Arizona Off-Road Trails

As the paved Shea Road ends, the dirt Mineral Wash Road begins with a large staging area. The early portion of the trail is graded with scenic views of the Buckskin Mountains, large inviting campsites, and small spur trails to explore. There are small cavettes eroded into the whimsical brown mudstone hills beside the road. The trail drops into the narrow, winding, sandy Mineral Wash with its colorful rock walls. The track passes Mineral Wash Mine and a slot canyon wide enough to drive through. The road deadends in the Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge near the Bill Williams River. Neither camping nor campfires are allowed in the Refuge. An old water pump and power poles that once supported area mines now seem oddly out of place.

Despite the intriguing name, Sorefinger might be the most boring trail in Arizona. It runs from Salome Road in the north to AT&T Frontage Road in the south through the vast, flat Harquahala Plain. It crosses Interstate 10 via a bridge close to the southern end, but there is no legal access to the highway. It also crosses the Central Arizona Project aqueduct, which delivers Colorado River water to central Arizona communities. The area is open range, so beware of cattle on the trail.

A handful of campsites courtesy of flat gravel playas scattered randomly along the sandy trail.

FR 116A is a nice drive through the forest along an unmaintained dirt road. The tire ruts and occasional rocks are a challenge for vehicles without clearance. The northern portion of the road has numerous campsites and is often crowded since it is a few miles from Willams and along the highway to the Grand Canyon. There are great campsites with various levels of cell phone service along most of the road. The farther you get from the main road the more the campsites are spread out. 

FR 332 runs between Highways 260 and 277. The well-maintained dirt road passes through juniper-dotted grasslands in the north and pine forests in the south. Midway on the trail is a small parcel of private property and the ghost town of Aripine. Originally named Joppa, it was begun as a Mormon settlement in 1883. The name was later changed to the first three letters of the state combined with the prevalent local flora. The town essentially died from a lack of reliable water. Today, several houses and other buildings are inside a posted and fenced area. An interesting stone house and two grain silos are on the other side of the road. A bit further south, the trail passes through what appears to be an abandoned ranch complex. The map name for the area is the Sundown Girls Ranch. Feel free to speculate. There are a few dispersed campsites south of the Sundown Girls Ranch.

In 1943, General George Patton, the Army's most knowledgeable tank officer, led training exercises in the deserts of southern California and Arizona before embarking for North Africa to join the British in battling the German forces under the command of General Erwin Rommel. 

Named for the nearest tiny hamlet, Bouse, AZ, Camp Bouse was a very remote site used for testing the secret "gadget," a 13 million candlepower blinking light mounted on an old tank chassis. The idea was to blind and confuse German soldiers. The remote location was meant to keep the project a secret. Ultimately, the gadget was never used in combat, though it might have led to the lighting found in 1980s discos in New York. Visit the Bouse Museum and its outdoor displays for more information.

The desert is slowly reclaiming the site of Camp Bouse. Accessible by Powerline Road, the site today has most of the original roads, a few concrete foundations, stone-lined walkways, and a few historical markers. A flag flies over the site of the camp's hospital. 

The soldiers provided their own entertainment. The camp's volunteer morale officer was incredibly entertaining. However, he was known to wander over to the hospital and eat the nurses' undergarments when they had hung them out to dry after doing their laundry. This bizarre behavior was often overlooked since the perpetrator was a feral burro who had taken a liking to the soldiers of Camp Bouse.

The camp's roads are easy, but expect minor pinstriping from encroaching desert brush. There are numerous small campsites scattered throughout the remains of Camp Bouse. The site is on Arizona State Trust Land, so a permit is required to camp legally. 

A fun trail that will provide you with more challenging terrain as you loop around the lollipop on the north end. This one is a bit more narrow than the surrounding trails, and there is the possibility of picking up pinstripes for your vehicle. Overall, it is mostly packed dirt but gets rocky as you climb the loop.

There are several nice camping locations on this trail. These are smaller sites, good for one or two vehicles.

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

FR 139G is a delightful little two-track through the tall pines of the vast Coconino National Forest. A short hike along a side trail brings you to picturesque Aspen Spring and an old homestead. A stone chimney remains from the original cabin. The log horse barn is leaning but still standing after all this time. Aspen Spring flows gently from under a massive rock outcrop, its pure water joining the little creek in Houston Draw. The site was used back in the day by the Houston brothers, who summered their cattle in the lush canyons of the high country above the Mogollon Rim. Further along the trail are superb campsites beckoning you to spend some time listening to the wind sing in the tops of the towering pines. Swinging a hammock between two pines and listening to the wind song is proven to make a person forget the rest of the world below, at least for a bit.

This is an easy trail that runs along a fence line. It is primarily packed dirt with an occasional sandy wash crossing. Enjoy the views of the Teddy Bear Cholla Cactus. They are plentiful, just don't get too close. This is leased grazing land. You will most likely see cattle. There are a few camping spots along this trail with nice views of Signal Peak in the distance. This is a less traveled trail, so expect new pinstripes on your vehicle.

The entrance to this trail is at the end of East Paisano Drive through the green gate. This is on Arizona State Trust Land. You need a recreation permit.

