Aqua Fria National Monument has numerous well-preserved ruin sites however, some of the most accessible sites for 4x4's are in the nearby Tonto National Forest. FR593 is one of the easiest trails offering two naturally preserved Native American ruin sites right along the side of the trail. The stone structure network, is all that is left of what was once a substantial agrarian community. This semi-desert region just an hour north of Phoenix, offers one of the most significant systems of prehistoric sites in the American Southwest.
The area is large, give yourself the entire day to explore this unique part of the southwest. The numerous trails in the region offer countless points to walk among the ruins and search the nearby rocks for petroglyphs. There are hundreds of examples of this ancient art work spread throughout the monument region. Look along cliffs or even on stray rocks in the meadows. Please do not disturb or alter these precious artifacts to ensure they remain for generations to come.
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Tonto National Forest officials will close the state’s largest national forest due to ongoing extreme fire danger beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 25. The forest is implementing this forest closure as a precaution to protect the health and safety of the public, employees and firefighters by reducing the risk of human-caused fires.
No one is allowed in the closure area, including Forest Service personnel, unless they are responding to a wildfire or other emergency or patrolling to ensure enforcement of the closure. The order shall remain in effect until July 31, 2021 or until rescinded, whichever occurs first. Residents or businesses using roads in the restricted area to the extent necessary to access their private property are exempt.
The Backbone Fire has closed the area. Extreme fire restrictions are in effect. Coconino National Forest is closed and it's expected Tonto NF will close soon. To help fire crews, please avoid the area. Backbone Fire Inciweb
Nice easy little trail. There are several ruins that are really cool. There are several campsites on this trial but they are really exposed to the wind.
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While living in the Midwest, I developed a passion for searching out new trails and hidden spots. That passion continues to this day in the beautiful southwestern United States. My wife and I are full-time RVers who travel from region to region, exploring every nook and cranny we can find. While getting to know the locals, we gain insight into these areas and then pass on that knowledge to our subscribers. We truly enjoy traversing long, beautiful back-country routes with epic campsites, but we equally enjoy pushing the limits on challenging rock crawling trails. Our rig was built to do everything, and that's what we hope to share with our subscribers.
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