Arizona Off-Road Trails

Canal Road begins off the paved Aguila Road. It runs parallel to a major powerline and the Central Arizona Project Canal, which moves water from the Colorado River to Arizona's major cities. Canal Road is a convenient entry point for exploring the ruggedly scenic Belmont Mountains. Canal Road connects with Vulture Mine Road and W. W. Enterprize Mine. The trail is relatively easy, with one hill climb with an 18-degree maximum grade.

Several large flat campsites near the east end of the trail are suitable for large groups and toy haulers.

As the California Gold Rush wound down, miners moved eastward along The Bradshaw Trail to prospect in the Arizona Territory. Hardy men found silver in a mine named Signal on the north side of the remote Artillery Mountains near the Big Sandy River. The nearby McCraken Mine also produced silver. The town of Signal sprung up to support both mines. By 1877 it had a post office and approximately 800 residents. Being so remote, it took six months to deliver any goods ordered. By 1932 the town had dwindled, and the post office closed. Today what little remains of the town sits on private land. However, a sometimes caretaker can occasionally be induced to allow access. The remnants of the mine are still present and easily visited. Signal Road provides easy access to a remote and seldom visited part of Arizona and its early history. The Sonoran and Mojave Deserts meet in a rare mix of Joshua trees and saguaro cacti. Dark skies provide incredible stargazing from sandy campsites along the road.

Running from the Chino Valley in the west across a range of hills to the Verde Valley in the east, Chino-Perkinsville crosses through private property and enters the Prescott National Forest.  On the west end, the road begins in the hamlet of Chino Valley.  The first few miles are paved.  The road transitions to well-maintained dirt with minor washboarding as it traverses vast rolling prairies where pronghorn antelope graze alongside cattle from the region's large ranches.  

Reaching the foothills, the trail enters the Prescott National Forest snaking through a juniper-dominated chaparral landscape.  Atop the range of foothills just before a steep switchback, a surprise pullout with a bench beckons you to stop and admire the views of Verde Valley and the red rocks of the Mogollon Rim.  While you can't make out Sedona, it isn't far away.

The road descends in the Verde Valley and intersects the Jerome-Perkinsville Road just south of the one-lane steel bridge over the Verde River.

Camping is scarce along the road.  However, an excellent site with views west of the top of the switchbacks can accommodate several vehicles.

Mahan Ranch starts in the pristine Ponderosa pine woodlands of the Coconino National Forest. The road skirts the forested southern slopes of Hutch Mountain before passing through a section of private property, once the headquarters of the namesake Mahan Ranch. Today the cattle you see grazing summer pastures belong to the Apache Maid ranch, one of Arizona's earliest and most storied ranching operations. Periodically the pines give way to flowery alpine meadows, parks in local parlance. The road is smooth and well-traveled, but that will change. The intersection with Bargaman Park marks a change in the road. At first, the trail just seems narrower. Then the dirt surface turns to a jumble of rock. Then comes the embedded boulders. Loose items in your vehicle begin a journey of their own. Cattle watch you pass with a bit of surprise. Don't despair. It gets a little better after two miles of testing the quality of your dental fillings. Mahan Ranch breaks out onto Anderson Mesa, leaving the pine forest behind in favor of more open savanna grasslands with long views of mountain promontories far away. Here the trail is abasic two-track snaking out ahead. Tall grasses swipe the undercarriage of your vehicle. Cresting a ridge, picturesque Pine Tank leaps into your view. The beauty of Anderson Mesa makes you forget the rough rocky trail behind you. But don't worry, you will be reminded again. Unfortunately, Mahan Ranch, despite what maps may show, comes to an inglorious end at a sign informing the traveler of a locked gate ahead. The gate serves to protect a fragile habitat used by the more permanent residents of the area. The unused roadbed can be traversed on foot. The reverse route back does require enduring the rough section, but the adventure is definitely worth the price.

Fry Lake is a popular place for cattle grazing in the summertime. The cows are typically brought up from the Verde Valley via Jerome Road. It's a beautiful meadow full of flowers in the summertime and typically snowed over in the winter.

Rolls 1814 will provide access from 1813 to Saguaro Cove #1. The beginning of the trail is rocky, has one small hill climb, then a larger hill descent that leads to a wash. The remaining segment is easy all the way down to the lake. There are some blind, high-banked corners. Use caution here as this is a very popular area, and you will most likely have oncoming traffic. Some pinstripes are likely running closer to the lake. The beach area is fairly large and can be used for camping. If you arrive early, you may be able to acquire a spot under one of the overhanging trees that will provide shade.

Please note that an OHV permit is now required on this trail.

Trail 3431 is an easy trail that starts at a junction with trail 1345 and takes you to Saguaro Lake Cove #4. It is comprised of deep sand with some high-banked turns. You will earn some Arizona pinstripes along the way as the trees and bushes lean into the trail. As you get to the cove, watch for low-hanging branches from the trees above. Once at the lake, you will find multiple areas to camp under the shade of the trees. Numerous fire rings are available for use. This is a wonderful area to swim, fish, kayak, or paddleboard.

Please note that an OHV permit is now required on this trail.

Ajax Mine Road is a moderately rough and rocky trail that parallels the Lower and Upper Ajax Technical Vehicle trails. The road starts at the Five Points intersection and travels east to connect with Telegraph Canyon Road. The road is the primary exit route from the Ajax TV trails and Highway to Hell. But Ajax Mine Road is a great beginner trail and suitable for any high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle. The road has a few narrow washout sections, but with careful line choice, they should not be a problem for most 4x4s. The road ends at the Ajax Mine, an abandoned lead mine that ceased operation in 1916.

