Arizona Off-Road Trails

Greens Peak Lookout (FR61C) is a short road climbing to the 10,135-foot summit of Greens Peak, where a fire lookout and multiple communication towers are clustered. The dirt road is in generally good condition to the top, where the road then has some rocky sections around the towers. The hardest part of the drive is that the road from almost the very bottom until reaching the top constantly dips and rises, as though one is driving over large waves. The dips are widely spaced, but they make the drive both to the top and back down slow and deliberate.

Parking space is limited and most readily available either near the fire lookout or near a turnaround at the last tower. The parking area around each of the towers is small and should be left available for maintenance vehicles.

The views from the top are magnificent, with over 180° of unobstructed views over miles of the White Mountains. At the right time, fall views could include meadows covered with wildflowers and gold-leaved aspen interspersed with pine forest.

There is no place for camping along the road to the top, and the nature of the summit does not really lend itself to camping.

Located within State Trust Land south of the I-10, The Narrows is a connector trail that offers a great mix of technical terrain and narrow sections. This trail includes rutted areas and hill climbs leading to Cienega Creek. At the start of the trail, you'll encounter ridgelines, but the real challenges occur closer to the creek. Here, you'll face a moderately steep descent into the creek, where having at least a rear locker is advantageous. The trail has many sections of narrow vegetation, so expect some desert pinstriping on your vehicle. Depending on the time of year and recent weather, the creek could have significant water flowing through it.

Connect this trail with Lower Wakefield Canyon to create a nearly 20-mile loop.

There are no obvious camping spots along the trail, but if you decide to disperse camp in the area, a State Trust 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.

Running parallel to its wide namesake wash, Puertocito Wash Road is an enjoyable, leisurely drive through the northwest portion of the refuge. Likely impassable when wet, the trail crosses numerous washes and low areas. The trail passes the Secondino ranch site. Campsites 58 and 59, near the trail's south end, are a double site capable of supporting six or more RVs or trailers. There are two fire rings, flat ground for tents, and a bit of shade.

Passing through the Black Mountains at a continuous 4,000-foot elevation, Lost Cabin Ridge is a straight-through trail connecting Cottonwood Road and Portland Mine Road. This breathtaking panoramic trail starts in the desert valley and quickly climbs several steep grades to the top of the ridge. Traveling north to south, Lost Cabin Ridge snakes along the crest and offers spectacular views in every direction. To the north and south, the jagged peaks of the Black Mountains are peppered with Spanish Dagger, a type of Yucca tree. To the west is the deep blue of Lake Mohave and the Colorado River, as well as the rolling vistas of the Cerbat Mountains. This trail is exceptionally rough and continuously bumpy, with exposed rocks smaller than 10 inches. However, the trail descends several steep grades across shallow washes and quickly ascends another grade, making it best suited for stock high clearance 4WD vehicles with short overhangs, such as Jeeps. Pickup trucks are likely to scrape significantly while crossing the washes.

There are several pullouts along the ridgeline suitable for camping if the wind doesn't pick up and campsites on each end of the trail closer to the valley floor.

Running parallel to the steep dropoff of the Mogollon Rim, 9512E has dozens of campsites for those seeking escape from the desert’s summer heat among the shady Ponderosa pines. The views southward across central Arizona are inspiring. The largest sites sit at the eastern end near the Young Highway. This area can support very large RV and trailer groups. The sites westward grow smaller but more private, with several still large enough for an RV or full-size camping trailer. The trail ends at a lollipop turnaround with several small rocky campsites with unbeatable views.

The existing trail is poorly depicted on maps but very obvious when driving. The trail is rutted with minor potholes. Be prepared to clear downed pines blocking the trail early in the season.

Pot Cove is a short spur off Cottonwood Cove East that ends at a beachside camping area overlooking Lake Mohave and the Newberry Mountains. Pot Cove is a very popular beach because it is the first beach access point off Cottonwood and the only cove with bathrooms and trash cans. The road is an easy gravel road that is generally well-maintained and graded. The road is 1.5-2 vehicles wide the entire way, with plenty of passing opportunities. There are 4-5 possible campsites before the beach, with an additional 3-4 spots along the shoreline.

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.

A short trail leads to an old cabin and remnants of a homestead. The cabin is a glimpse into the past and is made up of sleeping quarters, a kitchen, and a storage area. Additionally, there are ranching relics, an outhouse, and a water tank. However, the cabin has a warning sign, as it may contain hantavirus due to the significant amount of rodent droppings present.

The trail is easy to follow and is made up of packed dirt. Although older maps show the trail extending further, the current GPX track shows the legal trail, which ends at fallen trees that block the road. This makes the cabin a great place to turn around.

There are no established campsites on this short trail.

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.

The refuge's main scenic drive is the Pronghorn Loop. It starts near the visitor center, runs through a no-hunting area, and is a favorite feeding area for deer and the Sonoran pronghorn. The landscape is grasslands dotted with mesquite trees. The well-maintained and graveled road is easily passable by any vehicle. There is no camping along Pronghorn Loop. However, several side trails have designated campsites.

Grahams Well Road runs from Swansea Road to North McVay Road across the vast Cactus Plain, ending at its namesake well. The plain is covered with creosote brush with shallow washes lined with palo verde and ironwood trees. The Central Arizona Canal, an aqueduct providing Colorado River water to metropolitan areas, crosses the trail. It is common to see ducks paddling down the canal in the winter. The trail briefly climbs across the Bouse Hills.  

The western end of the trail is wide and graded. The washes are very sandy, with ruts and minor moguls. A 2WD vehicle is usually adequate to drive the trail. In January each year, the trail is part of the route for the Parker 400 ATV Race. After the race, the sandy sections have deep ruts and moguls, which might require 4WD, especially where the route turns north on North McVay Road. The county grades the roads as quickly as it can after the race.

Several large staging and camping areas are at the trail's west end. Numerous open graveled playas west of the Bouse Hills offer additional camping opportunities.

FR 133 runs between Horse Park and Crimson Roads. While most of the trail winds through heavily forested slopes, the northeastern end crosses the wide-open Antelope Park. Here open meadows are called parks. There are several campsites along the western side of the park.

The trail is easy, with no obstacles.

A short trail that provides a few dispersed campsites. These sites are each suitable for a few vehicles. One great spot is at the top of a hill. You will drive right by it on the way in. It is tucked away in the trees.

This is an easy trail of packed dirt and rock that most stock vehicles with high clearance will be able to manage.

This is Arizona State Trust Land. It requires a recreational permit.

The giant North American vinegaroon scorpion, Mastigoproctus giganteus, was first described in 1835 and has been known to live across various habitats in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and central and northern Mexico. And there is a Vinegarroon Road in Arizona. The well-graded road travels south from I-10's Exit 55, past the abandoned Salome Emergency Airfield. Built in the 1930s, the dirt airstrip with two runways set in a cross pattern oriented north/south and east/west was available for early commercial airliners flying between Los Angeles and Phoenix. Closed in 1956, nothing but the hard-packed dirt runways remain. They make decent campsites, though thoughts of a vinegaroon slipping into your sleeping blanket might not make for the most restful night.

This is a great trail if you are looking for a solid dispersed campsite off of the busy Peralta Road. Go back in a way, and you will be treated to nice camping that can support a few vehicles at each site. Several are tucked away off the trail behind shrubs and Palo Verde trees.

This is Arizona State Trust Land and requires a recreational permit.

Senita Basin runs north off Puerto Blanco Road (South), ending at a hiking trailhead into the namesake Senita Basin, the only location in the United States where the senita cactus grows naturally. The hiking trailhead has a picnic table and vault toilet.

The senita is common in the Sonoran Desert south of the US/Mexico border. The senita looks similar to the organ pipe but has 5 to 7 external ridges, much fewer than the organ pipe. Thus the valleys between the ridges are more pronounced on the senita. A mature senita's thorns turn gray near the top of the plant, resembling a beard.

The trail is graded but sandy. Several deeper sand sections require momentum or 4WD.

There is no camping on the trail. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument has two campgrounds. Commercial campgrounds are available in Ajo and Why. Fuel is available in Why and nearby Lukeville.

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

This easy, short 4x4 trail leads to the Winter Cabin hiking trailhead. It is mostly dirt with embedded rocks, which can make it muddy after rainstorms. The most challenging section of the trail will likely fill with water. Camping is limited due to the trail's short distance, but you can find spots closer to FR 538 that can accommodate 2-3 vehicles. The ground at these sites is relatively flat, with a dirt and rock base.

Once you start hiking, you'll encounter the historic Winter Cabin and a primitive campsite approximately 1.5 miles down the Winter Cabin Hiking Trail. If you continue, the trail will take you 1,500 feet into the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness area. The hiking trail also connects to Hog Hill Trail and Kelsey Trail. This area is quite remote, so please take all necessary safety precautions.

Connector is aptly named. It offers connections to a variety of area trails and not much else. While graded, the sand is extremely deep, making 4WD highly advisable. The trail does pass the extreme southern end of the long-abandoned Salome Emergency Airfield. The end of the runway provides a unique campsite and one of the very few along the trail.

Looping off Rim Road, FR 9354 offers one and a half miles of outstanding camping in a Ponderosa Pine forest. Twenty-seven well-spaced numbered sites offer quiet, shaded campsites with stone fire rings. The narrow forest road has two large mudholes, but otherwise, it is very easy for most rigs, including midsized RVs, campers, and trailers. The ground is suitable for tent camping as well.

Turk’s Head Connector is a short trail connecting the Turk’s Head Trail and the Superstition Loop. The trail is hard-packed dirt with sharp-edged rock.  There are a few sharp corners and wash crossings.  Pinstripes from the overhanging brush are likely.  Overall, this is a moderately difficult trail.

There is no camping available on this trail. However, many camping opportunities are nearby.

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

Set on BLM land in the Gila Box Riparian Conservation Area, Aquaduct Road hosts a campground, multiple day-use areas, a historic stone cabin, a wildlife viewing area, and superb views of the Gila River, near its confluence with Bonita Creek.

The track is graded dirt with loose and embedded rocks ranging from lemon to apple-sized. One steep descent to the Historic Serna Cabin pales to the steep grades and shelf roads of the paved East Bonita Creek Road you took to get here.  

The day-use areas sit alongside the Gila River, a ribbon of muddy water and bright cottonwood trees that snaked through this dry land. Serna Cabin sits near the confluence of Bonita Creek and the Gila, evidence of the first European settlers in an area inhabited for centuries. A walkway leads to a wildlife observation area overlooking Bonita Creek. The area boasts a wide variety of animal life. Bring your binoculars. Viewing is best done early and late in the day.

Riverview Campground has 13 well-spaced campsites on a bluff over a river bend. The campground is first come, first served and is only $3.00 per night, before any discount for passes. Each site has a shelter, picnic table, and grill. Most have a view of the river below. Water is available, and there is a pit toilet. A variety of cacti dot the bluff. Very large prickly pear cacti sit beside spindly ocotillo, who often nestle with a barrel cactus.