Northeast Valley

Selecting the Northeast Valley to be home is an easy decision. There is something for everyone! With three towns (Cave Creek, Carefree, and Fountain Hills), Paradise Valley Village, and the city of Scottsdale, the Northeast Valley is a hot spot for creating a relaxed outdoor lifestyle.

Location is important when selecting an area to live. The Loop 101 Freeway stretches north and south through the center of the majority of the Northeast Valley. This makes easy access to all areas of the Valley. Convenient highway travel helps residents get around.Northeast Valley Homes

The Northeast Valley offers a wide range of choices when is comes to where to live. There are upscale resort style country club and golf course communities, which offer secluded multi-million dollar contemporary homes on large lots with views. At the same time there are convenient urban style single family homes that are surrounded by libraries, parks, and schools. Property choices such as condominiums, townhouses, and patio homes are available. There are properties available for retirees, professionals, and families. The Northeast Valley has a home that will suit anyone’s need.

Living in the Northeast Valley

Some of the Valley’s finest restaurants and shops are located in Scottsdale. This contemporary city has it own unique flair. The Northeast Valley is a combination of Southwest culture and refined luxury. It is best known for its resorts, fine restaurants, golf courses, galleries, and one of a kind shops, and luxury properties. Living options in Scottsdale range from condominiums to custom estate mountain view properties. For those who don’t want to skimp on anything, Scottsdale is the perfect place to live, work, and play.

Both Carefree and Cave Creek are towns that give visitors and residents amazing views of the city of Phoenix. These towns are set in the desert mountain area, in the northernmost section of the Valley. Both towns offer secluded areas with a mix of rustic ranches to million dollar estate properties. A laidback western attitude combined with a unique desert environment makes these towns popular places to call home.

Fountain Hills is a town located in the mountain area to the east of Phoenix. It is a town tucked in the McDowell Mountains known for its solitude and beauty. This master planned community boasts having the highest fountain in the world. The town’s namesake shoots a jet stream of water into the air on a predictable pattern each day. Fountain Hills has a hometown feeling and great golf courses to boot. Fountain Hills properties are perfect for retirees wanting a patio home or condominium. There are homes on large lots with custom features that are ideal for those who want to take in the beauty of the desert landscape. Properties are available for anyone’s needs.

Paradise Valley Village is a part of the city of Phoenix. There are 15 villages that make up the entire metro Phoenix area. One village is in the Northeast Valley. The name Paradise Valley Village confuses many with the town of Paradise Valley. Although they are similar in name the locations are very different. Paradise Valley Village is a unique blend of shopping, residential developments, and employment. The Indian Bend Wash and the City of Phoenix Mountain Preserve System provide residents with hiking, picnicking, biking, walking, and jogging. Open space is a part of Paradise Valley Village.
Northeast Valley Outdoor Recreation

The Northeast Valley is showcased by its amazing mountains that edge most of this area. To the north is the Black Mountain Summit Preserve. This towering mountain virtually divides the two towns of Carefree and Cave Creek, with Carefree to the east and Cave Creek to the west. To the northeast the McDowell Mountains separate the city of Scottsdale on the east with the town of Fountain Hills sitting above. The McDowell Mountain Regional Park covers 21,000 acres. Visitors to McDowell Mountain Regional Park can choose among nearly 50 miles of trails.

There is however, one mountain in the Northeast Valley that stands above all others. Camelback Mountain, in the southwestern section by Scottsdale, provides amazing views whether you are on or off the mountain. There are sheer red rock cliffs that rise in certain places up to 200 feet high. Spotting the camel (the mountain’s namesake) sitting on the ground resting, with its head facing west can best be seen either on the north or south sides of the mountain. Another popular rock formation can also be found at the western edge of Camelback Mountain. It is a “Praying Monk” kneeling on the mountainside. Camelback Mountain’s rich deep red color is magnified during sunset making this mountain one of the most notable in the Valley of the Sun.

This area has so much to offer its visitors and residents. With over 300 days of sunshine in the Valley of the Sun, outdoor fun is part of life in the Northeast Valley. Both Bartlett Lake and Saguaro Lake are not far from any point within the area. These lakes provide water skiing, jet skiing, and boating opportunities all year round. If a lazy trip down a river is more your style, then head out to either the Salt River or Verde River. These rivers offer tube rides, especially during the warm summer months. There are so many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors when you live in the Northeast Valley.

Towns/City/Village in the Northeast Valley

Although the Northeast Valley covers a large section of the Valley of the Sun, there are only a few towns and only one city that are included in this area.  The towns of Cave Creek, Carefree, and Fountain Hills all sit on the outer northeastern parts of the Northeast Valley.  All of these towns offer a small town friendly atmosphere.  Scottsdale is the only city that is part of the Northeast Valley.  It is a large city that is well known to many tourists.  The city of Scottsdale boasts its award winning resorts, outstanding restaurants, famous galleries, and specialty shops.  It is the place to be!  There is only one village in the Northeast Valley.  Although the city of Phoenix is comprised of 15 villages, only Paradise Valley Village reaches over to the Northeast Valley.

Town of Fountain Hills

Fountain Hills Location

The town of Fountain Hills is the perfect refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life.  It is a place to escape from the urban sprawl that is occurring in parts of the Valley of the Sun.  The city of Scottsdale is to the west, along with most of the other Valley of the Sun cities and towns.  There are more than 11,000 acres that make up the town of Fountain Hills.  The town sits 500 feet above capital city in the McDowell Mountains,

Residents use two main roadways to get to other parts of the Valley of the Sun from Fountain Hills.  The Beeline Highway (State Highway 87) which runs to the southeast of town and Shea Road travels from the city of Scottsdale into Fountain Hills from the west.  Fountain Hills is located about 30 miles from downtown Phoenix.  Fountain Hills is secluded and lies in the desert’s natural beauty.

