a map:

Cave Creek sits at the gateway to a very large backcountry playground.

And the Roads Keep Going

Look at a map of the Tonto National Forest north and east of Cave Creek and something becomes obvious very quickly.

The road doesn't simply end at the first scenic viewpoint.

Forest roads spread through the mountains toward Seven Springs, the Verde River, Horseshoe Reservoir and far beyond.

The broader backcountry eventually extends north toward central Arizona and the Camp Verde region.

That does not mean a rental agreement allows you to drive a rented UTV all the way to Camp Verde.

Rental companies establish approved routes based on the vehicle, rental duration, trail conditions and other factors. Always confirm your planned destination before leaving.

But it does give you a sense of scale.

Cave Creek isn't sitting beside a little recreational trail system.

It's sitting beside an enormous expanse of Tonto National Forest.

Two Places to Start Your Adventure

Cave Creek has two prominent in-town options for this kind of experience.

Time to Ride AZ

Time to Ride AZ offers ATV and UTV rentals from Cave Creek, including side-by-side vehicles designed for groups of different sizes.

Its emphasis includes self-guided riding, allowing visitors to explore at their own pace using recommended routes and current guidance from the rental company.

Longer rental periods make destinations farther into the desert possible, and the company specifically highlights the Verde River as an option for a longer adventure.

Extreme Arizona

Extreme Arizona also operates in Cave Creek and offers UTV and side-by-side rentals for exploring the surrounding desert.

Its offerings include self-guided off-road experiences, with route information designed to help visitors navigate the area's desert roads and trails.

Check directly with Extreme Arizona for current vehicles, routes, rental periods and guided or self-guided options.

Which One Should You Choose?

We're not going to declare a winner.

That's not what Discover Cave Creek is here to do.

Both businesses offer different vehicles, rental periods, routes and options, and those can change.

Instead, decide what kind of day you want.

Are you a first-time UTV driver looking for a few hours of desert?

Do you want an all-day trip toward the Verde River or Horseshoe area?

Would you rather have guidance about where to go?

How many people are riding?

Talk with both companies and compare their current options.

The important question isn't necessarily which company is better?

It's where do you want to explore?

Don't Just Point North and Go

This part is important.

The existence of a dirt road does not automatically mean you can or should drive on it.

Some routes cross areas with restrictions. Conditions can change after storms. Flash flooding can make washes dangerous. Forest roads can close. Rental companies may restrict where their vehicles can travel.

Follow the route information supplied by the rental company and current Tonto National Forest regulations.

Stay on legal routes.

Don't create new tracks through the desert.

And don't assume your phone will always have service.

This is real backcountry.

Water Matters Here Too

Bring more drinking water than you think you'll need.

Arizona heat deserves respect even when you're riding instead of hiking.

A mechanical problem, flat tire or unexpected delay can turn a comfortable ride into several hours outside the vehicle.

Water, sun protection and appropriate clothing aren't optional extras.

They're part of traveling in the desert.

Slow Down Occasionally

UTVs are fun because they're fast and capable.

But don't spend the entire day staring at the trail ten feet in front of you.

Stop.

Turn the engine off.

Look around.

That's when you realize how far you've traveled from Cave Creek Road.

There may be a saguaro-covered mountain in front of you, the Verde River below you or nothing but desert and mountains all the way to the horizon.

Those moments are what transform the day from renting a machine into actually exploring Arizona.

Cave Creek Is the Starting Point

That's what makes this experience worth including on a Cave Creek visit.

You can wake up, have breakfast in town and then head into the desert.

A few hours later you might be beside the Verde River, looking across a mountain ridgeline or traveling through country most Valley residents have only seen on a map.

Then you come back dusty, park the machine and you're right back in Cave Creek.

Dinner doesn't sound bad at that point.

Neither does a cold drink.

And you'll probably look at those mountains surrounding town a little differently than you did that morning.

Because now you've been back there.

Plan Your Adventure

Routes, vehicle availability, pricing, age requirements, deposits and trail conditions can change. Check directly with the rental company before planning your trip.

Time to Ride AZ - ATV and UTV Rentals

Extreme Arizona - ATV and UTV Rentals

Tonto National Forest

Town of Cave Creek