Arizona Off-Road Trails

Rocky Point Road is a wide, mostly smooth dirt road that connects Saddle Road trail and 8219 trail. It travels along the south side of Oatman Mountain, where you can see communication towers and the remains of an old Air Force radar base at the top.

Any high-clearance vehicle can travel this route, and you will find a few campsites along the way.

This connector trail links the Standard Wash and Mohave Wash areas with Planet Ranch Road. It is an easy trail overall, with most sections allowing you to simply look out the window and enjoy the scenery, though a few rocky and rutted spots require picking your line.

One of this trail's highlights is its distinctive volcanic rock formations, with clear bedding and layers that are certainly worth traveling at least once to see if you're into geology. It also passes through reddish soils and patches that resemble caliche but are actually a hard, fine-grained tan-and-white material blanketing the ground. Desert vegetation includes ocotillo, Palo Verde trees, and various cacti.

Please drive with extra caution on the western side of the trail, where there are several blind corners and hills that can hide fast-moving oncoming traffic.

Kabba Wash trail is a 4.5-mile connector trail that starts from Blake Ranch road and follows Kabba Wash to an ending at private property. It is generally used to make a loop with Kabba Wash, 7160, and Lower Wheeler Wash. Kabba Wash is an easy, non-technical trail with minor erosion damage to negotiate. Enjoy the view as you pass by piñon pines and junipers. This trail passes through an open livestock range. Be cautious when passing cattle. Dispersed camping is allowed along this trail, though there are currently no established locations.

The Old Stage Road in Wickenburg, Arizona, was a 131-mile stagecoach route established in 1863. It connected the Arizona Territory's early mining camps to the ship landings along the Colorado River. This 10-mile section of the historic route travels across a ruggedly scenic desert landscape, with a couple of moderate challenges for stock-type 4x4s. The terrain is rough, and you're likely to get a couple of Arizona pinstripes along the narrow trail. There are numerous rock ledges 10''-14" tall; some are blind to the driver on steep descents. Camping was limited to the area around the southern trailhead with Anderson Mill. The camping area is very large and is used for target shooting. 

Escalator is a 4-mile straight-through trail that climbs up the Hualapai Mountain range, connecting Walnut Creek and the Survivalist Camp to Flag Mine Road. This trail was named for the steep climb along a mountain spur, gaining approximately 2,000 feet over 3 miles. As you climb into the higher elevations of the Hualapai Mountains, the trail becomes more difficult with severe erosion damage. Expect steep climbs with deep V-Notches up to 2-3 feet deep to negotiate, and off-camber sections up to 35 degrees. The final section, as you begin to crest the ridgeline, is a narrow shelf road with moderate erosion damage. This section also gives amazing views of the Walnut Creek Valley below. This trail does pass through private land; be respectful, remain on the established trail, and do not disturb equipment or livestock. Do not attempt this trail if heavy rain is forecasted. Take caution when traveling this trail after a heavy rain event due to the possibility of extreme erosion damage, which could deem this trail impassable.

Buck Wash Road is a 10-mile point-to-point trail that crosses the Black Mountain range from the Bullhead area to the Golden Valley area. There are natural and man-made attractions along this route. Thumb Butte is one of the most noticeable rock formations in the area. Make a stop at the Stripper Pole and Bra and Panty Tree, located at the start of the trail up Buck Wash.

The trail has deteriorated over the years from heavy rain. There are multiple sections of moderate erosion damage to negotiate. The original trail has been redirected in spots due to extreme erosion. As you travel up Buck Wash, there is an optional moderate-sized rock garden with rocks up to 20" in height. The bypass is to the left of the rock garden. As you summit Buck Wash, the views of the surrounding area are spectacular.

Camping can be found in several locations along this trail. Most are found around the base of Thumb Butte. These are primitive camping sites and have an established fire ring. Check with the Kingman BLM office for the status of any fire restrictions before use.

Black Inky is a short 3.5-mile technical rock-crawling loop trail named after the Black Inky Spring that feeds the wash this trail follows. The trail begins in the wash, and after a short drive you encounter the first of several rock obstacles. This trail has squeeze points, V-notches, ledges, waterfalls, and large boulders that must be negotiated. The most difficult mandatory obstacle is an off-camber waterfall which pivots around a large boulder. The wrong wheel placement can put your vehicle in a deep crack which will require assistance (winch) to escape from, and may cause suspension or body damage. Just before you reach the Black Inky Spring, the trail leaves the wash and follows a trail along the mountainside back to the main trail area.

