Arizona Trails

“The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time,” said Thoreau in his 1854 book Walden. Sadly, he never saw Sedona. Sand dunes and seabed sediments were laid and then covered by more of the same over 300 million years ago. Under unimaginable compression, they became the sandstone we see today. A massive 3000-foot uplift 13 million years ago created the Mogollon Rim, running from central New Mexico to western Arizona, exposing the ancient sandstone layers. Walden’s gentle erosion took over. The ethereal beauty of Sedona’s many sandstone formations emerged. Today, tourists from all over the world flock to charming and captivatingly scenic Sedona. Offroaders come, too, running the many famous rocky trails in the area. Schnebly Hill Road is both a road and a rite of passage. The road is crowded and annoyingly bumpy on the descent from the Rim into Sedona. But the views always delight, all that red and buff sandstone formed into monuments ranging from massive to whimsical. Despite being a Jeep Badge of Honor Trail, Schnebly Hill Road is a once-and-done for many. But it is one that you need to do and will always remember, a touchstone of the community, if you will. Thoreau never did Schnebly Hill Road. You should.

Located northwest of Lake Pleasant and traversing through three different life zones and multiple biomes, Backway to Crown King is a thrilling off-road adventure that offers a unique perspective on Arizona's rugged and beautiful landscape. This extremely popular 4-wheel drive trail is known for its challenging terrain, steep inclines, and narrow shelf roads. Obstacles, mines, and great views await as you climb from the Sonora Desert into the Prescott National Forest.

Located northeast of Florence, Box Canyon is a scenic trail that passes through a spectacular, narrow canyon with geological features and bright, colorful vegetation you wouldn't commonly associate with the desert, such as acarosporaceae fungi. Beyond the sheer, towering canyon walls, drivers can find petroglyphs, and historical stagecoach stops making this trail a truly unique Arizona offroad experience. A favorite amongst many offroad enthusiasts, this trail is a popular access point to many other trails within the Florence Junction area.

Located within the Bulldog Canyon OHV Recreation Area, FR 10 travels through the Tonto National Forest, offering incredible views of the towering cliffs and rugged canyons that make up the Goldfield Mountains. This area is home to one of Arizona's most infamous legends, the Lost Dutchman's Gold. Countless treasure hunters have explored the countless Sonoran Desert canyons in hopes that one might be hiding that mythical treasure.

When you think of rugged off-road trails, you typically conjure up images of a trail in a land far away and not right near a major metro area such as just Phoenix, Arizona. New River is rugged and will have you feeling like you are in a remote part of the world rather than a quick drive from the Valley of the Sun. Stretching over 19 miles long across the New River Mountains and Mesa, you will feel enveloped inside the mountains and surrounded by saguaro and other cacti of the area. On a good day, you can cross the New River several times when it is flowing.

Table Mesa Road West runs through a verdant portion of central Arizona's Sonoran Desert with cacti, including saguaro, prickly pear, and various cholla species. Numerous hills and mesas create a jagged scenic horizon. The trail's namesake mesa, with a lone tower astride its flat top, sits on the east side of I-17 near the trailhead.

Mild-mannered Table Mesa Road provides access to a broad area packed with trails ranging from mild to wild. Little Pan Mine Road crosses the seasonably variable Agua Fria River. The wickedly difficult Terminator trails result in a lot of bent metal. Scattered campsites make for great nights under the stars.

Whether it was a telegraph line, early communications between Horseshoe and Bartlett dams, or even a way to speak with the power plant in Childs, we are left with a line of stumps in the ground attempting to tell us the story of what’s known as Telegraph Line Trail.

The story goes that in the 1880s, when Prescott was the capital of the Arizona territory, a telegraph line was erected for communication between Fort Whipple and Fort McDowell. In 1890, when it became the Fort McDowell Reservation, telegraph communication was no longer necessary as the Army personnel were relocated, and the line was ordered to be chopped down.

In May 2005, the Bart Fire closed the entire St. Clair area. One month later, the Cave Creek Complex Fire took center stage. St. Clair faded into obscurity until 2007, when the Tonto National Forest made a brief effort to rehabilitate the area, which was ultimately delayed. Very little happened for the next seven years.

In early 2014, Tonto Recreation Alliance volunteers began brushing work to clear overgrown areas. In late 2015, TRAL started on repairs to sections of the trail and, by February 2016, had connected both ends by repairing the Edge of Earth obstacle. In 2019, the Mountain and Clair fires put a temporary stall on the project. After all the time, energy, and effort, Telegraph Line Trail is open and ready for you to drive! 

Serving as the southern route to California for hundreds of years, the El Camino Del Diablo (or sometimes called Camino Muerte - Road of Death and also as the Devil's Highway) has carried travelers from the days of the Spanish conquistadors across the sweltering desert from water source to water source until they reached Yuma. The road saw heavy use by the gold rush pioneers in 1849 as it was the only route that even the Apache's wouldn't travel in the summer, which drastically reduced the number of ambushes the pioneers suffered. Today, the original route (which started in Caborca Mexico) has been modified to pass through the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, the Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge, and the Barry Goldwater Gunnery Range to exit on the Yuma side of the Tijinas Altas Mountains. This road is iconic and should provide some of the finest views of the Sonoran Desert you can find. The sense of self-reliance only surpasses the scenery you will experience as you must carry everything you will need with you. There's no gas, phones, electricity to rely on here. However, there is a sprinkling of watering holes, wells, and rock water tanks that you could depend on just like the pioneers did. Many of these unfortunate travelers did not make it across the El Camino Del Diablo alive; You may encounter some of the hundreds of graves that are rumored to line the road during your trip. (About 50 are marked). For more interesting detail about El Camino Del Diablo -

CLICK HERE

You can read about

Raphael Pumpelly's trek across Arizona Here.

(pp. 31-98 in particular)

The Four Peaks trail in the Tonto National Forest is an iconic offroad adventure near Phoenix. The trail delivers breathtaking views of the Mazatzal Mountains and Roosevelt Lake, taking you through a diverse desert landscape. The Four Peaks area is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts with an extensive range of adventure activities and historical sites.

The trail is an easy offroad drive with several scenic vistas and campsites. The area is popular for shooting activities, with numerous designated sites where you can legally shoot approved targets. Please be responsible and clean up all the target debris and discharged shells.

Four Peaks comes from the four prominent peaks forming the massif's summit. Brown's Peak is the tallest of the four at 7,659 feet. It's the northernmost peak and the only named one. It is also the highest point in Maricopa County.

Located just outside of downtown Sedona, in the Coconino National Forest, Soldiers Pass Trail is one of only a few offroad trails that gets your vehicle on top of the famous red rocks. Photo opportunities abound on this iconic trail named after General George Crook's army scouts, who used this trail to travel through the territory.

In addition to the red rock scenery, there are other amazing sites along the trail. The first is Devil's Kitchen Sinkhole. It is the largest sinkhole in Arizona. Initially formed in the late 1880s, it collapsed again in 1989. Based on current surface cracks, geologists believe more sections could collapse. The second awesome site is the Seven Sacred Pools. These are naturally formed pools in the sandstone and are considered sacred by the Apache and Yavapai Native Americans. If you catch the trail at the right time, you may see water running into the pools.

While short for an offroad trail, this one isn't about the number of miles but the quality of the trail, and its otherworldly surrounding. Plan ahead, a permit is required, and you don't want to miss this one!

In 1863 the Bradshaw brothers, William and Isaac, came to Arizona from the declining goldfields of California. By 1864 they found gold in the forbidding mountains that would eventually bear their family name. Miners and prospectors flocked to the area despite the ruggedness of the mountains and the fierceness of the Yavapai natives, that still claimed the lands as their home. William, more an entrepreneur than a miner, laid out the Bradshaw Trail and started a ferry across the Colorado River at Ehrenburg, charging unsuccessful California miners a nice fee for access to the new goldfields of Arizona. Mines like Senator, Tip Top, Blue Bell, Tiger, and Ora Belle began highly profitable operations. Rod McKinnon located gold in July 1875 deeper into the Bradshaws than any find to date. The resulting Crowned King Mine became the largest operation in the Bradshaws and spawned the bustling town of Crown King. Crown King got its post office in 1888. Electricity and the telephone arrived in 1897, both still a rarity in Arizona. The Saloon was moved from Oro Belle board by board in 1906 and reassembled on the present site, which was at the time beside two Chinese Restaurants and the feed store. The upstairs featured seven cribs where the town's soiled doves practiced the world's oldest profession. It is now Arizona's longest-operating saloon. The historic photos lining the walls of the bar serve as a museum of sorts. The Bradshaw Mountain Railroad, a true feat of engineering, reached Crown King in 1904 via switchbacks and tall trestles. The railroad ceased operation in 1926 after the mines played out and most of the population left. The rail bed was converted into the scenic Crown King Road with its dual ghost towns of Bumble Bee and Cleator. Today there's only sporadic mining in the Bradshaws. But Crown King has become its jewel. With roughly a hundred full-time residents and perhaps a thousand that have cabins and summer homes atop the mountains, Crown King's population swells every weekend as offroaders and adventurers come to the mountaintop town for a taste of Arizona history. The Magic Bridge transports visitors from the desert below to the towering pines and cool breezes of Crown King. The saloon has live music most weekends. The general store sells a lot more t-shirts than mining pans these days. Campsites near town are filled with happy campers. Even with most of the gold gone, the mountains of the Bradshaw brothers remain full of treasures. Drive on up the iconic Crown King Road and see what you can discover.

Let’s get something straight right now. Senator Highway isn’t a highway. And it has nothing to do with politics, well, almost nothing. But the Senator is an amazing trail through a beautiful, rugged land with a great history. In 1863 William Bradshaw discovered gold and other mineral deposits in a largely unexplored Arizona mountain range that would one day bear his name. By 1871 the Senator Mine southeast of Prescott, the off-and-on territorial capital of Arizona, was producing fine-grade gold ore. One of the partners in the Senator Mine was the then Territorial Governor John Goodwin, who may or may not have had aspirations to be Arizona’s first Senator once it achieved statehood. A toll road, begun in 1866 from Prescott towards Groom Lake, was continued on to the mine in 1875 and became known locally as Senator Highway. By then, the first mining claim was established near what would become the bustling new town of Crown King. By fits and starts, Senator Highway was extended across the spine of the Bradshaws to connect the Crown King to Prescott. Today Senator Highway troops through verdant pine forests and classic high desert chaparral, climbing and descending the varied topography. Portions of the trail are nicely maintained, while others are often rutted and rough, receiving little attention. Sections of shelf road offer broad vistas across the rugged Bradshaws. Approximately at the halfway point of the trail lies the historic log cabin known as Palace Station. Built as a homestead in 1875 by Alfred and Matilda Spence, the cabin was used as a stage stop until 1910. Today it is an administrative site for the Prescott National Forest and is not open to the public. As one of the oldest structures in Arizona still in use, the cabin is a treasure and a highlight of the Senator Highway.

The Vultee Arch trail in Sedona is the perfect place for your next offroad adventure. The trail runs through the beautiful red rocks, leading to a vast network of hiking trails in the Coconino National Forest and the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. The area is home to many natural wonders, including stone arches, natural bridges, pinnacles, cliffs, and slot canyons, all waiting to be explored.

If you have a high-clearance vehicle, you can easily drive to the hiking trailheads of Devil's Bridge, Brin's Mesa, Secret Canyon, and Vultee Arch. Even if hiking is your main attraction, off-roaders can take unique photos of their vehicle against the beautiful red rock backdrop along the Vultee Arch Trail. For the best photos, you should take the trail in the afternoon when the sun casts its warm light on Capital Butte and the surrounding ridgelines.

If you want to explore the area's history, head down the trail and take a short side trip on Forest Road 9917 to the nearly century-old Van Deran Cabins. These cabins were used in two movies back in the 1940s: "Riders of the Purple Sage" and "Blood on the Moon." A plaque at the site provides additional history of the previous owners and building materials used.

