Estrella Road

BLM 8002 is mainly a connector road from Komatke Road on the North, to Maricopa Road and the Estrella Road Parking Area on the south. It is a corridor to Margie's Cove East trailhead and also the Butterfield Pass. The road is mostly overgrown, 4x4 is strongly recommended as there is a short section of a silt bed that you have to drive through, and a large off-camber section that low-clearance vehicles may have difficulty on. Good tire placement and attention will make these sections a breeze. Avoid this road if it has been raining, as most of the road traverses through a wash.

The first 0.9 miles is a fairly open dirt road. Once you pass the northeasternmost tip of the Maricopa wilderness area, the trail starts to follow a wash. Much of the trail is overgrown and expect significant pinstriping to occur throughout the next 3 miles. There is a small area suitable for camping just after the 3-mile point (33.10425, -112.43792). At the 6.11-mile mark, the road splits. Continue to the left to stay on 8002. The road on the right is 8002A and will take you to Margie’s Cove East Trailhead. 8.55 miles from the beginning of this trail marks the intersection of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail/Historic Butterfield Stage Trail. The trail continues and gets a bit rough, being at the foothills of the mountains. At the 10.44-mile mark, the road widens and turns into a very well-maintained and graveled road for the last 2.4 miles. The trail terminates at Maricopa Road. There is a large parking lot there with picnic tables available for day use.