Arizona Off-Road Trails

The trail starts with the promise of a lush green path into the forest, but in the middle, wildfires have affected it, leaving a swath of destruction. The trail is made of hard-packed dirt with scattered rocks and connects the Secret Mountain Trail to the Little Round Mountain Trail.

The Coconino National Forest has designated the last mile of the trail on the eastern end as a designated motorized dispersed camping corridor. This means that limited cross-country motor vehicle use is allowed within 300 feet of the edge of the trail, specifically for dispersed camping. However, there are no established campsites in this area.

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.

Barrel Cactus, 200, bisects Pronghorn Loop. The trail is a seldom maintained two-track with great views. There is no camping along Barrel Cactus.

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.

011 spurs south off the Pronghorn Loop and shares the same road number. It ends near the border at Garcia Ranch Road. The two-vehicle-wide dirt trail is very well-maintained. It passes a large tank (manmade water hole) with massive mesquite trees. There is no camping along the trail.

BLM Road #1036 is a spirited north–south route that provides access into or out of the Arizona Strip. On its northern end, the road is fairly tame, with a few wash crossings and sporadic dispersed campsites. It passes by Rock and Cottonwood Canyons, which cut into the Hurricane Cliffs to the east, offering impressive views.

At the intersection with BLM Road #2004, the wider, tame road narrows into a single-vehicle-wide two-track with a rocky surface scattered with baseball- to basketball-sized rocks. The trail descends into Black Rock Canyon, where a mild shelf road follows along the wash before climbing switchbacks to higher elevation and cattle grazing land, eventually meeting Sunshine Trail Road.

The road is suitable for high-clearance vehicles with 4-low gearing.

Periodically along the trail, you may see wooden posts marking the “Temple Trail.” The Temple Trail traces the route of Mormon settlers who, from 1874 to 1876, operated two sawmills at Nixon Spring for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lumber was hauled by ox team to St. George, Utah, to construct the St. George LDS Temple. The Temple Trail follows this historic route along the Hurricane Cliffs and continues through Fort Pearce Wash.

Additionally, this road loosely follows a portion of the famed Domínguez–Escalante expedition route dating back to 1776.

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.

Chivo Tank Road, 215, runs along a ridgeline on the southwestern side of the refuge. The elevation provides expansive views of the refuge and beyond. There are groves of prickly pear cacti because of the slightly higher elevation. There is no camping along this road.

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.

BANWR 279 is a short and easy graded road used primarily as a connector to Pronghorn Loop and the visitor center from the northeast portions of the refuge. There is no camping on the trail.

Pakoon Basin connects Mud Mountain Road to Pakoon Springs Road and delivers a dramatic drive through several distinct microclimates. The route transitions from wide-open, desolate high desert plains to valleys framed by towering cliffs in the distance, then climbs across lava-rock-encrusted escarpments with vistas dotted by barrel cactus.

The road is mostly small rock and hard, compacted dirt, and is suitable for any high-clearance vehicle equipped with rugged off-road tires, such as all-terrain tires. While the route can technically be driven in 2WD, a 4WD or AWD vehicle is strongly recommended due to the sustained strain the rough terrain places on suspension components and the rapidly changing conditions that can follow any weather event. Low-profile tires are not recommended, and all travelers should carry at least one full-size spare.

Dispersed camping in the northern half is limited to only a few practical sites. The southern end offers a greater number of potential spots, though very few are previously disturbed.

Interestingly, the name “Pakoon” is far from common. According to research documented in Southern Paiute place-name studies referenced by the National Park Service, “Pakoon” is derived from the Southern Paiute name Paakuna for Pakoon Spring(s), combining terms for “water” (paw) and “fire” (koonaw’). Over time, the name was anglicized to “Pakoon” and applied not only to the springs but also to the surrounding basin.

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.

Choffo Tank, BANWR 204, goes east off Pronghorn Loop, climbing through grassland dotted with mesquite and groves of ocotillo cacti. The trail ends at BANWR 204, a road restricted to service vehicles only. Campsites 75 and 76 are near the west end of the trail. 75 is a sizeable pull-through site suitable for an RV, trailer, or several vehicles. 76 is tucked away beside a wash under mesquite trees. The site can accommodate one vehicle or a vehicle with a small trailer. Both sites have a fire ring/grill.

