TheGrrrrr
GOLD Star
Great run! Thanks to everyone who came out. It was a lot of fun and I appreciate everyone's flexibility! Reply to the thread with your photos! Here are some of mine:
Just putting this together, but the idea would be for us to meet up at the "Donuts in the Desert" Food Drive event at Bell Lexus, check out some rigs, support the community and passively represent CSC. We would then head from there up to the trail and have a late lunch at the bridge. We may have to audible to a different trail if SRP is releasing water and flow rate on that portion of the Verde is higher than like 225 CFS. Details to follow.
The info for the event is here:
NARATIVE:
Meetup at Bell Lexus by 10:30am. Most will want to get there earlier to enjoy the event, but we will assemble our group at 10:45 for quick intros and a drivers meeting. In the past you had to get there pretty early to have a chance at parking your rig on the property where its kind of like a car show. Last time I was there, they had auxilary parking across the street in a dirt lot. Look for my 2013 Silver 200 series with AZ tag: THEGRRR as that is where we will assemble for our drivers meting. We will plan to leave Bell Lexus at 11:00am and will proceed to 33.90505, -111.74478 for air-down which is about a 35-45 minute drive.
From air-down to the end of the trail should be between an hour and a half and two hours. It took me 1:15 running solo. I would expect to be at Sheep's Bridge no later than 2pm. Then back out the way we came in, or its sometimes possible to cross the river near the footbridge and then exit via bloody basin but that is a loooooong way out.
ITINERARY:
9:00am - 10:45am: Arrive at Bell Lexus Scottsdale at 18555 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
10:45am: Drivers meeting at @TheGrrrrr's rig.
11:00am: Roll out towards 33.90505, -111.74478 for air-down. Folks who can't make the event at Bell Lexus should plan to meet at the air-down spot at 11:45. If you are planning to meet at the air-down, please let @TheGrrrrr know.
12:00pm: Begin trail.
~2:00pm: Late lunch and shenanigans at Sheeps Bridge (34.07752, -111.70754)
~3:30pm?: Out the way we came in.
COMMS: HAM 146.46 if possible, GMRS 15 if necessary.
TRAIL DETAILS:
Due exclusively to the river crossing OnX rates this as a 5, but I would rate it a 2. Assuming the river is passable, its not hard but it is fun. Of some note is a silty-sandy section that gets pretty rutted and can result in a quick tug or winch being necessary if traction is lost, but its not a big deal.
From OnX Offroad: "This trail provides a shorter alternative to Bloody Basin road for viewing Sheeps Bridge and the Hot Springs. This trail is not overly difficult, but there are a few water crossings. The second crossing across the Verde river is the most difficult part of this trail. The key to this crossing is staying down river and hugging the rapids or it gets deep fast. After crossing the river, the rest of the trail is fairly tame. There is one section with deep ruts and silty sand, but it's easily managed in a aggressive stock 4x4. Due to the river crossing, you should not attempt this right after a hard rain or with ran in the forecast."
About the river Crossing at the beginning: "Crossing the Verde River is common provided the release is not more than 225 (CFS). You must cross two areas. This route requires you to visit Watershed Connection - Daily Water Report - https://streamflow.watershedconnection.com/Dwr to check the Horseshoe Dam Release. The key to this crossing is staying down river and hugging the rapids or it gets deep fast. The first crossing is a rather long (400-yard) shallow crossing is usually less than 18". The second requires you to stay to the right hugging the area where the rapids are. Rapids are the white capping area as the water travels over the underlying river rocks. This is actually where the water flows over the cement berm just before the rapids. Remember the more to the left your truck is the deeper the water. As you are approaching the rapids make sure not to cross into the rapids. Finally, just before you get to the reeds bear left and maintain a centerline between the reeds until you get to land."
The remainder of the trip to Sheep's Bridge is forest road. There are two trails to the left that take you to the Horseshoe which is a nice day ride from Sheeps Bridge. Once at Sheep's Bridge there is another opportunity to cross the Verde River to get to the Hot Springs area. When crossing in this area, there is part of the trail that takes you right to the entrance to the river. DO NOT CROSS ANYWHERE ELSE. When navigating across this portion of the river, simply drive onto the rocks where you see the water rapids on the shallow river rocks. Stay on the rocks and turn left to make a straight line for the shore. You can actually walk this first if you don't mind getting wet. There are plenty of camp spots on both sides."
My terrible drone video of the crossing coming back out last time I was there. Despite the grandiose music from the drone company's software, it was uneventful in both directions for every vehicle I've seen do it. Not to be feared.
