Gold Canyon - anything out there?

[corbas]

I looked on the trail forum and didn't see anything. I'm going out to see a friend and would like to show him a little 4wheelin. Just got the jeep, so maybe a 2 or 3 (jeep is well built, driver is a noob).

[lancetkenyon]

FJ is only 20 mins from there. TONS of trails out there.

[corbas]

More specific? Never been on any trails.

[GLEN REAMS]

what are the specs on your jeep?

[corbas]

- Rubicon Express 4.5? long arm kit
- Yukon 4.56:1 gears in both front and rear differentials
- Dana 44 rear differential with Ox Locker. Lok-Rite up front.
- 33 spline heavy duty Alloy USA axle shafts in the rear (Super 44 kit)
- Dana 30 front differential with Lock-right Locker
- Yukon 4340 HD chrome moly front axle shafts w/ 760 Spicer HD u-joints
- JKS Quicker Disconnects
- Stainless steel heavy duty braided brake lines
- Advance Adapters slip yoke eliminator
- Precision Drivelines driveshaft
- 8000# Champion winch
- AEM air filter
- Flowmaster Super 40 Exhaust (cat back)
- KC offroad lights on the front bumper
- PIAA offroad lights and mounts
- Monkey Bar tube doors
- Poison Spyder Rock Sliders \ quarter panel protection
- Poison Spyder tube fenders

[GLEN REAMS]

do you know where florance junction is? you could run lots of trails out there depending on what kind of wheeling you want too do

[corbas]

Nope. I can look it up tho.

[David C]

I hope this works for you - I made a map showing you the FJ area with some trail markers. Click on this monstrosity of a link:

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=33.221366~-111.263284&style=h&lvl=11&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=50695.1391585339&sp=Point.phwv9q5qmmp3_Flagpole___~Point.pjrrzw5qbn xv_Gold%20Canyon%20turn___~Point.ph91hr5qjkkn_Pric e%20Rd___~Point.phgv6w5qxmry_To%20Box%20Canyon___~ Point.phnh1w5qzfxv_Box%20Canyon___~Point.phzjt95qy nck_Central%20Intersection___~Point.phzwwk5qzht2_T o%20Ajax___~Point.physc25qz5hw_To%20Box%20Canyon__ _~Point.pj09v35qx04h_Lower%20Woodpecker_Petroglyph s%20-%20Lots!%20Cool%20stuff!__&encType=1

Let me know if that worked or not.

[David C]

Oh yeah - there's nothing in Gold Canyon for wheeling.

[Sandee McCullen]

Oh yeah - there's nothing in Gold Canyon for wheeling.

On the south side of Hwy 60 there's an OHV area...... Desert Wells. It's mostly for ATV's and bikes but the trails on the north edge would be fun for a new 4-wheeler. Some twisty in and out of washes. Just to play for awhile.
Florence Junction is 12 miles east of Gold Canyon.
Hwy 60 east to Hwy 79. South towards Florence to between M.P. 145 & 144. Cottonwood Canyon Rd. There's a staging area at this site but you need a State Trust Rec Permit to park here. BLM lands are beyond the cattleguard (5 miles in). If there's a red flag up you'll need to go back to Hwy 60 and continue east to M.P. 215. Mineral Mountain Road. You can enter here and continue back about 3 1/2 miles to BLM lands.

The only way into this recreation area without crossing State Trust Lands is via Battle Axe Rd that enters the area from the east............. Hwy 177

You can get a permit application from the website and mail it in or go downtown to 1616 W. Adams and get a permit in person. $15.00 for an individual ... $20.00 for a family

Pinal Sheriff are ugly about citing for no permit........ $450.00 fine. Desert Wells is ALL State Trust Land.

You can go north towards the lakes into Tonto Forest without encountering State Land.

[lamanite480]

Peralta Trail. there's really nothing of a challenge, but if you want to just take some side roads and see where they go, that could be fun. i know there's some abadoned mines out there. also, its right next to Superstition Mtn's. and i heard that there's some Caves to explore. as far as 4wheeling, i doubt you'll ever need it.

