Need help planning our 4x4 trip

[JeepDiva]

Hi everyone. I'm new to the board and actually from Colorado. We're planning our first 4-wheeling trip to Arizona for the first week of February and will have about 5 days to hit the trails. From the trip reports & pictures I've seen on this site, you guys have some awesome wheeling down there!

I need your help with where we should go. We've been looking at the Florence Jct or Table Mesa areas & wondering which trails we should plan on and how to find them. We're looking for a mix of mostly challenging trails with some scenic ones thrown in. I know that a lot of people don't like to give out directions or GPS coords., but I promise you we are all experienced, responsible 4-wheelers, we tread lightly, and are involved in clubs in Colorado that work to keep trails open.

We'll have 3 vehicles along. The smallest tire size will be 37's. All vehicles have dual lockers and all have at least Dana 44 fronts with high strength shafts & CTMs and 9" or 35-spline 60's in the rear. All have winches. For those of you that know Moab, all of these rigs have completed Upper Helldorado, Coyote, Pritchett Canyon, etc.

Thanks in advance. P.S. If anyone wants to play hooky from work and lead us around...hint, hint :-)

[xFallen]

Hi everyone. I'm new to the board and actually from Colorado. We're planning our first 4-wheeling trip to Arizona for the first week of February and will have about 5 days to hit the trails. From the trip reports & pictures I've seen on this site, you guys have some awesome wheeling down there!

I need your help with where we should go. We've been looking at the Florence Jct or Table Mesa areas & wondering which trails we should plan on and how to find them. We're looking for a mix of mostly challenging trails with some scenic ones thrown in. I know that a lot of people don't like to give out directions or GPS coords., but I promise you we are all experienced, responsible 4-wheelers, we tread lightly, and are involved in clubs in Colorado that work to keep trails open.

We'll have 3 vehicles along. The smallest tire size will be 37's. All vehicles have dual lockers and all have at least Dana 44 fronts with high strength shafts & CTMs and 9" or 35-spline 60's in the rear. All have winches. For those of you that know Moab, all of these rigs have completed Upper Helldorado, Coyote, Pritchett Canyon, etc.

Thanks in advance. P.S. If anyone wants to play hooky from work and lead us around...hint, hint :-)

At Florence for rigs like yours, Highway to Hell, Axle Alley, Overdose and Bad Medicine are probably top picks. You can do some of the scenic runs down there off Box Canyon and numerous other ones.

The Table Mesa area has a nifty back route to Crown King doable in a day. Very scenic, lots of history, and good food and drink at Crown King.

There are a pile of trails in the TM area depending upon how extreme you wish to indulge. Sounds like your group is set up for pretty much all of them. Lower Terminator makes a nice warm up to Judgement Day. Predator has a bit more to offer. Then if that's not enough to can run back down to Anaconda, certainly difficult enough to get the attention of most. A well equipped good moving group of up to six rigs can do any three of these trails in a day or less, or take a day doing any one of them depending upon style of driving and luck.

There's also great trails in other parts of the State that could be considered depending upon your group's desires.

I am sure others with more history and knowledge of the Az trails will have a bunch more suggestions.


Barry

[Wind_Danzer]

I'm off during the week on occassion, usually Monday or Friday as of late. I'd love to join in provided it's one of the scenic runs or one of the other trails mentioned like LT or JD maybe even Predator. I'm set up but not enough to really go beoynd Predator.

Don't forget the White Tanks area with trails like Scorpion and Ruler.

[k7mto]

Whichever areas you decide to visit, be sure to get the proper permits. Fines for getting caught without them can be steep.

Most trails you'll run will be part of Arizona State Trust land. Permits are $15/year and you'll need one per rig. A small price to pay to avoid high fines :) You can print the form and send it in with a check. They will stamp the form and mail it back and it becomes your permit.

http://www.land.state.az.us/programs/natural/rec_offroad_permit.htm

You may run some trails which are in a national forest, in which case you will need a FREE permit which contains gate combinations. Again you will need one per vehicle, but these must be obtained in person at one of the Ranger District Offices. You will either need the vehicle license plate or VIN number. The one many of us visit is in Mesa, but there are others in the area and around the state, in the event you need to visit one outside the Phoenix metro area. Here's a link to their office locations. Most are open M-F 8-4:30

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/contact/districts.shtml

Some trails might be on BLM land, but I'm not sure if a permit is necessary for those trails (I've never had one).

I'd love to join you but I'll be working. Enjoy your trip and be sure to post pics here once you get back home :)

[SavageSun4x4]

You'all sound like my kind of folks. I am more or less off durning the week since I am retired. Fill us in with details as time draws near and I'll try to hook up with you...

[JeepDiva]

Whichever areas you decide to visit, be sure to get the proper permits. Fines for getting caught without them can be steep.


Thanks for the advice on the permits. We were aware of the State Trust land permits and have already sent in that stuff but we weren't aware you actually had to get a permit for the forest service lands. Which trails are on NFS land?

Forgot to mention earlier, I do have the Charles Wells book, so we can find those trails. Just need a little help finding all these great trails I keep hearing about...Predator, Judgement Day, Terminator, Anaconda, Annihilator, Raw Deal...anyone? :-)

[k7mto]

I believe both FJ and TM area trails will all be on State Trust land. I just mentioned the Forest Service permit in the event you decide to run any trails on FS land.

