Arizona Off-Road Trails

Who doesn’t love going off the beaten path, the road less traveled? Buckskin Mountain Trail is just that, when leaving The Desert Bar, this trail offers drivers a way out of the bar that is relatively remote and at the same time offers some of the best sunset views of the valley. This is no easy 4x4 trail, the trail is a solid intermediate path with several long loose hill climbs and even a waterfall obstacle. Thus the next time you are looking to spice up your drive to The Desert Bar or thinking about taking a different way home, check out Buckskin Mountain Off-road Trail near Parker Arizona.

Historians agree that during the area's pioneer days, an incident involving an Apache girl made her a local legend. The specifics are lost to time, but the name Apache Maid has been applied to a mountain, a ranch, a cabin, a road, and the area in general. Apache Maid Ranch was owned by the Babbitts, a prominent northern Arizona family that created a mercantile company, numerous local leaders, and a Senator. The Apache Maid road travels through the center of today's geography and the era's history. In the east, Apache Maid winds through the tall, stately ponderosa forest that dominates the vast Coconino National Forest. As the road loses elevation, the pines give way to scattered juniper, canvas-tan grasslands, and beautiful views. The Apache Maid cabin, an old ranch house, sits up a short lane. With its fire watchtower, Apache Maid Mountain looms over the trail's western end. With plenty of camping available and a trail offering a few challenges, Apache Maid makes for a great Arizona wheeling experience.

Roads and trails in this area are often named after early pioneers or important geographical features along the way. Alpine meadows are called parks in local parlance. Horse Park Road draws its name from a particularly picturesque meadow, one of three along this easy scenic drive. Horse Park Road begins just south of Flagstaff in the bedroom community of Mountainaire. The well-maintained road travels through an OHV area ripe with interesting ATV tracks. There are seemingly countless campsites along the trail, many located near the three parks. Combine those two attributes with the native beauty of the pine-forested Coconino National Forest, and you have a top-rated destination on weekends. If you are looking for fun and a chance to meet up with other offroad enthusiasts, Horse Park Road might just be the path you want to follow.

Nestled in the nearly 2.9 million-acre Tonto National Forest, Cedar Flat is a true central Arizona experience. On the way to the trailhead, you pass the historic Doll Baby Ranch. The ranch was purchased a few years back by a nature conservancy and put under Forest Service jurisdiction. Cattle still roam on the ranch's land, but continued access to the Baby Doll Trailhead for hikes into the Mazatzal Wilderness was ensured. Even more importantly, the section of the East Verde River that runs through the ranch property was protected. The ranch's original windmill still stands and turns in the breeze. Welcome to Arizona the way it used to be. There aren't many trails in Arizona that offer a smorgasbord of experiences. Besides the Old West vibe of just getting to the trail, having a cottonwood-lined perennial river to soak your feet in, listen to its ripples, camp beside, and perhaps even take a cooling dip in one of the deep pools is an extremely unique experience in the deserts of Arizona. The buffet continues with vast views of one of Arizona's most intimidating mountain ranges, the rugged Mazatazals. There isn't a single road that crosses that impenetrable range. You can see why as you gaze across at the looming presence, a wilderness only penetrated by a handful of difficult hiking trails. Even the name, Cedar Flat, is interesting. There isn't a single cedar tree on Cedar Flat. Early settlers were familiar with European cedars and mistook the western junipers as a species of cedar. Thus there are many Cedar Flats, Mesas, and Creeks across the West and about a trillion unappreciated juniper trees. Go check out Cedar Flat and take in all the items on the menu. You'll leave a fuller person for it.

Little Pan Mine Road passes through the BLM's Table Mesa Recreation Area in the beautiful cactus-studded Sonoran Desert. The Bradshaw Mountains dominate the skyline to the northwest, while the New River Mountains define the eastern horizon. The area is popular with outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy wheeling, rock crawling, OHVs, shooting, dirt biking, and hiking. The region has a rich history of mining and cattle ranching. Being close to Phoenix, the area can get crowded on weekends. Little Pan Mine Road offers excellent views, good campsites, a river crossing, and hills steep enough to make you pay attention to the off-camber shelf road. Shade trees abutting a high cliff face near the Agua Fria River make for an excellent picnic site. A wide variety of cacti native to the Sonoran Desert line the trail. Just north of the river crossing, a magnificent stand of Saguaro dominates a hillside. Whatever type of adventure you are seeking, Little Pan Mine Road can take you there.