Just outside of Phoenix, Arizona, lies the historic Apache Trail, which winds through the Superstition Mountains region of the Tonto National Forest. The mountains are rugged and unforgiving but have a strong and mysterious draw for the adventurous type. The Apache Trail was originally a wagon haul road used to transport supplies from Mesa to the construction site of the Roosevelt Dam, which created Roosevelt Lake. Construction of the trail began in 1903 and was finished in 1905. It is believed that the route follows an ancient footpath that was used by Native Americans as a trade route. Traveling along the Apache Trail allows access to different regions that offer various desert experiences.

President Theodore Roosevelt once said, "The Apache Trail combines the grandeur of the Alps, the glory of the Rockies, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon, and then adds an indefinable something none of the others have".

This route is a wonderful get away from the Phoenix congestion and is a VERY popular place for the locals. The area is comprised of many different trails connecting for an incredibly beautiful, yet challenging tour of the desert. The large Sycamore Wash has the challenging Widowmaker hill climb as well as sweeping panoramas of the Four Peaks Region in Tonto National Forest. The Sycamore Creek and Four Peaks region combined, create an incredible place to play at any time of the year. The region has many double and single track trails to explore for days. The trails in the area wind through sandy wash canyons, up steep hill climbs and over rock strewn mountain tops, all while being within an hours drive of the Phoenix valley. The entire area has limitless free camping, but please try to reduce your impact by using an existing campsite area. The area is popular for target shooting and can become crowded on holiday weekends. Please be very cautious when traveling the trails, all trails are TWO WAY and collisions do occur, resulting in deaths, please slow down!

Before heavy equipment made road-building easy, wide desert washes served as semi-reliable substitutes in the Sonoran Desert. Ranchers, miners, and travelers of all sorts used the smooth sandy bottoms to traverse the rugged landscape. Morgan City Wash is named for a small mining community near Pikes Peak, one of the many mines and towns that sprung up in the mid and late 1800s in the Hieroglyphic Mountains only to quickly disappeared back into the landscape. The wash was the only thoroughfare to the tiny community. Today the offroad community still uses the wash to travel deep into this rough and beautiful area. The southern part of the trail follows the meandering sandy bottom of the broad wash. Summer monsoon floods continually reshape the trail. Springs create lush riparian areas populated with coveys of Gambel quail that flush noisily when you approach. Classic cactus-laden desert landscapes rule above the rim of the canyon. The jagged peaks of the Hieroglyphic Mountains dominate the horizon. A narrow rocky section of the wash between high walls of granite makes for fun wheeling. Several springs and seeps normally keep this section wet. Thus the sand is well-packed. The trail exits the wash after about nine miles. From there, it rides along the crest of a winding ridge offering fantastic 360-degree views. Pikes Peak looms to the east, Garfias Mountain rising to the north, both in the seldom visited Hells Canyon Wilderness. The Horse Creek Trailhead and Garfias Wash offer intrepid hikers an opportunity to delve deep into this remote wilderness. Pack a lunch. Bring the kids. Air down. Enjoy the Morgan City Wash.

Mineral Mountain Road is the northern entrance to the famous Florence, AZ, OHV area. From Mineral Mountain Road, offroad enthusiasts can plan a full day's adventure with any number of the local trails. This expansive area is littered with mining claims, petroglyphs, wagon stops, and beautiful scenic views. Occasionally, there are deer, big horn sheep, Gila monsters, and endangered desert tortoise sightings. Mineral Mountain Road can access several of Arizona's most famous rock crawling trails. Ajax Mine, Axle Alley, and Highway to Hell are just a few of the area's legendary trails. If you're looking for a great scenic 4x4 tour, Box Canyon and Price Road make for a fantastic and moderate day.

The route was once a maintained gravel road connecting several mines and the old town of Reymert. After the mining years ended, the land was used for military artillery training. The local Arizona National Guard would notify the public when the firing was live by raising a red flag at the trailhead. Over the years, the military stopped firing into the mountains, and this rugged Sonoran desert landscape found a new purpose.

Confusion between indigenous petroglyphs and Egyptian hieroglyphs led to the name of a sprawl of rugged Hieroglyphic Mountains west of present-day Phoenix. In 1865, Army Colonel Charles Craig led a troop of soldiers pursuing Yavapai Indians through the misnomered mountains and remarked that the peaks looked like castles. The troop stumbled upon hot springs that flowed into a desert wash and named them Castle Hot Springs and Castle Creek. The wash became a road, and the hot springs became a resort.

An underground reservoir pushes out 200,000 gallons of 122-degree water daily. Indigenous peoples had long frequented the hot spring for its supposed healing powers. In 1896, the enterprising Arizonan Frank Murphy began luring people to the Castle Hot Springs, and they've been coming ever since. Eastern dandies wintered at the remote hot springs resort, including Theodore Roosevelt, the Wrigleys, Rockefellers, Cabots, and Carnegies. During World War II, the Defense Department commandeered the spa to serve as a recuperation facility for wounded servicemen. Its most famous patient was future President John F Kennedy, who spent the winter of 1945 recovering from injuries suffered when his boat, PT109, was destroyed. A 1976 fire destroyed much of the resort, but it has reopened. The palm trees around the resort are not native to Arizona.

The resort is not the only feature of this highly scenic drive. Castle Hot Spring Road passes the scenic Lake Pleasant Reservoir before dropping into Castle Creek. Feral burros roam the rugged landscape and are often seen from the trail. The center of the trail follows a colorful canyon formed by Bitter Creek. Remnants of present and past mining operations and cattle ranches dot the surrounding hills and mountains. Each switchback reveals another vast vista of a rugged mountainous landscape, and connecting trails beg for further exploration.

The OHV region near Florence, Arizona, is loaded with legendary offroad trails for all types of vehicles. Hidden in one of the many washes, Elvis is widely known for its numerous rock waterfalls that challenge even the best-built rigs. There are many abandoned as well as active mines in the area. Legend has it the trail's name comes from a local miner’s dog that traveled along the route with him many years ago. Along the way, there are towering saguaros clinging to the rocky banks as you twist through a lush Sonoran desert. The terrain along this route is harsh, the rocks are sharp, and everything out there wants to poke or sting you. Continuing that theme, the rocky waterfalls are massive and intimidating, but with careful tire placement and a trusted spotter, navigating through the rocky maze is achievable. Stopping after conquering an obstacle and feeling a sense of accomplishment is the memorable part about Elvis.

Trekking between the Table Mesa Recreation Area and Black Canyon City, west of I-17, Black Canyon OHV Trail is a scenic, rocky, and narrow 4x4 trail that follows an ancient pack trail over steep rolling hills and deep dry river beds through thick and thriving high desert vegetation. This trail provides a great mix of challenges and views and is a fantastic adventure-filled day when combined with AZCO Mine Trail.

Close to Phoenix and fun! This offroad trail follows the Camp Creek Wash to the Needle Rock Recreation Area on the Verde River. As you progress down the sandy trail, the wash narrows, and cliffs rise above you into a narrow canyon. There are many opportunities to stop and explore by foot or rest for lunch under the towering cliffs. When you reach the end of the trail, you will enter the Needle Rock Recreation Area, a popular swimming hole in the summer. There are plenty of opportunities for fishing, kayaking, or just enjoying the beautiful riparian scenery.

The Superstition Mountain Range is a unique and vast region located in central Arizona. The rugged peaks can be seen from miles away, seeming to invite outdoor enthusiasts to explore its many hidden canyons. Located along the southern rim, Superstition Loop allows 4x4 users to enjoy the towering peaks while driving along an easy off-road trail. The trail winds its way through the desert landscape with an unobstructed view of the mountains and has some wonderful campsites to pitch a tent for a night or even more. The area is filled with some of the most challenging and scenic hiking on the planet. If you want a real challenge, pound in your tent stakes and head over to Peralta Hiking Trail to climb up to the top of the Superstitions. Of course, you can choose to merely drive along the loop, and maybe you'll catch a glimpse of the Longhorn cattle belonging to a local rancher.

Just outside of Jerome, one of the most famous and ghostly mining towns in all Arizona, sits a rock that never stops smiling. Smiley Rock is one of the more famous off-road trails in the State and for good reason. The drive is challenging, but not overly difficult and provides inspiring scenery as you travel along the south edge of the Woodchute Wilderness Area inside the cool and shaded Martin Canyon. The main attraction is the rock with a smile set in stone. It sits there smiling at you and this is the type of trail in which you could honestly smile back.

As you drive in, the impressive views of the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness Area and the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness area abound throughout most of this easy dirt road, begging you to drive even deeper. Located near Sedona and named after Loy Butte, the more prominent rock formation nearest the Honanki Ruin, this road also connects to several of the most notable offroad routes near Sedona, including The Outlaw OHV Trail and Diamondback Gulch. You could easily spend a few days in this area, wheeling and hiking many foot trails that lead into the Wilderness Area.

Cottonwood Canyon Road serves as one of, if not the main entrance to, the famous Florence OHV area. This rugged region is littered with old mines, wagon stops, petroglyphs, and beautiful Sonoran Desert landscapes. During the busy winter months, the early portion of the route is considered the boondockers midway. Countless RVs and large family groups line the well-maintained gravel road. The fun begins once you pass all the traffic. The trail travels through a rocky wash before climbing into the southern foothills of the Superstition Mountains with spectacular panoramas of the surrounding Sonoran Desert. Cottonwood Canyon Road ends at 5 Points, the central hub of the region's trail network. You can choose from various routes, like rock crawling on the Ajax Mine trail for lunch at the ruins or continuing south through the beautiful narrow walls of Box Canyon.

Located about 30 miles north of Phoenix, near Bumble Bee Ranch, scenic Turkey Creek Trail winds like a rollercoaster through and above several canyons, including Black Canyon, Dead Cow Gulch, and Turkey Creek Canyon. This trail along the base of the Bradshaw Mountains passes through many silver and gold mining areas established as far back as the early 1900s. Fantastic views, rocky terrain, and multiple water crossings await those adventurous enough to take the long way to the unique Cleator Bar and Yacht Club.

Sedona is a wonderful destination for offroad enthusiasts. It boasts a variety of trails with varying degrees of difficulty, all offering stunning views of the area's famous red rocks. Among the top 10 iconic 4x4 trails in Sedona is the Outlaw Trail. 

In addition to the offroad trails in Sedona, the Coconino National Forest extends to Flagstaff, offering endless trails in the pine forests that reach up to 7,000 feet in elevation at the top of the Mogollon Rim. It's a great escape from the summer heat in the Verde Valley.

Sedona has over 200 hiking trails covering more than 400 miles, providing plenty of options for hikers. You can venture deep into the wilderness of Red Rock Secret Mountain or Sycamore Canyon or explore the urban trails just a stone's throw away from downtown Sedona. 

If you're interested in history, Sedona is home to several ancient ruin sites, where you can glimpse life in cliff dwellings dating back to AD 1150 - 1350. Honanki, located at the end of the Outlaw Trail, and Palatki, just down Loy Butte Road, are two such sites. 

Situated near Flagstaff, Arizona, Woody Mountain Road is a favorite among campers and sightseers, especially near the end as they venture into the East Pocket area atop the Mogollon Rim and the famed Edge of the World camping area. The places it takes you to are scenic and full of potential. As you head south, you can see a radio tower atop Woody Mountain, then past The Arboretum at Flagstaff and Northern Arizona University Centennial Forest, Coconino County's Rogers Lake, through Mill Park with its scenic meadows, and further south to the top of the Mogollon Rim with incredible views and dispersed camping. There are also a lot of other connecting forest roads and trails that give you access to camping and many great places to enjoy the Coconino National Forest.

Box Canyon is an Arizona four-wheeler's hidden oasis. It offers a unique four-wheeling experience by allowing users to drive through a wet and sandy cliff-lined canyon. Most times of the year, there is just enough water to let you splash your way through the canyon. You can also explore side trails or hang out under one of the several giant shade trees. The Hassayampa River flows mostly underground. It starts at the Bradshaw Mountains and continues through Wickenburg, Arizona. Depending on the day and recent rainfall, the water depth typically ranges from non-existent to 15" deep (sometimes even deeper).

Close to Phoenix, the historical mining areas north of Lake Pleasant, China Dam, and the Tule Creek Homestead are a fascinating look back into the early settlement of the Bradshaw Mountain Foothills. Branching off the popular Backway to Crown King trail, this track leads to the China Dam, built in the late 1880s by immigrant Chinese laborers for hydraulic mining operations on Humbug Creek. The trail continues to an old mining homestead deep in the mountains on Tule Creek, slowly reclaimed by the desert landscape. Be sure to spend a day visiting these fantastic relics of the past before they are forever gone.