[Sedona Jeep School]

...we weren't aware you actually had to get a permit for the forest service lands...
You don't, unless you are 75 or more people OR are charging people for your event. There are only a few areas which have fees, like Sedona with its Red Rock Pass, but they are PARKING permits. You buy one if you are going to park and leave the vehicle on USFS land, for example, to hike.

[k7mto]

Maybe it's not the case for all of them, but there are some trails down here in Tonto National Forest which are gated and require a permit (free) in order to get the gate combinations (eg Bulldog Canyon, Willow Springs).

[kjstinga]

Maybe it's not the case for all of them, but there are some trails down here in Tonto National Forest which are gated and require a permit (free) in order to get the gate combinations (eg Bulldog Canyon, Willow Springs).

Bulldog and Willow Springs are the only trails in Tonto that I am aware of having combination gates. Both of those are in the "same" area and are covered on a single permit available free at the Mesa Ranger District (you must go in person to get it).

Forest Service land requiring permits is by far the exception, not the rule for AZ.

[JeepDiva]

Thanks for the replies everyone. We're still waiting for our state lands permits to come back. So much for the "oh we get them signed and back in the mail right away" that I was told over the phone!

I managed to get another day of vacation :D so we'll be ready to hit the trails on Sun 2/5. We're going to spend 2/5-2/7 wheeling in the Florence area and then 2/8-2/10 wheeling in the TM area. If anybody's interested in joining us for Sunday, we'll try to make up our minds on which trail to hit first (so many to choose from!) and post up a trip. Could someone could tell us the best place to meet for the trip if others want to join us? We'll be staying just south of Florence.

[xFallen]

Thanks for the replies everyone. We're still waiting for our state lands permits to come back. So much for the "oh we get them signed and back in the mail right away" that I was told over the phone!

I managed to get another day of vacation :D so we'll be ready to hit the trails on Sun 2/5. We're going to spend 2/5-2/7 wheeling in the Florence area and then 2/8-2/10 wheeling in the TM area. If anybody's interested in joining us for Sunday, we'll try to make up our minds on which trail to hit first (so many to choose from!) and post up a trip. Could someone could tell us the best place to meet for the trip if others want to join us? We'll be staying just south of Florence.

There are several I can think of but probably only a couple of interest. Out of simplicity I would suggest Cottonwood Canyon Road and staging area off of 79. It is a good compromise for people coming from Phoenix and not too bad for Tucson folks, and is close to the trail heads. The Tucson wheelers may suggest a Price Rd entrance, which is fine, but means anyone coming from the North will probably need to meet you at the trial heads.

These GPS coords are approximate but when placed on a map you will see the intersections -- Cottonwood entrance: N33 10 43.54 W111 21 7.04

Get onto SR 79 from wherever you're staying and head North to the above coords and turn East (right) and pull into the parking area.

Pencil me in for Sunday, using heavier lead if you'll be running the more "fun" trails. :D


Barry

[k7mto]

The two main entrances into the FJ area are Price Rd. (on the north end of Florence, right before you cross the RR tracks if heading north), and Cottonwood Canyon Rd (about 3-4 miles north of Price Rd (look for flagpole and parking area bordered by horizontal telephone poles). You will likely pass both entrances on your way into Florence if coming from the north.

You can get to any of the FJ trails via either entrance, but you'll probably want to use the entrance closest to the trails you're running to avoid time spent driving roads to get to the trail head (not to mention dust).

While in Florence, stop by the River Bottom Saloon and say hi to the owner, Kip. Tell him we sent you :) He's got a nicely built YJ and will likely join you on a run while you're there. They've got great burgers at very reasonable prices and all kinds of spirits ;)

River Bottom Saloon
(520) 868-3131
2501 N Highway 79
Florence, AZ 85232

[JeepDiva]

Pencil me in for Sunday, using heavier lead if you'll be running the more "fun" trails. :D


Barry

I've got you down for trip leader! :D

[Tom Jacobson]

Will do what I can to join the fun in FJ on Sunday. Been a long time since I've done Bad Med, and been wanting to hit it again in a bad way. Coming in from Price, Elvis makes a nice warmup.

Where in CO are you all from? I grew up in Broomfield. Miss the skiing sometimes, but the proximity of the desert, and all the trails for biking, wheeling & hiking more than makes up for it!

[Chip]

One of the nice things about not living in Colorado is you don't have to wait another 6 months to go 4 wheeling. Lots of trails down here, Copper Creek, Klondyke, Draggoon Mtn.s. Low deserts west of Tucson.

[JeepDiva]

Where in CO are you all from? I grew up in Broomfield. Miss the skiing sometimes, but the proximity of the desert, and all the trails for biking, wheeling & hiking more than makes up for it!

We're from Golden so still in the Denver metro area but as close to the mountains as we can get!

[JeepDiva]

One of the nice things about not living in Colorado is you don't have to wait another 6 months to go 4 wheeling. Lots of trails down here, Copper Creek, Klondyke, Draggoon Mtn.s. Low deserts west of Tucson.

Who says we have to wait another 6 months to go wheeling? :D We go snow-busting! That's when all the easy trails near Denver get interesting. (Or we just head to the areas on the Western Slope that don't get much snow.) But yeah, we will enjoy getting out of the snow for a week.