Edward’s Park, FR 422, is a rocky, aggressive, out-and-back trail in Tonto National Forest. It begins at an intersection with Four Peaks, FR 143, northwest of Four Peaks Pass. Unlike the easy drive to the top of Four Peaks, this trail immediately gets difficult with loose rock, washouts, steep hill climbs, descents, and off-camber tracks. The loop at the north end is steep, off-camber, and deteriorated.

Edward’s Park has seasonal stream crossings and offers views of Bull Mountain and Edward’s Peak, among others. Occasionally, there's a peek of Roosevelt Lake and the surrounding Tonto Basin to the east.

The road is also a segment of the Arizona Trail, a hiking trail covering over 800 miles from the Mexican border north to the Utah state line. Be kind to any hikers you see. They have a long way to go.

There are multiple dispersed campsites on this trail. Most will accommodate a few vehicles and have rock fire rings. These are great sites, well off of the beaten path, with pine trees providing a small slice of shade from the Arizona sun.

While this is not a “rock crawling” trail, it is aggressive.  A lift and good off-road tires are recommended. 

Immerse yourself in the captivating views of Tonto National Forest's FR 60, also known as A Cross Road. With a mixture of dirt roads and slightly rocky terrain, anyone with a high clearance 2WD can enjoy this trail. There may be shallow water crossings depending on the lake's water level.

Scattered campsites offer awe-inspiring views of Theodore Roosevelt Lake and the majestic Four Peaks. If hiking is your thing, embark on the enigmatic Lost Goldmine Trail. For thrill-seekers, the Jug canyoneering route presents a daring challenge, rewarding adventurers with invigorating natural water slides, cliff jumping, and repelling down steep canyon faces into the crystal clear water below. A Cross Road is truly a gateway to Arizona's natural wonders.

The wonderous geologic beauty of Sedona's red sandstone monoliths brings visitors from far and wide. That same sandstone creates challenging offroad trails that draw their own flocks of eager visitors. Jeep tour companies bounce wide-eyed giggling tourists along many of those. It's all fun and beautiful. But you may begin to crave a quieter adventure that includes a bit of solitude. Atop the Mogollon Rim, past the jeep tours and the crowded overlook parking lots, FR 801 veers off Schnebly Hill Road into the Coconino National Forest. Most just zip by the intersection without noticing. FR 801 hides her treasures well. The track leads deep into a Ponderosa pine forest, offers some excellent camping, and connects with other small trails that lead to amazing and seldom-seen views out on the edge of the Rim. In summer, cattle graze on the high alpine grasses. An inordinate number of hummingbirds seem to like this area. Watch closely for elk peering at you from the shadows. There are a lot of wonders to find in this forest, but crowds aren't one of those.

Located in central Arizona's Prescott National Forest, Porcupine Peak provides access to one of the area's highest promontories with amazing views. Along the way are good campsites, a juniper forest peppered with stately century plants, and a small seasonal stream with cottonwoods and sycamores. The summit provides an unparalleled view of central Arizona and the Verde River basin. There's also great cell phone reception at the top, courtesy of the massive antennae farm. The first 5 miles of the road are also part of the Great Western Trail that runs from Arizona to Montana.

Paw Hole is a deep sand trail from House Rock Road to the geologically stunning White Pocket. It is the northern route and the more technical route to White Pocket. It is also more scenic! This route also passes sights like the Paw Hole Teepees and Poverty Flat Ranch. It is also the access road to the Cottonwood Teepees trailhead. This trail requires 4WD because of the deep sand. There isn't any camping along this route. A permit is required to hike into Coyote Buttes South, the area with the teepee-shaped rock formation just north of Paw Hole. A permit is not necessary to drive Paw Hole or to explore White Pocket.

