Great Western Trail in AZ

[LX Avalanche]

My wife and I are going to attempt to conquer the AZ portion of the GWT in one go. Plan on starting Sunday. Has anyone real the whole thing recently? Any advice?

I've driven several portions of it but not all of them, and never all at once. I will be using Gaia GPS, Funtreks book, GWT in AZ book, and an AZ Atlas for navigation. I'm in the process of route recon and planning now.

 

[Chrismanjs]

Good luck! Will be waiting for the trip report! I have no advice but looking forward to hear how it goes!

 

[medtro]

Old info, hope some of it is still useful.

Great Western Trail
Arizona Great Western Trail, Trip (Expedition)

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Over the years I have done most of the trail and you should have no issues.

 

[LX Avalanche]

Old info, hope some of it is still useful.

Great Western Trail
Arizona Great Western Trail, Trip (Expedition)

Yeah I read through those but they were pretty old so I wasn't sure if anything has changed since then. Thank you though.

 

[louxwe]

Round about how long will it take to do the whole route in one shot?

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Round about how long will it take to do the whole route in one shot?

IIRC AZ is one of the only states without a completed route

 

[LX Avalanche]

Round about how long will it take to do the whole route in one shot?

The WHOLE thing or just in AZ?

I'm allowing 4 days for the AZ portion.

 

[LX Avalanche]

IIRC AZ is one of the only states without a completed route

I don't understand how it isn't with all the public land in AZ. I know some of the Reservations hinder travel but you'd think they would be ok allowing a certain amount of passes for a nominal fee.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I don't understand how it isn't with all the public land in AZ. I know some of the Reservations hinder travel but you'd think they would be ok allowing a certain amount of passes for a nominal fee.

You are correct AZ has to go through many different lands was the problem. I was all excited about the GWT 25 years ago when it started, today. I have the guide book for the AZ portion somewhere, if interested I can look for it.

 

[DSRTRDR]

you also need a permit (free) from the Tonto Ranger Station, Ingram Street, Mesa, AZ to run the Bulldog Canyon section of the GWT - it's one of the most scenic, so get the permit

 

[redmuttonchops]

a few years back did the seven springs to grand canyon porton of the GWT all in all took us 3 days to get up there but that was slow going by comparison only needed 4wd once and that was around Dugus just to get through a "lil " patch of water. but overall a wonderful and beautiful trip


heres a video my buddy made using about 1/2 - 2/3 of all the photos we took

 

[redmuttonchops]

now of course 7 years ago we didnt need any permits and even to the Grand Ganyon. we by the grace of god found a back road in to the Park with out even having to go to either park entrances . plus we basiclly making an effort to find a way to the GC with only back roads and no highway or freeway. sorry i cant give out any more detail as far as which road/ mile marker to take or use but what we did was use everything from the proposed route of the GWT plus about half a dozen other maps and books and other sources to route it out. being that in certian places the road info was pretty vaugue like from bloody basin to Dugas and on to Perkensvile we kinda had to improvise slightly cus the roads werent marked GWT. good luck with the research and if you got any question ill help as best as i can

 

[DSRTRDR]

actually, as long as I have known Bulldog Canyon, there's always been some sort of permit system, from even before the turn of 2000 on

 

[05Tacorunner]

My wife and I are going to attempt to conquer the AZ portion of the GWT in one go. Plan on starting Sunday. Has anyone real the whole thing recently? Any advice?

I've driven several portions of it but not all of them, and never all at once. I will be using Gaia GPS, Funtreks book, GWT in AZ book, and an AZ Atlas for navigation. I'm in the process of route recon and planning now.

Good luck man. Always wanted to run this trail but haven't had the time. Really looking forward to the update.

 

[skyehunter]

It was a good run, it's funny how time flies...I didn't realize how long ago we did that run till I saw the pups in the video.....

I planned the route using Delorme then, Now I use Gaia with more success. I will see if I can dig up the route file, but I suspect it is long gone tho. Have fun, document it well....remembering all the trips I put videos together for (Jamie Brooks) has probably been one of my favorite parts of doing them...

 

[LX Avalanche]

Well ladies and gents the wife and I finished up the AZ portion on Monday. It took us 4 pretty long days. I'd have preferred to do it in 5. It was an awesome time and I'd like to do it again, as well as the rest of the states. The trails north of I40 were my favorite. The most scenic and remote by far. Here is a link to my album on Facebook.

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Also my Instagram is az_adventurers and there are some photos on there as well.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Well ladies and gents the wife and I finished up the AZ portion on Monday. It took us 4 pretty long days. I'd have preferred to do it in 5. It was an awesome time and I'd like to do it again, as well as the rest of the states. The trails north of I40 were my favorite. The most scenic and remote by far. Here is a link to my album on Facebook.

Log In or Sign Up to View

Also my Instagram is az_adventurers and there are some photos on there as well.

Been following you on IG looks like you had a fun adventure.

 

[LX Avalanche]

Been following you on IG looks like you had a fun adventure.

It was a great time.

 

[LX Avalanche]