ROSTER:
Just putting this together, but the idea would be for us to meet up at the "Donuts in the Desert" Food Drive event at Bell Lexus, check out some rigs, support the community and passively represent CSC. We would then head from there up to the trail and have a late lunch at the bridge. We may have to audible to a different trail if SRP is releasing water and flow rate on that portion of the Verde is higher than like 225 CFS. Details to follow.
The info for the event is here:
NARATIVE:
Meetup at Bell Lexus by 10:30am. Most will want to get there earlier to enjoy the event, but we will assemble our group at 10:45 for quick intros and a drivers meeting. In the past you had to get there pretty early to have a chance at parking your rig on the property where its kind of like a car show. Last time I was there, they had auxilary parking across the street in a dirt lot. Look for my 2013 Silver 200 series with AZ tag: THEGRRR as that is where we will assemble for our drivers meting. We will plan to leave Bell Lexus at 11:00am and will proceed to 33.90505, -111.74478 for air-down which is about a 35-45 minute drive.
From air-down to the end of the trail should be between an hour and a half and two hours. It took me 1:15 running solo. I would expect to be at Sheep's Bridge no later than 2pm. Then back out the way we came in, or its sometimes possible to cross the river near the footbridge and then exit via bloody basin but that is a loooooong way out.
ITINERARY:
9:00am - 10:45am: Arrive at Bell Lexus Scottsdale at 18555 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
10:45am: Drivers meeting at @TheGrrrrr's rig.
11:00am: Roll out towards 33.90505, -111.74478 for air-down. Folks who can't make the event at Bell Lexus should plan to meet at the air-down spot at 11:45. If you are planning to meet at the air-down, please let @TheGrrrrr know.
12:00pm: Begin trail.
~2:00pm: Late lunch and shenanigans at Sheeps Bridge (34.07752, -111.70754)
~3:30pm?: Out the way we came in.
COMMS: HAM 146.46 if possible, GMRS 15 if necessary.
TRAIL DETAILS:
Due exclusively to the river crossing OnX rates this as a 5, but I would rate it a 2. Assuming the river is passable, its not hard but it is fun. Of some note is a silty-sandy section that gets pretty rutted and can result in a quick tug or winch being necessary if traction is lost, but its not a big deal.
From OnX Offroad: "This trail provides a shorter alternative to Bloody Basin road for viewing Sheeps Bridge and the Hot Springs. This trail is not overly difficult, but there are a few water crossings. The second crossing across the Verde river is the most difficult part of this trail. The key to this crossing is staying down river and hugging the rapids or it gets deep fast. After crossing the river, the rest of the trail is fairly tame. There is one section with deep ruts and silty sand, but it's easily managed in a aggressive stock 4x4. Due to the river crossing, you should not attempt this right after a hard rain or with ran in the forecast."
About the river Crossing at the beginning: "Crossing the Verde River is common provided the release is not more than 225 (CFS). You must cross two areas. This route requires you to visit Watershed Connection - Daily Water Report - https://streamflow.watershedconnection.com/Dwr to check the Horseshoe Dam Release. The key to this crossing is staying down river and hugging the rapids or it gets deep fast. The first crossing is a rather long (400-yard) shallow crossing is usually less than 18". The second requires you to stay to the right hugging the area where the rapids are. Rapids are the white capping area as the water travels over the underlying river rocks. This is actually where the water flows over the cement berm just before the rapids. Remember the more to the left your truck is the deeper the water. As you are approaching the rapids make sure not to cross into the rapids. Finally, just before you get to the reeds bear left and maintain a centerline between the reeds until you get to land."
The remainder of the trip to Sheep's Bridge is forest road. There are two trails to the left that take you to the Horseshoe which is a nice day ride from Sheeps Bridge. Once at Sheep's Bridge there is another opportunity to cross the Verde River to get to the Hot Springs area. When crossing in this area, there is part of the trail that takes you right to the entrance to the river. DO NOT CROSS ANYWHERE ELSE. When navigating across this portion of the river, simply drive onto the rocks where you see the water rapids on the shallow river rocks. Stay on the rocks and turn left to make a straight line for the shore. You can actually walk this first if you don't mind getting wet. There are plenty of camp spots on both sides."
My terrible drone video of the crossing coming back out last time I was there. Despite the grandiose music from the drone company's software, it was uneventful in both directions for every vehicle I've seen do it. Not to be feared.
ROSTER:
- @TheGrrrrr (Matt)
- @Mudy mudskipper (Jared) +1 dude in an H2
- @Somebodyelse5 (Joey)
- @javelinadave (Dave?)
- @jkl72-40 (?)
- @brices123 (Brice, aka El Presidente)
- @HotdogThud (?) in a Bronco?
- @martola
- @Highway Romping
- @jgoldstein
- You?
- Your friend?
- Some other person?
Last edited:
