Attractions

The Desert & Its Native Cultures

Although the Sears-Kay Ruins 15 miles northeast of Cave Creek have never been restored and are, in fact, in ruins, they are close enough to north Scottsdale to be worth searching out. They're also just far enough away to feel like a real discovery. It's an easy 1-mile round-trip hike to this hilltop Hohokam pueblo ruin, and along the way, interpretive plaques explain aspects of Hohokam culture. The pueblo, which dates to between 1050 and 1500, consisted of 40 rooms in four compounds. To find the ruins, head northeast from Carefree on Cave Creek Road, which becomes first Seven Springs Road and then Forest Service Road 24. For more information, contact the Tonto National Forest's Cave Creek Ranger District, 40202 N. Cave Creek Rd., Scottsdale (tel. 480/595-3300; www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/home).

On the south side of the Superstition Mountains, near the Gold Canyon Resort, a relatively short hike will lead you to a small canyon where ancient petroglyphs cover a rock wall beside several pools of water. Known as Hieroglyphic Canyon, this rock-art site is reached via a 1.1-mile trail up a gentle slope through dense stands of cactus. To reach the trail head, drive east from Phoenix on U.S. 60 to Gold Canyon. Turn north on King's Ranch Road and follow this road to a right turn onto Baseline Road. Then turn left on Mohican Road, left again on Valley View Drive, and right on Cloudview Avenue, which leads into the trail head parking lot. For more information, contact the Tonto National Forest's Mesa Ranger District, 5140 E. Ingram St. (tel. 480/610-3300; www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/home).

Native Trails in Scottsdale -- If you happen to be shopping in Old Town Scottsdale and hear the sound of drumming coming from the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, be sure to follow the sound to its source. On a stage in front of the Scottsdale Center for the Arts, you'll find members of several Native American tribes performing traditional songs and dances. The show is a cross-cultural journey and is a great way to learn a bit about a few Native cultures. The free programs, called Native Trails, are held late January through early April on most Thursdays and Saturdays between noon and 1:30pm. For more information, contact Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (tel. 800/782-1117; www.scottsdalecvb.com).

Now That's a Fountain

Arizona loves its water features. Reservoirs, canals, pools, fountains -- they're everywhere in the desert. You'd never think that water is in short supply around these parts. One of the most unusual water features is the Fountain Hills fountain, less than 20 miles northeast of Scottsdale. This fountain, for which the town is named, is one of the tallest fountains in the world. Using three 500-horsepower pumps, it can shoot water 560 feet into the air. However, the fountain usually operates on only two pumps, with the plume reaching a mere 330 feet on average. Unless there are high winds, the fountain operates daily from 9am to 9pm every hour on the hour for 15 minutes. To find the fountain, take Shea Boulevard east from Scottsdale Road or U.S. 101.