Arizona Off-Road Trails

Barnhardt is an easy track crossing the Barnhardt Mesa from the Beeline Highway to a hiking trailhead leading to the eastern base of the rugged and austere Mazatzal Mountains. There are numerous campsites along the road, the best being closer to the mountains and offering better views. Most of the dispersed campsites have stone fire rings and ample level ground for any type of camping setup. Camping at the hiking trailhead is possible.

A steep hill climb to an amazing viewpoint waits for you on the north end of this trail. Picking the right line as you climb over several ledges and navigate the ruts in the road is an important task. A spotter could be helpful, along with low gear and a rear locker. Once at the top, take in the views of the Superstition Mountains. Golden hour is a great time to visit with your camera to capture images of the mountains and Saguaro-filled valley below.

This route also provides a few established, larger campsites. Bring your friends, as these have space for multiple vehicles and rock fire rings ready for your campfire.

This is Arizona State Trust Land. A recreational permit is required.

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona was established in 1985 for the reintroduction of masked bobwhite quail and the restoration of natural landscapes and their native wildlife, including the Sonoran Pronghorn. The 118,000-acre refuge lies in a broad Altar Valley between the Baboquivari Mountains, with their prominent main peak in the west, and the lower San Luis Mountains to the east. In the 1850s, Pedro Aguirre, Jr. built a homestead here in 1864 and named it Buenos Ayres, or "good air," because of the constant winds. His ranch changed hands several times before being purchased to form today's wildlife refuge. The refuge's visitor center is located in the adobe ranch house.

The refuge has over 80 designated campsites identified by a numbered sign. Camping is free and allowed for 14 days in a 30-day period, but only in the designated campsites. Most campsites have a fire ring/grill. Site sizes vary from a single vehicle to large enough for multiple RVs and trailers. Most are suitable for tents.

Fuel and limited supplies are available in the nearby small towns of Sasabe and Arivaca.

Secundino means second born in Spanish. Secundino Loop runs deep into the refuge to connect two outliers of the original ranch. The horseshoe-shaped route begins and ends on Highway 286. On the southern end, the trail passes an old corral made of mesquite logs. The northern end passes an abandoned bunkhouse. Both locations are far from the main ranch headquarters, today's visitor center.

The western ends of the horseshoe are graded dirt roads. The center of the trail is a weedy, rocky two-track that is heavily overgrown. Expect heavy pinstriping. A deep wash may require 4Low.

Campsite 16 sits along the southern leg of the horseshoe. The small lollipop site could host two vehicles. The site has level ground for tents and a fire ring.

Located directly off Bartlett Dam Road, the Indian Springs Trail begins with a generous staging area able to accommodate 10–15 vehicles with trailers. An informational board provides permit requirement details and area context, making this a convenient starting point for groups. Indian Springs serves as a direct route to the Devil’s Hole area on the Verde River, a popular destination for outdoor exploration.

The trail starts out in a loose sand wash, gradually transitioning into hard-packed sand as elevation is gained. Just beyond the intersection with the St. Clair Corral Trail, drivers encounter the route’s most challenging section. This stretch features mild off-camber moments, small gulch crossings, and a series of whoops that will articulate your suspension and keep the ride engaging.

As the trail continues east, the terrain shifts back into smoother hard-packed sand, making for an easier cruise toward the river. Near its eastern end, the trail intersects with the well-traveled Telegraph Line Trail before descending to its terminus at the Verde River.

This riverside area is an excellent place to stop for lunch, cool off in the water, or set up camp for the night. Camping here is best suited for vehicle-based camping, as the majority of the ground consists of river rock. While there are a few small dirt patches suitable for tents, space is limited and fills quickly during busy seasons.

This trail is part of the Tonto National Forest St. Clair OHV permit area. A permit is required. Use the permit link above for more information. 

Promontory Butte, FR 76, is a lollipop off Rim Road with superb dispersed camping. Campers must remain within 300 feet of the road. Several sites on the lollipop portion offer the unique opportunity to camp right on the edge of the Mogollon Rim with unparalleled views. The trail is narrow, with deep ruts and loose fist-sized rocks. RVs and trailers are not recommended. The trail may be impassable when wet.

