Seven Springs - Cottonwood Trail - (R2R)

Hour drive to get to the trailhead 12 miles north of Bartlett Lake past Cave Creek.....

This loop trail has a nice amount of variety, with shaded forest areas, exposed open meadows, switchbacks and 7 stream crossings. The trail itself varies from mostly single track to a section of wide path to a very narrow stretch with steep drop offs to one side. Vegetation along the loop varies from lower Sonoran saguaro (including a rare crested saguaro), cholla and desert grasses, to sugar sumac and some juniper trees to a leafy riparian community of mostly Arizona sycamore, but also some ash, alder and Arizona walnut.

The Skunk Tank Trail starts at its junction with Cottonwood Trail #247, just south of FR 24B at elevation 3440'. Several spots along Trail #246 have sweeping vista views. For 2.6 miles the trail climbs to an elevation of 4080' at the junction with Quien…