Walker Gulch Trail

The first half of the trail offers a smooth, easy dirt drive filled with fun twists and turns through a classic desert landscape. You will wind through scenic groves of towering saguaro cactus, mesquite, and vibrant palo verde trees. While you will encounter several wash crossings along this section, the terrain remains highly manageable and makes for a relaxed, scenic cruise. However, keep a close eye on the weather before heading out, as these low-lying areas are prone to sudden, dangerous flooding during the summer monsoons. When dry, this section is suitable for any high clearance vehicle. If wet, a high clearance 4x4 with good offroad tires is necessary, because the trail will become muddy and slippery. If really wet, avoid this section.

The second half of the trail cranks up the difficulty as you begin climbing into higher elevations. You will face off-camber ruts, steep ascents and descents, more wash crossings, and extended sections of driving directly in washes filled with loose river rocks. Rock sizes vary from baseball to basketball-sized, but you can maneuver around most of the larger ones. The vegetation eventually shifts to juniper trees and manzanita, which may crowd the narrow track closely enough that paint pinstripes are possible. You will find a few primitive campsites tucked away in this rugged section, but because the trail is tight with limited visibility, you must stay alert and watch for oncoming traffic around every corner. Any high clearance 4x4 vehicle can complete this section, but it may be challenging for beginners.

The trail is a popular alternate route to and from the town of Crown King, avoiding the challenges of the Backway to Crown King trail. Take Walker Gulch Trail north, to Wagoner Road east, to Senator Highway south.