Fountain Hills Properties

Those searching for properties in Fountain Hills will discover a variety of choices.  The town is popular for both retirees and families.  Golf course properties, custom homes, estates on expansive lots, condominiums, patio homes, and single family homes are available.  Properties provide privacy and an opportunity to take in the beauty of the desert.

Although, the Fountain Hills is off the beaten path, the town still provides its residents all the comforts and conveniences necessary.  Shopping, schools, and business are all found within the boundaries of Fountain Hills.  It is a charming, friendly community that boasts a backdrop of breathtaking desert mountain scenery.

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Fountain Hills History

The town’s layout can be traced back to the late1960’s, when Charles Wood Jr. was hired by Robert McCulloch of McCulloch Properties.  Mr. Wood is known for his work in Anaheim, California on the design of Disneyland.  He helped plan and create the design of Fountain Hills.  Prior to the McCulloch ownership, this area was part of one of the largest cattle ranches in Arizona.

Fountain Hills Entertainment

Today, the town’s motto is “All that is Arizona.”  This all encompassing motto is reflected in the center of town at a man made lake.  Here, visitors will find the world’s tallest, continually flowing fountain.  The fountain shoots a spray of water into the air, at a distance of over 550 feet, approximately every 15 minutes.  This geyser of water shoots five feet taller than the Washington Monument.  The early developers chose the fountain to differentiate the town from others.  The fountain continues to bring people to this area each year.

Its small town friendly atmosphere draws many to Fountain Hills.  The annual Great Fair in February and Fountain Festival of the Arts and Crafts in November make Fountain Hills the ideal hometown.  The town is a blend of individuals who have earned their fortunes, to those who are just setting out to earn theirs.  Today, many retirees and families select Fountain Hills as their home.  Experiencing all of life and nature’s beauty is what living in Fountain Hills is all about.

Fountain Hills Outdoor Recreation

Another landmark along the northeastern horizon of town is Four Peaks Mountain.  The peaks rise up past 7,500 feet into the air, surpassing all others in the Valley of the Sun.  Four Peaks Mountain is within the Tonto National Forest where approximately 40 miles of trails are available for hikers.

Outdoor enthusiasts call the town of Fountain Hills home.  Saguaro Lake is a little over 10 miles northeast of town and Bartlett Lake is about 50 miles north.  Visitors to these local lakes will find swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, waterskiing, and much more.

Golfing is another outdoor sport that is very popular in town.  There are several local golf courses and spectacular resort club styled courses located nearby.  Residents enjoy playing rounds of golf year round.  Fountain Hills has become an outdoor lover’s haven.

Town of Cave Creek

Cave Creek Location

In the northern reaches of the Northeast Valley sits the town of Cave Creek.  Metro Phoenix and Scottsdale are to the south of town.  Cave Creek is sandwiched between Black Mountain Summit Preserve on the southeast, Cave Creek Recreational Area on the west, and the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area to the north.  All of these outdoor areas provide residents and visitors with town breathtaking views.

Carefree residents have several options when traveling to other parts of the Valley of the Sun.  Carefree Highway (State Highway 74) runs east and west along the southern boundary of Cave Creek and Cave Creek Road travels north and south, to and from Phoenix flowing directly into the community.

Cave Creek Properties

One of kind estate properties can be found set back within desert mountains, along with more affordable smaller homes and ranches that are also available in Cave Creek.  Golf courses are located nearby which offer views along the golf course edge.  The natural beauty of the area has drawn people to Cave Creek over the years, making the town a special place to live, work, and play year round.

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Cave Creek History

The town of Cave Creek began back in 1874, with William Rowe.  Rowe was a miner, who discovered gold on Gold Hill, just northeast of what is now the town of Cave Creek.  Soon, the Cave Creek Mistress Mine came into being.

You can still visit the Cave Creek Mistress Mine today.  However, the mine is now called the Cave Creek Mistress Gold Mine and Rock Shop.  The mine’s address is 45402 North Seven Springs Road.  It is located about 10 miles from the intersection of Tom Darlington Road and Cave Creek Road.  Visitors will be able to see what a gold mine looked like long ago.

Cave Creek Entertainment

From the town’s early beginnings, Cave Creek has never lost its old west friendly feeling.  Today, rustic shops, western boutiques, Native American arts and crafts, horse back riding ranches, restaurants, and cowboy bars make up a majority of Cave Creek Road.

Cave Creek Road is the main thoroughfare through the town of Cave Creek.  The road begins in Phoenix and travels along the desert valley floor approximately 15 miles north up into Cave Creek.  Then the road then meanders through town and winds its way eastward through the town of Carefree and continues on into Scottsdale.

Cave Creek Outdoor Recreation

Cave Creek’s ideal location, in the northern most edge of the Northeast Valley, makes it perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.  Both Bartlett Lake and the Verde River are within a stones throw away.  This makes it easy to dip into the cool water for tubing, waterskiing, jet skiing, or water fun.  Hiking and horseback riding are other popular outdoor activities.  Trails are sprinkled all over the surrounding area for both hikers and horses to wander.  Cave Creek is a great place to spend time outside.

Both residents and visitors to Cave Creek have found that this desert community offers spectacular views and a variety of native plants and wildlife.  The Tonto National Forest borders the town to north and the east.  Black Mountain towers over the town on the east, separating it from its sister town of Carefree.  Cave Creek is special.  There are tall stately saguaros and mountains that encircle the town.  The community blends its old west history with its small town charm in such a way that many have decided not to leave and instead make Cave Creek their home.