Windmill Trail
New River, Arizona (Maricopa) Technical Rating: 2-3
Last Updated: 10-16-2017
Permit Required - Click Here
New River
Black Canyon City
State Trust Land
Windmill Trail Highlights
Windmill Road is a great place to see an iconic, old school, windmill powered water well. It takes you through an area most often enjoyed by hikers, but can also serve as a great way to get into the southern portion of the BLM's Table Mesa Recreation Area.
Technical rating: (2-3) Easy
Dirt road. Rutted, washes, or gulches. Water crossings up to 6" depth. Passable mud. Grades up to 10 degrees. Small rocks or holes. 4WD recommended but 2WD possible under good conditions and with adequate ground clearance and skill. No width problems for any normal vehicle. Vehicle passing spots frequently available if less than two vehicles wide.
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Directions to Trailhead
This trail can be reached via Old Mine Road within the Table Mesa Recreation Area; which is more commonly referred to as Powerline Trail.
It can also be reached via a southern spur of the western side of Table Mesa Road where it also meets up with Pipeline Trail.
The easiest way to reach this is via I-17 exit 236. Head to the frontage road, but don't take the frontage road. Just to the west, you'll see a dirt hill you can drive up to a gate. Go through the gate and follow Rock Springs Road to the first right (Table Mesa Road). continue straight as you go through the intersection with Pipeline Trail.
Route Description
This is a very easy trail with the biggest obstacle being that it's a bit on the skinny side. Still, as long as you can avoid the cacti, you shouldn't have too much trouble passing. Also be cautious of pedestrian hikers in the area.
1: Powerline Trail & Windmill Trail Intersection (0.0mi)
Turn east off Old Mine Road onto Windmill Trail. Officially call Old Mine Road, this intersection takes you from BLM land onto State Trust land as you exit the Table Mesa Recreation Area.
2: Windmill (0.8mi)
This area is known to hikers as Windmill Valley along the Black Canyon Hiking Trail because there's a windmill in the middle of it. This Windmill once served as the powerhouse to pump water out of the ground to fill the large water tank next to it.
3: Pipeline & Windmill / Table Mesa Road Intersection (1.7mi)
The Southern portion of Pipeline Trail, Table Mesa Road, and Windmill Trail all meet here. You can head in any direction, but if you go too far north you'll find yourself running into a mining operation. Heading straight down Table Mesa Road, then left onto Rock Spring Road is the quickest way back to pavement.
Camping and Lodging
Camping isn't allowed on State Trust Land, but you can camp in the near-by Table Mesa Recreation Area. You're also not far from plenty of hotel choices in Carefree, New River, and further south in the Northern Phoenix area.
S.J. Hollist
I've been writing for TrailsOffroad since August 2015. Before that, I had been off-road in places like central and northern Utah, east and west Texas, and...
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