Immediately you are ensconced in tall pines and an abundance of campsites. That's just what you'd expect from a well-groomed trail in the Coconino National Forest with easy access off the interstate. But just a few miles into Forest Road 226, you begin to find silence broken only by the wind singing a soothing melody in the tops of the Ponderosas and the crunch of your tires on the dirt. Squirrels scamper across the road, and that might have been an elk in the shadows watching you pass by. At picturesque Bar M Canyon, named for an old ranch that once operated in the area, is an unexpected one-lane bridge. Just beyond the bridge is a campsite snuggled up to the canyon. An enterprising camper cut large pine logs into camp furniture fit for Paul Bunyan. The site makes for a cozy overnight camp or perhaps just an amusing and timely picnic spot. With links to a complete network of other fun trails, Forest Road 226 might be a pivotal segment of a longer overland journey. But even alone, it is worth checking out.

FR 9496F is a rarity in the Coconino National Forest. The Coconino is renowned for its vast Ponderosa pine forests. FR 9496F begins in that forest but transitions quickly to a more open grassland studded with Alligator Juniper, one of the oldest living plant species in Arizona. The canvas tan grasses evoke images of an African savanna. Just substitute the junipers for Boabab trees and any elk or deer you see for wildebeest and gazels and, voila, you are in your own National Geographic safari episode. The trail passes near the head of the rugged Woods Canyon. The chasm slices down through multihued layers of sandstone opening views across the broad Verde River Valley. To the southwest, the long slopes of the Mingus Mountains define the horizon. The solitary rounded prominence to the southeast is Apache Maid, the forest tower atop it visible only with binoculars. Trundling beyond Wood Canyon brings on Jacks Point Tank and the end of the trail. A quiet approach to the tank might permit a glimpse of watering wildlife before they scurry back into the shelter of the Alligators.

FR301 is a dirt road trail that will take you under an hour out and back, and it starts right at the city limits of Flagstaff! This is great for a quick family outing or to get in a hike when you're on the east side of Flagstaff. The mudding is good after a soaking rain or when the snow is melting (avoid this trail in-stock vehicles when it's wet!). At the end of the guide's trail you'll find parking and a USFS trailhead for a nice half-mile hike to Fisher Point with epic views of Walnut Canyon. FR301 is a more interesting drive and a quicker hike to the canyon than the Arizona Trail trailhead, located a mile east down Old Walnut Canyon Road. You are likely to see Elk along FR301 or FR301D during their migration season, especially in late fall and early winter. This area is heavily affected by bark beetles; you can hear them work on the trees in the summer if you are quiet.

The Sawtooth Mountain Widow Maker Pass trail is south of Casa Grande near Arizona City. This beautiful trail winds through the remote Sawtooth Mountain Range, part of the 129,000-acre Ironwood Forest National Monument established in 2000 by presidential proclamation.

The trail begins at the steel gate just past the intersection of West Harmon and South Lamb Roads.  Shortly down the trail is a cattle gate. Please close it after passing at the request of the rancher. The trail crosses Greene Wash. Use caution after rain as this area floods and quickly turns to deep mud.  You will find one of the original 267 concrete Corona Satellite calibration markers.

The trails in this area are not marked with signs or trail markers, so ensure you download the GPX track. As you wind through the foothills and into the mountains, there are many opportunities to capture photos of the Sonoran Desert landscape. From the crest of Widow Maker Pass, there are great views of farm fields, Picacho Peak, the Santa Catalina Mountains, and Mount Lemon in the distance.

There are a few locations along the trail suitable for camping. These come with space for several vehicles and outstanding views of the Sawtooth Mountains.

This trail runs primarily through BLM land but crosses private property on the north end and Arizona State Trust Land. Please know the boundaries of private landowners before traveling this trail and respect the access they provide. You will need an Arizona State Trust Land recreation permit in this area.

Atop Mt. Ord at nearly 7100 ft in elevation, is the Mt. Ord fire lookout. Originally placed in 1936 at 60 ft in height, the tower was replaced in 1983 and is currently approximately 102 ft tall. The original fire lookout cabin can be seen at the Rim Country Museum in Payson, Az. It makes for an interesting side trip and can be accessed by turning left/south at the intersection of FR 27 and FR 626. If the gate is open at the end of FR 626, continue on up to the end of the road, and if you're lucky, maybe you will be invited up into the tower. If the gate is closed you can hike the approximate 1 mile uphill to the tower. Also sitting atop Mt. Ord are local radio towers and amateur radio repeaters.