The most important rules are:

• Bikers yield to hikers and horses

• Hikers yield to Horses

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Basic Trail Etiquette

• Stay on the trail. Do not cut switchbacks or take shortcuts.

• Stay to the right on wider paths.

• Pass on the left.

• When overtaking someone, let them know you are approaching and will be passing on their left. You may hear a biker call out, "On your Left!" as he comes up from behind. That means you should stay to your right.

• Whenever you stop for a view, a rest, or to yield, move off the trail so it is free for others. If you are selecting the spot for a rest, get off on a used area or a durable surface such as a rock, dirt, or snow. Don't just trample off the trail into a nice soft field of grass and flowers.

• Hikers going uphill are working hard and should be given the right of way over hikers coming downhill. Sometimes uphill hikers will prefer to stop and let you pass coming down so they can get a short break. The uphill hiker should get to make the call.

• Greet people you meet. This makes sure they know you are there and is polite. A simple "Howdy" or "Nice Day" is fine.

• When hiking in a group, yield to single or pair hikers. It's harder for a group to get off the trail so often times singles will stop and let you all pass, but its their call.

• When hiking in a group, hike single file or take no more than half of a wide trail. Make sure everyone in your group understands what actions to take when encountering hikers, bikers, and horses.

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We have a lot of horses on the trails in Cave Creek. Bikers are fast and can stop and go easily so they let everything else have the right of way. Horses are big and unpredictable so they get the right of way, bikes also scare horses and falls from horses can be fatal. The riders want nothing else than for everyone to be safe and get you past them on your way!

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• Please announce your presence and allow the horse rider to gain control of the animal.

• Get off the trail on the downhill side. Horses will tend to bolt uphill when spooked. Also, you waiting on the uphill side looks more like a predator waiting to pounce.

• Quietly greet the rider and ask if you are ok where you are.

• Stand quietly while the horses pass.

• Please Hike Quietly. Echos are fun, but keep conversations quiet and enjoy the lack of horns, engines, and city noises. There is such a thing as noise pollution.

• Don't leave any markers when hiking off-trail. Cairns, ducks, or little piles of rocks are not needed.

• Read trailhead guidelines. There may be specific rules for the trail you are on.

• Pack It In - Pack It Out.

• Take a Pictures not momentos...