History. Camping. Babbling mountain brook. Turkey Creek combines all three into a nice, drivable package.

Contrary to the movies, Doc Holiday didn't shoot Johnny Ringo. Neither did Wyatt Earp. Possibly, Ringo shot himself. But we will never know. Johnny Ringo was found sitting in the fork of an oak tree, shoeless, with a bullet hole in his right temple. The coroner ruled it a suicide, but locals doubted that. But Ringo had too many enemies to narrow it down, so the mystery remains. Ringo was buried where he fell. Today, anyone can visit Johnny Ringo's grave, even though it is on private property. The owner has fenced a walkway to the site. Just be courteous. Look for the pullout after a sharp curve in the road. The oak tree still stands.

Turkey Creek begins as a wide washboarded dirt road climbing into the Chiricahua Mountains up the canyon alongside its namesake creek. Private property, mostly ranches, lines the road until it crosses into the Coronado National Forest. The trail narrows and gets slightly rougher before ending at a lollipop turnaround. The trail climbs from open grasslands to oaks, junipers, and eventually pines. One of the numerous creek crossings has a nonnative weeping willow overhanging the road.

A handful of dispersed campsites, often close to the rocky babbling creek, line the road. Sycamore Campground has approximately ten shaded campsites with fire rings, grills, and picnic tables. There is a vault toilet, but no water. Reservations are not accepted, and there is a camp fee.

Bear Canyon Lake provides access to the alpine lake of the same name. The easy trail passes through a pine, fir, and aspen forest while crossing Willow Creek at Mule Crossing. The lake is only partially visible from the parking areas and accessible only by a steep hike, but it is very popular with fishermen.

Camping in the vicinity of the lake is in numbered designated sites only. The sites near the lake share two vault toilets. Outside the lake area, there are nice dispersed campsites. RV, camper trailers, and tent campers can all find suitable sites.

Territorial Road/McLaws Road (the name changes throughout the route) offers a taste of Arizona's high desert and history, particularly the Chevelon Creek Bridge, one of Arizona's first road projects undertaken after statehood in 1912.

Although signed as a road not regularly maintained, Territorial/McLaws Road is smooth gravel/dirt along its entire length, with small portions of old pavement appearing sporadically. It is not difficult to exceed the posted 35mph speed limit on such a wide-open, straight road. Washboard sections and those with small rocks are limited.

No camping or dispersed campsites were observed, and the checkerboard nature of land ownership complicates camping. On the bridge's western side, that checkerboard is primarily the Aja Ranch portions of the Hopi Three Canyon Ranch, interspersed with Arizona State Trust Lands. A State Trust Lands recreational permit allows overnight camping limited to a total of 14 cumulative days per calendar year, but camping may not be allowed on the Hopi tribal lands along this route.

On the eastern side of the bridge, State Trust Lands are intermingled with some BLM land and a good deal of private ownership. Potential campers should also consider the very open nature of this landscape with regard to shade (limited) and wind potential, as well as the possibility of quite the starscape at night.

The Kaibab National Forest is best known for its two districts north and south of the Grand Canyon. However, the third district, centered around the town of Williams, should not be overlooked. Filled with abundant camping opportunities, numerous lakes with fish and migratory waterfowl, lots of wildlife, scenic views, and historic cabins, the Williams District has much to offer. Set deep in the heart of the Williams District is a short loop offering numerous campsites and plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities. FR 747 loops off Sycamore Point, FR 110, a main forest thoroughfare. The nearby Sunflower Flat Wildlife area draws elk into its open prairie mornings and evenings. The small tank there often hosts migrating waterfowl. Nearby historic JD Cabin sits on an open meadow, the barn and fenced corral slowly fading back into the wild. The wind singing softly in the tops of tall pine trees is a sound to be savored. And it is best savored in a high country camp. Come on out to the Kaibab and FR 747 and do some savoring.

