Backway to Crown King

DISTANCE / DURATION: 34.5 MILES / 5-8 HOURS

DIFFICULTY RATING: MODERATE TO HARD (VARIES YEAR TO YEAR AND SEASON TO SEASON)

OBSTACLE TYPES: 

• SWITCH BACKS, SHELF ROADS, LOOSE ROCK, WASHOUTS 
• SMALL BOULDERS, LARGE BOULDERS, ROCK LEDGES 
• DRY TO WET CREEK CROSSING 
• LOW CHANCE OF CLOSE BRUSH CONTACT
• SNOW POSSIBLE IN WINTER
• MOST DIFFICULT OBSTACLES HAVE BYPASSES, BUT NOT ALL

 VEHICLE TYPES: 

• SUITABLE FOR 4WD VEHICLES WITH HIGH CLEARANCE / STOCK TOYOTA TACOMAS AND JEEP WRANGLERS CAN COMPLETE THE TRAIL BUT MAY STRUGGLE IN PLACES
• MILD SUSPENSION LIFTS AND TIRE AT OR ABOVE 32" IN HEIGHT RECOMMENDED TO MAKE THE TRAIL EASIER ON YOUR VEHICLE
• WE DROVE IT WITH A STOCK 2021 JEEP GLADIATOR MOJAVE & A STOCK 2023 WILLIS XR

DESCRIPTION: THIS IS A CLASSIC 4WD ROUTE IN CENTRAL ARIZONA. BEGINNING NEAR LAKE PLEASANT, NORTHWEST OF PHOENIX, THE 34 PLUS MILE ROAD CLIMBS OVER 6,000 FT IN ELEVATION, TRANSITIONING FROM SAGUAROS TO PONDEROSA PINE TREES. MOST OF THE WAY THE ROUTE IS JUST A REGULAR FOREST SERVICE ROAD THAT A SUBARU COULD HANDLE, BUT, IN A FEW STRECHES, THE ROAD GETS WASHED OUT AND LARGE BOULDERS AND ROCK LEDGES ARE EXPOSED. DUE TO RAIN, SNOW AND HEAVY USE, THE TRAIL CONDITIONS CAN VARY A LOT FROM YEAR TO YEAR EVEN MONTH TO MONTH, SO WE SUGGEST BEING PREPARED FOR DIFFICULT OBSTACLES. MOST OF THE TOUGH OBSTACLES DO HAVE BYPASSES BUT NEAR THE OLD ORO BELLE MINE/TOWN SITE THERE ARE NO BYPASSES FOR THREE OBSTACLES. THIS TRAIL IS VERY POPULAR ON THE WEEKENDS. DUE TO ITS LENGTH, PACK WATER AND SNACKS EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO EAT AT ONE OF THE RESTAURANTS IN CROWN KING. 

THE TOWN WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED TO SERVICE SEVERAL MINES IN THE AREA AND IS NAMED FOR THE CROWNED KING GOLD MINE. ONCE YOU ARE DONE IN TOWN, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO RETURN THE WAY YOU CAME BECAUSE LEAVING TOWN VIA THE CROWN KING ROAD WILL TAKE YOU BACK TO INTERSTATE-17. IF YOU WANT MORE OF A DIRT OVERLAND TYPE JOURNEY, TAKE THE SENATOR ROAD ALL THE WAY INTO PRESCOTT BEFORE YOU RETURN TO PAVEMENT.

RESOURCES TO BE ADDED LATER: LINK TO PRESCOTT NATIONAL FOREST BRADSHAW RANGER DISTRICT, LINK TO ALL TRAILS/CROWN KING, LINK TO THE WEATHER CHANNEL

DISTANCE / DURATION: 40 MILES / 6-8 HOURS CURRENTLY THE TRAIL IS CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC. ACCESS IS PERMITTED FROM THE SOUTH TO APPROXIMATELY FISH HILL AND FROM THE NORTH TO THE LAKES. 

