Crackerjack

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3.8/5 (8 reviews)
Payson, Arizona (Gila County)
Last Updated: 04/10/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

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.


Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

3.8/5 (8)
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Official Crew
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65800
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 04/10/2023

Thank you, Jason and Sarah, for the updates!
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Official Crew
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65800
Partially Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 04/02/2023

There's a rock slide and washout on the shelf road between Waypoints 6 and 7. The trail can be partially run from either end.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 03/14/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

We combined Doll Baby Ranch, Cedar Flat and Crackerjack Mine into one loop. (In that order). Both crossings of the Verde River were about 24” in depth. The crossing at Crackerjack (FR209) has a concrete bottom all the way across but there is currently a fair amount of sediment built up on the western side. We had no issues. There are currently several other small creek crossings on the way out to hwy 87. Older reviews make it sound like the trail from WP 1-10 is easy and only really becomes challenging beyond WP 10. I have no doubt this was the case however it is not at the moment. The entire trail is now moderate. There are large ruts in certain corners, steep grades, and a precarious shelf section to pick through. (We took photos after we got through the section but were too focused during) I question how much longer that shelf section will remain passable. Still nothing a high clearance stock 4x4 shouldn’t be able to negotiate. The views are tremendous as well. My parents took my siblings and I on on this route some time around 2000-2001. Maybe it was the old Ford F150 but I remember this trail being more rocky and challenging at that time. During the summer the concrete river crossing had maybe an inch of water on it.
Trail Review: Crackerjack - Chris Babb
Trail Review: Crackerjack - Chris Babb
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Official Crew
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65800
Open
Visited: 07/09/2021

Trail is now open.
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65800
Temporary Closure
Visited: 06/22/2021

The Forest Service has temporarily closed this trail in response to the Backbone Fire.

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