The Rolls OHV Area is located just outside the Phoenix Valley, in Tonto National Forest, and covers 27,000 acres. It features 65 miles of varied-width trails, offering breathtaking views and hiking trails around the Four Peaks, along with camping, fishing, and water sports at the back coves of Saguaro Lake.

Many of the trails in The Rolls are suitable for stock 4x4 vehicles. This trail provides an opportunity to explore the narrow canyons of the region.

This area is popular among those who enjoy riding ATVs and dirt bikes because of the sandy washes and winding canyons. You can spend a weekend exploring the region and camp at one of the coves located on Saguaro Lake. Alternatively, you can follow one of the routes leading north to the Four Peaks region and enjoy spectacular panoramas before returning to the coves for dinner and a bonfire on the shoreline.

Sedona is a fantastic destination for offroad enthusiasts. It offers a variety of trails with varying degrees of difficulty. One of the top 10 iconic 4x4 trails in Sedona is the Cliffhanger Trail, which has a name that instills curiosity and intrigue. Once you make your way down the narrow and suspension-banging Cliffhanger hill, you will want to take a 1/2-mile hike to the old homestead along Oak Creek and dip your feet in the water. Remember to bring your hiking shoes, as the hike back to your vehicle will be a bit of a climb. 

Apart from the offroad trails in Sedona, the Coconino National Forest extends to Flagstaff, offering endless trails in the pine forests that reach up to 7,000 feet in elevation at the top of the Mogollon Rim. It is a perfect escape from the summer heat in the Verde Valley. 

Sedona has over 200 hiking trails covering more than 400 miles, providing plenty of options for hikers. You can venture deep into the wilderness of Red Rock Secret Mountain or Sycamore Canyon or explore the urban trails just a stone's throw away from downtown Sedona. 

If you are interested in history, Sedona is home to several ancient ruin sites where you can glimpse life in cliff dwellings dating back to AD 1150 - 1350. Honanki, located at the end of the Outlaw Trail, and Palatki, just down Loy Butte Road, are two such sites.

Officially known as El Paso Gas Pipeline Rd., this off-road trail goes north to south on the western side of New River. The trail is also a route for the El Paso Gas Pipeline, and fiber cables are buried along the route. This is a great trail for overland adventures but also has some mildly challenging obstacles along the way. It can also provide an alternative route for high clearance vehicles that want to avoid a shutdown or heavily congested I-17.

Arizona does not have many places that offer a chance to enjoy a year-round, natural mountain stream. Located just a little north of Payson, the Tonto National Forest has a hidden gem for 4x4 enthusiasts. During the summer months, the crystal clear water offers a welcome reprieve from the desert heat while offering a perfect staging point for exploring hundreds of miles of nearby trails.

If you get there early enough, you can grab one of the limited camping spots located right on the creek. This trail may not be well known, but it is certainly popular with people visiting there for decades. The creek offers fishing for trout and a wonderful wet canyon hike to Colcord Falls, located upstream about 1/2 mile east of the camping area. The waterfall is by far one of the best-preserved swim holes in the entire state. The waterfall isn't always running, but with the heavy snows in 2016 and rains in 2017, the region has had plenty of moisture to keep the falls running all year. It's an easy hike through a narrow wet canyon with a couple of hidden springs to look for along the way.

Casner Mountain Trail runs between the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness and the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. It is an exceptional vantage point for viewing the Red Rock Country. The Sedona region is widely known for its natural beauty, and the Casner Mountain Trail, which reaches an altitude of 6,821 feet, offers a unique perspective that few people have experienced. Although the narrow and twisting switchbacks, sheer cliff shelf road, and steep hill climbs can be challenging, it is worth taking a break to appreciate the stunning views of the Sycamore Basin to the west and Mooney Canyon to the east.

With advanced planning, you can spend a day or two exploring the most famous offroad trails in the Sedona area. The next day, you can climb the Casner Mountain Trail to reach the top of the rim and then explore the extensive network of trails in the upper Coconino National Forest.

Located in the remote and mostly uninhabited Arizona Strip, Whitmore Overlook is an iconic Overlanding destination. The trail ends at an uber-impressive viewpoint 500 feet above the Colorado River as it snakes through the western end of the Grand Canyon. The ambitious can hike down to the river. But most will be content to sit on the cliff's edge admiring the scenery and possibly seeing a group of river rafters passing below. While the end of the trail is a worthy destination, getting there is special too. The trail begins at the historic Mount Trumbull Schoolhouse. Constructed in 1922, the schoolhouse was the civic focal point for the hardy residents of the area until 1966. Today it houses artifacts and photographs of the era. Passing through a pinion-juniper forest, every curve on the trail presents a new and impressive view of the Uinkaret Mountains to the east and the Whitmore Plateau and flat-topped 6,500-foot Grassy Mountain to the west. The sandstone cliffs glow in a rainbow of reds, oranges, pinks, grays, and white. Traveling farther south, ominous dark lava flows spill over the sandstone heights. Part of the Uinkaret Volcanic Field, the lava flows range from 850,000 to 72,000 years old. Uinkaret flows dammed the Colorado River at least 17 times, forming a lake that spanned back to the present-day Phantom Ranch. Each time the river overflowed the dams. The silt-laden water of the Colorado River eroded the basalt dams allowing the river to return to its voyage to the Gulf of California. From the Whitmore Overlook, you can see the remains of one of the lava dams across the river. The climax of the trail is obviously a night spent under the stars on the edge of a cliff above the mighty Colorado. With no light pollution, the night sky comes alive with a blanket of twinkling billions of stars and galaxies overhead. Sunrise and sunset views are nearly unparalleled. It's worth the trip.

Water in the desert means life. The beautiful and wild Verde River flows 170 miles through the center of Arizona before emptying into the Salt River. Two dams create broad lakes near the river's southern terminus, the first being Horseshoe Dam. Less crowded than the lower Bartlett Lake, Horseshoe Lake offers boating, kayaking, fishing, camping, wildlife watching, broad desert vistas, and quiet relaxation, The sandy saguaro-lined road to Horseshoe Lake passes below St. Clair Mountain on its descent through the rugged Tonto National Forest into the Verde River's deep valley and then on the lake. Numerous trails branch off for those looking for some adventurous wheeling. The K A Ranch appears wonderfully bucolic on the eastern bank of the river. Easy access to the Verde River below the dam offers fishing and dispersed camping opportunities. Numerous species of catfish, crappie, and bass, along with bluegills and carp, are plentiful. Anglers may find themselves competing with bald eagles who frequently fish the river and lake. The trail ends at a boat ramp often used as a takeout for kayakers coming down the Verde as well as those wishing to troll the lake. Be sure to take the short detour to visit the dam and Catfish Point, a great place to watch the river's precious water cascading from the dam's spillway.

Situated at the southern end of the Tonto National Forest and close to a myriad of other OHV trails, Queen Creek Canyon shouldn't be missed. The scenery along this trail is breathtaking! The thrill of riding along the ridgeline and shelf road keeps you holding tightly onto your steering wheel as you look in amazement out the windshield at the mountain peaks and low desert valley in front of you.

Right out of the gate, you are fully immersed in the challenges of this trail. A steep hill descends the mountainside and immediately climbs back out as you go up, over, and around the rugged landscape. The trail peaks at over 5,200 feet, a solid climb from the desert floor.

This trail is less traveled than the three trails that make up the Montana Mountain Loop: Hewitt Canyon Road, Rogers Trough, and Happy Camp Road. With the significant amount of camping in this area, adding Queen Creek Canyon can make for a great weekend trip.

You've undoubtedly seen the photographs though you might not have known where they were taken. The dramatic sandstone cliff dropping 3000 feet straight down to the Colorado River below is an iconic image. The location is the Toroweap Overlook. It sits in one of the most remote areas of Arizona, the Arizona Strip. Toroweap and Tuweep are used interchangeably. Both are derivations of a Paiute word meaning dry, barren valley. The long drive to Toroweap bears out the applicability of the name. But even barren locals can be dramatically beautiful. Multihued sandstone cliffs rise on either side of the Paiute's barren valley. To the south lies cinder cones and lava flows from the ancient Uinkaret Volcanic Field. Long views abound as the road descends towards the canyon cut by the Colorado River, the grandest canyon of them all. Walking to the edge of the Toroweap Overlook is a profound experience. The views are breathtaking. The immenseness of your surroundings is almost incomprehensible in human terms. The view here is like no other along the entire Grand Canyon. You have to work to get here, but it's worth the effort.

In an effort to manage the number of visitors to the area, all motor vehicles entering the Toroweap area of the Grand Canyon National Park require a backcountry permit or a day-use ticket available through Recreation.gov.

FR 153A is an exciting drive that gets you away from the Sedona crowds. That alone is reason enough to give it a try. However, the true worth of this short trail lies in its first mile, which runs along the dramatic edge of the Mogollon Rim, the geological feature that gave birth to the red rock geology that made Sedona famous. That one mile of eye-popping scenery is unforgettable. Even better is the handful of campsites perched right on the edge of the Rim, each with those imagination-defying views. But FR 153A guards her precious scenic and camp jewels jealously. The road to these epic sites is pure rock, and we aren't talking slick rock either. Plenty rough enough to turn away the faint of heart, the crowds never venture to these little-known edge-of-the-world gems. That just means the worthy can sit on the 1000' edge of the cliff sipping a beverage and watching the ant-like traffic crawl along Schnebly Hill Road below as sunset glistens off the enormous red rock formations below. And the next morning, you can crawl out of your sleeping bag and treat yourself to the sunrise view after a walk of only a few feet.

Located a short distance east of Florence and just outside the Phoenix Metro area, Sandman Road offers incredibly beautiful views of the Sonoran Desert and the Mineral Mountains. Travel through fields of teddy bear cholla and towering saguaro as you crest picturesque ridgelines that overlook miles of connecting OHV trails. Sandman Road should be near the top of your adventure list whether you are looking for a beginner offroad trail that's more than just a dirt road or looking to photograph amazing scenery.

The Tortilla Flat region in the Superstition Wilderness is known for its challenging and isolated hiking trails. If you want to explore this rugged area, the Tortilla Ranch Trail is an excellent option. The trail takes you further into the remote wilderness, where you can set up a serene and stunning campsite after a long day of hiking.

History seekers enjoy exploring the remains of the Tortilla Ranch. Situated along Tortilla Creek, an old rock cistern, well, fallen windmill, concrete pad, and watering trough are remnants of days gone by.

Hiking trail JF 106 is named for John "Jack" Fraser, who owned the JF Ranch in Fraser Canyon and eventually took over the Reavis Ranch property in 1896.

The Jerome-Perkinsville Road provides amazing views of the Mogollon Rim, the striking colors of Red Rock Country, and the rolling desert hills just east of Chino Valley. You also drive alongside the Woodchute Mountain Wilderness Area on the southern portion of this trail. To the north are Perkinsville and the Verde River. From there, you can continue further north to Williams or west to Chino.

Happy Camp is the third section of the popular Montana Mountain Loop. Winding along the border of the Superstition Wilderness deep within the Tonto National Forest Hewitt Station OHV area, Happy Camp is a fantastic trail for the scenery alone. The Montana Mountain Loop could easily be a weekend trip with the many campsites along the trail.

Newer offroaders can cut their teeth and build their confidence on Happy Camp with a few off-camber situations, shelf roads, minor rock obstacles, switchbacks, potential water crossings, and feeling very remote.

Happy Camp provides access to over 170 miles of networked hiking trails deep into the Superstition Wilderness. The Arizona Trail crosses Happy Camp Road at three different points. It is an 800-mile hiking trail traversing Arizona from the Mexico border to Utah. The crossings are part of Passage 18, Reavis Canyon, which runs from Picketpost Trailhead to Rogers Trough Trailhead.

