Cave Creek and Skull Mesa
Skull Mesa is one of several mesas carved out by the perennial flows of Cave Creek and New River. The mesa is mostly covered in grasses, juniper trees and various types of cacti including Prickly Pear and Hedgehog. On the slopes below Skull Mesa, Saguaro cacti thrive, but they can't survive the cool winter temperatures on the exposed mesa-top.
The shaded backside of Continental Mountain. Hundreds of giant Saguaro cacti spike from the desert below.
A survey of the Skull Mesa ecosystem. New River Mesa looms in the distance.
On the flanks of Skull Mesa, Saguaro cacti thrive.
An ancient Hohokam spiral petroglyph carved into a rock on the side of Skull Mesa.
Teddybear cholla cacti look fuzzy with all of their needle-sharp spines.
Cave Creek flowing full in the wake of winter rains.