It is recommended that you have a modified vehicle with skid plates, rock sliders, a minimum of 35" tires, and a winch to travel this trail.

Black Inky follows up a wash and is susceptible to flash flooding; do not travel when rain is forecasted.

7252/7262 is a 10-mile point-to-point trail that starts off Highway 93 north of Wikieup and travels up into the Hualapai Mountains. The lower half is a maintained dirt road with only minor erosion damage. As you travel up into the Hualapai's, the trail becomes narrower, and erosion damage becomes more frequent. The trail is easily passable by any vehicle, though a high clearance 4WD vehicle is much more comfortable and reliable in this terrain. The views of the Big Sandy and the Aquarius Mountains from this trail are stunning, as you pass through saguaro and Joshua Trees, then transition into Junipers, Pinyon Pines, and Purple Sage.

7741/7839 is a 6-mile straight-through trail that passes through the west side foothills of the Black Mountains. This fun trail ascends and descends multiple times as you pass through the foothills outside of Bullhead City. At the high point along the trail, you can get great views of Laughlin, Bullhead City, and the Colorado River in one direction and Lake Mohave in the other direction.

The trail is mostly easy, with only one climb that is relatively steep, with a couple of small ledges, less than 12" in height, followed by a steep descent with tight switchbacks into a narrow wash. Dispersed camping is allowed in this area, but there are no established areas suitable for camping along this trail.

Walnut Creek trail is a 13.5-mile straight-through trail that travels from I-40 to an abandoned survivalist camp located along Walnut Creek in the Hualapai Mountain range. The Survivalist Camp holds interesting lore and history of heavily armed residents who were fanatic believers that the world was coming to an end during the 1970's. With over 30 structures, secret underground bunkers, and multiple generator pads, the residents were prepared and ready to defend their land. Now empty and abandoned, this site is an interesting place to explore.

The trail to the survivalist camp has deteriorated over the years due to heavy rain and flash flooding from Walnut Creek. Several sections of loose rock up to 18" in height must be negotiated. The trail does cross double train tracks; several years ago, 3 off-roaders lost their lives as they were hit by a speeding train at this crossing. So now all local off-roaders use the underpass to the left of the train crossing. This trail does pass through an active livestock ranch. Be respectful and do not tamper with equipment or harass any livestock.

Yellow Flower Creek is a 2.5-mile straight-through trail that follows up the Yellow Flower Canyon and ends at a livestock corral, connecting to several other trails. This trail starts and ends at livestock corrals. The trail is easy for the first half with only minor erosion and small rocks. The further up the trail, it becomes more overgrown and rough, with a small rock garden to negotiate. Your vehicle will get pin-striped on Yellow Flower Creek trail. The canyon is full of Pinyon Pines, Junipers, and Purple Sage; in the spring, the canyon is scattered with patches of Golden Columbine flowers.

Cedar Wash Road is a 4-mile point-to-point trail that travels up the Cedar Wash Valley into the Hualapai Mountains. This trail is an easy way to access the upper portion of Moss Wash. The wash is wide at the higher elevation, which gives stunning views of the Hualapai Mountains and the surrounding area. Cedar Wash Road has no obstacles and only minor erosion damage. Easily passable by any 4WD vehicle.

Candy Ass is a short 1.5-mile technical trail which has multiple waterfall obstacles, a large V-Notch obstacle, and several large boulders to negotiate. The first of several obstacles along this trail is an 8' steep ramp (waterfall) with a tight turn at the top; longer wheelbase vehicles typically manage this obstacle more easily than short wheelbase vehicles. The most difficult of the mandatory obstacles is a large ledge (waterfall) approximately 4' in height; the bypass is a narrow ramp which requires precise wheel placement to prevent high centering on a rock outcropping or rolling over. The driver-side front tire must climb a rock wall, placing the vehicle in an off-camber angle. Once up the obstacle, there is a deep hole which could hang up the front bumper, requiring a multi-point turn to escape. After this, there are several more obstacles, including a narrow V-notch, which also requires precise tire placement to prevent vehicle damage.

This is a challenging technical trail which requires spotters. It is best suited for a modified 4WD vehicle with a lift, at least 35" tires, and a winch for this trail. This trail follows a narrow wash and is susceptible to flash flooding during rainstorms; do not travel when rainfall is forecasted.