Escudilla Loop runs under the southern slopes of Escudilla Mountain before looping around the alpine meadows of Terry Flat. The beginning of the trail offers nice dispersed campsites. Hulsey Lake is stocked with trout seasonally. The day-use area at the lake has a vault toilet. A hiking trailhead is just after the split for the loop around Terry Flat. The 7.16 mile (round trip) Escudilla Trail climbs to the remnants of a fire lookout tower scorched in the massive 2011 Wallow Fire. The effects of the fire are very evident along the road. Terry Flat is a massive alpine meadow with numerous springs and a small creek. The meadow is a favorite grazing area for elk. Escudilla Mountain was also a site for the reintroduction of the endangered Mexican Gray Wolf. The pack that ranges on the Escudilla can occasionally be heard at night. There are numerous campsites scattered along the loop around Terry Flat.

Connecting Lower Sonoran 8219 and Rocky Point Road, BLM 8219 provides a southern entry into a vast uninhabited area crisscrossed with remote trails. Even with views of nearby Oatman Mountain, 8219 is not a very interesting trail. However, this dirt trail does have a good variety of washes, soccerball-sized boulders, and off-camber sections to navigate.

Although you could camp in certain areas along this trail, there are better camping opportunities along Woolsey Peak and Signal Mountain Wilderness Trail or Agua Caliente Road.

This trail travels through State Trust Land and requires a permit.

Running between the small mountain hamlet of Walker and Poland Road, Walker Big Bug is a graded and lightly graveled winding track with superb views north across the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains. The trail is a quick connector to the paved portion of Walker Road, with easy access to Prescott and Prescott Valley.

Two dispersed campsites sit on the trail's eastern end with fire rings and room for two vehicles. A large sign about midway along the trail limits camping to designated sites on the western end. However, there are no designated campsites between the misleading sign and Walker.

Rolls 1808 is a very easy sandy trail. It connects Rolls 13 on the north to 1863 on the south. This trail has high-banked turns with blind corners. Be cautious during busier times, as this area sees a lot of traffic from different types of off-road vehicles. There are areas to pull off the trail and use as a campsite. However, there are sites available in other areas of the Rolls with better views.

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

The trail's name alone is enough to pique interest. This out-and-back trail, consisting of hard-packed dirt and small rocks, leads to several excellent campsites at East Buzzard Point. The views overlooking Barney Spring Canyon in the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness are truly stunning. From here, you can stand on the edge of the ridge and see the rugged canyon walls as they rise from nearly 1,000 feet below, where the West Fork of Oak Creek winds its way toward Sedona.

The Forest Service has designated approximately 2/3 of a mile of the trail, starting 1/3 of a mile north of Woody Mountain Road, as a designated dispersed camping area on both sides of the trail. This means that limited cross-country motor vehicle use is allowed within 300 feet of the edge of the trail, specifically for dispersed camping. Following these rules, there are several options for campsites.

Woodruff Road is an easy, wide-open, point-to-point trail that follows the Little Colorado River. It is open range. Watch for cattle. Dispersed camping opportunities are plentiful at the north end of the trail. Most spur roads are two-wheel drive-friendly and don't venture far into the desert. Those spur roads leading to the top of the canyon overlooking the Little Colorado River require four-wheel drive. Watch the weather. The mud looks like it can get deep here.

In the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, traveling north/south along the Nevada and Arizona state lines, Pakoon Springs is a straight-through dirt road connecting Mud Mountain Road and Grand Wash Bay Road. Pakoon Springs is nearly 18 miles long and travels down a fairly wide, graded gravel road that crosses several desert washes. The road can be rough and washboarded at times and gradually climbs and descends several slopes as it wanders through the Pakoon Basin, past the Pakoon Spring, and into several joshua tree forests. At Pakoon Springs, there's a clean restroom and plenty of parking to explore the green desert oasis. Pakoon Springs was once owned by Charles Simons, who raised Osteriches on the property in the 80s. He also had an alligator named Clem, who lived in the ponds on site. The gator was relocated in 2002, and the area has been restored to its natural conditions.

This road is suitable for any high clearance vehicle with rugged offroad tires, such as all-terrain tires. Although the road can be traveled in 2WD, a 4WD or AWD vehicle is highly recommended due to the rigorous strain the rough terrain puts on your suspension components and the drastic conditions that can happen with any weather event. Low-profile tires are not recommended, and all users should carry at least one full-size spare.