Log Corral Trail

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Tucson, AZ
Got this trip report back about last weeks ride down the Log Corral Trail. I was planning on running the trail soon. I never remembered hearing that it was this difficult. I wonder if it's changed or if I have a bad memory? This reportee is a very experienced driver. He's run it all including Elvis in his '93 FZJ. ????


"Hi,
Just wanted to give you some info on a tough trail that was previously run by the AZLCA (over 5 years ago, maybe longer). It is about 14 miles north of the Bush Highway turn-off on AZ87. It starts out across from the Mud Springs turn-off, and winds up to a saddle, about 3 miles from Bartlett Lake. There were 7 vehicles: one Rubicon, one Scout heavily modified, one Wrangler, one Jeep Cherokee (well set up), one Unimog, one Grand Cherokee and me. Since it had rained yesterday and the day before, the entire trail was very wet/muddy. I have the tracklog of the trail, but I wouldn't run it again without several well set up vehicles (some with winches) and some rock stacking gloves.

I needed to get winched twice, and I wasn't the only one. Several of the other vehicles were also winched, and we had one rollover (the Mog!). There were several blown tires, and lots of trail side fixes and some non-fixes (blown front diff). We started in at ~ 9:00 AM, and came out at dark (just barely, about 5:30PM). We didn't see anyone else on the trail, except two cowboys with their horse who came up from Bartlett Lake. There is lots of brush, in some areas it is almost a tunnel effect. Lots of off camber spots, and I used my lockers (both of them) many, many times. There is a rocky section that has some large rocks scattered all around, with water running down them. All the vehicles had major trouble here (I was able to make it up OK, but needed a winch twice in less than 50'). Several times someone was stuck in the mud (lots of water flowing in the creek, and the ground was nearly saturated in places).

Quite a day! There was also some body damage, but those vehicles didn't really mind since you couldn't see those areas due to fact that there was quite a bit already there. There was one nasty, wet, rocky hill that only three of us were able to climb up (me, the Mog and the Cherokee). My nerfs and bumpers were checked out regularly with some loud bangs and thumps. It would be an easier trail if there wasn't so much water flowing everywhere, but then we wouldn't have had as much fun either.

The Log Corral Trail has been adopted by the Mesa Four Wheelers, but it didn't look like anyone had been through there in months (brush everywhere, fences down, etc.). There was a little trash, but not too much. This run was sponsored by the other four wheel drive club that I am in (AZ Dust Devils)."
 
X2 on the lots of brush and tunnel effect when we went out Thanksgiving last year

yeah, it took us quite a while getting through the Log Corral section - including one major rock rearrangement

FR393 was heavily washed out and hadn't seen a grader in a while

check out our trail report here on the forum :D

as Kevin said: start at post #40 https://forum.ih8mud.com/az-copper-state-cruisers/189629-any-run-next-weekend.html pics start at #57

I searched with "levitate" to find it :D
 
Last edited:
Our pix from last year start with post# 40 in this thread, they are mixed in with other runs;
https://forum.ih8mud.com/az-copper-state-cruisers/189629-any-run-next-weekend-2.html

I like this one, it's the start of the rocky section. Yes it's very tight, a lot of the brush was cut, so now there are the large, 1.0-1.5" stubs that stick out and wreak paint. There are a few springs in the area, so some of the obstacles (like the water fall) are wet even without rain.

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The rock garden took us a while and it was dry - probably not much fun when wet. What in my opinion made it difficult was the fact that there wasn't much line choice for a fullsize (in the case of my Blazer, but also for the 80s) - I could see (and spot) pretty much only one way thru it.

The brush can only be worse with an extra year's growth sinnce we were there; one off-camber spot had me lean the driver's side into the thick brush - yes, the Blazer is wider than a Cruiser, but that didn't make much difference. And it's not like you can cut a few branches and be done with it.

That said, it was a really fun trail to run, with a great view once you come up on the ridge and see the lake.

One more thing - you have to cross Sycamore at the start of the wash that is the Log Corral trail. Dependent on water flow, that crossing can be not so much fun, due to deep-hanging tree branches that'll direct you into (wet) rocks...
 
Gotcha guys. Thanks! So my guess on Joe's trip why all the winching was because of the rains. Did any of you-all have to winch yourselves?
 
Gotcha guys. Thanks! So my guess on Joe's trip why all the winching was because of the rains. Did any of you-all have to winch yourselves?

I don't remember any winching or strapping, but we were very careful, a couple of rigs without sliders, so took a bunch of time obsessing about perfect line selection.:hillbilly:
 
when are you going ? i would like to go on that one , (hey chase truck, never met a man afraid of a little bush:D) got a trailer hitch winch ill bring just in case:hhmm: sounds like a fun run
 
when are you going ? i would like to go on that one , (hey chase truck, never met a man afraid of a little bush:D) got a trailer hitch winch ill bring just in case:hhmm: sounds like a fun run

Dude, keep me out of your posts. I've got basically no sense of humor.
 
just clowning man , meant no offence , i had a blazer in my younger years those trucks will go any where:beer:
 
just clowning man , meant no offence , i had a blazer in my younger years those trucks will go any where:beer:

Leave me out of your clowning then. Nothing to do with the Blazer.
As I said, I have no sense of humor.
 
well i hope we can meet and shake hands one day! but this week end i have two birthay partys to go to in middle of the day so no weeling for me! besides i have a broken pinion:doh:and it doesent look like it will get fixed till after this week end:D
 
Yes, John, its changed. I drove LC last year with open diffs and no assistance. I didn't even attempt the waterfall this year since the trucks on 35's and bigger were all winching.

Coincidently Elvis got much worse after the rains as well, drove that one with no assistance in the spring, and needed winched a few times in the fall.
 
might be lookin to do a pre run on that :p well take pics:grinpimp:
 
Coincidently Elvis got much worse after the rains as well, drove that one with no assistance in the spring, and needed winched a few times in the fall.

now I really need to know where Elvis is - directions, please :bounce:

or topo/GPS coordinates :hhmm:
 
Log Corral trail is not a joke anymore...it has changed significantly even since a couple months ago.

All those rocks that were stacked have been washed out and then some. Its several times more difficult than Rocker Panel and has a consistent flow of water through the boulder garden right now. Good times!

Infact, all the trails in this area are in the same situation.
 
Log Corral trail is not a joke anymore...it has changed significantly even since a couple months ago.
when is the last time you went ? ohh and you went with out inviting us:mad:
 

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