4WD Trails that end by water? (2 Viewers)

[re_guderian]

Hey all,

Question for you all. I just took 6 people out wheeling to the coves at Saguaro lake, and love the 80 for it's ability to carry my family (4) plus the sister-in-law and boy friend, and all the tubes, chairs, picnic stuff, etc. etc. My wife really misses the ocean and beach (she's from VA) and loves to go places where we can "dip the feet" at the end of the trail. So what are your favorite trails that have some water either at the end, or along the way in AZ? Can be year-round water or seasonal. I'm in Phx, so closer is better, but anywhere will do. Love to have your input.

 

[RHINO]

just a couple off the top of my head:
coke ovens
trail 42

 

[Tools R Us]

Trail 42 is burned, closed for the foreseeable future.

Sugarloaf/Sycamore has water to play in, I know first hand! :whoops:

Sunflower Mine trail has a creek in season.

Several lakes and creeks on the rim, not much wheeling but nice drive.

Creeks in season on the way to Crown King and Horsethief lake near town.

Pick any of the lakes, there are usually trails to the water.

The trail clean up that month will be at water.

A bunch of stuff along the Verde River.

 

[BMAN]

Willow springs ends by the water but the last half is a hardcore rock crawling trail for wich I would recommend lockers and sliders and a blatant disregard for body damage. It's also an in and out only trail. So everything that you clamber down on the way in, you also have to clamber up, on the way out.

 

[RHINO]

i dont remember willow springs being that bad, maybe i was in the wrong place?

 

[DSRTRDR]

Not in any particular order, some are graded gravel roads, some 4x4 trails; driven by us except where noted.

Childs Power Plant Road
Bulldog Canyon if you come from Mesa and continue going north to the Salt River
Ft.McDowell Indian Reservation continue on gravel operation road east of Verde River heading north, once outside the reservation boundary, there is sort of a camping area with water access
also on Ft.McDowell Reservation, turn south past the new RV park right of Beeline, gets you to the Verde/Salt Rivers (not personally been there).
Same area accessed from west via Rio Verde Road, coming from Pima/Scottsdale continue straight east on gravel rather than turning right.
Better in that area: Needle Rock State Park from Fountain Hills Boulevard/Rio Verde, can also be accessed from Camp Creek Wash (maybe closed due to restrictions after the recent fire, check with rangers).
FR18 (not well marked)
FR41, accessed from east via FR24 (Seven Springs Road), gets you to the New River; can also be accessed from west via I-17, State Trust Land Permit required for western access
Tip Top Mine Road crosses water depending on season (not personally experienced)
Seven Springs area, FR24
Agua Fria via Bloody Basin Road (long drive)
Sheep Bridge (long drive but very nice overnight/camping trip)
Castle Hot Springs Road with turnoff to Lake Pleasant, can also be accessed from Lake Pleasant road
Lake Pleasant can also be accessed from north via I-17
several Verde River access points by Camp Verde/Cottonwood area
Perkinsville Road from Cottonwood area crosses water
Sedona Slide Rock Park (paved road)
several Gila River access points by Winkelman/Kelvin etc. (paved roads)

yes, FR42 is closed (as of two weeks ago). Indian Creek looked open, at least at Bartlett Lake Road. Horseshoe Lake Road is closed.

 

[RHINO]

holy crap , but i thought he wanted trails so i left out all the grocery getter dirt roads, i forgot about needle rock since they put in the pay station, i'll hafta make a day drip for some fishin out that way.

 

[DSRTRDR]

Hi,

if you come out to Needle Rock State Park, let us know, we are close and would join when we got time.

 

[RHINO]

will do

 

[lcwizard]

you forgot Red Creek. it parallels the sheeps bridge road just to the north of it. I've seen it easy and impassable, depending on whether it's had recent heavy rain.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Trail 42 is burned, closed for the foreseeable future.

You know this for sure Kevin?

 

[Tools R Us]

You know this for sure Kevin?

Nope, I have heard both stories, from folks that have been there saying that some areas are very burned, ugly. From the Forest Service that the burn area is closed to minimize erosion until plants start growing. I havn't compared maps, but 42 isn't on the latest closure list.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/news/orders/ccc-special-restrictions-12-215.pdf

 

[Tools R Us]

:whoops: The list is the trails/roads that are open.

Persons operating motor vehicles on the following National Forest System roads;
16, 19, 24, 37, 41, 44, 205, 205A, 246, 269, 468, 562, 599, 602, 612, 404, 3152, and 3206.

After comparing the maps, only the extreme north end of 42 is in the closed area, the part covered in Wells book is open? When in doubt call the Forest Service.

Contact the Cave Creek Ranger District at 480.595.3300

 

[DSRTRDR]

FR18 leads to Red Creek Crossing

 

[DSRTRDR]

FR42 was gated off at the Bartlett Lake side of access three weeks ago.

 

[DBAX]

Nothing posted recently (best bet's to call the Forrest service..) but here's a link from N4W when the chit was going down..Forest Road Closure LINKY
Here's another pertaining to FR42FR42 closure LINKY

AZXC twice a year held cleanups along 532 (back to 42) and we've been unable to do so this year because of the fires/burn damage . In fact, we're getting ready to vote on another FR to adopt for trailmaintenace and cleaning..

See you on the trails.. Dan

 

[DBAX]

To stay on topic..
If you're ever out Wickenburg way, Rincon Road holds a nice surprise at the end of a long slot canyon. The ride out is always fun too.. Shallow, clear water crossings down a long, narrow, high walled slot canyon. If you get some speed up, beware of quads and such ripping down the wash too.

Just be aware you're driving on a submerged river (Agua Fria) and in times when there's been a lot of rain, the river will find it's way above ground and form large holes of quicksand without warning..

The second pic was taken as the truck was sinking, it was over my hubs when we snatched it free 30-40 seconds after this pic was taken. (The truck was droipping fast )


RINCON ROAD SATELLITE SHOT-

 

[RHINO]

yeah DBAX, rincon is great !!! i have explored alot of those canyons rock hounding. never came across the quicksand though, luckily.

 

[DBAX]

Sheesh, I didn't mean to deaden this thread... Ain't you guys ever seen a Nissan before? I drove to Rincon Rd and up the canyon 9-24. It was awesome, here's a write-up link. CLICKY

While we're on topic, does anyone here wheel Payette draw? I've never been there and I know it's a challenging trail for an IFS, but from pics and video I 've seen it's quite idyllic.

 

[Cdaniel]

While we're on topic, does anyone here wheel Payette draw? I've never been there and I know it's a challenging trail for an IFS, but from pics and video I 've seen it's quite idyllic.

Ooo, Oooo, something I've not heard of yet. Where might this Payette Draw be?