Arizona Off-Road Trails

Eons ago, volcanic basalt flowed from a shield volcano east of the present-day Agua Fria River. The lava flows created what is now known as Perry Mesa. Later Perry Mesa became part of the Hohokam Culture's homeland. And more recently, European immigrants traveled from the gold fields of California to the slopes of the nearby Bradshaw Mountains, spawning a small village named Bumble Bee. On the western flank of Perry Mesa, these geological, archeological, and historical facts meet at a rare Sonoran Desert waterfall along the course of Bumble Bee Creek.

Bumble Bee Creek begins along Perry Mesa's eastern slope, gathering water percolating down the basalt from infrequent rainfall and rare snowfall. The creek's course leads southwest to the Mesa's edge, where it tumbles down to the Precambrian granite below, creating a small oasis. Hohokam residents knew this little respite from the normally dry desert. Faint petroglyphs at the bottom of the falls mark their passing. Today cattle graze below the falls, and the Bumble Bee dude ranch sits downstream.

The trail to Bumble Bee Falls is a lollipop beginning off Crown King Road. The northern side of the lollipop offers the most challenging terrain with a steep rutted hill climb, a ridge run, and a steep off-camber descent. The southern side of the lollipop has easy driving in Bumble Bee's sandy creek bed at the cost of pinstriping from the overgrown mesquite trees. Choose your flavor.

Several small campsites just off Crown King Road can accommodate four to five vehicles. The sites are sandy and level with a fire ring.

Rolls 1811 is one of the easiest trails in this OHV area. The trail begins at the intersection of trail 13 and travels south to intersect trail 1813. It is a sandy wash the entire way. The most challenging part of this trail is maneuvering the blind, high-banked corners. Be cautious of oncoming traffic as this area is shared with many types of off-road vehicles going at various speeds. You will take some Arizona pinstripes along the way through the narrow brush. A few sandy pull-off areas could be used as good camping spots. These lower-elevation camp spots would get you out of the wind but would lack any type of scenic view.

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

While Utah is known for its beautiful slot canyons, Arizona also has a few. Mineral Wash Slot Canyon is unique because you can drive through it, winding between the high brown mudstone walls with randomly embedded boulders. A small side canyon offers a tight, narrow slot for a fun hiking experience.

Route 66 aficionados immediately grin from ear to ear if you mention Twin Arrows. The quirky gas station and trading post with its two massive arrows made of steel pipes and sheet metal is a mainstay of old Route 66 lore. Today the ruined remains sit across the Interstate from the new Twin Arrows Resort and Casino but still draw many to stop by, look around, take the obligatory photos, checking off yet another piece of bygone Americana. Few, if any, take note of the wide dirt road going south towards the long line of a mesa top far away. FR 126 flies straight as an arrow for a few miles, with nothing but sparse grass and a few scrub trees on either side. A sign informs you the Flying M Ranch is 18 miles ahead. To the uninformed, the road seems boring. But others know the possibilities ahead. The dark line of Anderson Mesa dominates the horizon. It isn't dramatic. The mesa is only 400 feet above the surrounding terrain on its northern side. But that slight elevation gain is critical, leading to a completely different ecosystem. Slowly the junipers begin to thicken and get larger. Hopi and Navajo come here to harvest wood for the winter, their trucks laden beyond capacity for the drive back north. Hidden along spur roads are campsites favored by hunters. A few narrow bridges span almost never wet drainages. Cattle guards shake the pebbles out of your tires. At the intersection with Kinnikinnick Road, the adventurer turns south for the short climb onto the mesa. The cowhands of the Flying M stay left towards ranch headquarters and the official end of FR 126. Out of courtesy, take the adventurer's route and leave the ranch in peace.

