Arizona Off-Road Trails

Located in central Arizona, West Bloody Basin Road was vital to ranchers and miners before paved roads were introduced into this wide valley. Driving along the winding desert road today, you still see ranchers with large stock trailers moving cattle to market or greener pastures. Located almost exclusively on BLM land, it is common to see branded cattle grazing among flowering prickly pear cacti. The trail contours along gently sloping hills, leading you away from the speeding traffic of the nearby interstate and back in time to a slower-paced era. High points offer impressive views of the nearby Bradshaw Mountains, home to many turn-of-the-century mining operations. To the southeast, the canvas-tan, dried grass flatlands of Perry Mesa and the Agua Fria National Monument are often in view.

Spanning two very unique ecosystems in the vast Coconino National Forest, Kinnikinnick Road is a very scenic route. While the southern section sees many visitors on their way to Kinnikinnick Lake or simply to camp among the majestic Ponderosa Pines, the northern half is less traveled. Typically only ranchers and hunters venture up onto the wide-open grasslands of Anderson Mesa. However, the solitude offers a peaceful opportunity to contemplate the amazing views of the San Francisco Peaks in the distance or the tall grasses and wildflowers swaying in the cool breezes. While Kinnikinnick Road is a worthy destination on its own, those with a penchant for traveling longer distances on dirt can connect to FR 126 in the north and Anderson Mesa South to create quite the adventure. Given the many offshoots from Anderson Mesa South, a variety of all dirt routes from Interstate 40 south to Camp Verde become possible. Taken in that light, Kinnikinnick Road becomes the linchpin for classic overland adventures.

Starting off Highway 93, Wickenburg Alamo Road runs 34 miles across a desert plain to end on the shores of Alamo Lake. A large staging area suitable for camping sits near the trailhead. The first four miles of the trail have slick mudholes, deep ruts, and a washed-out gully crossing. Later, the trail has patches of deep sand before becoming a wide, well-maintained road as it crosses out of Yapaipai County and into Lapaz County. The trail ends in a spiderweb of side trails near Alamo Lake. A stock 4WD is the minimum recommended vehicle for this trail. Width is not an issue.  

Wickenburg Alamo passes through a vast forest of Joshua trees. Black Mountain dominates the northern skyline in the early miles of the trail. Later, the trail passes the head of a canyon formed by Date Creek and descends slowly towards the manmade Alamo Lake, formed in 1968 by damming the Bill Williams River. The lake is a popular fishing destination and sees many winter visitors.

While there are scattered dispersed campsites along the length of the trail, most of the camping is near Alamo Lake. Countless dispersed campsites range in size from single vehicles to ones supporting up to 10 RVs. Numerous spur trails branch off near the lake to provide campsites with a view of the lake and a few on the lakeshore. The easternmost 8 miles of trail are on Arizona State trust land and require a permit to camp. Otherwise, dispersed camping is limited to 14 days.

Feral burros frequent the area around Alamo Lake. Their trails through the desert are obvious and often scattered with droppings. The burros are not aggressive unless threatened and are often very shy.

Nearby Alamo State Park has boat launches, a visitor center, and several campgrounds. The commercial Wayside Oasis RV Park has campsites with hookups, a small store with gas, and a cafe. It also has a dirt airstrip.

Larger rigs or 2WD vehicles wishing to camp near the lake can access the area via Alamo Road from Wenden, AZ, and take Park Road into the dispersed camping areas along Wickennburg Alamo Road.

Two Shoes Ranch Road is an easy, hard-packed dirt road that travels along the northwest edge of Lake Pleasant Regional Park to the Humbug Creek delta. The road is 3-4 vehicles wide the entire way and offers a half dozen great campsites that overlook Lake Pleasant. Many spur roads in the area also lead to great campsites. The sites are generally hard-packed gravel, relatively level, and can accommodate everything from a single vehicle to a small group of 2-3 vehicles. Travel trailers are not recommended, but small offroad trailers and off-road vans would not have any issues. The road has a few loose gravel hills with 4-6 inch rock steps. Those are easily navigated due to the road's width. The route begins on BLM land and enters the regional park boundary just before reaching Humbug Creek. A park permit is required to enter the Lake Pleasant Regional Park. This trail is suitable for any high clearance vehicle.

