Accessible land along the 260 between Camp Verde and Payson (1 Viewer)

[Stepmurr]

(Thread inspired by @OffRoadScott )

I frequently travel 260 as it is easier on the FJ40 to not pull the hills north of Phoenix.

These are some of my side trips - please add yours!

As can be seen on Google Maps, the route 260 takes from Camp Verde to Payson is entirely in the good zone (green zone!) - the Coconino National Forest by Camp Verde and the Tonto National Forest near Payson. It isn't however all forest service land, but there are many forest service roads in the area.

The only official guide to what roads are open and which are not is the Motor Vehicle Use Map for the Coconino. The side roads off the 260 in the Tonto Forest are technically open to all because Tonto still does not have their travel management plan finished, and thus no MVUM.

Coconino has MVUMs for computers as pdfs, mobile devices like cell phones and tablets as Avenza maps, and certain Garmin GPS devices here:

Coconino National Forest - Projects

Coconino National Forest - Projects

www.fs.usda.gov

This is the Coconino's Camp Verde to Strawberry section of the MVUM

The Tonto has several alternative proposals for MVUM - this is a portion of Alternative D.

 

[Stepmurr]

The closest trail to Camp Verde I have been on is actually in the Prescott Forest.

@LandCruiserPhil took us on this back in 2015. Forest Road 136 starts at the Copper Canyon trail head just south of Camp Verde and parallels I-17.
Short but fun trail with lots of places to disperse camp.

 

[Stepmurr]

I had high hopes for FR 618 as it is just outside of Camp Verde and shows dispersed camping available. However the first several miles are so washboarded I gave up and turned around rather than air down for a one night camp.

 

[Stepmurr]

Next trail outside of Camp Verde is the road to Fossil Creek. Very popular but limited camping opportunities.

@Dimples led us on this in 2016

January ROTM Fossil Creek 1/30/16

This months ROTM will be a round trip from Fossil Creek Rd. to the Child's power station on the Verde River then back out. This is a stock friendly easy day trip with really great scenery. No permits are required. I am hoping to get a 2 mile hike in on the Waterfall trail, but I will leave that...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Stepmurr]

I tried camping along FR 9243B, but there was too much manure to deal with.

 

[Stepmurr]

FR 9243N is much nicer with good views - you can make out the red rocks of Sedona on a clear day

 

[Stepmurr]

FR 9C was a tad muddy in January 2016 but was a nice camp

 

[Stepmurr]

Duckies in a pond along FR 9C - 9242B - 9206V

 

[Stepmurr]

These forest roads are at the desert\pine tree boundary.

Several of my favs are the roads south of 260 - 9367B, 9367C, & 9366F

Looking down into Clear Creek

Camping in the cool pines

I always see horses wandering about

More pics of this area are on my Desert to the Pines thread post #12

Desert to the Pines 2019 - Area "A" to Strawberry

Steve's Alaskan adventure was chilling me to the bone so I set out on an Arizona Adventure. I obtained a permit for area A of the Sonoran Desert Monument and figured that should warm me up a little. Area A is an inactive (hopefully) part of the Barry Goldwater bombing range that is open to the...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Stepmurr]

On the North side of 260 is an area 9246R. This is usually a very busy area as the roads are in good shape and any Yahoo can camp along them.

This is my Nissan Sentra I took camping here while both the FJ40 and Taco were broke down

Yahoo camping:

 

[Stepmurr]

FR 607 off 260/87 is really nice

This last trip I saw a coyote circling the camp and two bear cubs. (those pics on the Desert to the Pines thread post #15 on)

Desert to the Pines 2019 - Area "A" to Strawberry

Steve's Alaskan adventure was chilling me to the bone so I set out on an Arizona Adventure. I obtained a permit for area A of the Sonoran Desert Monument and figured that should warm me up a little. Area A is an inactive (hopefully) part of the Barry Goldwater bombing range that is open to the...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Stepmurr]

While not off of 260, FR300 is a great trip. This road is onthe top side of the Mogollon Rim and has great views.

 

[Stepmurr]

Not a 4wd trail but the Tonto Natural Bridge is not to be missed

 

[OffRoadScott]

@Stepmurr Thank you so much for sharing this information. I really want to get up there and check the area out, it is really beautiful out there.

 

[AZCRSR]

Not a 4wd trail but the Tonto Natural Bridge is not to be missed

View attachment 2078155View attachment 2078156View attachment 2078157View attachment 2078158

Drove right pass the turn off yesterday. Kicking myself for being in a hurry and not stopping to see it.

 

[tls3601]

Thanks for posting this. There are SO many turn offs on 260, and SO little time. Recently hit up FR300, but WAY too many people on East end. Western access was really nice though.

 

[Living in the Past]

Thanks for posting this. There are SO many turn offs on 260, and SO little time. Recently hit up FR300, but WAY too many people on East end. Western access was really nice though.

Was the forest burned on the north side of FR300? Been up and down SR87 numerous times since the fire. The stretch north of FR300 keeps getting uglier. There was second fire in the Dane Ridge area. FR321 runs north off FR300. Now that the weather is cooling off need to explore the area to see how bad it is.

Made a quick drive down to Camp Verde. Seen horses along the road in three areas.

 

[tls3601]

You could see where things had smoldered but I did not venture too far N of 300 from the Western end. Found a neat cabin though

 

[Stepmurr]

Drove right pass the turn off yesterday. Kicking myself for being in a hurry and not stopping to see it.

I drove past it dozens of times before I had time to stop.

You can see the bridge from the parking lot but it is worth it to take the time to hike the trail through it. It is incredibly slick inside the arch and it amazes me that they allow any fool (like me) to walk through it. Great time!

If you can't hike down this gives you a glimpse of the bridge from the parking lot.

View from the top

Ok, you have been warned . . .

 

[Stepmurr]

Hard to make out in this photo, but the far side opening is a waterfall.

Inside the arch

Incredibly slick and steep inside

Sign after you have ventured through the arch - "Rocks are slippery." Gee thanks!