whats the rule on washes and creek beds?

[offroadaz]

If they intersect a road can we drive in them?

[jperez]

there is a "stupid motorist law"!

if you get stuck you get fined....

[Andrew F]

I'm not sure what the official rule or law is, but I know that the deterioration of Arizona's riparian areas are really making the greenies mad and they have had pretty good luck swaying people who are in charge of these areas with this argument. And the deterioration is happening, there is no denying it.

Edit: We should probably try and find out if there is any law regarding this.

[Antman]

It usually depends on the agency. With the Forest Service it depends on the Forest. We have a trail up here that the road crosses back and forth on and the FS (Apache-Sitgraves) says we
can traverse up/down the wash as long as we don't make a trail. No repeated use as a road or trail, just occasionally, without damage to flora. It has some neat rock obstacles:drool5:.

[Sedona Jeep School]

In the Forest Service, it used to be that you could use a trail unless it was marked closed for your transportation type (i.e. hike, horse, Jeep, bike). Now, the official rule has changed that a trail is not a legal course unless it is marked as OPEN for your transportation type. This is not yet being enforced, as we are in the long, drawn-out process of cataloging existing roads, and making our argument for trails we would like to be considered roads (especially in washes). Get involved!

For now, I would contact the local land management agency for the current opinion on your specific trail. Generally, anything that has shrubs growing on it will be off-limits. Anything with virgin soil will be off-limits. Anything within a wilderness area or study area has always been off-limits.

Happy trails!

[GRUNT]

I hope once a trail get categorized as a trail it doesn't get bulldozed/graded to reach a "so everyone can enjoy" standard. (i.e-I want to take my rhino, I want to take my RAV-4... Wa, wa, waaaa)
But seriously, will they be kept as is?
Where is Sandee M?

[Fire Ball]

According to Francisco, Pima county rules are that if you aren't allowed by another agency, then pima county rules apply that you cannot run in washes.

I asked him the logic of this. Washes repair themselves every time it rains. The open desert can take decades to repair itself. He didn't have an answer for me.

He was also telling me that Lower woody is closed. I asked since when and by what ruling. He said well it really isn't closed but we want it to be so stay off of it :( He said it is closed to organized runs, well that leaves us out because we are as far from organized as we can get :D

He is also talking about a lot of signage in FJ area and also trail blockages. If you can't get past the trail entrance you shouldn't be on the trail. What do you guys think about that? Also the signs would say things like. "unimproved road, high clearance required" or "obstacles ahead that require high ground clearance or traction devices"

Sounds good but I'm thinking that might be like waving a red flag in front of a bull. (I know it is a wives tale ) People might want to attempt something they are not capable of doing for the macho thing and get stuck or wreck the trail. If there are no signs, they won't even know it is there :)

[cw50must]

He is also talking about a lot of signage in FJ area and also trail blockages. If you can't get past the trail entrance you shouldn't be on the trail.

That's the system in Sedona, however most anything short of a Saturn would clear the ones I've seen.

[offroadaz]

looking at google earth I see alot of washes up in the bradshaw mountains the cross across roads. Are those okay to drive on?

I think part of the offroad communities problem with trail maintenance and issues with enviromentalists is that we dont have a clear rule on whats okay to drive on and whats not. This thread alone has 3 different answers in it from 3 different people. There seems to be alot of confusion

[Fire Ball]

One of the problems is that the different land managers have different rules BLM, State Land, Forrest service. Then you have county, state and federal rules. ARGGHHHH

[offroadaz]

One of the problems is that the different land managers have different rules BLM, State Land, Forrest service. Then you have county, state and federal rules. ARGGHHHH

is anyone pushing for a standard rule for the entire state?