Sunflower Mine Trail combines several trails for a great day in the Arizona desert. The trail works through a lush and rocky canyon leading to Sunflower Mine, also known as the National Mine. It operated from 1913-1965, mainly producing Cinnabar, used in the production of mercury and the extraction of gold. The mine also had smaller amounts of gold and silver before closing for good in 1985. The ruins at the mine used to be much larger than they are now. In 2014 most of the structures were removed, leaving only a tiny portion of the actual operation.

The real draw is the trail itself. It offers welcome shade while you're rock-crawling your way through Sycamore Wash. You get to push yourself and your vehicle with numerous optional obstacles along the way. The shelf roads may be narrow, but they offer incredible views of the surrounding canyons. Pack for an all-day trip because this trail might surprise you!

ATTENTION: The bridge at Waypoint 6 is scheduled for closure or repairs. Use at your own risk.

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.

In his 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens compared London and Paris and spawned the phrase, "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Crackerjack is like that. The best of times comes early on Crackerjack. The winding trail passes through juniper, pinion, and sycamore forests, broken at intervals by towering grey and red stone bluffs. Campsites sit near the broad dirt road. A concrete bridge set just at water level with no side railings eases you across the humorously splashy East Verde River, lots of places to picnic or camp nearby. Someone's tow strap became a rope swing over a deeper pool. If your windows are down, you'll likely hear laughter, and smell someone's barbeque grill. The trail climbs along the river's canyon's northern wall, offering glimpses down into the river's rocky course, passing its namesake mine along the way. And then, after the intersection with Cedar Flat, Crackerjack's mood changes. The best gives way to the worst. Turning away from the picturesque river, the trail tightens on itself, snakes uphill, begins to make your suspension groan, and tosses passengers and loose cargo from side to side. There is little space between the bowling ball-sized embedded rocks. Rock shelves barricade the passage at intervals. It seems never to end. But it does. Just as in Dickens' novel, there is redemption at the end. And satisfaction, too. It was the best of roads. It was the worst of roads. But now you are through both.

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.

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.

Hewitt Canyon Trail, Forest Road 172, is located in the Hewitt Station OHV area of Tonto National Forest. This is a popular area for hiking, dispersed camping, and offroad driving.

The beginning of the trail will take you across Queen Creek Wash. Have your camera ready. Hewitt Canyon treats visitors with towering rock cliffs and buttes. With a good eye, you can spot Elephant Arch, a natural rock arch resembling an elephant's head and trunk.

Further along the trail is a selection of dispersed camping sites, an old cattle coral with a windmill, and a rock water catchment. While the trail ends at the Woodbury Hiking Trailhead, Hewitt Canyon can be combined with several others to create the Montana Mountain Loop.

Telegraph Canyon Road is a scenic day ride weaving through the rugged beauty of Arizona's Mineral Mountain Mining District. Starting near the historic town of Superior, the trail meanders southwest, offering breathtaking views of iconic landmarks like Picketpost Mountain, Weaver’s Needle, Apache Leap, and the Superstition Wilderness. It intersects with the famed Arizona Trail before concluding at the intriguing Ajax Mine, a site steeped in history and frontier drama.

The Ajax Mine, established in 1915, was once rich in lead and zinc ore, estimated at 20,000 tons by its original operator, B.D. Johnson. Ownership disputes and legal battles defined its turbulent past, including a notorious eviction of the Wallace brothers in 1926. Despite being listed for sale in the 1940s, disagreements among heirs left it idle, with its asking price of $45,000 and unique no-down-payment terms never fulfilled. Visitors can explore its impressive remnants but should use extreme caution as you are likely to encounter open, vertical shafts.

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.

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.

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.

Lower Terminator is a short Technical Vehicle route located within the Table Mesa Recreation Area about 45 minutes north of Phoenix. This popular rock crawling trail follows a rocky wash and offers numerous challenges as you attempt huge obstacles, maneuver tight turns, and climb jagged ledges with steep drop-offs. Lower Terminator is an exceptionally rewarding driving experience where any vehicle can find a route that will push the vehicle to its mechanical limits.

Anderson Mesa lies between the vast Ponderosa pine forests at the edge of the Mogollon Rim and the barren badlands and painted deserts of northeastern Arizona. The topography of vast grasslands with a few scattered trees evokes​ Africa's Serengeti more than most people's ideas of Arizona. There are no major roads that cross Anderson Mesa. You have to work to get here. It is one of Arizona's most remote and unvisited landscapes. Forest Road 82 is called Anderson Mesa Road by the locals. Anglers and weekend ATV riders use the ends of this southern stretch to reach Long Lake and Kinnikinnick Lake. The lakes, even modest Cow Lake, are wonders in their own right. Elk, pronghorn, and sometimes eagles are drawn to their reliable water sources. The rough, rocky, suspension-crunching middle section seldom sees anyone save a few lonesome ranch hands or extremely dedicated hunters. The tan savannah grasslands periodically give way to thick juniper forests, forcing the trail to twist, split, merge, and meander before opening again to another broad vista. A sudden outcropping of rough boulders forces you to choose a line. You are more likely to see a dozen elk racing across the two-track in front of you than running across another human.

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.

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.

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.

Floyd Williams built the Verde Hot Springs Hotel on the west bank of the Verde River. The resort had several rock and concrete pools fed by the mineral hot springs. One legend has it that Al Capone once visited the Verde Hot Springs. The hotel burned in 1962, but the hot springs and its pools survive. The walls of the enclosed pools are decorated with pretty decent graffiti artwork. There's an abandoned ranch near the hot springs. While vehicles can't reach the river any longer, you are welcome to hike the remaining distance to the river and hot springs. With declining ranching and mining in the area, the roads leading to the hot springs on the west side of the Verde River have either been abandoned or deteriorated. Most maps of the area are outdated and inaccurate. Beginning at Bloody Basin Road, the drive is not overly technical. However, this is an extremely remote area.

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 heavily used western portion of the road over Schultz Pass is a scenic and easy trip up from town to the cool pines between Mount Elden and the San Francisco Peaks. This is your ticket to the top of the excellent Schultz Creek mountain biking trail, and to the trailheads of Sunset Trail, Kachina Trail, and Weatherford Trail, three of the best hikes in alpine Arizona. The dispersed camping is also excellent, although limited to a few locations. Since 2010 the less-used eastern half of the road over Schultz Pass has become a world-class tour in the effects of devastating forest fires and in the work required to restore a landscape after these hot all-consuming blazes.

Wagoner Road, FR 362, is a 24-mile route that connects the paved Wagoner Road off State Route 89 near Congress, AZ, to the Senator Highway near Crown King. There are many opportunities for dispersed camping and photography. Many side trails branch off Wagoner Road into the Bradshaw Mountains, begging to be explored. There are numerous active and past mine claims in the area. The route is not technical, however current forest road conditions may present mild challenges to stock vehicles. Two non-county road sections of Wagoner Rd cross Arizona State Trust Land, and an Arizona State Trust Land Recreation Permit should be obtained if you plan to camp on those sections. The western portion of Wagoner Road between SR 89 and the Prescott National Forest boundary crosses Arizona State Trust Land. But, as a county road, it does not require a permit unless you want to camp or explore side trails outside the western border of the Prescott National Forest.

In 1871, General George Crook came to the Arizona Territory with orders to end the conflict between the growing population of settlers and the natives of the area. General Crook immediately realized he needed the ability to move men and supplies quickly through the rough country of central Arizona. By 1872 he had established a pack trail from Fort Apache in the east to Fort Wipple, modern-day Prescott, in the west. By late 1874 the pack trail had been expanded into a wagon road. That wagon road opened central Arizona to exploration, commerce, and settlement. Many of today's roads closely follow General Crook's trail, including Highway 260 from Camp Verde to the Mogollon Rim and the extremely scenic Forest Road 300, known as Rim Road. Copper Canyon is another segment of the famed General Crook Trail. Situated in the Prescott National Forest, Copper Canyon parallels Interstate 17. Its fast-moving traffic can be heard, and sometimes seen, from the rugged trail. The two roads are physically close but light years apart in many ways. The interstate is new, fast, placid, and boring as it descends into the Verde Valley. Copper Canyon is slow, rocky, rugged, and demanding. One can only imagine navigating this trail in a horse or mule-drawn wagon instead of a capable and comfortable modern offroad vehicle. While debating which line to take at one of the many obstacles, take a moment to reflect and remember how this little trail came to be. You are driving history.

Solitude. Jagged mountain horizons. Dark star-filled skies. Towering saguaro cacti. Broad desert plains. Sandy washes densely lined with ironwood, palo verde, and mesquite. Campfire smoke wafting skyward. Plaintive coyote songs in the night. Kofa Manganese offers all these in abundance. Threading a thin corridor between beautiful wilderness areas of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Kofa Manganese climbs steadily to scenic Red Rock Pass. Squeezed between the ancient Kofa Mountains to the west and the rugged Little Horn Mountains to the east, views from the pass offers are simply astounding. The trail drops quickly after Red Rock Pass and begins weaving in and out of the wide meandering Hoodoo Wash. Leaving Hoodoo Wash, Kofa Manganese traces the edge of the broad Palomas Plain before angling westward towards the Kofa Mountains. Ocotillo cacti thrive in this area and stretch their thorny octopus arms skyward, some impressively over 25 feet tall. Cholla grows in dense gardens, beautifully silver-green in the sunlight. But beware. The thorns will make you say bad words. If you crave a remote wheeling adventure with tons of dramatic scenery, leave the crowds behind and head into southwestern Arizona's vast wilderness on the Kofa Manganese.

In the late 1870s, Edward Dutton led various geological survey teams deep into what was then the unmapped northern side of the Grand Canyon. He found a long narrow promontory extending far out into the canyon with views he called "most sublime." Today there are only two routes to Dutton's Point Sublime. The first originates at the Grand Canyon's North Rim Village and is appropriately named Point Sublime. The second route comes in from the north and is named Kanabownits for a picturesque spring along the trail. Kanabownits Road passes through a fertile forest with ferns towered over by old-growth Ponderosa pines. Spruce and aspens dot the forest. The tight trail drops into small tight canyons, grips hillsides on narrow shelves, and bursts into open glades fed by springs. Once a ranger lived along the trail watching for wildfires. Today only the small deteriorating cabin remains up a small spur trail. While Point Sublime is the objective of the area, should you choose to enter or depart by the north, Kanabownits Road is a worthy part of the adventure.

Flag Mine Trail is a must for any offroader in the area. This trail is a part of the Arizona Peace Trail, a 650-plus-mile off-highway vehicle trail in western Arizona. The trail follows mountain ridgelines for miles offering exceptional views and scenery. Flag Mine Road is run in conjunction with the Boriana Mine trail, offering spectacular changes in scenery starting at the desert floor with saguaros, Joshua trees, and other various cacti, to the tops of mountains with tall pines, cool temps, and views for hundreds of miles.

Flag Mine Road runs between Kingman and Yucca, AZ, just east of the Colorado River. These trails were built for mining and still offer access to many popular destinations, such as Moss Wash and Gold King Mansion. No matter the skill level or trail rig, there are trails in this area for all to enjoy!

Surrounded by towering saguaro cacti, AZCO Mine Road is a main access point for many exciting trails throughout the BLM's Table Mesa Recreation Area, managed by the BLM's Hassayampa Field Office. This road leads to a wide variety of trails designed to be enjoyed by various outdoor enthusiasts. It includes motorcycles, ATVs, rock crawling, shooting, and hiking areas. The area has excellent dispersed camping, but expect crowds on the weekends.

Twisting its way through a rocky and narrow canyon, Orville's Loop is an exhilarating and scenic roller coaster ride through the Sonoran desert. Dense desert vegetation hangs overhead off the tall canyon walls. During winter, water often trickles down the canyon's walls, pooling at the base of the rocky waterfall you will have to climb. The waterfall is Orville's Loop's standout obstacle, a favorite with local crawlers. The climb up the steep and super narrow ledge road provides spectacular panoramas before the trail merges with Jack Handle.

This road will treat you to a visual splendor only found in the Old West. People have been ranching, hunting, mining, and living in these valleys for hundreds of years. The Spanish Jesuit priests mined silver here in the 17th century, and the Apaches ranged far and wide over these canyons, raiding continuously. This overland-type backcountry road with a white-knuckle shelf road will surely inspire you!

