ByPierre LeBlanc
June 22, 2020
0
Details
Forrest Service graded roads to access camping areas.
Location
Address:Sanford, United States
Forrest Service graded roads to access camping areas.
This trail combines the astounding Sedona beauty with moderate to challenging difficulty. The Red Rock country is the backdrop for this expedition that includes sights named Submarine Rock, Chicken Point, the Roundabout, and Devils Kitchen, with the challenge of slick-rock obstacles.
While relatively short in terms of distance, this trail calls for slow driving due to its tightness and rocky terrain. Many places are challenging because the driver needs to be well aware of their vehicle spatially and how to manage it over slick-rock, so drivers should have some experience.
The stock Range Rover, Discovery (including LR3), and Defender are well equipped to deliver a fantastic day.
Back road to (north side) Mt. Lemmon is graded dirt road. The south side is paved winding road. Very scenic drive.
This trail was described in The Arizona Republic as ‘one of the prettiest drives you’ll ever take’. The trail begins at the base of Salt River Canyon, where US-60 crosses the Salt River northeast of Globe. The trail begins with the outstanding scenery of traveling along the bottom of the Salt River Canyon, a feeling of being inside a mini Grand Canyon. We will splash through Cibeque Creek where it meets the Salt River, and work our way west toward the Rock Canyon grotto, which may be seeping water if there has been enough precipitation. Lunch likely will be along Gleason Flats, which offers a wide view of the valley and the Salt River below. The trail finishes through Cherry Creek road and wonderful views of the Sierra Ancha mountains, and finally connects with State Route 288.
Note: This trail begins on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, and requires that each vehicle purchase a day permit for $5.00.According to the Charles Wells book, ‘this trail starts easy and gradually worsens. The last mile before Dripping Springs is challenging and requires some backroad driving experience.’ Trail #60 in his book for more details.
This trail follows the Chiva Falls trail and then goes west following the Tanque Verde Creek to within a mile or so of Tanque Verde Falls. We’ll have lunch by the creek before we begin our climb out of the canyon and back to the east to reconnect with the Chiva Falls trail. There are several challenging hill climbs and medium to large rock obstacles along the way.
Easiest way to get there is thru Mayer, AZ. off Hyw 69 to Prescott.
Where is a Circle-K in Mayer. From the Circle-K take Central to a left on Miami. From Miami take a right on Main St. Just past the Double D Bar on Main St., take a left on Wilks. At the three way junction at the end of Wilks, take Jefferson, which is the Goodwin Road.
The Goodwin Road intersects the Senator Hyw about half way between Prescott and CK. It’s about 25 miles of dirt road.
Take a left onto Senator Hyw, stay on it for approx 4 miles and turn left onto FS 89. It goes thru a burned off area, decends a hill and crosses a large wash. Turn left into the wash and have a good time! Once thru the rocky sections, both of which are relatively short, you climb over a ridge or two until you get to the next major wash at the Goat Ranch. From there, the trail goes up the the Peck Mine Road. This appears to be the main road, but the DeSoto trail is a very sharp turn to the left. If you cont. out to the Peck Mine you intersect the main road to CK and miss all the hill climbs and the mine itself.
There are two cattle ponds on this section. They probably have water in’m. Prior to the second pond you have the option of going out via the “official” route in Charles Well’s book, or heading up to the DeSoto Mine. There is a faint left turn off the main trail prior to the pond – that leads to some VERY VERY interesting off camber sections. I had my wheelin’ buddy hang off the high side as a counter weight thru one spot- the body roll made it feel alot worse than it is, but looking out the drivers door down 45 deg angle at steep hillside always gives me the puckers
If you proceed on to the pond itself, the trail goes up and over the top of the ridge. The route can be very confusing at this point due to a bunch of mine roads branching off the main road. Stop at the top and explore, it offers some great veiws. The main mine is to your right on top of the hill. Once you cross the top, the trail leads down to a large flat section and the main road is bunkered off. If you look to the left edge of the brush on the flat section, you will find a steep decent down to a mine shaft- that is the way out of the maze. Follow that road out to the CK road – you come out above Cleator by a few miles.
If you have the time and want to see some more neat country, take a left at Cleator on the old railroad bed cut just east of the Cleator Bar. It will take you back to Mayer once it intersects the Old Cordes road.
Lots of varied terrain with great veiws and a ton of history. You pass close to one of the more famous Apache vs. Miner fights in the old west. Battle Flat is a great story of survival and outright toughness.
Highlights: Very remote location, exceptional vistas, lots of wildlife
Near: Safford, AZ
Distance: 10.78 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2942 ft
This is such a popular area for four-wheeling that the Tonto National Forest instituted a permit system several years ago. Locked gates bar entry, and the combination you receive with your permit works for six months before the lock is changed.
This is hilly area with enormous boulders that tower as high as the buildings downtown. With the yellow-green lichen growing on them, they look like something from another world. Every time you crest a ridge you’re treated to a new vista, and you get some of the best views of the Superstitions, Weaver’s Needle and Four Peaks that you’ve ever seen.
Enormous coveys of quail make their homes here, as do javelina, deer, and hundreds of birds and smaller mammals. In spite of the lengthy drought, springs continue to provide water year-round. Ruins of old mining shacks dot the landscape here, and scattered along the hillsides are piles of stones put there by Spaniards to mark their mining claims.
A permit is required for this trail. It’s easy to obtain and free. Carry it with you at all times. This is a highly sensitive area and subject to closure. The trail passes through scenic Sonoran Desert with views of Goldfield and Superstition Mountains. Several short, steep rocky climbs that require careful tire placement and some driving skill. Suitable for aggressive stock SUVs with high ground clearance. Go with a friend and carry a tow strap.