DIFFICULTY RATING: EASY 

OBSTACLE TYPES: 

• NARROW SWITCH BACKS, SHELF ROADS, MINOR LOOSE ROCKS

 VEHICLE TYPES: 

• SUITABLE FOR ALL 4WD VEHICLES AND EVEN PASSENGER CARS DURING GOOD WEATHER IF THE DRIVER IS WILLING
• WE DROVE IT WITH A COMPLETELY STOCK 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE THE YEAR BEFORE THE WILDFIRE AND SUBSEQUENT BLOCKAGE

DESCRIPTION: THIS ROUTE IS CURRENTLY NOT OPEN AS A THROUGH ROUTE. A FEW YEARS AGO, A MAJOR WILDFIRE SWEPT THROUGH THE AREA DESTROYING A LOT OF THE DESERT PLANT LIFE. THE MONSOON SEASON THAT FOLLOWED THE FIRE DROPPED A BUNCH OF RAIN IN THE AREA, AND WITHOUT THE PLANT LIFE TO HOLD THE SOIL TOGETHER, THERE WAS DEVASTATING RAPID EROSION THAT CAUSED SEVERAL LANDSLIDES AND WASHED OUT LARGE SECTIONS OF THE ROAD. THE STATE OF ARIZONA'S HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT CLOSED THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE ROAD. GOOD NEWS! ADOT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WILL BE DOING ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN 2024 TO GET THE HIGHWAY BACK OPEN!

THIS IS NOT REALLY A 4X4 REQUIRED ROUTE, BUT YOU SHOULD STILL TAKE A DRIVE ALONG THIS HISTORIC ROUTE. THE SCENERY OF THE SONORAN DESERT IN THIS PART OF THE STATE IS HARD TO BEAT AND THE ROAD HAS SO MUCH HISTORY. THE ROUTE WAS PUT IN TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROOSEVELT DAM. INITIAL CONSTRUCTION WAS STARTED ON AUGUST 29, 1903, BY APACHE WORK CREWS. THE ROUTE MOSTLY FOLLOWED ANCIENT FOOT PATHS OF THE ANASAZI AND HOHOKAM WHO PREDATED THE APACHE IN THE AREA. TORTILLA FLAT WHICH IS A NEAT PLACE TO STOP WAS AN ACTUAL STAGECOACH STOP BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY. FROM ITS VERY BEGINNING, RAILWAY COMPANIES OF THE DAY BILLED IT AS A SCENIC DRIVE AND OFFERED SIGHTSEEING TOURS FROM THE TRAIN STATION IN MESA. THE SCENERY IS STILL GREAT AND VENTURING ONTO THIS AMAZING ROUTE EVEN IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE IT FROM START TO FINISH YET IS STILL VERY WORTH IT. 

RESOURCES TO BE ADDED LATER: LINKS

DISTANCE / DURATION: 8-9 MILES / 4-6 HOURS

DIFFICULTY RATING: MODERATE TO HARD (VARIES YEAR TO YEAR AND SEASON TO SEASON)

OBSTACLE TYPES:

• SHELF ROADS, LOOSE ROCK, WASHOUTS
• LARGE AND SMALL BOULDERS ALONG CREEK/CANYON BOTTOMS
• DRY TO WET CREEK CROSSING 
• HEAVY CLOSE BRUSH CONTACT
• OFF CAMBER ROCK LEDGES

 VEHICLE TYPES: 

• SUITABLE FOR 4WD VEHICLES WITH HIGH CLEARANCE / STOCK TOYOTA TACOMAS AND JEEP WRANGLERS CAN COMPLETE THE TRAIL BUT MAY STRUGGLE IN PLACES.
• MILD SUSPENSION LIFTS AND TIRE AT OR ABOVE 32" IN HEIGHT RECOMMENDED TO MAKE THE TRAIL EASIER ON YOUR VEHICLE
• WE DROVE A STOCK 2023 JEEP WRANGLER WILLIS EXTREME RECON (WITH THE OEM 35" TIRE PACKAGE)

DESCRIPTION: THIS IS A FUN HALF DAY TREK THROUGH THE SONORAN DESERT IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE BRADSHAW MOUNTAINS. WHILE THE ROUTE CAN BE DRIVEN IN EITHER DIRECTION, WE PREFER TO START ON THE BUMBLE BEE SIDE AND END IN CLEATOR SO WE CAN STOP BY THE CLEATOR YACHT CLUB. FROM THIS SIDE THE ROUTE DESCENDS INTO BLACK CANYON CREEK AND FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE WAY IT FOLLWS THIS CANYON/CREEK BOTTOM UNTIL IT INTERSECTS WITH TURKEY CREEK ALSO KNOWN AS DEAD COW GULCH. UP TO THIS POINT, MOST OF THE TRAIL OBSTACLES HAVE BEEN SAND MAYBE EVEN WATER DEPENDING ON TIME OF YEAR, ROCKS AND BOULDERS OF VARYING SIZES FROM SMALL TO LARGE, AND A LOT OF NARROW TRAILS WITH CLOSE BRUSH SCRATCHING THE SIDES OF YOUR VEHICLE (IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE "ARIZONA PINSTRIPES" THIS NOT THE TRAIL FOR YOU). EVERYTHING YOU WOULD EXPECT IN A CANYON CREEK BOTTOM.