Cedar Flat Road is a tale of two trails. On its southern end, the well-behaved road climbs out of the desert to offer camping with views, driving with views and hiking with views. Looking west, the sacred red rocks of Sedona are below you. Mingus Mountain tents horizon due west. Farther south the rugged Bradshaws stand out above the haze. North you catch glimpses of the San Francisco Peaks towering above Flagstaff. Closer in you get a look deep into the canyon of West Clear Creek and Blodgett Basin. The tall stalks of century plants stand sentinel over prickly pears with their crimson fruits. Ocotillo spread their firesticks skyward along the roadside. The daggers of the agaves make you watch your step. And then Cedar Flat Road throws a temper tantrum, all be it a beautiful outburst. The finely graded road becomes a rock-strewn two-track weaving among junipers, testing your tires, your suspension, your kidneys, and your ability to pick a good line. But the rugged beauty of the place, the sudden openings onto wide tree-dotted savannah grasslands, and a short stretch through a pristine pine forest make you forget to keep your eyes on the trail. Apache Maid Mountain begins to appear larger and larger until it looms over the mesa. Too soon, it seems you reach the junction with Apache Maid. You'll want to stop and catch your breath. Nice is good. Naughty is fun. Why not have a little of both?

Surrounded by three of Arizona's six National Forests, the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness encompasses 50,000 acres of rugged beauty. With only 15 moderately strenuous hiking trails leading into the wilderness, few people venture into the remote and wild landscape. The canyon cuts into the same pinkish-red sandstone that made Sedona famous. For those who wish for a glimpse into this magnificent canyon wilderness without the travails of a demanding hike, Sycamore Point may be just your ticket. Forest Road 110, known as Sycamore Point for its ultimate destination, is a gem in itself. The trail begins in an almost parklike setting in the tall Ponderosa Pines of the Kaibab National Forest. Here the forest is teasingly open, whispering vague promises of sightings of deer, elk, javelina, foxes, or coyotes if you'll keep an eye peeled. Pairs of ravens regularly patrol the many large inviting campsites, just in case someone left something interesting lying about. The route passes open meadows used as summer livestock grazing by early settlers. Later the wide trail narrows, and you might notice the pines getting shorter. The trail gently drops you down in elevation, transporting you into a grassland dotted with junipers, some young and flush with green foliage and waxy berries. In contrast, others aged and gnarled by winds, harsh winters, and wildfires of the past. Finally, the trail deposits you on the rim of the vast canyon, which, along with its tributary side canyons, forms the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness. From the overlook, rose and coral spires soar on the far opposite canyon wall, catching the afternoon sun. You instinctively know Sedona is just over there somewhere. The normally dry watercourse snakes through the canyon's bottom. The infrequent rains have patiently carved out this huge canyon over a few millennia. Somewhere nearby, a canyon wren sings the cascading downward notes of its distinctive warble. Pack a lunch. You will want to stay here for a while.

Between 15 and 20 million years ago, a geologic uplift created the rugged and dramatic escarpment we now call the Mogollon Rim. The Rim rises 3000 feet above the Sonoran Desert floor below and marks the beginning of the Colorado Plateau. North of Payson, the scenic pine-forested peninsula known as Milk Ranch Point extends south from the Mogollon. Milk Ranch Point is all about great views and wonderful campsites. At just over 7000 feet elevation, summers are downright cool when compared to the desert below. Campsites right on the edge of the Rim offer amazing vistas of jagged sandstone slopes leading down to the country where Zane Grey based his novels. The distant Matazal Mountains form a jagged horizon. Elk bugle in the early evenings. Sightings of deer and wild turkeys are common. Abert's squirrels scamper around the many shaded campsites. Those more adventurous can take the trail all the way to the southern tip of the Point and enjoy an unparalleled view.

The solitude and a rock-crawling adventure within an hour of Phoenix, Arizona, make Ruby Wash a great place to explore and spend the day. Located in the Buckhorn Mountains, this trail offers a gateway into an entire network of trails with various difficulty levels and optional routes. The area is filled with old mining activity, with the most prominent being the Independence Mine which started its operations nearly 100 years ago in 1919. The entire off-road trail is interesting and challenging, even for modified vehicles. The route has a little bit of everything from sandy washes, rocks, boulders, canyons, and hill climbs.

Dugas Road cuts through the geographic center of Arizona and slices deep into the area’s history. The old road passes through rolling high desert grasslands with scattered buttes and peaks, yielding an always interesting vista. Louis Dugas and his son Fred arrived in Arizona via wagon train in 1877. In 1879 they started Dugas Ranch on the banks of Sycamore Creek, a rare reliable water source. Fred began running the ranch at age 13 when Louis opened the Lucky 7 Bar on the famed Whiskey Row in Prescott. By 1925 the area around the ranch had enough residents to warrant a post office, two boarding houses, a blacksmith shop, and a school. By 1938 the population had dwindled, and the post office closed. Today Dugas is still a working ranch with numerous residents. The old town remnants are right beside the road after you cross Little Sycamore Creek, but they are on private property. Feel free to stop and look. Just stay on the road and don’t touch.

You know you are grand when everyone wants to be a little version of you. Here in Arizona, we have the Grandest of Canyons and a lot of little ones too. This trail leads you to one of the little ones, but it still doesn't disappoint. Nestled in the heart of the popular 11,400-acre Table Mesa Recreation Area, this short trail passes through a prototypical Sonoran Desert landscape of cacti and palo verde before dramatically unveiling its destination. The end of the trail drops rapidly into the canyon cut by the Agua Fria River. When the afternoon sun hits the canyon walls, the colors of the various layers of stone pop nicely. The canyon's solitude, complete with canyon wren serenades, makes for an idyllic overnight camp. It may be little, but hey, just how much canyon do you really need to be happy?

Engesser Pass is likely the most remote trail in Arizona based on travel distance to the nearest human habitation. Engesser Pass traverses the midsection of the beautifully rugged Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, which covers over 1,000 square miles with not a single human inhabitant. The 2,000 square miles of the Yuma Proving Grounds cradle the bottom of the refuge. No one lives there either since the Proving Ground is where the Marines test things that explode. Approximately 3,000 square miles of uninhabited BLM land lie east of the refuge. That is 6,000 square miles. Four states, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Connecticut, are smaller. In all that space, no human resides full-time. No light bulb burns at night. Very few roads exist. And in the middle of all that splendid remoteness is Engesser Pass. When traveled east to west, Engesser Pass begins as an easy two-track on a ridgeline above the vast saguaro-studded Palomas Plain to the east. Mountain ranges sawtooth the horizon in every direction, near and far. Ocotillos reach skyward, flaming red flowers on the ends of their long tendril shafts. Thickets of thorny silver cholla scatter their pin cushion droppings to painfully attach to the unwary. To the west looms the multi-hued sawtoothed Kofa Mountains. Before long, Engesser begins its slow rise to the mountain pass that gives the trail its name. Cutting through the ruggedly beautiful Kofa Mountains, the view westward from the pass is unsurpassed. The trail dives steeply to join Engesser Wash, brushy and sandy, as it slolams down and out of the mountains. Turning northward, Engesser parallels the colorful west side of the ancient volcanic Kofas. To the west across the broad King Valley lies the Castle Dome Mountains, the round spire of Castle Dome clearly identifiable. Engesser Pass ends near the King of Arizona mine, whose initials gave became the name of the area. It is far more likely that you will see a desert bighorn sheep, the reason for the refuge's existence, or perhaps a tiny kit fox than it is you'll see another human on your traverse of Engesser Pass. Solitude. Beauty. Good wheeling. All fine reasons to explore one of Arizona's most remote trails.

Situated in the vast ponderosa pine woodlands of the Coconino National Forest, Fry Canyon Trail offers peaceful serenity only minutes from downtown Flagstaff. The numerous designated shady campsites on the western end of the trail make excellent base camps for exploring the area while still providing easy access to all the services found in Flagstaff. The high country abounds with elk, deer, and wild turkey, often seen when hiking one of the many area trails. The road's namesake, Fry Canyon, is a favorite with the canyoneering and climbing crowd. Beautiful red rock Sedona is just a 30-minute drive south through the scenic Oak Creek Canyon. There are plenty of forest roads to explore through the high country pinelands and wide-open prairies. There are even a few gnarly trails to provide offroading challenges for those so inclined. Whatever you are looking for, it isn't far away from the Fry Canyon Trail.

Trails that distantly wind out in front for miles disappearing briefly into gullies or hiding on the backsides of hills only to emerge even farther away, snaking seductively up the side of a distant ridgeline until it blends into the far horizon always seem to beckon me more urgently than those hidden away in deep forests or on land so flat that no detail beyond a stone's throw is evident. That type of trail is a seductress, offering you a distant glimpse of her charms, a hint of adventure and treasure if you will devotedly follow her labyrinthine path. Copper Bottom Pass sings that siren song of adventure. From the start, you see the thin white ribbon of trail winding and coiling up the slopes of the Dome Rock Mountains. Cunningham Mountain sits near the high pass with a crown of antennae, a beacon to guide you, staring down as you climb toward the trail's summit. A desert floor of hard igneous gravel cast off the mountain slopes in the erosion of a few million years is covered with ocotillo, cholla, ironwood, and brittlebush cover. They enthusiastically ignore your passing. Copper Bottom sits between two passes of near equal elevation, a bowl atop a mountain range. Copper Bottom Mine on the north side of the bowl is gated off, but the shaft entrances and old structures are easily visible. The two passes offer long views, east over La Paz Valley and into Kofa, west to the green belt of the Colorado River and California. The only wart on this beauty is the powerline that climbs into the pass alongside you. Ignore it and enjoy the plentiful charms and adventure on this winding seductress of a trail.

Nestled within the Tonto National Forest lies a paradise for offroad enthusiasts seeking a challenging trail run. The area is known for its rocky terrain, stunning vistas, and untamed wilderness.

However, if you're looking for a more leisurely experience, a shorter and easier trail is available. FR 11 allows you to explore the area without navigating the more difficult trails. 

For those interested in historical experiences, FR 11 is an excellent option. This trail takes you back to when Highway 87 had not yet been constructed, offering a glimpse into the past of what it would have been like to travel through the desert mountain wilderness. The first trail marker is labeled "Old Highway 87," which further adds to the intrigue of the journey. 

The area has a rich native American history. The Yavapai and Tonto Apache tribes left their mark on the land. American trappers and miners also frequented the area during the 19th and 20th centuries, leaving remnants of their presence behind. Today, the area is teeming with Arizona's signature flora and fauna, including the palo verde bush, prickly pear cacti, roadrunners, quail, and coyotes. The area's sights, sounds, and smells will leave you feeling invigorated and connected to nature.

McPherson Pass connects the broad King Valley with the very flat Castle Dome Plain by crossing the low but ruggedly beautiful Castle Dome Mountains. The entire trail is inside the remote and sparsely visited Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, the second-largest wilderness area in Arizona. The trail crosses broad scenic valleys, pushes through a sandy wash, and climbs through a majestic mountain pass. The best part of all that is that along the way, you are likely to encounter more desert bighorn sheep than people. The Lower Sonoran Desert of this part of southwestern Arizona receives very little rainfall. That doesn't mean life is not abundant here. Both plants and animals have adapted to the harsh environment. Cacti include the stately saguaros and spindly ocotillo called fire sticks by natives for their bright red flowers, which seem to pop out purely randomly. Several species of cholla cactus call this area home. The teddy bear cholla looks cute, but the spines stick like velcro on steroids and hurt like Hades. Owls, various hawks, doves, and hummingbirds abound. Small mule deer hang close to the few available water sources. Coyote serenades at night are common. But the reclusive desert bighorn sheep reign supreme here. The entire purpose of the Kofa NWR was to preserve habitat for the surefooted mountain denizens. Keep your eyes on the slopes, and you might catch a glimpse of a few of them near McPherson Pass.

Behind the Peaks is a scenic gem accessible by all kinds of vehicles! In the Spring, there are alpine meadows and wildflowers aplenty. The Fall brings glorious golden aspen on the slopes of the San Francisco Peaks, which dominate the skyline. You’ll have better views of the San Francisco Peaks along this route than anywhere else in the Flagstaff area and without the crowds. This route also provides access to major hiking trails like Bear Jaw, Abineau, Alto Spring, and the Arizona Trail. Like most of Flagstaff, this area is also great for mountain biking.