Sycamore Pass Road, FR 525C, is a branch trail from the main dirt drag of FR 525. This easy dirt road leads to iconic Sedona area offroad trails and hiking areas. At times this road may be closed due to weather-related flooding or washouts. Please watch for closure signs in the roadway.

Connecting OHV trails include Casner Mountain, which requires a permit required for vehicles over 62 inches wide, Powerline Trail, and Ranch Loop. There is an information board at the intersection of the Powerline Trail and FR 525C.

The Robber's Roost hiking trail and Hole in Rock are a short drive down Forest Road 9530.

FR525C ends with a turnaround and parking area at the Dogie hiking trailhead. The hiking trail goes up and over Sycamore Pass down into the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness.

No camping or campfires are permitted along this trail. Please use the designated campsites along Loy Butte Road, FR525.

Canyon Loop, FR 164B, is a good place for dispersed trailer camping, and a good place to do some forest restoration tourism. This dirt road, while rough, offers abundant dispersed camping for your RV, trailer, or out of your car, without crowding or fees. The setting is the beautiful Ponderosa Pine forest of the Coconino National Forest. The forest is undergoing restoration under the Fort Valley Restoration Project, and you will have a chance to see your tax dollars at work improving the health of this once-overgrown forest. It's not the most choice camping destination in Flagstaff, but it is free, uncrowded, conveniently located by Snowbowl, and easily accessible. And if you're feeling adventurous, this is a great way to cut the corner from US-180 to Snowbowl Road, adding half an hour of time but making the drive more interesting. As a bonus, you'll have access to the Fort Valley Trail and the Moto Trail, which are good places to mountain bike and which connect with the Arizona Trail.

Step back in time to the Arizona Yucca Mine, an early 1900s gold mine where well-preserved artifacts such as an arrastra, vertical mineshaft, gravestones, and an old stacked rock foundation offer a glimpse into the past. The trail's highlight is the arrastra, a unique piece of history that horses or mules may have powered to crush ore in hopes of striking it rich or, as life would have it, finding a little more gold dust than the last time. The miners who worked these mines endured inhospitable conditions, facing the desert's unrelenting heat and clear blue skies in search of precious metals. Explore the nearby Chemehueyis Mine Prospects and other historic sites in the area, where the gravesites pay tribute to the hardships they endured.

This Arizona Yucca Mine article dives deeper into this specific mine.

Water is life in the desert. Places where water collects are called pockets in the deserts of the Southwest. These relatively verdant pockets are gathering places for animals and humans. Native tribes knew the large rock cisterns carved into a tight slot canyon of a sandstone ridge would collect and hold the water from infrequent rains. Early settlers often improved on these natural features. Pa's Pocket is such a place. James Bundy, a prominent Mormon settler who lived near Mount Trumbell, built a dam in 1920 to capture and hold the runoff rainwater in this slick rock sandstone canyon to support cattle ranching in the area. Atwood and Ben Bundy built the cabin in 1945. Pa's Pocket is an oasis in a beautiful but parched landscape. The small canyon leading to the dam is often 20 degrees cooler than the surrounding environment. The trail to Pa's Pocket is scenic and just challenging enough to keep things interesting. The Pocket is a great payoff for the effort. Please respectfully visit the area and admire both the natural beauty and the efforts of the hardy people who lived in this land.

Located in the eastern reaches of the vast Coconino National Forest, Dane Ridge cuts through a deep forest of Ponderosa pines. Near the higher southern end of the trail, spruce and fir trees join the pines evoking an alpine forest more reminiscent of Colorado than Arizona. Elk, deer, and turkey sightings are commonplace along the delightful track. As its name implies, Dane Ridge rides along the ridgeline between Dane Canyon on the west and Yeager Canyon on the east. The ridge narrows in several places where travelers are simultaneously looking down the wooded slope of each canyon. A highly recommended side trip is to Dane Springs and Dane Cabin. At Waypoint 5, FR 321A goes off west to some fantastic camping and a small parking lot with a wood rail fence. A short hike west down into Dane Canyon ends at Dane Spring and the remnants of Dane Cabin. The spring, flowing from under a huge boulder, is one of the most reliable and tastiest water sources in the area. The spring has been boxed and now flows out a short pipe. The cabin nearby was once the Fall hunting base for renowned western novel author Zane Grey. Dane Ridge ends at the iconic Rim Road and a spectacular view off the edge of the Mogollon Rim. There are several campsites nearby right on the edge of the Rim for a night under the stars where you feel like you are on top of the world.