The Southern Hualapai Mountain Traverse trail is a 31-mile point-to-point trail that crosses the Hualapai Mountain Range from the town of Yucca in the west to the town of Wikieup in the East. This trail is part of the larger trail network known as the Arizona Peace Trail (AZPT), a 750-mile loop from Kingman, AZ to Yuma, AZ. The majority of this trail is a narrow (single vehicle width), winding, and bumpy mountain shelf road. A lot of erosion damage will need to be negotiated along this trail, with rock shelves, loose rocks, fallen rocks, and large washouts down the middle of the trail. Caution needs to be taken as several pinch points along this trail will put the vehicle close to the edge of the shelf road.

The scenery along this trail is breathtaking. There are two mountain passes that have amazing views of the surrounding area. There are also many old mining and prospecting sites to explore. Camping along this trail is possible, but there are not many turnouts big enough to camp in while on the shelf roads. There is a large dispersed camping area on the east end of the trail.

The trail to Lehman Mill is a tough technical two-track that is steep, rocky, rutted, and off-camber in places, with brush crowding the sides. The trail has many twists and turns and climbs steep hills from 3,300 feet to over 4,500 feet. A high-clearance, well equipped 4x4 is required. Jeeps are fine, as long as you’re not worried about pinstripes, but full-size vehicles are not recommended due to the narrow track shelf road. The trail sees almost no traffic, and demands careful tire placement the whole way. Please don’t go alone.

When you reach the windmill and small corral at Copperopolis Creek, you’ll find a trail that goes south toward the remains of the 1930s Lehman Mill. It was built by Gus Lehman and Charles Champie, to process copper and gold ore from nearby claims. A large boiler still sits in its concrete pad, along with circular cisterns, scattered machinery, foundations, and a surprisingly intact wooden headframe/ore chute. The mill structure itself is mostly collapsed, but enough remains to clearly show the layout of this short-lived operation. The trail is even more narrow and overgrown, so hiking the 0.2 miles is recommended.

This trail is a rewarding destination for those willing to earn it. It is quiet, rarely visited, and a solid piece of Castle Creek Mining District history. Bring recovery gear, extra water, and leave the site as you found it. The corral provides room for camping, and includes an old fire ring.

Come explore the curiosity of the Chemehueyis Mines, a unique site listed as a past producer in the mine registry. Despite the lack of signs of ore bins, carts, or camps indicating production beyond exploration, over 20 prospects with various ore samples strewn about the surface attest to the site's potential. Evidence of both lode and placer suggests that this site held significant value, or at least all the indicators, so why was it abandoned? Were the weights too low to incentivize expansion, or were the efforts focused on the war with dreams of returning to a golden retirement like so many mines of their time?

This hard-packed dirt trail serves as an alternate route to Apache Lake, offering an easy drive with minimal obstacles and smooth terrain throughout. It is well-defined and suitable for most vehicles, making it a great option for those looking to access the lake while avoiding busier primary roads. Use caution, as this is a wash and is susceptible to flash flooding.

Along the trail, you’ll find one designated campsite, providing an option for an overnight stay. As the trail approaches the lake, it delivers nice views and a unique opportunity to experience the water up close. The lakeside area is ideal for day use, whether you’re stopping to relax, take photos, or enjoy the scenery. Space is limited, and it fills fast during the season.

It’s important to note that while the trail reaches the water’s edge, camping and boat launching are not permitted at the lake access point.

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.

Figueroa North Road runs between the Arivaca Sasabe Highway and Secondino. There is a staging area at the southern trailhead. The easy trail begins wide in the south and narrows towards the north. Agave forests line the trail. There are six designated campsites along the trail, with others along the various spurs branching to the east. Camp 45 is a very nice pull-through. The northern campsites are very small. All the sites have fire rings.

Eldorado Jeep Trail is a 20-mile out-and-back trail that follows down a wash to Oil Pan Cove on Lake Mohave in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Along the trail are remnants of several old mines to explore. This trail is mostly loose sand with sections of heavy washboarding. Dispersed camping is allowed in Oil Pan Cove.

Isaac Bradshaw (c. 1819–1885), known as “Uncle Ike,” was an Arizona Territory pioneer whose name is linked to the Bradshaw Mountains. Born in North Carolina, he left his family in California around 1863 to join his brother William in operating a ferry on the Colorado River near La Paz. After William’s death, Isaac sold the ferry in 1867 and turned to mining in Yavapai County, helping develop the Copper Basin mines and the short-lived boomtown of Bradshaw City. He later prospected in the Castle Creek area, where he died of pneumonia and was buried at a remote site near Bradshaw Spring.

