South Fork Road turns off FR 42 near Sunny Flat Campground. FR 42 is still paved at this point.
A gate was installed a few years ago near the beginning of the road into Cave Creek Canyon. From this gate it is about 0.85 miles to the bridge near the cabins up canyon. Another landmark along the road is a "1 Mile" marker sign near a weird rock formation we call "mud rock". The distance from the entry gate at start of road to mudrock is about 0.4 miles.
It is roughly 0.47 miles from the bridge to the old picnic area and old Trailhead Parking lot.
A berm now blocks the road about 0.1 miles from bridge. Thus, you need to walk about one-third of a mile along remnants of old road to reach the old picnic area.
GPS Points
Parking lot
Total distance to "Bath Tub" (deep clear pool near huge rocks on either side of stream) = approx 0.7 miles from old SF Trailhead.
Trail begins on right off Herb Martyr Road approx 0.6 miles from turn-off by Southwest Research Station onto Herb Martyr Road. A wash crosses the road here and trail starts up wash. A Trail head for Snowshed Trail (with parking area) is on left side of road. Stonewall runs along right side of road just past wash. Going up wash, you will soon notice trail climbs out of wash on right hand side under tree. Follow this to where it crosses creek. Trail goes very steeply up and over a ridge, then down into wash and up again. This stretch, although short, can be very treaacherous. An old sign is near here. Follow trail up rocky and brushy hillside to cave entrance. Cave entry is blocked with a locked gate. Cave has been heavily vandalized (formations removed/destroyed in the past).
Trail begins at picnic area. Descend on a narrow path at left (south) edge of parking lot. Immediately cross small stream (perhaps dry) and then climb up to left toward a sign giving distances to Ash Spring, Snowshed and Basin Trails. Continue approx on level for about 0.25 miles, where another sign directs you to the right (northwest) to Ash Spring.
Sign here indicates 1 mile to spring. Soon thereafter, trail passes through metal gate. Trail is a little steep and very rocky along first part. Area has been burnt, but not badly.
Trail meanders across a couple of washes and up a juniper/oak covered open slope, then switches left into oak and pine. Approx half hour from parking lot, trail runs along a small permanent (or nearly so) creek. Big trees: Douglas Fir, Sycamore, Ash, Silver Leaf Oak. Area here has been burnt too, but not too badly.
Cross creek and trail jogs sharply right. Ash Spring is about another quarter mile farther on. Trail passes through open weedy, pine needle covered ground, which has been pretty badly burnt.
Note: Although based on USGS topo map, the trail alignment as shown is incorrect.
Ash Spring may also be reached from the north. The trail turns left (south) off a rough jeep road labeled "Greenhouse Trail" along the Herb Martyr Road. Access at this end was not permitted, following the Horseshoe II Fire, summer of 2011. It is possible to drive up the rough Jeep trail to quite near the trail to Ash Springs. This is a more level walk than from Herb Martyr Picnic area. Distance is about the same, however.
This popular trail follows the South Fork of Cave Creek. It begins at the South Fork picnic area and then runs for miles more into the upper reaches of Cave Creek Canyon. The area up to Maple Camp was essentially untouched by the recent fires.
A sign at start of trail gives distances to Maple Camp (1.5 miles); Horseshoe Saddle (5 miles); Horseshoe Road (7 miles); Sentinel Peak (8 miles).
A few minutes after leaving the picnic area, the trail enters the Chiricahua Wilderness (marked by a large sign on the right). A hundred or so feet farther the trail dips down to the first stream crossing.
The second stream crossing is at spot where the trail is often poorly marked. Sometimes there's a log bridge here. Other times you have to wade, rock-hop, or get wet feet.
The trail then runs along a narrow elevated stretch above the creek (which will be on your left) and then reaches a third stream crossing. This one is shallow and usually fairly easy to rock-hop across.
Just before the fourth stream crossing you will notice on your left (East) a deep pool below a small waterfall. This pool is known as the "Bath-tub," although floods following the Horseshoe II fire in 2011 have essentially filled the tub with small, loose rocks.
Note: For much of the summer of 2012, the creek was dry at most of the "stream" crossings.