What will you find along this trail in the desert outside Bullhead City, Arizona? Thumb Butte, a stripper pole, bras and panties in a tree and a way to reach Secret Pass. This rough dirt trail includes sections of sand, small rocks, some moderately steep hills, and a short, narrow shelf road. Stock 4x4s and new wheelers should do fine through here but will want to take it slow through the hills.

Hunting! This is the main reason you’ll be using FR 9129D. Alto Spring is a game hotspot​ (in wet years) and excellent hunting territory. During the Fall, the aspens turn golden. You’ll also find many prime campsites on side trails, with great views of the Peaks. If the snow flies early, this is a tremendous snow-wheeling road.

If you come at other times of the year, you’ll be able to hike, mountain bike, or snowshoe, and you’ll have the place entirely to yourself due to that locked gate. This is an excellent spot for a short overnight backpacking trip when the gate is closed during the summer.

Freidlein Prairie provides the closest motorized access to the Kachina Peaks Wilderness and Kachina Trailhead and fourteen high-elevation designated campsites. Views of the peaks are limited by the beautiful alpine forest. Mexican Spotted Owls, a protected species, live in the area, and the campsites are closed for their breeding season. For those visiting the Snowbowl ski resort on the west side of the peaks for activities in the summer, access to 522 is located conveniently halfway up Snowbowl Road. The hiking trailhead parking lot at the end of Freidlein Prairie is within a few hundred yards of the Kachina Wilderness boundary and the demanding but enjoyable Kachina Trail.

Often overlooked, West Ridge Trail delivers one of the best 360-degree views of Box Canyon within the Florence OHV Area. The trail is a steep and rocky climb to a scenic vista above the canyon. A portion of the trail twists through a sandy desert wash. The trail requires high clearance, durable off-road tires, and low range. West Ridge is wide enough for full-size vehicles, but expect very tight brush to cause pin-striping in the rocky wash on the southern portion of the route. There is no camping along this route.

The Ranch Loop OHV trail is the easiest of the 10 Sedona Iconic Trails. Most high-clearance stock 4x4 vehicles can complete this trail without problems. It is primarily a hard-packed dirt and rock trail with a few wash crossings. While the Hardest Part photo may look challenging, there are different lines to take, and it can be navigated easily. Camping is not allowed along this trail. It is designated as a "no camping" area, just like most of the Sedona area. However, if you're looking to camp, the nearest available option is along Loy Butte Road in the designated dispersed camping areas.

A good portion of Sheridan Mountain traverses the ravaged area left in the wake of the 2018 Stubbs Fire, which burned over 8000 acres of pine forest and high desert chaparral. The very hot fire left nothing but the bare ground and the blackened, gnarled trunks of the junipers. Jumbled granite outcroppings are laid bare. The stark, desolate scene jars the nerves, especially at first. But even in destruction, there is a sort of artistic beauty. The pygmy forest of pure black stands before the ancient buff and cream granite boulders. Stonehenge meets Dantes's Inferno. After a stretch of several miles, the road reenters a prototypical high chaparral forest of small pines and junipers. The fire-scorched earth teases in and out of view as well, a constant before and after, reminding you to tend your campfire well and not toss an errant cigarette butt out the window. B.T. Butte looms ahead, its sloped shoulders like every other massif of the area, but proudly possessing a stony rhinoceros horn on its southern end. At the intersection with Conger Water, the trail crosses a seasonal stream and begins to be more difficult and rockier than the easy track of the last four miles. With the ascent out of the drainage, Sheridan Mountain, the namesake of the trail, dominates the southern skyline. The trail turns eastward, snaking along the edges of Sheridan's foothills. If you like the granite outcroppings of the area, you will certainly enjoy some of the ridges in this section. After the intersection with FR 705A, Sheridan Mountain begins a boulder-strewn ascent up the narrow shelf road to the top of Smith Mesa. Attentiveness in choosing a good line will ensure your success. The top of the mesa rewards the brave with superb views. Enjoy.