Arizona Off-Road Trails

Wickenburg has a rich history in mining and cattle ranching. Constellation Road, one of the main routes in the region, passes several old mines and working ranches before finally reaching the Hassayampa River Canyon Wilderness Region. The trail passes numerous mines, including the photogenic Monte Cristo, and many of its original structures remain. The trail ends at the Hassayampa River Wilderness Area, with several miles of great hiking through beautiful remote canyons. An active cattle ranch still operated along the edge of the wilderness. This easy but rugged, remote trail makes for an exciting day trip deep into the area's remote history.

Buckhorn Springs is a remote and scenic overland route through the rugged Hieroglyphic Mountains of central Arizona. The namesake Buckhorn Springs is a short hike through a desert oasis well worth the effort. The natural spring flows through a narrow rocky canyon with several crystal-clear water holes. Stately saguaro, spindly ocotillo, and thorny cholla cacti dot the slopes of the rugged rocky landscape. Late winter showers bring color in the form of wildflowers. The route also serves several old ranches and mines tucked away in the desert scrub.

Traveling through the scenic Bulldog Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle Area, Trail 1356, is an ideal opportunity to have a memorable 4x4 experience without an all-day commitment. Over the years, the area's trails have become more worn and, in most cases, more enjoyable. This route, in particular, is more challenging because of its use and natural erosion. Stock 4x4 owners will find the 20-degree rocky hill climb and tippy ledges both exhilarating and challenging. Low-range gearing, high clearance, and durable tires are needed for this route. Camping is sparse along the route, with only a few primitive campsites. Due to Forest Order 03-12-03-22-34, camping is prohibited within 1 mile from the Dutchman Staging Area and the Wolverine Staging Area until at least January 12, 2026. Please stay on the clearly marked trail. A Tonto Motorized Vehicle Use Permit is required to access this road, which is only available online. Permits are not available at the District Office.

People come here for a one-of-a-kind experience: climbing "dunes" made of volcanic cinder at 7000-8000 feet elevation, with amazing views. This is a really unique and excellent attraction. It is also not for the faint of heart or those with low clearance or street tires. Most users come to camp along FR776 and tear it up around FR777 on quads, razors, dirt bikes, and rails. Some professional-grade hill-climbing is done here, including the 900-foot critical slope (e.g., falling-down-slope) "Hundred Dollar Hill" on the west side of Double Crater. The hill was named after the cost of broken parts on every attempted climb; today, it should probably be called a "five-thousand-dollar hill." There are dozens of other climbs with the same risk and challenge as Hundred Dollar Hill. And isn't the climb that breaks your rig the one you should call Hundred Dollar Hill? Some of us, more casual offroad enthusiasts, show up in jeeps or something similar - and will not be climbing these epic slopes. Those who come in RVs will stay close to FR776. This OHV area is right on the city limits of Flagstaff, so you can get out, have fun, and be back at home or the hotel in time for lunch. Deep snow adds another dimension to the fun and risk. This is also one of the best places to camp in Arizona because of the unlimited and uncrowded dispersed camping options all over the dunes- especially if you're an overlander capable of climbing a hill and camping along FR777 away from the groups on FR776.

Copper discoveries on the north side of the Buckskin Mountains near the Bill Williams River in 1863 led to one of the earliest copper mines in Arizona. A small town named Planet grew up around the copper mine and, in 1902, got its own post office. The mine played out in 1921, and the town was abandoned. Meanwhile, down in the river valley, a large ranch had sprung up. Planet Ranch raised cattle and hay. In 2015, a large portion of the ranch was handed over to Arizona's Game and Fish Commission to establish and preserve riparian habitat for wildlife and ponds for fish, primarily the endangered razorback suckers and bonytail. The acquisition also ensured full access along the historic Planet Ranch Road. Planet Ranch Road is a drive-through history as well as several unique Arizona landscapes. The broad Dutch Flat and Cactus Plain highlight lower desert life. The Buckskin Mountains offer multi-hued geology for your contemplation. The absence of light pollution makes for magnificent stargazing from one of the many campsites along the trail.

52 plus miles of dirt and you can avoid I-10, what more could you want? El Paso Pipeline Road plays a major part in building area offroad trips for the day, the weekend, or even longer routes connecting the Phoenix Valley and the Salton Sea. Beautiful desert landscapes filled with washes and jagged peaks are interrupted by pipeline markers and powerlines, but that should not stop you from wanting to use this road. Impressive views of the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness Area, including the mysterious-looking Courthouse Rock, greet you at either the beginning or the end of the trail depending on which direction you choose to drive it. Once you train your eyes to look past the utilities, you find all the opportunities for overland adventure that is abundant directly from this road. Tip: Up above, increase the "Nearby Trails" tab view to 35 miles to see the route potentials you can explore!