THERE IS A CLIMB OUT OF THE BLACK CANYON CREEK BOTTOM AND HEAD WEST ALONG THE RIDGE LINE ABOVE TURKEY CREEK TOWARDS THE TRUE CHALLENGE OF THIS TRAIL. YOU EVENTUALLY DROP BACK DOWN INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE TURKEY CREEK CANYON WHERE THE SHELF FOR THE ROAD IS CUT INTO SOME SOLID ROCK JUST BEFORE IT REACHES THE CANYON FLOOR. GOING IN FROM SOUTH TO NORTH, YOU MUST DRIVE UP A SMALL ROCK LEDGE AND IMMEDIATELY TURN A LITTLE TO THE LEFT (THE DROP OFF WILL BE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE). THEN, ALMOST AS IMMEDIATE, YOU START TO STEP DOWN A ROCK LEDGE THAT PUTS YOUR VEHCILE OFF CAMBER AND LEANING TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE. YEAH, YOU READ THAT RIGHT, OFF CAMBER IN A SLIGHT TURN GOING OFF SOME ROCK LEDGES ON A TRACK THAT IS BARELY WIDER THAN A MODERN JEEP WRANGLER. AFTER THIS, IT'S BACK TO A LITTLE BIT MORE CANYON FLOOR AND SOME CLOSE BRUSH, BUT THE REMAINDER IS DECENT FOREST SERVICE ROAD WITH A FEW LOOSE ROCK SECTIONS AND MINOR WASHED OUT SECTIONS BEFORE YOU REACH CLEATOR AND THE END OF THIS TREK. 

RESOURCES TO BE ADDED LATER: LINK TO PRESCOTT NATIONAL FOREST, BRADSHAW RANGER DISTRICT, LINK TO ALL TRAILS TURKEY CREEK, LINK TO THE WEATHER CHANNEL

DISTANCE / DURATION:  2-20+ MILES / 1-8 HOURS

DIFFICULTY RATING: EASY (SIDE ROUTES CAN BE HARD TO EXTREME) 

OBSTACLE TYPES: 

• HARD PACKED GRADED DIRT ROAD
• SIDE ROUTES CAN HAVE ROCKS, BOULDERS, AND WASHOUTS
• SIDE ROUTES THROUGH WASHES CAN INCLUDE ROCK LEDGES AND SEASONAL WATERFALLS AS WELL

 VEHICLE TYPES: 

• TABLE MESA RD ITSELF IS SUITABLE FOR ALL VEHICLE TYPES
• SIDE TRAILS MAY REQUIRE MODIFIED VEHICLES
• SOME SIDE TRAILS REQUIRE MAJOR MODIFICATIONS!

DESCRIPTION: TABLE MESA ROAD IS BEST DESCRIBED AS A WELL-MAINTAINED DIRT ROAD THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO OFFSHOOT TRAILS THAT VARY IN DIFFICULTY. I HAVE MAINLY INCLUDED IT HERE BECAUSE IT IS A LOCAL FAVORITE FOR OHV, JEEPERS, AND OFF-ROAD ENTHUSIASTS OF ALL TYPES.  AT THE END OF THE ROAD IS A GATED (USUALLY CLOSED AND LOCKED) ACCESS POINT TO THE NORTH SIDE OF LAKE PLEASANT REGIONAL PARK. 

THE OFFICIAL NAME OF THE OHV AREA ACCORDING TO THE BLM IS LITTLE PAN STAGING AREA. MOST EVERYBODY ELSE KNOWS IT AS TABLE MESA RECREATION AREA. THERE IS OVER 55 MILES OF OHV TRAILS TO INCLUDE SUCH FAMOUS ROCK CRAWLER ROUTES AS UPPER AND LOWER TERMINATOR, CRAPSHOOT AND EVEN NEW RIVER CANYON IF YOU WENT EAST FROM THE FREEWAY INSTEAD OF WEST. THERE IS ALSO HIKING TRAIL ACCESS FOR THE BLACK CANYON TRAIL AND INDIAN MESA. WE WILL COVER THE MORE POPULAR NAMED SIDE TRAILS AS SEPARATE TRAILS IN FOLLOW UP POSTS.