Pole Knoll is a short, dirt road connector between Highway 260 and Highway 273, that leads to several other roads all within the heart of the White Mountains. Road quality is very good, with only a few areas that are a bit rocky or present washboards for short periods. The road is generally straight, with a few easy curves and climbs. Along the drive, you will be rewarded with an expansive view over a broad meadow and up to the Sunrise Park Resort ski area. Keep your eyes open for cattle, horses, elk, mule deer, pronghorn, or cowboys in the meadow. Isolated patches of snow may be visible on the nearby mountains well into early summer. Midway along the trail, Sunrise Lake and White Mountain Reservoir come into view. Water levels of these drastically change from season to season and from year to year. Spread along the full length of the trail, there are at least five dispersed camping areas, many well away from the road but with wonderful views.

There are spectacular views of the Santa Rita mountains from this trail. FR 4064 also provides a shortcut from the Rosemont Junction to Highway 83. This section of road connects to the Barrel Canyon Trail and crosses private property for the Hudbay Minerals, Rosemont Mine project. You can see the project headquarters building from the cattleguard near the water tank.

Running into the Tonto National Forest, Hewitt Station traverses the southern edge of the Superstition Mountains. A section of private property cuts the road in half. The eastern portion of the trail is described here.  

The trail is well-graded dirt that parallels a seldom-used railroad track. It deadends into private property with a small area to turn around. The trail connects to Mattie’s Grave, FR 8, and Hewith Station Bypass. Views of the imposing Picketpost Mountain dominated the southeastern skyline.

A large campsite sits along the eastern end of the track. The Arizona Trail hiking trailhead is large enough for additional camping.

Barnard Pipeline Road follows a gas pipeline over 21 miles from Alamo Road across the Buckskin Mountains to the Bill Williams River. The initial third of the trail is unremarkable along Butler Valley's saguaro and ocotillo-studded flat land. The trail passes a large pipeline facility a few miles in.  

After crossing Cunningham Wash, the trail gets far more interesting. The semi-maintained trail climbs steadily into the mountains, reaching gradients of 16 degrees. Two bypasses help with the steepest sections, but only slightly. The mountain views are exceptional. The descent provides a long look ahead.

The final third of the trail is a seemingly never-ending series of deep wash crossings, many quite steep. 4WD is required, and low range helps with the steepest grades. The trail ends at the Bill Williams River. The pipeline is elevated across the river. Numerous ATV trails lead down to the river.  

Only one established campsite near the river was located along the trail. It is suitable for up to 3 vehicles, has a fire ring, and nice views.

FR 935 winds through old-growth pine forests, crosses alpine meadows and passes through ranch land still worked by cowhands on sure-footed ponies. After you leave the pavement be sure to close the gate behind you. The trail immediately crosses a wide-open meadow with spacious campsites on both sides. The trail winds along the contours of this rugged landscape mostly smoothly but occasionally forcing you to choose a line to bypass protruding boulders. Often cows and calves are laying in the shade and watch idly as you roll by. Several small spur trails go off at angles along the way, so pay attention to the guide unless you are in the mood for some more exploring. Though in this beautiful country, side trips are often good trips. Before long FR 935 deposits you onto Stoneman Lake Road, a good route to other adventures in the area.

Immerse yourself in the captivating scenery and relics left behind by the cattle operations that once dominated this range over half a century ago. The remnants of this era will undoubtedly ignite your curiosity and beckon you to explore more of the area. Dating back to the mid-1950s, wells and holding tanks dot the landscape. The trail is a testament to a time when Lake Havasu was yet to become a city, the iconic London Bridge was still two decades away, and the completion of I-40 was three decades in the future. This region remains remote and isolated today, offering a glimpse into a bygone era. As you venture through this desert region, let your imagination transport you to a different time, envisioning the vehicles, equipment, and resourcefulness it took to navigate the challenges of accessing the nearest city and breathe life into this rugged landscape.

Doak Road (Forest Road 221) branches off Pinal Mountain Raod (Forest Road 651) and descends sharply onto a narrow, rocky road. It twists and turns through hillsides of agaves and century plants. There will be moments when you won't be able to anticipate what's over the next ridge or beyond the next curve. Keep an eye out for birds and white-tailed deer, which are common in this area. You'll reach the bottom of the canyon and cross Mill Creek wash, only to climb up the other side to Bobtail Basin. The road features great views of both Signal Peak and Pinal Peak, including Pioneer Basin below. No preexisting campsites exist along the route, as there is little room for anything other than your vehicle.

Sonoran Desert National Monument (SDNM) trail 8011A is an offshoot of 8011 going to the abandoned Altuda Mine.  The deep fenced-off mine has tailing piles and remnants of a time gone by. The trail is easygoing and primarily gravel. The best camp spots are several flat areas near the mine.

Proceeding on SDNM 8011A past the “Unit 40A” gate requires a Barry M. Goldwater Range permit. Please refer to the permit required link above. The permit is only available online and requires viewing a mandatory safety video. A printed copy of your permit must be carried with you on this trail past the gate. SDNM 8011A runs through a very remote area of the Sonoran Desert. Please take all necessary precautions.