With more curves than a 1940s-era pinup model, Maggie Mine Road snakes upwards into the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains. Along the way, it passes its namesake, the Maggie Mine, a small gold operation first prospected in the 1870s. Today it sits on private land and is not open to visitors. The rutted and rocky trail skirts gardens of prickly pear with their red fruits and the very thorny silver cholla. Forests of stately saguaros stand like so many sentinels, always on watch over their desert. To the west, the handsome Bradshaw Mountains dominate the jagged horizon. Glance east now and then, and you will see traffic on the interstate. Smile. They aren't having as much fun as you.

Within the Arizona Strip, high above the Virgin River Gorge and I-15, there is a very scenic 4x4 trail leading to a naturally formed Elephant Arch. The trail offers mild challenges for stock 4x4 vehicles while providing breathtaking vistas of the surrounding Virgin and Beaver Dam Mountains. The Virgin River has created several impressive Southwestern landscapes, beginning within the great white cliffs and canyons of Utah's Zion National Park, before ending at Lake Mead, where it eventually meets the Colorado River. Deep within the Virgin River Gorge, the river flows across the northwestern tip of Arizona for 30 miles, creating Grand Canyon-like scenery of eroded cliffs and terraces of metamorphosed sandstone. This easy 4x4 trail travels high above the gorge, along the edge of the rim leading to various scenic points where you can see for miles through the gorge.

Leave it to Arizona to have what could easily be the coolest desert destination in the U.S. The Desert Bar, aka "Nellie E Saloon," is just what it sounds like, a bar in the middle of the desert. But this isn't any old bar.

In 1975, Ken, a self-described hippy and societal dropout, bought an old mining claim with a few dilapidated buildings. He soon noticed numerous ATVs and Jeeps driving past on weekends. Acquiring a liquor license from a defunct local establishment, Ken began selling beer from a small three-walled trailside shack out of a cooler. Being an industrious hippy, Ken began building outlandish structures on the old mine claim, including a church. Solar power and batteries replaced the ice cooler, and the rest, as they say, is history. Today the mining claim looks a lot like Thunderdome from the Mad Max movies and draws huge weekend crowds. There's usually a band, food, and various libations. And it is still completely off-grid.

The surrounding desert boasts great wheeling and rock crawling. And then there's this totally crazy place to kick back and enjoy. Who offroader could ask for more?

Ray Hovatter patented mining claims in the Little Horn Mountains around 1950. Ray and his workers built a coarse road connecting the Hovatter homestead to the Harquahala mining district. Ray, his wife Barbara, and three daughters lived at their remote homestead from 1951 to 1974, managing and working the mines that produced mostly manganese. Barbara kept a glass jar of captured scorpions on the kitchen table and planted extensive cactus gardens at the homestead. A propane tank explosion killed the eldest daughter in 1968. Ray died on the property in 1974. Both a buried on the ridge just south of the homestead. Barbara's ashes were scattered over the graves in the 1990s. The site was reclaimed by the KOFA National Wildlife Refuge, and all the buildings were removed. The cactus gardens and a unique saguaro-lined driveway remain. Today the Hovatter road is a path to beauty. Rugged enough to keep the faint of heart at bay, a trip along the Hovatter rewards the intrepid with solitude and adventure. The trail begins as a smooth but very sandy road aimed southwest and straight at the prominent Coyote Peak. To the south, across a broad plain of saguaro cactus and creosote bush, the jagged multihued outline of the rugged Little Horn Mountain range hints at the adventure ahead. A slight left turn at Coyote Peak points you straight at the heart of the Little Horns, and soon the road obligingly begins a gentle climb. That gentleness is fully wrung out of the trail after you cross the first of the mountain passes. The Hovatter twist climbs, descends, and crosses rocky washes while providing geologic eye candy as it traverses the Little Horns. Keep an eye to the right for Conflagration Arch, a twisted testament to the powerful forces that raised these mineral-rich mountains. Massive saguaros find precarious perches on the edges of steep cliffs. A keen eye may spot desert bighorn sheep clattering up steep grades. The remnants of old mines dot the wild landscape. A small kiosk and old signage signal you are leaving BLM land and entering the KOFA National Wildlife Refuge, set aside by Presidential decree in 1939 and expanded over the years with the mission of providing habitat for those bighorn sheep you may or may not have seen. From the kiosk, it is just a short way to the Hovatter homestead and its saguaro-lined driveway. The homesite is a fantastic place to camp. If you do, walk up the hill and pay your respects to Ray and the family. Then kick back and imagine living out here in this remote, rugged, and beautiful part of Arizona.

Upper Terminator is a Technical Vehicle route located within the Table Mesa Recreation Area, about 45 minutes north of Phoenix. The trail follows a desert wash and travels over numerous water-chiseled rock obstacles. This challenging trail offers a great mixture of boulders, water, off-camber notches, tight squeezes, and an uncountable number of speed-controlling rock ledges. Upper Terminator is sure to test your mental fortitude and your vehicle's capabilities.

A Saudi prince once visited the Sonoran Desert. The Saudis are experts on the desert. Upon his first view of the Sonoran, he exclaimed, "This is not a desert. This is a garden." Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument's 516 square miles are devoted to preserving a verdant lower Sonoran Desert landscape, home to its namesake organ pipe cactus. The monument is also an International Biosphere Reserve. The Ajo Mountain Loop is the monument's most popular and easiest drive.

The 20-mile loop crosses a valley landscape filled with forests of stately saguaro cacti set against the backdrop of the rugged Ajo Mountain Range. The winding climb through the narrow scenic Diablo Canyon sets the stage for your first look at the Ajo Wondow, a double arch high on a volcanic cliff. Arch Canyon is an easy, popular hike to better view this geologic oddity. Skirting the western slope of Ajo Mountain, the trailhead for the very strenuous Bull Pasture hike has picnic tables and a vault toilet. It's a great area to stop, stretch your legs, and admire the rugged mountainous landscape.

Three pieces of Central Arizona history collide with fantastic views of the Bradshaw Mountains along a fun little trail in the Prescott National Forest. Leaving the small hamlet of Mayer, the trail works slightly upward across the rolling desert chaparral to the Blue Bell Mine. In the 1870s, prospectors discovered an outcropping of schist-bearing gold, silver, and copper. The Blue Bell was a successful mine and operated intermittently until recently. Following the trail a mile more to the south brings the traveler to the second bit of Arizona history, the railbed of the Bradshaw Mountain Railroad, often called Murphy's Impossible Railroad. Mr. Murphy engineered the seemingly impossible by connecting Prescott with Crown King through the rugged and inhospitable Bradshaw Mountains. Supplies went up the mountain, and ore came down. The Blue Bell was connected to the railroad by a mile-long aerial tramway to dump the ore carts into the railroad cars. The railroad operated for a decade before the mines in Crown King became unprofitable. Following the obvious railbed downward, the trail ends at the ghost town of Cleator, the final portion of the historic trifecta. The small town was established in 1864 to support the mines and prospects of the Turkey Creek Mining District and was a stop on the Bradshaw Mountain Railroad. James P. Cleator bought the town in 1925, renamed it for himself, and established a post office, appointing himself postmaster. The post office closed in 1954. Today, Cleator remains a stop for thirsty travelers. While appreciating the history, don't forget to admire the seemingly endless views of the southeastern slopes of the Bradshaws. Stop to enjoy the abundant trailside wildflowers in late spring. But keep your eyes on the trail along the shelf roads. Saying things collide on the Blue Bell was meant to be metaphorical, not literal.

Box Canyon is a visual delight, assuming you like shelf roads, mountain views, and distant vistas. The road cuts across the ruggedly handsome Santa Rita Mountains via Box Canyon's deep pass before breaking out with long views across Green Valley and the distant Twin Buttes Copper Mine. The slopes in the pass are thick with spindly ocotillo cacti. Called "fire sticks" by natives, the long branches of the ocotillo lay gray and dormant much of the time before quickly and randomly growing small green leaves on the branches and firey red blossoms at the top. Much of the trail is in the vast Coronado National Forest, with the eastern end on Arizona State Trust Land set aside as the Santa Rita Experimental Range and Wildlife Area.

The trail ends on the paved Madera Canyon Road, a lovely drive and a bird-watcher's favorite.

Located within the Bulldog Canyon OHV Recreation area in Tonto National Forest, 3554 is an almost beach-like oasis in the desert. This scenic drive connects FR 10 and Bulldog Canyon to Usery Pass by traveling along a dry creek bed filled with coarse sand. The sand is well-traveled and thus very packed but can quickly become a deep sand pit outside the main tracks. The wash passes several towering rock faces that make great photo backdrops. There are numerous areas along the wash used for dispersed camping. However, those campsites could flood during a moderate rain event. As the road exits the wash and treks westward towards the Usery entrance, it becomes a mix of hard granite and packed dirt. Due to Forest Order 03-12-03-22-34, camping is prohibited within 1 mile from the Usery steel gate until at least January 12, 2026.

Most of this road can be completed with a high clearance 2WD vehicle, but 4WD drive is highly recommended for the sandy wash section.

A Tonto National Forest Off-Highway Vehicle Permit is required to travel this road.

Your gateway to adventure within the Grand Canyon - Parashant region begins on this scenic access road. The trail is the most direct and easiest way to access some of the most remote backcountry trails in the United States. The region has numerous side trails leading to petroglyphs, slot canyon hiking and excellent primitive camping. From this trail, you'll have access to the multiple trails leading to very popular destinations like Pakoon Basin, Mt. Trumbull and the north rim of the Grand Canyon. While climbing up to the plateau, you'll have sweeping panoramas of the red rocks and mountains that surround the St. George region. Be sure to go prepared for a truly remote off-road experience.

While the actual Vulture Mine is well north, the unpaved remainder of that road runs through the heart of the ruggedly beautiful Belmont Mountains, a seldom visited portion of south-central Arizona. The trail starts in the north as a nicely maintained dirt road that services the Belmont Pit, a rock quarry. Between the quarry and the intersection with Belmont Mine Road, the road is easily traveled rough dirt, crossing numerous sandy washes. The northern trailhead has two large staging areas.

The road deteriorates south of the intersection with Belmont Mine Road as it crosses a rough pass through the mountains. There are several steep climbs with loose rock and a narrow off-camber shelf road obstacle. The trail precariously tilts 28 degrees down the side slope crossing the obstacle. This section of trail is not suitable for full-width vehicles. Use Belmont Mine Road and W. W. Enterprize Mine to bypass this challenging section of trail. Vulture Mine ends in the south at Canal Road.

Abundant spring rains bring colorful wildflowers to the austere Belmonts. Look for the rock window on the west side of the trail just south of the intersection with Belmont Mine Road.

The northern 6 miles of the trail host abundant large flat campsites suitable for groups, large rigs, and toy haulers.

Moores Gulch runs from AZCO Mine Road in the BLM's Table Mesa Recreation Area through Arizona State Trust Land into the Tonto National Forest, ending at a scenic overlook above Black Canyon City. The trail drops into the ordinarily dry Moores Gulch and crosses under Interstate 17. Stately saguaro and thickets of mesquite line the Moores Gulch drainage. The trail turns northeast climbing steeply out of the drainage following ridgelines along the western slopes of the rugged and nearly impenetrable New River Mountains. A gate and signage mark the trail's entry into the Tonto National Forest. Cattle graze almost the entire length of the trail. Please close the gates along the trail.

The trail is rocky, with numerous significant climbs and descents approaching 20 degrees. Low-range gearing is helpful. Several deep washes are prone to flash flooding after significant precipitation.

There are three campsites along the trail in the Table Mesa Recreation Area. Small campsites are scattered along the remainder of the trail. Camping in the Arizona State Trust Land segment requires a permit.

Table Mesa 9952 connects Table Mesa Road to 9954 and forms the first half of a route locally referred to as "Crapshoot". It would be an easy trail but for two obstacles that merit a difficult rating.

Running the trail north to south, the first obstacle is a steep, uneven loose dirt climb. The second obstacle is a steep, loose rock descent with a potentially belly-dragging drop-off in the middle part of the hill. Between the two, steady throttle and steady braking are highly useful.