This scenic desert run begins in a smooth, sandy wash that quickly funnels into a narrow canyon, offering a non-technical and enjoyable start with firm traction in dry conditions. The canyon walls close in just enough to create a sense of seclusion while still allowing comfortable passage for most high-clearance 4x4 vehicles. After leaving the wash, the trail firms up and becomes moderately more broken, with several minor washouts and ruts that require basic line selection but nothing overly technical.

The surrounding landscape is pure Sonoran Desert at its best—towering saguaros stand watch over thick stands of palo verde, ocotillo, mesquite, and prickly pear. A handful of dispersed campsites appear along the route, making it easy to turn the drive into a quiet overnight stop. The trail ends at the historic gravesite of Isaac Bradshaw, a peaceful plateau that makes a natural turnaround or staging point for those continuing farther into the mountains.

If you’re looking to skip the developed campground but still camp right along the lake, this spot is a great option. A short drive down a hard-packed dirt road—accessible for most vehicles—leads to several lakeside camping areas. You’ll find a handful of flat dirt sites, some sitting right on the water’s edge.

A Tonto Recreation Pass is required for any parked vehicle or overnight stay. Keep in mind, this area fills up quickly, especially on weekends. Vault toilets and dumpsters are available, but there is no fresh water on-site.

Boulder Creek Trail is a rugged, rewarding adventure through Arizona’s high desert. It quickly becomes very rocky, with bowling ball-sized rocks, and larger, dominating the path. The trail crosses the creek several times, winds through Saguaro cacti and Mesquite trees, and features tight brush that may leave pinstripes on your vehicle. Most of the year the creek is dry, but can fill up after a good monsoon rain. Make sure the water depth isn’t too high for your vehicle. At the end of the creek section, there’s one gate that needs to stay closed after passing through, and then you begin to climb the mountain. Soon, the trail becomes a shelf road, with exposure and great views.

Navigation is straightforward but demanding, with one washout toward the end that needs careful attention.

Overall, this trail suits experienced drivers with high-clearance vehicles. It’s slow-going due to the rocks and crossings, but the seclusion and desert scenery make it worthwhile.

Camping is available at the beginning and the end of the trail.

4352E is a connector trail between 4353A and National Old Trails, intersecting with 4354 leading up to Palo Verde and Ideal Mines. It's a neat trail to utilize when making a loop, but not a trail you'd seek out.

West Chevlon, FR 100, runs seven miles from Deer Lake, FR 169, to Wallace, FR 34, crossing Chevlon Canyon at Barts Crossing. The easy trail passes through a park-like open forest with brush and smaller trees cleared for fire prevention and forest management. The switchbacks leading down to Barts Crossing are steep, but the trail retains excellent traction. There are scattered dispersed campsites throughout the trail.

The track includes the FR 101 spur leading to the site of the historic Nagel Logging Camp. Today, the site is used for fall roundups of cattle that graze in the national forest on leases held by the nearby Dye Ranch. However, it makes a great group campsite. There’s a very old outhouse and a water spigot that is sometimes operational.

A very short spur trail that’s easy to miss but well worth the detour, leading to a desert gem known as the Rock Corral. Unlike most corrals built with barbed wire or fencing, this one was crafted entirely from stacked stones, a creative use of the limited resources available in the harsh desert environment. Offering a quick but memorable glimpse into the region’s rugged history.

At the end of the trail, you’ll find a small campsite large enough for several rigs, complete with a fire ring—but please note, no camping is allowed inside the corral itself to help preserve this unique piece of desert heritage.

West Gasline Road winds through rugged low desert terrain lined with towering cacti, creosote, and wide-open Arizona views. This scenic backcountry route serves as a gateway to several other trails in the area, eventually linking up with Boulder Creek Ranch Powerline for even more exploration to the north.

The trail itself is mostly dirt with scattered softball-sized rocks that keep the drive interesting without becoming overly technical. Primitive campsites tucked along the route offer a chance to spend the night under dark desert skies far from the crowds. One particular location can accommodate a large group. A stock high-clearance 4x4 is all you need to enjoy this adventurous desert escape.

An Arizona State Trust Land Recreation Permit is required while on state land.