Arizona Off-Road Trails

Alamo Canyon runs eastward from Highway 85 through the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to the mouth of its namesake canyon. A campground with four sites and a vault toilet is at the trail's end. Each small site has a picnic table, charcoal grill, and enough room for a vehicle and a tent. The sites must be reserved through rec.gov. RVs, motorhomes, and trailers are not permitted.

The campground is also the trailhead for hiking Alamo Canyon into the rugged and colorful Ajo Mountain Range. There are several ruins from an old abandoned ranch in the verdant canyon.

The well-maintained road runs through a thick forest of saguaro cacti and a typical lower Sonoran Desert landscape.

This area is very close to the Mexican border. Smuggling and human trafficking activities are common. Be vigilant when visiting this area.

Nestled in Arizona's expanse, a slice of "Big Sky" country unfolds along Cienega Creek. Just 45 miles southeast of Tucson, this landscape boasts wide-open grasslands, panoramic mountain views, and meandering waters that transport you to another realm.

This trail is mostly a level dirt trail with several moderate ruts and narrow sections. A few rough, off-camber, and bumpy areas require four-wheel drive. Several other trails meander through the wash and surrounding desert terrain.

The Forty Nine Wash area has several places to set up camp among mesquite trees and towering cottonwoods. Each spot sits along Cienega Creek. The trail crosses Las Cienegas National Conservation Area and Arizona State Trust Land. Camping is free in the conservation area but requires a permit on the trust land, the northern third of the trail.

While in this area, check out the historic Empire Ranch for a taste of old Arizona.

Colcord Mountain begins on Highway 260 and ends on the Young Highway. The trail turns to smooth dirt several miles off Highway 260. It turns sharply south just before the entrance to a residential area. The trail narrows and slowly begins to gain elevation as it passes through a dense Ponderosa pine forest. Approaching Colcord Mountain and its fire tower, the trail ascends steep, deeply rutted switchbacks along a narrow shelf road. The trail is well maintained east of the fire tower. The views are outstanding, but keep your eyes on the trail. A mistake here is fatal. The tower is manned during fire season but usually is not open to the public.

There is limited dispersed camping along the trail due to private property in the west and steep terrain in the east. The best camping is at the trail's eastern end at the free Colcord Ridge Campground, which has vault toilets and picnic tables.

Prospect Hill is a great beginner trail. It has many elements on an easier scale, including a hill climb, wash crossing, sections of loose rock, a few V-Notches, and cool desert scenery. There is a nice flat camping spot towards the trail's east end. There are several cattle/wildlife water tanks along this trail. Ensure your camp spot is at least 1/4 mile from them.

This is on Arizona State Trust Land. A recreation permit is required.

This short and easy trail leads to the location of the old Cline Cabin. Though the cabin no longer exists, the trail's end offers a great camping space. During Spring, you may hear the soft sounds of Picadilla Creek flowing nearby, adding to the peaceful ambiance of your campsite. The camping area is mostly flat, perfect for tent and car camping. The site can accommodate up to vehicles and has a fire ring for campfires.

The trailhead also serves the Ballantine Hiking Trail 283. This hiking trail is not frequently used and is rated as difficult.

Carp Cove is a short, dead-end spur off Cottonwood Cove East that ends at a few shoreline campsites overlooking the northern end of Lake Mohave and the Colorado River. The campsites have beautiful views of blue water and the El Dorado Mountains. The easy gravel road to Carp Cove has occasional potholes and short washboard sections. Loose gravel and soft sand could be problematic for heavy 2WD vehicles, but generally, this road is suitable for any vehicle with good ground clearance. The road is 1.5-2 vehicles wide the entire way, with plenty of passing opportunities. The first campsite along the trail sits several feet above the shoreline and is large enough to accommodate groups of 4-5 vehicles or large trailers. There are two more additional campsites, 1 in a culdesac between the reeds and a second right up on the water with a tiny beach.