[Crawldad]

About a 1-1/2 miles before the trailhead on Peralta you can take a right then bear left to get back to a small creek bed you can play in. Your likely to get some Az pinstriping there especially with your black Jeep. Nothing too challenging back there, but I sometimes go for a sunday ride there when I'm bored. You're best bet is FJ.

[amber.hodge]

Corbas - we have a good sized group meeting tomorrow morning at 0800 at the shell station in gold canyon off the us60 to run the Hackberry trail - it is a solid 3.5 trail but lots of more experienced jeepers than us going out there, you should be fine in your jeep - we are noobs too and should be able to run it fine.

[corbas]

Dammit! Slept too late. Oh well, he lives on Peralta trail so I guess I will go there. Thanks for the help!

[amber.hodge]

Slept too late? We are going tomorrow on Monday at 0800....you're welcome to come!

[corbas]

Sorry, thought you said today. Gotta work tomorrow. Did some exporing off of Peralta Trail today. Found a couple interesting spots off the beaten path. Nothing too challenging, but good for a beginner. The jeep did awesome! I'm hooked!

[95Rio]

Regarding the Trust Lands Permit, does everyone in your vehicle need their own permit, or just one to cover the vehicle and driver?

Also, is a permit required to cross trust lands if you stay on the road and don't stop?

[lamanite480]

If you go out to Peralta Trail again, you gotta try this insane hill. when i first got into Jeeping, that was the only place where i would go. i ended up finding this very steep hill to climb. my first time, i just sat there in my Jeep for an hour, contemplating whether or not i had the Stones. It was Awesome! once you Crawl to the top, you have a great view of the Superstition Mtns.
Here's some pictures of the Hill.....sorry there a little crappy, they were taken on non-digital camera (i had to scan them).

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/477517902_f7fa657dc4_m.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/194/477517884_3290198531_m.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/477517878_cc4f871262_m.jpg

[amber.hodge]

laminate, your avatar is very creepy! Good pics, we'll have to go out there sometime.

[corbas]

I don't know if it was that hill, but we found one that looked pretty daunting. My friend said he was going to jump out if I tried it. Very tempting, but not for a beginner. Good area for a noob, tho.

[Sandee McCullen]

Regarding the Trust Lands Permit, does everyone in your vehicle need their own permit, or just one to cover the vehicle and driver?

Also, is a permit required to cross trust lands if you stay on the road and don't stop?

Technically EVERYONE has to have a permit unless you have a "family" permit which includes your immediate family....... i.e. wife, kids. The law enforcement that have ever given hassle to EVERYONE is a Pinal County Sheriff... Louis Purell. He definitely has his "OFF days". Says he..... "if it cannot walk on the land; eat from the land; or sH%t on the land, it doesn't belong on the land".

At this time it is illegal to "spit" on State Trust Lands without a permit. IF the OHV Sticker makes it through legislation State Land Dept. has agreed to allow "across" State Lands without a State Land Permit.......... The OHV Sticker was struck down in third read last week. Is going back to legislators tomorrow as a Motion to Reconsider. Sometime in the next few weeks it should go back to Third Read for a re-vote. Who knows.............. State Lands are not being very cooperative with anyone. G&F; BLM; FS and all recreationists are beating heads with them. So they claim........... ONLY use of 9.5 million acres of State Trust Lands should be fore "leases"..... mining; ranching and commercial. No recreation.???????????? On going battle.

[lamanite480]

laminate, your avatar is very creepy! Good pics, we'll have to go out there sometime.

For sure, i'll have to take You and Cobras out sometime. it would only take an hour. you gotta try this Hill!

[corbas]

I'm in!!! Sunday? My friend lives right there and wants to get a jeep. he'd love it.

[lamanite480]

How about Saturday? if that doesnt work, what time Sunday?

[corbas]

Saturday is possible. Let me see if my friend is available. Anyone else?