

Total Nerdery This site was occupied in 1500 AD. It’s unknown why the Hohokum people ultimately abandoned this hilltop fortress.

A 60′ high structure, called “the Warrior,” seems to defy gravity, balancing upright on the hillside. In Springtime the hilltop is full of wildflowers, including purple Lupine and orange Mexican Poppies.Īs the loop trail makes its way down and around the hill, it passes a number of immense rock formations. Interpretive signs provide solid information about the tribes social structure and building use. The stone remains of a 40-room Hohokum fortress sprawl across the top of the hill. Even the Superstition Mountain’s Weavers Needle can be spotted far away in the distance. Between boulders and shrubs, expansive views spread for miles. In the midst of the rolling hills, just west of Bartlett Lake, the short Sears Kay Ruins Hiking Trail leads up one of the area’s higher bluffs. ELEVATION GAIN: 200 FEET RT (14 STORIES).TRAILHEAD: Sears Kay Ruins Road, Cave Creek At the top, interpretive signs provide information about the ruins and the Native American people who called this area home. The Sears Kay Ruins Hiking Trail meanders up a small hill, in the middle of an arid desert. Ancient Hohokum ruins grace the top of a windswept bluff on this short loop hike.
