Arizona Off-Road Trails

While on the map, it appears this trail connects with Superstition Fence Line Heights on the north end, it does not. A fence without a gate between the two trails makes this an out-and-back trail. There is limited space to turn around at the end of the line.  The trail is primarily packed dirt with rocks and a few minor washouts to navigate.

The advantage of this dead-end trail is the dispersed campsites.  There are several to choose from that are large enough to accommodate two vehicles.  These sites have flat ground perfect for tent camping and feature rock fire rings.  All the campsites have outstanding views of the Superstition Mountains.

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

P1007 does not have trail markers. It is a designated motorized trail per the Tonto National Forest Travel Management Plan. Follow the GPX track provided.

P1007 begins right after the intersection of MT1847 and MT1872 with a steep downhill section. This is the most difficult and rocky part of the trail. Once down the hill, the trail follows a sandy wash alongside Adams Mesa the rest of the way. P1007 ends at the marked intersection with MT1848. There are not any large camping spots along the way, but you could set up camp in one of the wider sections of trail or in a few of the brush clearings. Cattle are present in the area.

This trail is short and mainly used to access two designated dispersed camping areas. The first area, called Javelina, is closest to Highway 89A. This area is mainly used by RVs, 5th wheels, and bumper trailers. It can accommodate close to 10 vehicles, but the space is tight. There is a sign just after the Javelina site stating that no trailers are allowed past that point. The second designated dispersed camping area is called Angel Valley, and it can accommodate 10-15 vehicles, but again, the space is limited. The ground in these areas is hard-packed dirt and may not be level.

The trail down to the Angel Valley camping area is graded dirt and gravel. Beyond Angel Valley, the road becomes more primitive until it ends in a flooded-out area near the edge of Oak Creek.

At the beginning of the trail, there is a day-use-only parking area for the Deer Pass hiking trailhead. This area has parking for 15-20 vehicles. There is an informational board with local forest information and a pit toilet. This trailhead also provides mid-point access to the Lime Kiln Hiking Trail #82, which leads to Dead Horse Ranch State Park at the southern end of the 15-mile trail.

Named after the long-abandoned Jolene Mine, this rugged trail is a true test of skill and nerve. Jolene runs along a narrow shelf road with steep drop-offs into ravines and valleys, offering stunning views and scenery. The terrain is a mix of packed dirt, sharp rocks, scattered boulders, and off-camber sections reaching 25–30 degrees. A lifted vehicle with off-road tires is strongly recommended. While there are no established campsites along the route, it does pass by the old El Oso Mine area. It connects with Big Pine Flat and Edward’s Park Trails to form a challenging and scenic loop.

Sky Hi Road provides an easy drive through Ponderosa pine and piñon-juniper forest north of Pinetop-Lakeside. It begins as a paved road veering off from the large Pinetop Lakes community and becomes FS182 just past the small Sky Hi Retreat housing area. FS182 is generally well-maintained but has mild washboards in a number of sections. Sky Hi Road alternates between forest and small forested meadows, but there are very few places to pull off the road to park and explore. It can be used as a connector since the northern terminus is at Porter Mountain Road/CR3144 (parts paved, parts smooth gravel), which can be taken north to eventually connect with US60 or south to return to Pinetop-Lakeside or Show Low.

Two campsites can be observed from the road, but they are less than ideal. A number of spurs along the route—narrower, moderately rutted, and of indeterminate length—may offer additional camping opportunities.

Running around the western side of Ajo and its massive New Cornelia mine, The Ajo Scenic Loop runs through the Little Ajo Mountains and a forest of cacti, including the rare Organ Pipe cactus. The trail begins in Ajo on its northern end and terminates on the historic El Camino del Diablo. The route is a well-maintained graded dirt track. Easily driven by any vehicle when dry, flooded washes make the track impassable after heavy rains.

The mountains make for a wonderfully jagged skyline. The New Cornelia mine's colorful tailings are visible along the most southerly portion of the trail. The now inactive mine was Arizona's first open-pit copper mine. Operations began in 1915. Previously only a tiny village, Ajo sprang up as a mining town. Ajo is named after the Spanish word for garlic. Wild garlic grows in the area.

Dispersed campsites are abundant along the southern half of the trail. The sites range from small one-vehicle tent sites to large areas supporting multiple RVs. This is a popular camping area for winter visitors.

This easy graveled road goes deep into the Kaibab National Forest, passing the Pomeroy and Sycamore Falls hiking trailheads offering vault toilets.  The White Horse Lake Campground, with all the amenities you expect, sits beside its namesake lake.  Fishing and kayaking are the usual pastimes.  The Black Bear Snack Shack has treats and rentals.

For those who prefer dispersed camping, plentiful large shaded campsites line the last few miles to the campground.  A 14-day stay limit applies to the dispersed sites.

Gentry Ridge, FR 91, is a secondary forest road that receives minimal maintenance. The steep slopes leading down into the McGuire Crossing of Turkey Creek have loose fist-sized rocks that require good tires and 4WD. Aspen groves dot the trail's center and would make a golden tunnel over the road in the fall.

Camping is not abundant on Gentry Ridge, with sites only on the western end. One superb site sits on a small spur to the north, approximately one mile from the trail's western end.

Discover the hidden gems of the desert on Spirit Ridge Road, a short but scenic connector trail located north of the Mohave Mountains. This backcountry road runs east into the Buck Mountains from Franconia Road and joins with 4353B and onto 7387, which runs south to Bill Williams River.

The trailhead for Arizona Yucca Mine is located on Spirit Ridge Road as well, where you can explore a couple of old mines, numerous prospects, and a very well-preserved arrastra. From there, there are a couple of trails that run south and split off both east and west to a variety of other destinations.