FR 141 is a beautiful drive that cuts through the heart of the Mogollon Rim high country. Located in the vast Coconino National Forest, the trail provides easy access to Rim Road with its stunning views atop the massive geologic uplift that forms the boundary between the Colorado Plateau and the Sonoran Desert. The trail crosses grassy prairies, deep Ponderosa pine forests, and several canyons. With an elevation above 7,000 feet, FR 141 is in one of the few areas of Arizona that experiences a true four seasons. Summers are mild, and the trail offers lots of camping opportunities for those fleeing the scorching desert heat below. Fall brings scattered color with aspens, oaks, and maples on the canyon floors. It is also the season that attracts hunters to the largest elk herd in the U.S. Deer and wild turkey are also plentiful and often seen as you drive the trail. Winter can deliver a thick carpet of snow to the area, ensuring a wonderfully green Spring. Enjoy the beauty of the area as FR 141 transports you from pavement to a myriad of opportunities to explore the Arizona high country.

Walnut Creek gets its name from the small but reliable tributary at its northern terminus which has numerous old walnut trees along its banks. The trail begins in the tall Ponderosa pines common to the Arizona high country, where the wind sings a relaxing song as it slips through the needles of the highest branches. The sound is guaranteed to soothe even the most frayed nerves. Aberts squirrels dart across the trail in front of you. Deer look warily from the shadows as you pass. Stream crossings offer opportunities for making a splash. The road descends slowly and enters the high chaparral biome with juniper, Gambel oak, and manzanita replacing the pines. The trail is a bit rockier here. The views of Juniper Mesa north of the Walnut Creek valley more than makeup for the increased jostling. All too soon the drive is over, but perhaps one of the many nice campsites along the way would make a good place to set up camp and enjoy an evening under the stars in the Prescott National Forest.

Running through the ruggedly scenic Belmont Mountains, the trail's highlight is the Tonopah-Belmont Mine. The large mine operated around the turn of the 20th century, mainly producing silver and lead and employing approximately 50 men. Today there are numerous mine ruins still at the site. Explore with caution.

A tragic mine fire in 1911 resulted in 17 deaths, including William A. "Big Bill" Murphy. The 28-year-old operated the cage elevator that took men up and down the mine's vertical shaft. Murphy successfully took the cage down twice to rescue miners. He did not return from his third try. Nearby Tonopah erected a monument to honor the hero.

The trail is relatively easy, with a few off-camber spots and wash crossings. The northern half of the trail is on Arizona State Trust Land. A permit is required to camp. The southern half of the trail is BLM land. There's limited camping along the trail but abundant campsites north along Vulture Mine Road.

The Vernon McNary Road connects the small Fort Apache Native Lands hamlet of McNary on Highway 260 with the small village of Vernon near Highway 60. The southern five miles of the road are on Fort Apache Tribal Lands. Please stay on the road through this area. The road then traverses the Sitgreaves National Forest before crossing private land towards its northern end. The road starts in a dense pine forest, transitions to a juniper and pinion forest, and eventually crosses open grasslands. Los Burros Campground lies approximately 7 miles from the southern end of the road on the edge of an alpine meadow. The free campground has numerous sites and a vault toilet. The campground is on the site of the historic Los Burros Ranger Cabin, still standing proudly today. There are plenty of dispersed campsites along the road's many spur trails.

This road will close in the winter during periods of snow. No set dates exist, but you can always call the Apache County Maintenance Yard to verify the road status if snow has recently been in the forecast.

If you like working for your reward, then this may be the little trail you've been searching for. An inauspicious beginning leads to a few challenges that will call upon your skills and the capabilities of your rig. Your passengers may be a bit nervous when the off-camber sections of the narrow shelf road tilt them towards the abyss below. The cattle you pass by look sympathetically at you before resuming their foraging. It's a hard land out here for everyone, after all. But then the East Verde River appears. The East Verde is a delightfully noisy little waterway with smoothed boulders to sit on while dangling your feet in the cool, rushing waters. The deeper pools invite you to take a refreshing dip in the hotter months. A riverside campsite at the end is just large enough for one rig, maybe two, but a night by a mountain watercourse is never a bad thing. Relax by the river for a while. But don't forget, the challenges of getting out are still there.