The Sunshine Trail was created by the first Mormon settlers in the region. They used sections of this loop to transport timber from Mount Trumbull to the south. This loop is an easy way to get out into the Arizona Strip to enjoy the colorful rock formations, hunt for crystals, or take an easy drive through a picturesque desert landscape. The loop combines numerous BLM trails that travel through and above several canyons with vertical rocky cliffs. Because of rains and the lack of trail maintenance, the route has changed over the years. The Arizona Strip is a vast arid region north of the Grand Canyon. Within its nearly 3 million acres, you will enjoy a variety of colorful landscapes and climates. To this day, the difficulty of crossing the Canyon continues to isolate the Arizona Strip from the rest of the state. Despite that fact, the area has played an important role in the natural and cultural history of the Grand Canyon State. Artifacts dating back more than 8,000 years indicate how long human habitation has been on this harsh landscape.

If your looking for a good way to get up on top of the Mogollon Rim to camp in the Ponderosa Pines, you've come to the right place. FR 535 connects with a plethora of trails and camping spots.

In the late 1800s, a few industrious horse thieves began using a lush and largely inaccessible valley in the southeastern Bradshaw Mountains as their hideaway. The remoteness kept them one step ahead of the law. A lake and plenty of grass kept the horses fed while altering the brands for later sale. The area became informally known as Horsethief Basin. Horses gave way to motorized vehicles. The depression of the 1930s produced the Civilian Conservation Corps, which, among many projects nationwide, built a road into rugged Horsethief Basin. They also built an arch dam on the small lake as well as several first-rate campgrounds. In 1934 Horsethief Lookout was erected on a promontory at the end of the road to monitor the area for forest fires. Today, intrepid off-roaders drive the remote Horsethief Basin road. While boondocking at the scenic spot of your choice or camping at the quaint Hazlett Hollow Campground, you can fish in the picturesque Horsethief Lake. Hopefully, you'll even be invited to scale the Horsethief Lookout for what is arguably the best view in Arizona outside the Grand Canyon.

Poland Road is a sampler menu of all that the Bradshaw Mountains offer. The salad bar profers Ponderosa Pine forests, scrub oak and manzanita chaparral, and high desert grasslands. The spread features mashed potatoes in the form of a nicely graded road but topped off by some spicy chorizo when you crawl your way through rock obstacles. For protein, just watch the edges of the roadside forests for venison on the hoof or turkeys trotting into the scrub brush. After the feast, kick back in a nice campsite to listen to a concert of the wind singing in the upper branches of the tall pines. Or, if you feel like a bit of an after-dinner stroll, amble into the Poland Walker Tunnel and muse on the history of the hardy prospectors and entrepreneurs that fought their way into these mountains. But don't leave without the satisfying dessert of finding a suitable viewpoint to admire the long vista of a wonderfully rugged landscape. In summer, the maitre d' suggests the view from the lookout tower atop Mount Union but kindly ask the doorman for entry. Poland Road. It's a satisfying meal.

Camp Wood Road gives the adventurous overlander a smorgasbord of all that central Arizona has to offer. From the grassy plains of Williamson Valley to the pine forests of the Prescott National Forest, you experience Arizona’s ranching history with views of the historic Cross U and Yolo ranches. The central Arizona experience continues with miles of dirt road through high desert chaparral, with its pygmy forest of junipers, before descending into Wild Horse Basin, which, with its backdrop of the majestic Shipp Mountains, reminds one of Colorado. No authentic Arizona experience is complete without a copper mine, and this journey does not disappoint, ending in the copper mining hamlet of Bagdad with its giant copper mine, formed in 1882. The remoteness of Camp Wood Road gives the journey a special flavor. With constantly changing biomes and scenery, the miles fly by. Try it for yourself.

There are numerous ways to gain entry into the remote Grand Canyon-Parashant region. One of the most challenging is Elbow Canyon outside Mesquite, Nevada. This trail is ideal for those looking for an authentic 4x4 experience without needing a heavily modified vehicle. It climbs up from the flat desert through the scenic Elbow Canyon within the Virgin Mountains. The trail passes a couple of primitive campsites, with the best being an old ranch that offers spectacular views of the valley below and room for a small group to relax under the stars. The trail continues to climb along narrow ledge switchbacks that expose even more impressive views of the desert below. Once you're over the pass, the route will connect you with 1004 Black Rock Mountain, where you'll choose how to continue your memorable adventure within the Arizona Strip.

The Grand Canyon - Parashant region in the Arizona Strip is still one of the most remote places in the United States. The monument’s name derives from an early translation of a Paiute family name “Parashonts,” meaning “elk or large deer standing in water.” While traveling through this majestic landscape you'll experience what remote really feels like, you can explore for days and possibly never run into another vehicle. CR 101 is the easiest and main route that travels north-south from Nevada to Utah. Because of the remoteness of the region the wildlife is abundant. You can expect to see golden eagles, bald eagles, prairie hawks, elk and deer, just to name a few.