Arizona Off-Road Trails

Close to Phoenix and fun! This offroad trail follows the Camp Creek Wash to the Needle Rock Recreation Area on the Verde River. As you progress down the sandy trail, the wash narrows, and cliffs rise above you into a narrow canyon. There are many opportunities to stop and explore by foot or rest for lunch under the towering cliffs. When you reach the end of the trail, you will enter the Needle Rock Recreation Area, a popular swimming hole in the summer. There are plenty of opportunities for fishing, kayaking, or just enjoying the beautiful riparian scenery.

The OHV region near Florence, Arizona, is loaded with legendary offroad trails for all types of vehicles. Hidden in one of the many washes, Elvis is widely known for its numerous rock waterfalls that challenge even the best-built rigs. There are many abandoned as well as active mines in the area. Legend has it the trail's name comes from a local miner’s dog that traveled along the route with him many years ago. Along the way, there are towering saguaros clinging to the rocky banks as you twist through a lush Sonoran desert. The terrain along this route is harsh, the rocks are sharp, and everything out there wants to poke or sting you. Continuing that theme, the rocky waterfalls are massive and intimidating, but with careful tire placement and a trusted spotter, navigating through the rocky maze is achievable. Stopping after conquering an obstacle and feeling a sense of accomplishment is the memorable part about Elvis.

Just outside Jerome, one of Arizona’s most famous and historic mining towns, sits a rock that never stops smiling. Smiley Rock is one of the state’s better-known off-road trails, and for good reason. The route offers a challenging but rewarding experience, with large rocks, boulders, narrow passages, and beautiful scenery along the southern edge of the Woodchute Wilderness Area.

Much of the trail travels through the cool, shaded surroundings of Martin Canyon, providing a welcome contrast to Arizona’s more exposed desert trails. The main attraction is Smiley Rock itself, where a natural stone face appears to grin at passing travelers. After navigating the rugged trail to reach it, you may find yourself smiling back.

Trekking between the Table Mesa Recreation Area and Black Canyon City, west of I-17, Black Canyon OHV Trail is a scenic, rocky, and narrow 4x4 trail that follows an ancient pack trail over steep rolling hills and deep dry river beds through thick and thriving high desert vegetation. This trail provides a great mix of challenges and views and is a fantastic adventure-filled day when combined with AZCO Mine Trail.

This is the trail that many choose to test their rig on for the first time. That being said, it's not a difficult trail at all; in fact, hearty passenger car drivers with little regard for their undercarriage tackle this trail all the time. But don't be fooled, there are still steep climbs, switchbacks, and several spots that get washed out, Designated by many names, the Mount Lemmon Control Road, Oracle Control Road, the Old Mt. Lemmon Road, or USFS 38, this was once the only way to the top of Mount Lemmon. In the 1920s, it was a popular escape from Tucson, but it was woefully inadequate for the amount of traffic attempting to use it. Steep inclines, narrow switchbacks, and occasional rock slides were all real problems for those early travelers. In those early days, the road was so narrow that traffic was only allowed in one direction of travel for an hour and a half at a time. This is where the 'Control' part of the name came from. Today, it's hardly a road needing any 'Control'; however, there is much trepidation about driving on the "Backside of Mount Lemmon." The steepness is still there, the switchbacks are still there (But much wider), and certainly, the same views and towering pines delight those who complete the journey. You can experience multiple biological zones from desert scrub to juniper grasslands and ponderosa pine forest on this wonderful 30-mile trek. There are caves, a quaint town, zip line adventures, mines, and much cooler weather as you climb. In evidence, as you ascend, is damage from multiple major forest fires that have devastated much of the timber but have opened a wider view of the valley floor below.

As you drive in, the impressive views of the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness Area and the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness area abound throughout most of this easy dirt road, begging you to drive even deeper. Located near Sedona and named after Loy Butte, the more prominent rock formation nearest the Honanki Ruin, this road also connects to several of the most notable offroad routes near Sedona, including The Outlaw OHV Trail and Diamondback Gulch. You could easily spend a few days in this area, wheeling and hiking many foot trails that lead into the Wilderness Area.

Cottonwood Canyon Road serves as one of, if not the main entrance to, the famous Florence OHV area. This rugged region is littered with old mines, wagon stops, petroglyphs, and beautiful Sonoran Desert landscapes. During the busy winter months, the early portion of the route is considered the boondockers midway. Countless RVs and large family groups line the well-maintained gravel road. The fun begins once you pass all the traffic. The trail travels through a rocky wash before climbing into the southern foothills of the Superstition Mountains with spectacular panoramas of the surrounding Sonoran Desert. Cottonwood Canyon Road ends at 5 Points, the central hub of the region's trail network. You can choose from various routes, like rock crawling on the Ajax Mine trail for lunch at the ruins or continuing south through the beautiful narrow walls of Box Canyon.

Situated near Flagstaff, Arizona, Woody Mountain Road is a favorite among campers and sightseers, especially near the end as they venture into the East Pocket area atop the Mogollon Rim and the famed Edge of the World camping area. The places it takes you to are scenic and full of potential. As you head south, you can see a radio tower atop Woody Mountain, then past The Arboretum at Flagstaff and Northern Arizona University Centennial Forest, Coconino County's Rogers Lake, through Mill Park with its scenic meadows, and further south to the top of the Mogollon Rim with incredible views and dispersed camping. There are also a lot of other connecting forest roads and trails that give you access to camping and many great places to enjoy the Coconino National Forest.