Several spots along the road can be utilized for vehicle camping. Halfway through the trail, one of these wide campsites marks the location of a rare crested saguaro.

MST&T provides a scenic gateway into the northwestern portion of the 1042 square mile Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. In 1939 this area was designated the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge after an extensive effort by the Arizona Boy Scouts. The purpose of the refuge was to secure habitat for a decreasing population of desert bighorn sheep. Today the desert bighorns are flourishing in the rugged mountain ranges found in the sanctuary. However, you are more likely to see mule deer along the MST&T since most of the road traverses a broad desert valley filled with stately saguaro and prickly cholla cacti. Ironwood and paloverde trees line the numerous sandy washes. Years ago, Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph (MST&T) operated a microwave tower on a hilltop in the Livingston Hills at the end of this road. Today, the tower is gone, but a caretaker trailer and a picnic table remain. The reward for a drive to the top is fantastic views of the northern portion of the vast Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. Kofa is famous for amazing sunsets. Viewing one from this vantage point is a special treat. You can even camp on top of the hill.

This is a short easy to access trail, about a mile long, with some side roads for 4x4 exploring. The site now belongs to Pima County and is fenced off and marked with abundant "No Trespassing signs. You can still pick your way through the desert and up to the fence, without crossing it, and see the remains of the silo. You can also play around in the mud on the edges of Missile Tank, a cattle pond just to the west. Or you can try out some of the offshoot trails which offer different challenges.

If you want to experience what a real working cattle ranch is like, the Youtcy Pasture Trail has what you are looking for. Various cattle tanks alongside the road are usually full or partially full of water. This brings scores of thirsty cattle into the area, and you will likely see many of them on your trip. There's also other ranching infrastructure, including cattle guards and corrals. But this isn't the real reason to run this trail. The white knuckle section, the Plunge, descends 600 feet in approximately 3/4 of a mile. The last portion that drops into the canyon is about 30° of pitch.

Dutch Flat Road is on BLM land just over the mountains east of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. On this trail, you will see several distinct, unique mountain peaks poking up from the horizon, Castaneda Peak at 2651', McCracken Peak at 3524', and Aubrey Peak at 2569' elevation. To the south is the Aubrey Peak Wilderness Area, which is part of the Rawhide Mountains. To the east is the McCracken Mountains and the home of the historic McCracken silver mine. The views of the mountains and numerous peaks are great! In addition, this beautiful drive provides access to several other trails and intersects with the Arizona Peace Trail (AZPT) and Standard Wash just south of Lake Havasu City. This is an excellent trail for anyone to get out and enjoy and allows access to many other trails and old mines scattered along the south side of the Mohave Mountains.

We had long discussed finding a passage that skirted the northeastern corner of the Yuma Proving Grounds. Crossing the Proving Grounds was a no-go for obvious reasons -- no trespassing signs, unexploded ordinance, live weapons firing, and possible death, to name just a few. This trail is called Norton Road because it begins on Norton Road. But Norton eventually goes directly into the Proving Grounds and, in effect, ends at the associated no trespassing sign. So we turn east onto a remnant of the old Red Raven Road and follow it until cornering south on BLM road YE08 and then veering southeast on BLM YE043 at the eastern end of the Tank Mountains. Confusing, isn't it? Not really. Just follow the track, check off the waypoints, and enjoy the adventure! Simply getting to the trailhead on Hovatter Road is a scenic adventure. Norton Road drops out of the ruggedly beautiful Little Horn Mountains onto the broad Palomas Plain, a wide flat valley of stately saguaro, firestick ocotillo, and the omnipresent creosote bushes. The plain is cut by washes large and small, all thickly lined with palo verde, mesquite, and other thorny shrubs, all eager to add more pinstriping to your rig. To the south, hills comprised entirely of jet-black basalt boulders rise ominously from the otherwise level Palomas Plain. Our trail ends by intersecting with the Palomas Harquahala Road, another great trail running through the Palomas Plain up to the Eagletail Wilderness and beyond. Now there is a proven route around the Proving Grounds. All that is left is for you to go explore it. Enjoy.

Located in northern Arizona, within a vast area known as the Arizona Strip, the Mount Trumbull Scenic Loop is a picturesque drive through the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument that takes drivers through nearly every aspect of terrain the monument offers. Cutting through the desert, shrubland, and montane habitats, drivers are rewarded with picturesque views of deep canyons, vast valleys, lonely buttes, and 8,000-foot mountains.

The southern section of CR 5 travels east to west through significantly different terrain than the other two sections of the Mount Trumbull Loop. This section ascends a half-mile-long dugway constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps into mountainous terrain with a ponderosa pine forest reaching 6,800 feet. The road is continuously rocky and rough, only 1.5 vehicles wide across the dugway. Drivers of this road are rewarded with plenty of scenic views, including the 8,028-foot Mount Trumbull and 7,866-foot Mount Logan. The trail passes a historic sawmill site that once supplied lumber to build the St. George Morman Temple in the 1870s. It also offers a short side trip to petroglyphs at Nampaweap.

There is substantial dispersed camping along this road, with many large sites suitable for groups or multiple vehicles.

This road is suitable for any high clearance 4WD vehicle, and it is highly recommended to air down to make the ride more comfortable due to the roughness of the road surface.

Located in Flagstaff and the Coconino National Forest, Little Elden Springs Road is a short useful connector road up the eastern flank of Mount Elden. It is the faster way to the high-elevation hiking trailheads and mountain biking off Schultz Pass. There is also access to horse trails along Little Elden Springs Road, and a fun rock garden for kids to play on at Waypoint 4.