Although this road is within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area fee area, there are no entrance stations along the way to obtain a pass.

Instead of continuing on Woody Mountain Road toward the Edge of the World, take the turnoff on FR231J to find nice, remote, dispersed campsites. The Coconino National Forest has designated approximately the first 3/4 of a mile of FR231J as a designated motorized dispersed camping corridor 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 many options along the trail for finding a great, flat, smooth dirt and shaded campsite that can accommodate 3-4 vehicles.

For those interested in exploring, FR231J is an easy out-and-back dirt trail that ends at the boundary of the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. From there, you can take a short hike to the top of the ridge and enjoy a view down 450 feet to the base of the canyon and the beginnings of the West Fork of Oak Creek. For additional exploring, check out FR6001 on your way out.

Nestled in a group of interesting side trails on the eastern portion of the vast Coconino National Forest, FR 513C cuts through a deep Ponderosa pine forest. Free-range cattle graze the area in summer. But elk, deer, turkeys, and the occasional black bear also call this forest home. Hancock Tank and several other dammed drainages along the way hold water for all the creatures of the forest. While not far off the pavement, campers and adventurists often overlook this area. FR 513C makes for an fun little drive with fine scenery and enough challenge to hold your interest and make your passenger reach for the grab handle now and then. Combined with the other similar trails nearby, this little gem can be part of a very enjoyable afternoon on the trails without the usual weekend crowds.

Safelite is a 6-mile challenging technical loop trail in the Hualapai Mountains. This trail gained its name from local off-road clubs due to the number of windows and mirrors that have been broken on this trail. Safelite trail is composed of three sections. The first section is a shelf road that starts off Blake Ranch Road and climbs into the Hualapai Mountains. This section has minor erosion damage and ends with a loose rock descent into the wash. Entering the wash, you are in the technical section of this trail. It begins with a 2' ledge to climb over. This section has it all: deep V-notches, tall waterfalls, big ledges, and large rock gardens. The most difficult mandatory obstacle is a 4' waterfall, which requires precise wheel placement to negotiate. There are several optional obstacles along this trail that go up to extreme in difficulty. All the optional obstacles have bypasses (mostly to the left). The third section is at the top of the wash, exit is to the right. It begins with a short section of washed-out trail that will test your vehicle's suspension articulation. Then enters a narrow shelf road which follows the wash back to the start of the trail.

Not only is this a great technical trail, it also has great scenery. The trail passes through pinyon-juniper woodlands with Mohave desert flora. Also, there are multiple old mining sites along this trail.

Do not attempt to enter old mining shafts; extreme danger exists due to unstable rock and soil. The majority of this trail runs through a narrow wash and is susceptible to flash flooding; do not attempt it when precipitation is forecast. Other potential hazards on this trail include venomous reptiles and invertebrates, as well as extreme heat and cold.

96 Ranch Windmill Mainline runs between the 96 Ranch North Fence Trail on the north and E96 Ranch Road on the south. This trail is a great place to get started on your exploration of the Old 96 Ranch since it provides access to the many connecting trails in this area. The trail is also a popular place to set up a base camp with multiple campsites with fire rings large enough to accommodate multiple vehicles. 

This is an easy trail that can be navigated in 2WD.  If you are into mud puddles, there are many along this trail after a good rain to splash your vehicle through and pick up some Arizona mud.

This is Arizona State Trust land and requires a permit.

Bear Willow, FR 84, runs south to north from Rim Road to Hart Canyon. Initially, the trail is on a high ridge east of Bear Canyon Lake. Numerous shady campsites are along this section of trail, but you can’t see the lake down in its deep canyon.

In the north, the trail switchbacks on narrow shelf roads steeply down to cross Willow Creek at Pauls Crossing. The trail is mostly packed dirt with a few loose rocks up to fist-sized. The southern portion of the trail is easier than the northern half, but it is still suitable for 2WD vehicles with good tires.