RESOURCES TO BE ADDED LATER: LINKS 

DISTANCE / DURATION: APPROX. 4 MILES / 2 HOURS

DIFFICULTY RATING: EASY TO MODERATE DEPENDING ON RECENT WEATHER

OBSTACLE TYPES: 

•  HARD PACKED TO SOFT SAND
•  LOW LEVEL TO THICK, CLOSE BRUSH DEPENDING ON ROUTE
• SMALL WASHOUTS
• SMALL TO MEDIUM SAND BURMS
• WATER CROSSING OF A FEW INCHES TO 20 PLUS INCHES DEPENDING ON RECENT WEATHER

 VEHICLE TYPES: 

• VIRTUALLY ANY STOCK HIGH CLEARANCE 4X4s DURING LOW WATER TIMES
• DURING HIGH WATER TIMES 4X4 WITH MILD LIFTS AND TALLER TIRES
• WE DROVE A STOCK 2023 JEEP WRANGLER WILLIS EXTREME RECON (WITH THE OEM 35" TIRE PACKAGE)

DESCRIPTION: THIS IS A FUN ROUTE THAT IS CLOSE TO OLD TOWN WICKENBURG. GENERALLY, THIS IS AN EASY ROUTE BUT CAN CHANGE INTO A MORE DIFFICULT ONE DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH USE IT HAS HAD AND IF RECENT RAINS HAVE RAISED THE WATER LEVEL IN THE NARROW PART OF THE CANYON. THIS IS AN OUT AND BACK ROUTE THAT BORDERS SOME PRIVATE PROPERTY SO STICK TO THE SANDY RIVER BOTTOM. 

THE MAIN ENTRANCE IS FROM A PARKING/STAGING AREA OFF OF THE RINCON ROAD. FROM THIS PARKING AREA, YOU DRIVE DOWN INTO THE RIVER BOTTOM. AT THIS POINT, THE CANYON IS WIDE. AS YOU TRAVEL NORTH AND EAST, THE CANYON NARROWS. THE NARROWER OHV HAVE CARVED OUT VARIOUS ROUTES THROUGH THE BRUSH, THESE CAN BE FUN TO TACKLE BUT IF YOU ARE SQUIMISH ABOUT "PINSTRIPING" STAY IN THE MAIN CHANNEL OF THE RIVERBED. THE WATER DEPTH CAN VARY FROM NONEXISTENCE TO SEVERAL FEET. MOST OF THE RIVERBED WILL BE DRY THOUGH. IN THE NARROWEST PART OF THE CANYON, WHICH IS MAYBE AS WIDE AS A RESIDENTIAL STREET, THE RIVER IS FORCED TO THE SURFACE AND THIS SECTION SEEMS TO ALWAYS HAVE A FEW INCHES OF WATER ALL THE TIME. BECAUSE THIS CANYON IS SCENIC AND SO CLOSE TO TOWN, IT GETS BUSY ON THE WEEKEND, WHICH ALSO MEANS SOMETIMES LITTER IS LEFT BEHIND BY LESS RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE. THERE SEEM TO BE CONSTANT RUMORS ABOUT SHUTTING OFF ACCESS BUT FOR NOW ITS OPEN.

RESOURCES TO BE ADDED LATER: LINKS 

DISTANCE / DURATION: APPROX. 1 MILE / 1+ HOURS

DIFFICULTY RATING:   MODERATE    SPECIAL NOTE: PERMIT REQUIRED !!!!

OBSTACLE TYPES: 

• PERMIT REQUIRED! ONLY OPEN FOR USE ON MONDAYS, TUESDAYS, AND WEDNESDAYS AND THEN ONLY BETWEEN 8:00 AM AND 6:00 PM
• SANDSTONE, OCCASIONAL LOOSE ROCK, WASHOUTS 
• SMALL BOULDERS, ROCK LEDGES
• SMALL WASHOUTS
• BUSY HIKING TRAIL CROSSES ROAD 
• NARROW ROAD THROUGH TREES, SMALL CHANCE OF CLOSE BRUSH CONTACT 
• IS AN IN AND OUT THE SAME WAY ROAD LIKE BROKEN ARROW, MOST OF THE TRAIL IS ONE LANE WITH SEVERAL WIDE SPOTS TO ALLOW VEHICLES GOING OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ROOM TO PASS
• SNOW POSSIBLE IN WINTER

 VEHICLE TYPES: 

• STOCK HIGH CLEARANCE 4X4s, NARROW VEHICLES LIKE JEEPS AND TACOMAS PREFFERED BUT A FULL-SIZE TRUCK CAN TACKLE THIS, JUST BE AWARE THE ROAD SNAKES THROUGH TREES AND IS NARROW
• WE DROVE A STOCK 2023 JEEP WRANGLER WILLIS EXTREME RECON (WITH THE OEM 35" TIRE PACKAGE)

DESCRIPTION: THIS IS A FUN ROUTE THAT CAN BE COMPLETED QUICKLY OR TURNED INTO A LONGER TRIP IF YOU CHOOSE TO ACCESS SOME OF THE HIKING TRAILS THAT CAN BE FOUND ALONG THE FOREST ROAD. SPECIAL NOTE: TO DRIVE THIS ROAD YOU NEED TO PURCHASE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FROM THE FOREST SERVICE. THE PASS CAN BE OBTAINED ON THE WEBSITE WWW.RECREATION.GOV. IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH RECREATION.GOV, THIS IS THE WEBSITE THE US GOVERNMENT USES FOR CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS, SPECIAL USE PERMITS, AND PASSES TO PUBLIC LANDS. AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING, THE PASS COSTS $6.00 AND THEY ONLY ISSUE 12 MAX FOR THE THREE DAYS THE ROAD IS OPEN TO PUBLIC USE. THE OFFICIAL ROAD DESIGNATION IS FR9904 AND TO ACCESS IT REQUIRES GOING THROUGH TWO GATES. THE FIRST GATE IS AN ELECTRIC GATE OWNED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOA AND WILL BE OPEN MON-WED. THE SECOND GATE IS A US FOREST SERVICE GATE AND WILL BE LOCKED. YOUR PERMIT WILL GIVE THE COMBINATION FOR ONE OF THE LOCKS ON THE SECOND GATE. 

WITH ALL THOSE DISCLAIMERS, HERE IS WHY YOU SHOULD STILL GO. THIS TRAIL IS FUN. IT HAS SOME SIMILAR OBSTACLES TO BROKEN ARROW: NARROW SINGLE LANE ROAD WEAVING THROUGH THE JUNIPERS, PINES AND CYPRESS TREES, SOME SANDSTONE LEDGES TO CLIMB, AND THE SCENERY! ON TOP OF THAT, BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTED ACCESS, IT IS NOT CROWDED LIKE OTHER TRAILS IN THE SEDONA AREA, SO THE DRIVE IS WAY MORE PLEASANT.  THE SEVEN SACRED POOLS OF SEDONA CAN BE FOUND ADJACENT TO THIS ROAD. MOST PEOPLE WHO VISIT THIS SITE DO IT BY HIKING IN ON THE SOLDIER PASS HIKING TRAIL OR HAVE TO TAKE A JEEP TOUR. ONLY ONE JEEP TOUR COMPANY IS PERMITTED TO USE THIS AND EVEN THEN, THEY ARE LIMITED TO HOW MANY JEEPS THEY CAN HAVE ON THE ROAD PER HOUR. THE LOW USE CHARM OF THE TRAIL STAYS INTACT. THE DEVIL'S KITCHEN SINK HOLE IS ALSO FOUND HERE AND THE ROAD ALLOWS YOU TO DRIVE RIGHT TO IT! WHILE THIS IS NOT A VERY LONG TRAIL AND THERE ARE HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH TO ACCESS IT, I SAY IT'S WORTH IT FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN BEING ABLE TO HAVE A GREAT TRAIL RIDE DOWN A BEAUTIFUL ROAD WITH VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC.

CAUTION: THE WEBSITE WILL ALLOW YOU TO PURCHASE A PASS FOR ACCESS ON THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. DON'T FALL FOR IT! THE HOA ONLY OPENS THE FIRST GATE MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE FOREST SERVICE INCLUDES THIS INFORMATION IN THEIR DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE, BUT STILL ALLOWS THE PASS TO BE SOLD ON A DAY THE GATE IS CLOSED. THE HOA GETS TO CONTROL ACCESS BECAUSE A SMALL PORTION OF THE FOREST ROAD, CROSSES PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNED BY THE HOA. THE RESTRICTED/ PERMITTED ACCESS IS THE DEAL THE FOREST SERVICE WORKED OUT WITH THE HOA. 

RESOURCES TO BE ADDED LATER: WWW.RECREATION.GOV