Located about 30 miles north of Phoenix, near Bumble Bee Ranch, scenic Turkey Creek Trail winds like a rollercoaster through and above several canyons, including Black Canyon, Dead Cow Gulch, and Turkey Creek Canyon. This trail along the base of the Bradshaw Mountains passes through many silver and gold mining areas established as far back as the early 1900s. Fantastic views, rocky terrain, and multiple water crossings await those adventurous enough to take the long way to the unique Cleator Bar and Yacht Club.

4356 traverses from the foothills of the Mohave Mountains, where flowering cacti and wildflowers bloom in the spring, to the unforgiving rock-embedded, rutted caliche trails and sandy washes in the valley floor. While not as exciting as other trails in the area, 4356 is an important connector trail, typically used with 4359 and 7394 for access to the Dutch Flat side of the valley or 4349 for access to AZ Yucca Mine.

While 4356 may not be a trail you would seek out on its own, it's a great option for those looking to connect to other areas and explore the beauty of the natural desert landscape.

4354 offers wonderful scenery and history, passing through Palo Verde Mine and Ideal Mine. Running between 4352E and Sprirt Ridge Road 4353, this backcountry road originated in the early 1900s, around the same time the National Old Trails Road connected the east and west coasts, also known as the Ocean to Ocean Highway. This trail is about an hour north of Lake Havasu and runs within five Meteorite strewn fields; Buck Mountain, Franconia, Palo Verde, Buck Mountain Wash, and Dutch Flat. As the dirt road gently climbs to the Buck Mountains, the vegetation density increases along with the seasonally blooming Cactus, Ocotillos, and wildflowers. Once in the Buck Mountains, the remnants of Palo Verde and Ideal Mines can be explored along with many prospects. There are several great spots to park and take in the view over the valley toward the Colorado River. The Buck Mountains are a great area to escape the city lights and see the uninterrupted clear night sky. Bring a metal detector or just your eyes and a rare earth magnet to hunt for meteorites!

4342 is a utility connector, serving as a powerline road connecting Franconia Road and National Old Trails Road with Havasu Heights and Highway 95. The trail presents numerous ups and downs as it crosses every wash and hill carved between the points mentioned. Stay on the path most traveled with this trail. There are severe blind drop-offs over the hills.

Sedona is a wonderful destination for offroad enthusiasts. It boasts a variety of trails with varying degrees of difficulty, all offering stunning views of the area's famous red rocks. Among the top 10 iconic 4x4 trails in Sedona is the Outlaw Trail. 

In addition to the offroad trails in Sedona, the Coconino National Forest extends to Flagstaff, offering endless trails in the pine forests that reach up to 7,000 feet in elevation at the top of the Mogollon Rim. It's a great escape from the summer heat in the Verde Valley.

Sedona has over 200 hiking trails covering more than 400 miles, providing plenty of options for hikers. You can venture deep into the wilderness of Red Rock Secret Mountain or Sycamore Canyon or explore the urban trails just a stone's throw away from downtown Sedona. 

If you're interested in history, Sedona is home to several ancient ruin sites, where you can glimpse life in cliff dwellings dating back to AD 1150 - 1350. Honanki, located at the end of the Outlaw Trail, and Palatki, just down Loy Butte Road, are two such sites. 

4345, also shown as Rice Road on some maps, traverses over the hills and through the washes like 4342 but with much better scenery. There is more plant life closer to the mountains. The hills are a little taller, and the washes are a bit deeper. The panoramic views of the valleys and surrounding mountains off in the distance with the clear blue sky backdrop make for a great day of exploring. Combine this trail with 4359 for a day trip through one of the prettiest areas on the northern foothills of the Mohave Mountains. This trail used to continue further south and into Havasu Heights, but access has long been blocked off by private property. There is no legal access into Havasu Heights through this trail or any connecting trails.

Close to Phoenix, the historical mining areas north of Lake Pleasant, China Dam, and the Tule Creek Homestead are a fascinating look back into the early settlement of the Bradshaw Mountain Foothills. Branching off the popular Backway to Crown King trail, this track leads to the China Dam, built in the late 1880s by immigrant Chinese laborers for hydraulic mining operations on Humbug Creek. The trail continues to an old mining homestead deep in the mountains on Tule Creek, slowly reclaimed by the desert landscape. Be sure to spend a day visiting these fantastic relics of the past before they are forever gone.

Box Canyon is an Arizona four-wheeler's hidden oasis. It offers a unique four-wheeling experience by allowing users to drive through a wet and sandy cliff-lined canyon. Most times of the year, there is just enough water to let you splash your way through the canyon. You can also explore side trails or hang out under one of the several giant shade trees. The Hassayampa River flows mostly underground. It starts at the Bradshaw Mountains and continues through Wickenburg, Arizona. Depending on the day and recent rainfall, the water depth typically ranges from non-existent to 15" deep (sometimes even deeper).