Zeniff Road (FR332) is a straight-thru gravel road connecting AZ277 and AZ377. The road seems generally well-maintained, even though signage warns there is no regular maintenance.

The single attraction of the road is what little remains of the early 20th-century town of Zeniff: a few adobe walls and what appears to have been a well. There is a stone structure in front of the adobe ruins that appears to be designed to hold an interpretative/historical plaque, but there is no plaque. A bit of background reading would help one understand Zeniff and its troubled history.

No camping or even dispersed campsites are available.

Lower Wakefield Canyon follows the ridge lines and offers breathtaking views of the expansive desert landscape below. Be aware that many parts of this trail are overgrown, which can cause pinstriping, particularly for larger vehicles, so consider that if you're planning to bring a bigger rig. This trail is ideal for those looking for a moderately challenging adventure. Riders will face various obstacles, including rocky terrain, rutted sections, off-camber spots, and steep inclines. Several wash crossings may contain water depending on recent rainfall. The trail also includes a few rocky hill climbs where having at least a rear locker will be advantageous.

This trail is located entirely on State Trust Land, which requires a permit.

Black Hills Rockhound Road runs from Highway 191 to the Black Hills Backcountry Byway. It provides access to an area known for fire agates. Fire agate is a relatively new gemstone, only identified and formally recognized in the 1930s. It has the color play of precious opal with gem-quality reds, greens, and blues. Fire agates are only found in the desert regions of Arizona, southern California, and central Mexico and are always associated with volcanic deposits. The rockhound area is open for digging and does not require a permit.

The southern half of the road is easy enough for medium-sized RVs but gets narrower and rougher as it drops into Yellowstone Canyon before climbing out of the broad valley. The trail briefly passes through the Double C Ranch. Be sure to close the gate.

Approximately ten rocky campsites of varying sizes line the middle section of the trail. Most have rock fire rings. Several are large enough for mid-sized RVs. Camping is allowed for up to two weeks.

Herring Mine Road is a short, steep, rocky hill connector road that starts on North Box Canyon and drops down to the Bad Medicine Technical Vehicle Trail, just south of Herring Mine. This is the last connecting road into or out of the Bad Medicine Canyon and is often used to access the Bad Medicine trail or as a bailout for anyone that might have damaged their vehicle. The steepness of the road and the high probability of encountering erosion ruts will require a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle with low gearing. Herring Mine Road is not the easiest way out of Bad Medicine, but it is the fastest if you have a capable vehicle. On the east of the trail, one small, flat campsite along a wide section of the road is up above the wash.

The Cibola National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1964 to enhance wintering grounds for waterfowl and other migratory birds. Beginning at the Refuge's Visitor Center, Goose Loop is a three-mile drive through prime habitat. The road passes a small pond, which usually has a variety of ducks. There's a short nature trail leading to a blind for taking photos. The loop becomes one-way counterclockwise at this point, passing through fields planted for waterfowl feeding. Cranes and geese are usually present in season.

Camping on the refuge is not allowed.

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.

High Gates Road is the primary camping corridor for the refuge. The wide graded road runs north/south through the center of the refuge, crossing the Arivaca Sasabe Highway. There are large staging areas on both sides of the highway. High Gates is well-traveled and hard-packed. It is one of the few all-weather roads in the refuge.

The approximately 40 campsites along the road vary from small one-vehicle sites to those capable of hosting multiple RVs or trailers. The sites have a fire ring/grill and are mostly flat. Very few have any shade. Views of the mountain ranges to the east and west are incredible.

The Cibola National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1964 to enhance wintering grounds for waterfowl and other migratory birds. A graded dirt road travels south of the Visitor Center to access Hart Mine Marsh. The road once continued to Cibola Lakes but now deadends with minimal room to turn around. This track includes Hart Mine Marsh. If you wish to see Cibola Lakes, take the well-signed crossover onto Levee Road south of Hart Mine Marsh.

There is no camping on the Refuge.