Silver King, FR 229, travels north from Superior along shelf roads and through a small canyon with great views. The easy road is graded dirt until passing a cattle corral and old windmill, where it swings east into the Silver King Wash canyon. The track gets narrower and rougher until it terminates at a Y intersection. FR 2447 runs left and north. The right leg of the Y goes onto private land and is blocked within a few hundred yards with little room to turn around.

The trail provides good mountain views with hillsides that feature a large variety of cacti. Wildflowers dot the landscape in Spring.

Two large campsites suitable for RVs sit near the trailhead but right on the road. One small hunter's camp exists inside the small canyon. Silver King is not a good road for camping. See the connecting Mattie's Grave for better camping options.

When driving up the Four Peaks Trail, make sure to take the short side trail that not only connects you to great hiking trails to the top of Four Peaks but also ends at a large lookout area offering incredible views of Roosevelt Lake to the east and the Phoenix Valley to the west.

The lookout area is a popular spot for large offroad groups to stop for lunch or take a break before heading back down the mountain. It can accommodate up to 20-25 vehicles. 

Several small dispersed campsites along this trail can comfortably fit 1-2 vehicles each. These campsites are relatively flat, although the ground is somewhat rocky. However, there are spots where you could set up a tent.

The Lone Pine Trailhead and the Arizona Trail also cross along this trail. The Arizona Trail is an 800-mile hiking trail that traverses Arizona from the Mexico border to Utah.

Hart Well Canyon FR525D is a short out-and-back trail that begins at an intersection with FR 525, Loy Butte Road. This easy dirt trail should be manageable by most vehicles in 2WD.

The most challenging section is at the beginning of the trail. A smooth uphill climb leads to a large scenic overlook. From here, you can see the red rocks for miles around, including Casner Mountain to the northwest, Loy Butte to the north, Lost Mountain to the northeast, and Bear Mountain to the east. Catch the sun during the evening golden hour, and you have yourself a magnificent photo backdrop.

The trail then takes you on a quick descent to the bottom of Hart Well Canyon. The trail ends at the Northern Arizona University Southwest Experimental Garden Array. Research is conducted here on the ability of plants and animals to adapt to drought and climate change. This is a closed area, not open to the public.

While no camping or campfires are permitted along this trail, the main trail, FR 525, has multiple designated camping areas available.

Located just a few minutes outside Kingman, this trail offers a mix of gravelly two-track and rocky climbs. The mountain's front side has points that put your suspension's articulation to the test, winding through deep washouts. The trail transitions from packed dirt to rocky climbs and then loose gravel over packed dirt that acts like marbles. Once you reach the saddle, there are views of the Hualapai mountains to the southwest and I40 to the northeast. There is enough room on the saddle to park several vehicles, making for a nice lunch stop. If continuing to the northeast, be sure to leave the fence gate in the position you found it.

Descending the back side of the mountain is significantly less challenging, but there are points where the trail simultaneously narrows and pitches the vehicle toward the steep downhill drop-off.

As with all trails in this area, carrying a spare tire or being competent with your tire plug and patch kit is recommended.

A brief trip to the top of Rattlesnake Mesa will take you to a landscape of fallen and burnt trees that look like another planet. After navigating through the debris field and returning to the woods, you'll find a few excellent campsites at the end of the trail with views overlooking the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. The trail is moderately difficult due to the need to maneuver over sporadic fallen tree logs and through a narrow tree-lined section. A vehicle with high clearance is required.

This rugged trail delivers a true test of skill and vehicle capability, featuring steep rocky climbs with grades pushing 20%, narrow shelf roads, and exposed ridgelines with steep drop-offs on both sides. From the higher elevations, the views are nothing short of spectacular—panoramic overlooks of desert valleys and distant peaks reward those who make the climb. The trail takes its name from its most infamous obstacle, Moose Rock, where drivers must carefully navigate a tight shelf-road corner while climbing a large rock ledge—a section that separates the seasoned off roaders from the rest.

When paired with Kat Walk Ridge and Pucker Ridge, this route forms a challenging and highly rewarding loop that’s best tackled by experienced drivers equipped with high-clearance rigs and larger off road tires. While there are no suitable campsites directly along this trail due to the steep and narrow terrain, several nearby trails offer more accessible camping options for those looking to make a weekend of it.

In the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, East Yucca Farm Road runs between the historic Empire Ranch Headquarters and Highway 82 near Sonoita. The well-maintained track passes through a sea of tall canvas-tan Sacton Grass cut by several shallow sandy washes lined with dense mesquite and the occasional towering cottonwood tree. The Whetstone Mountains dominate the eastern skyline. The Santa Ritas climb skyward to the west, often holding a snow cap well into the Spring. Watch for wild turkeys, pronghorn antelope, and deer alongside the trail. And, of course, this is a working ranch, so watch out for the cows.

The easy road has several nice campsites along the way. It also passes the Cieneguita and Road Canyon Camping Areas.

Orville Cutoff is a 1.7-mile moderate connecting trail between the Bad Medicine Canyon and Orville's Loop, north of Jack Handle. The trail travels a narrow shelf road as you make your way up to one of the taller ridgelines in the area. The road is steep, rough, rocky, and generally only one vehicle wide the entire length. There are several wide areas to pass oncoming traffic, but backing up a short distance might be required. Take caution along this trail as it crosses several deep washouts reinforced with rebar and railroad ties. They are considerably narrow for full-size vehicles. If narrow roads make you uneasy, avoid this trail. The trail is suitable for stock high clearance 4x4s. Full-size rigs should be prepared for pinstriping.

It is worth noting that although this is a BLM road, it partially passes through private property from mile marker 0.85 to 1.25. Please respect the private land and pass through with care and consideration. As history has shown us from other trails in this area, landowners are not afraid to close off access if users cannot be respectful.

There is no camping along this trail.