While anytime is a good time for photography along this route, springtime can be an especially great opportunity to capture iconic Arizona desert photography with the post-monsoon season flower bloom.

Charles E. Eichelberger discovered gold in an unnamed string of low rugged mountains in southwestern Arizona in 1986. The resulting mine was named the King of Arizona Mine. Rail shipments of supplies and equipment were brought in by wagon over Engesser Pass, the nearest rail siding being over 50 miles away. Soon the crates of gear and supplies were simply marked K of A, the mine's initials. The acronym stuck and soon, the entire area was simply known as Kofa. The short-lived mining town had 300 residents, a post office, and even a dam to store the runoff from limited seasonal rains. The gold rush in the area died off slowly in the early 1900s. In 1939 the Boy Scouts led an effort to preserve 666,640 acres in the area as habitat for desert bighorn sheep and other wildlife. Their efforts resulted in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, which covers four mountain ranges and vast low Sonoran Desert valleys. Today a wide dirt road crosses the broad King Valley ending at the entrance to the mine, which is on a small island of private property and is sporadically operated today. King Road is used as the main western entrance into the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. While an easy drive, the road offers scenic views of the Kofa Mountains to the northeast and the Castle Dome Mountains to the southwest. Looking northeast, you can easily spot Kofa Butte, a steep-sided flat-top promontory. King Road ends near Kofa Butte.

Buck Spring Ridge begins at the scenic Mogollon Rim and the iconic Rim Road, one of Arizona's best trails. Running through the eastern portion of the vast Coconino National Forest, the trail first traverses an alpine woodland of spruce, fir, and Ponderosa pines. As the trail descends northward, the spruce and fir fall away, and the pines become smaller because of the rain shadow caused by the Mogollon Rim's massive uplift. Take the time to visit the historic Buck Springs Cabin via the spur trails at Waypoints 5 and 6. These remote cabins, first used by ranchers almost 100 years ago, were summer quarters for fireguards who battled wildfires in this massive forest. The cabins sit on a picturesque mountain meadow that hosts the springs that give this area its name. Deer and elk often graze nearby in the mornings and later afternoons. Descending northward, the trail gets a bit rougher and enters an area burned in the 2018 Tinder Fire. The forest is slowly recovering from the fire, but the new openness allows quick views down into the deep East Clear Creek gorge giving explores a real feel for the true scope and ruggedness of this diverse landscape.

Rolls 1813 will provide you with breathtaking views of Saguaro Lake, the ridgelines and valleys of the Rolls OHV area, and Four Peaks. There is a long, steep descent when driving the trail from north to south. This is one of the longest climbs or descents on any Rolls trails. 1813 was once the gateway trail to the Butcher Jones beach area. However, this access gate on the south end is now permanently locked. Near the southern end of the trail is a large sandy camping area suitable for many vehicles to gather. There is also a large area at the high point of the trail where several vehicles could also stop and use for camping. This spot would provide incredible views of the entire area. The trail is mostly made of loose rock. The summer monsoon rain of 2022 has eroded the big hill significantly enough to make the rating difficult for the newer offroad driver.

Please note that an OHV permit is now required on this trail.

This iconic 4x4 trail to Asbestos Mine, on the southern edge of the Sierra Anche Mountains, climbs a difficult trail along Pocket Creek. Those who are familiar with the region will recognize Asbestos Point by its white mine tailings. They look like giant white angel wings from Highway 288. The mine began operating in 1915 but is now abandoned. While you're exploring the large site, there are spectacular views of the Tonto Basin thousands of feet below. You can hike out the shelf road right on top of the white mine tailings and take pictures of the really old excavator. There are a couple of nice campsites with fire pits to enjoy incredible star gazing.

Asbestos Mine is quite a challenge for slightly modified vehicles, but the views when you finally reach the top almost take your breath away.

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.

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.

Rye Cypress unveils the rugged beauty of Arizona's chaparral country. Located in the Tonto National Forest, at 2,873,200 acres, the largest of Arizona's National Forests and seventh largest in the nation, the trail is in the looming shadow of the jagged Mazatzal Mountains. The name Mazatzal is difficult to pronounce. Locals often refer to the Mazatzal Mountains as the Mazzies. The name is attributed to an obscure native language now only spoken in central Mexico. It means "place of the deer." As difficult as the name may be, traversing the Mazzies is infinitely harder. The rugged and nearly impenetrable mountains, encased in the Mazatzal Wilderness Area, form a north/south spine in central Arizona crossed by no roads and very few foot trails. Rye Cypress gathers part of its name from the small hamlet in which it originates. A creek shares that name as well, and the trail crosses it often. The Cypress portion refers to an area called the Cypress Thicket that begins roughly at Waypoint 10. It's misnamed since the thickly growing cypress forests are actually a species of the juniper tree. The effects of the 2004 Willow Fire are very apparent in the center portion of this trail. But the "cypress" are having their revenge and growing back thick and fast. Rye Cypress provides great views, nice camping, and a tour through Arizona's chaparral above its cactus-studded Sonoran Desert and below the pine-forested high country above the Mogollon Rim. The easy trail connects to other scenic tracks. It's certainly a slower-paced relaxing alternative to the paralleling paved highways full of speeding cars.

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.

Forming the west leg of the “Around the Peaks” loop, Hart Prairie Road is an Arizona gem. The eponymous Hart Prairie sits east of Fern Mountain at the midpoint of this drive and offers superb views and the finest ecological beauty in the Flagstaff area. Aspen groves, alpine meadows, springs, diverse terrain, and varied ecosystems flank the trail. Fern Mountain offers a short and beautiful hike with sweeping views of the San Francisco Peaks. The road is also part of the “Hart Prairie Loop” mountain biking trail. Quite a few lucky private property owners, including a youth camp and The Nature Conservancy, enjoy the west slope of the Peaks via this road.

If you like old ghost towns and stories of the boom and bust mining cycles in the Southwest, Swansea is for you. Mining began in the area of Swansea around 1862, but the site was so remote that getting ore to a smelter was extremely difficult. In 1904 the Arizona & California Railroad connected the nearby hamlet of Bouse to the rest of the world. Investors began building the Arizona & Swansea Railroad to connect to Bouse and construct infrastructure in Swansea. By 1909 Swansea had 500 residents. The mines operated under differing owners until 1937. The Great Depression signaled the end of Swansea. Today, primarily foundations remain. Some of the worker's quarters still stand. BLM has done an admirable job marking each of the sites with the purpose of the original building. It is easy to trace the railroad bed as it winds through the ghost town. Few visitors venture past the Swansea ghost town, but Swansea Road continues through a remote and rugged landscape to the banks of the Bill Williams River.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Located on the eastern slope of the San Francisco Peaks in the Coconino National Forest north of Flagstaff, this is the fun "Back Road" to get to Lockett Meadow, one of the most scenic destinations in Arizona! If the trail is open, and that's a big if, in this case, this is a very enjoyable, mildly challenging, lightly traveled, and scenic trail with a great view of Sunset Crater and the Cinder Hills. On a clear day, from the right vantage point, you can see the eastern edge of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the Vermillion Cliffs. Even better, the camping higher up is scenic and lightly used.

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.

Black Canyon Creek Trail is an exciting adventure along narrow roads with outstanding scenic views. However, this trail will challenge anyone's confidence with long, steep, rocky ascents, intimidating washouts, and seriously off-camber shelf roads. The thick brush lining the trail will leave pinstriping in your vehicle's paint.

This trail is best to be driven when dry. Slippery conditions make washouts extremely dangerous. This trail is not for the novice driver or anyone who fears steep, narrow shelf roads. The trail is best suited for narrow, high clearance vehicles with skid plates, traction aid devices, and winches. Full-width vehicles should avoid this trail.

Route finding can be difficult, but the official trail only crosses Black Canyon Creek once. It then begins a short trek west before heading north. Three miles in, you must conquer loose, beachball-sized boulders. One mile later, the trail traverses the narrowest of the washouts.

At 1.3 miles from the trail's southern end are several great dispersed campsites along Black Canyon Creek.

Expect 3-4 hours to complete this trail.

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.

Rolls 401A is a rocky and somewhat challenging trail on the eastern edge of The Rolls area, beginning just past where 401 and 13 intersect. The trail provides access to various hiking and horse-riding trails and is enjoyable, with beautiful views of the Four Peaks and Salt River Valley areas. The trail is rarely used much and has significant wash-out areas, with the very end blocked off about 300 yards early due to what appears to have been a flash flood. Expect pinstripes with 20+ degree rocky climbing, off-camber spots, and tight turns. There's no camping available along the trail.

Please note that an OHV permit is now required on this trail.

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. 

In 1864, President Lincoln tasked Lieutenant Colonel J. Francis Chavez to escort the new territorial governor of Arizona from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Prescott, Arizona. Unfortunately, there was no road between the two cities. One major obstacle was the descent off Arizona's Mogollon Rim into the Verde Valley. Chavez's navigation skills led to a stage route and thus was born the path of the Blue Grade Road. Today's hearty traveler can exit the interstate and climb the scenic Blue Grade in far more comfort than those who once negotiated the rocky passage in a rickety stagecoach. With excellent views along the way, the road leads you up from the lush Wet Beaver Creek area into a pine and juniper forest. Located in the Coconino National Forest, be on the lookout for elk, deer, bear, and wild turkeys. And yes, this is also cattle country, so watch out for cows on the road as well as where you step.

A drive up Pine Mountain unveils the rugged beauty of Arizona's chaparral country. Located in the Tonto National Forest, at 2,873,200 acres, the largest of Arizona's National Forests, the drive offers long views across a vast landscape of rolling hills and deep sycamore-lined canyons carved by small streams fed by runoff from the looming Mazatzal Mountains. The name Mazatzal is difficult to pronounce. Locals often just refer to the Mazatzal Mountains as the Mazzies. The name is attributed to an obscure native language now only spoken in central Mexico. It means "place of the deer." As difficult as the name may be, traversing the Mazzies is infinitely harder. The rugged and nearly impenetrable mountains, encased in the Mazatzal Wilderness Area, form a north/south spine in central Arizona crossed by no roads and very few foot trails. Pine Mountain leads to one of those trails, the famed Arizona Trail, a National Scenic Trail that traverses the entirety of Arizona from Mexico to Utah. Pine Mountain climbs steadily, beginning in the chaparral of grasses, pinion pines, juniper, agave, and prickly pear cactus and ending at the Mount Peely trailhead amongst the tall Ponderosa Pines of Arizona's high country. Mount Peeley, at 7030 feet, towers over the trailhead. Portions of the trail were affected by the 2004 Willow Fire and the 2012 Sunflower Fire. The evidence of regrowth in this area is impressive as nature seeks to heal itself. While you might not be hiking the Arizona Trail, a drive up Pine Mountain reveals much of the rugged and diverse beauty of central Arizona.

The sun woke me. In compensation for interrupting my dreams, it offered the quintessential western skyline for my consideration. Backlit in hues of burned orange, melted copper, and baby blue, jagged peaks of the Eagletail Mountains sawtoothed the eastern sky. Silhouetted on closer hills, saguaros stood as silent sentinels of the dawn. The lower Sonoran Desert is at its best at sunrise, all peace and stillness and beauty. The Palomas Harquahala Road crosses the expansive Palomas Plain to the Clanton Hills, traces the western edge of the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness, parallels sandy Deadman Wash up into Nottbusch Valley, and skirts the western edge of Cemetary Ridge before passing in the shadow of Deadman Mountain. The names alone bespeak adventure. The trail cuts through a flat desert sea of creosote bush, bursage, and brittlebush. The sameness is broken here and there by saguaro and ocotillo. Like green ribbons, the washes snake through the desert with their overgrown banks of palo verde, mesquite, and ironwood. Corrals and windmills, many still in use, evoke an earlier time when rugged men came here to eke out a living in this arid landscape. In that pursuit, they cut the trails we drive today. Download the track. Pack your gear. Gas up the rig. Take a ride on a long trail.

Rolls 13 bisects The Rolls OHV area with connections to most other trails. Access the trail through the Probrecito entrance off Bush Highway just north of Saguaro Lake. The trail has some camping and can be busy at times. The track is rocky, with large bumps and berms in some areas. Expect new pinstriping.

Please note that an OHV permit is now required on this trail.

The Southwest can have the most interesting and unlikely names for places. That is probably a result of native history, Spanish influence, and European exploration all adding and mixing names onto the maps. Often, the origins of many names are lost to history. So how did Big Bug Mesa, set high in the Prescott National Forest, get that moniker? There is also a Big Bug Creek, and once was a small mining village in the late 1800s along the creek with the same name. Likely, it was an encounter between a giant beetle and Theodore Boggs, who founded his small settlement of Big Bug and mined in the area. Boggs had survived as a 10-year-old member of the ill-fated Donner Party and was the great-grandson of Daniel Boone. That he would be so inspired by a large insect either says much about the insect or a little about him. Only Boggs knows for sure, and he is no longer available to tell us the story. Big Bug Mesa is a relatively broad, flat feature along the northeastern slopes of the Bradshaw Mountains. The area is seldom visited except by hardy ranchers and a few hunters searching for the mesa's plentiful deer and turkey. Covered in Ponderosa pines, juniper, and even the ancient alligator juniper, the mesa is green and high enough into the mountains to see heavy winter snow and have relatively mild summer temperatures. The main trail into Big Bug Mesa starts easy enough but turns rocky towards the end, providing a workout for both your suspension and kidneys. The trail becomes smoother in the open pine forest but is often beset by rutted mudholes. All that means you will likely experience solitude on Big Bug Mesa, except for the deer, turkeys, and apparently, at least one very large bug.

Flat places. Many of us live in flat places with their perfectly surveyed checkerboard of straight roads, all leading to properly homogenized and carefully structured sameness. But our souls live in the mountains. We feel ourselves coming alive when we point our rigs up a twisting, winding snake of a road that leads up into a wildly disorganized and jumbled mountain range. Add a few gurgling mountain streams and the whistling song of the wind in the tops of tall pines, and we are happy boys and girls again. Pine Flats, so named for the level Ponderosa studded valley about 8 miles up the trail, is not an overly exciting road. There are no challenging obstacles. You won't shift in and out of low range. There are a lot of things this trail isn't. But Pine Flats possesses unmistakably fine attributes. The views are long across the valleys below. Looking upward, there's always a ridgeline teasing you to climb higher yet. Splashing through the water crossings is somehow childishly satisfying. Catching a glimpse of a doe and fawn amongst the trailside brush makes you smile. Listening to the relaxing harmony of a mountain stream sluicing over multihued granite boulders as you picnic or camp soothes the frayed nerves of we flat land dwellers. Take an easy ride up Pine Flats into the Bradshaw Mountains. There's lots of adventure beyond the end of the trail if that's what you're after. But your soul will appreciate what Pine Flats isn't.

In 1882, White Mountain Apache warriors, led by Na-tio-tish, got into an altercation with and killed several policemen in San Carlos, Arizona. Eighty warriors, chased by U.S. cavalry, crossed the Tonto Basin and climbed onto the Mogollon Rim. They laid a trap for the pursuing cavalry on a rugged side canyon of East Clear Creek. The cavalry's scout ferreted out the trap. The fight raged for an afternoon until a severe afternoon thunderstorm halted hostilities. The warriors escaped in the night and returned to the reservation, leaving behind 20 dead Apaches, with two dead and six wounded among the cavalry troops. Nearly lost to history, today, a lonely marker stands on the site, and the entire area is called Battleground Ridge. Battleground Ridge, also known as FR 123, is a distinctive trail for two reasons. First is the obvious connection to the obscure bloody battle fought here. Secondly, an aqueduct that pumps water from the C.C. Cragin Reservoir down to Payson runs along a portion of the trail. You can see the roadside access points; round metal covers every hundred yards along the trail. A small power line brings electricity to the pump station near Waypoint 10. But take a step away from both the history and the modern, and you overwhelmingly sense the remoteness of this place deep in the uplifted country of the Mogollon Rim. The wind, as it always has, sings through the upper branches of the tall Ponderosa Pines. Elk bugle on the ridges and down in the deep canyons. Flocks of shy wild turkeys scratch the forest floor for a meal. Gazing across the deep canyon at the trail's end to the distant forest-blanketed ridgelines of this wild landscape, both the past and present seem very far away.

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.

Every king needs a queen. Kofa got its name from the abbreviation for the large King of Arizona Mine. So it wasn't much of an imaginary stretch when prospectors named their small nearby mine the Kofa Queen. Today only the mineshafts and a few small stone walls remain where miners once toiled in the Kofa Queen. But the scenic sandy canyon that provided access to the mine back in the day now provides hikers and offroaders access deep into the Kofa Mountains. Beginning on the King Valley's vast plain, the trail marches relentlessly toward the low jagged ridgelines of the igneous Kofa Mountains. These are not gentle wind-sculpted sandstone bluffs. Rather these edifices were violently created from near-molten heavy minerals violently pushed up from deep below the earth's mantle, bringing with them the precious gold, silver, and manganese that the miners came here to find. Today those formations are valued for their rugged, angular beauty by the hardy folk who venture here. Dropping into the wide sandy canyon takes you into the depth of the mountains. Formations in many improbable shapes surround you. Scary Skull Rock is just one apparition formed by the immeasurable forces that created this landscape. Side canyons invite you to explore deeper on foot. The many campsites beckon you to spend time and take it all in. The trail ends near the site of the Kofa Queen Mine. The Kofa Mountains gave the miners gold. What will the mountains and Kofa Queen Canyon give you?

On FR128 to Marshall Lake, or the "South of Walnut Canyon," you will discover Boondocking and ATV heaven, with scattered views of the San Francisco Peaks! There are many side roads and dispersed campsites accessible to more robust RVs and trailers for camping. Usage on the trail's northern end close to I-40 is low even during peak season when the rest of Flagstaff is bonkers.

Black Canyon Road is a very easy trail and a delightful way to spend an afternoon exploring the Mogollon Rim and learning about the area's long and diverse history. The trail begins at Black Canyon Lake, a picturesque mountain lake much less crowded than the nearby popular Woods Canyon Lake. A 1-mile hike takes you to the gravesite of three cowboys lynched and hung from a ponderosa tree nearby, unfortunate victims of the Pleasant Valley War between feuding ranchers. Further down the road are pullouts for old homesteads, native american ruins, and ancient petroglyphs. The trail offers numerous historical markers with informational signage. Black Canyon Road is a great day trip for a family with young children or anyone interested in the region's colorful history.

Located in central Arizona, Antelope Creek Road was a key transportation route for ranchers and miners before paved roads were introduced into the area. Driving along the winding desert road today, you still see ranchers with large stock trailers moving cattle to market or greener pastures along with hikers and mountain bikers headed to one of several trailheads for the Black Canyon National Trail. Located almost exclusively on BLM land, the road follows Antelope Creek to the historic ghost town of Cordes Station. The trail crosses Antelope Hill before slaloming downhill to join the Crown King Road. Antelope Hill offers impressive views of the nearby Bradshaw Mountains and the modern-day mining operations in its foothills. The campsites atop Antelope Hill look down on the captivating tableau of the canvas-tan, dried grass flatlands​ of Perry Mesa, and the Agua Fria National Monument.

New River Mesa, FR 17, is an out and back trail that offers several opportunities for secluded camping and great photography along the mesa's eastern and southern edges. The trail starts easy and remains so for the first two miles. Once you turn west into the gate to go up on the mesa, the trail becomes more challenging and bumpy. Up on the mesa, sections of the trail become difficult to follow. Sometimes, the main trail is washed out, and you must work around the damage. The trail has faded into grass and scrub growth in other areas. The payoff is fantastic views south in the Valley of the Sun.

Jack Handle is one of those trails that's earned legendary status with local rock crawlers. The trail's name comes from the first difficult waterfall obstacle, Jack Handle. Back when the rock gap was thinner, if your hi-lift jack was on the passenger rear, it would get hung up on the rocks. Hence the name. The trail offers multiple optional rock crawling obstacles, including a difficult and super off-camber rock waterfall appropriately named Jackass.

For over a century, the surrounding mineral-rich area has been profitable for the region. There are many abandoned as well as active mines in the area. Along the route is a spectacular array of desert plant life, from massive saguaros to towering cottonwoods hidden deep in one of many secluded canyons that litter the region. The area is remote. The rocks are sharp. And everything here wants to poke or bite you. Be cautious. This is a desert, and it's not very forgiving, especially in the summer. But it does have an irresistible rugged charm.

Gardner Canyon Road packs a lot into its 8.7 miles. There's world-class camping in both designated and dispersed sites. The lack of nearby cities means dark skies and a carpet of twinkling stars above that campsite. The views of the Santa Rita Mountains looming above the trail's end are inspiring. Bucolocly beautiful Apache Springs Ranch reminds you of that early ambition to be a cowboy. The splashy crossing of Cave Creek is just bumpy enough to be fun. Trailheads for a myriad of hiking trails, including the world-class Arizona Trail, remind you that you should get out and stretch your legs in the crisp, clean air of this vast countryside.

In its day, Crimson Road was the main thoroughfare between Flagstaff and the Mormon Lake area. Bypassed by the paved Lake Mary Road, today it simply transports you quickly into the magnificent ponderosa pine woodland that is the heart of the 1.8 million-acre Coconino National Forest. The well-maintained road meanders gently along the contours of an otherwise rugged landscape. After 11 miles, the forest gives way to Antelope Park, a large alpine meadow at an elevation of 7,000 feet. The meadow begs you to camp along its wooded edges to watch elk, deer, and pronghorn graze early and late in the lazy day. Crimson Road leaves the open meadow, plunging back into the forest and Newman Canyon. The road passes a picturesque old cattle corral, unused these days. Before you are ready, the road deposits you back onto the pavement.

Also known as the Waterfall Bypass, this northern section of Box Canyon winds its way up narrow ledges and over the mountains for an alternative way around the waterfall obstacle on Mineral Mountain Road. The trail is ideal for stock-type 4x4 owners who want a mild challenge while exploring the Florence OHV area. The trail has narrow ledge switchbacks and steep rocky climbs requiring low range, high clearance, and durable offroad tires. The trail is excellent for beginners looking to cut their teeth on Arizona desert trails without difficult rock crawling. You'll climb high up into the mountains with immersive panoramas of the surrounding peaks before dropping into Box Canyon.

Camping is minimal. There are only a few old mine platforms where you could set up tents for the night.

Price Road is the primary southern entry into the Florence OHV area. The road also serves the two small ranch communities and mining operations. The views of the Rincon Mountains on the eastern horizon loom higher as you travel the desert road. Nearby Box Canyon, Martinez Canyon, Old Silverbell Mine, and many other sites provide visitors with fantastic scenic views and opportunities to hike, explore, offroad, and enjoy the Sonoran Desert. Price Road is a gravel and semi-maintained dirt road that all vehicles can navigate. Durable off-road tires are highly recommended.

Dispersed campsites are located all along Price Road. Camping on Arizona State Trust Land requires a permit. State Trust Land is normally well marked, but a land use map is helpful. The area has abundant primitive campsites and multiple large staging areas. There are no services, facilities, or potable water in the area for campers.

Trail 1829 can be run as an out-and-back or as a loop when connected with trail 1345. This trail is rocky and has aggressive hills, narrow sections between trees and cacti, and a fence line. The 360-degree scenic views from the top of the ridgeline are amazing. There are several steep rocky hills to contend with on this trail. One of which has crater-sized holes that can lead to body and bumper damage if not maneuvered correctly. High clearance and 4Low are required on Crater Hill. Lockers are recommended, and a spotter would be helpful. The top of Crater Hill is located at coordinates 33.60405, -111.46011. Running as an out-and-back will have you going downhill first and then uphill on your return. Take connecting trail 1345 on the right after 1.3 miles to run the hills only upwards. This will reconnect with 1829 at the bottom of the hills. Rated difficult due to "Crater Hill." The rest of the trail is moderate. There is a large camping area at the lower junction of trail 1829 and 1345. This area can accommodate many vehicles and has a large rock fire ring.

Please note that an OHV permit is now required on this trail.