Trails - All Comments

re: Jerome, Arizona

bigclayton84 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:22:44 GMT

looks like a nice drive. how did you get there? gumbos great! im 100% southern boy here

re: Martin Canyon Trail (Smiley Rock Trail) – Jerome, Arizona

hdhunter — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:47:52 GMT

How difficult is the trail , stock 4x4 blazer expierenced driver where does it come out at.

re: Woodpecker Mine Trail - Florence Junction, Arizona

Jesse — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:26:42 GMT

I did this trail twice now once in a stock trail blazer which was alot of work the second time in my jeep which is stock and it was easy. This trail I just cant get enough of you see something new every time. We did this trail just this past weekened and had a blast. we doing the coke oven trail this weekened

re: Martin Canyon Trail (Smiley Rock Trail) – Jerome, Arizona

Jesse — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:23:26 GMT

When I first bought my jeep 3 weeks ago i did this trail and liked it. I liked the different terain going in and then the scenary when you get there

re: Ironwood Forest National Monument

ryangibson — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:32:13 GMT

If you a considering taking this trail again, please let me know Chris! I may just run it during the week of Oct 13th if I can find others interested.

re: Pyeatt Draw Trail - Payson, AZ (With Video)

ryangibson — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:47:13 GMT

I suffered damage to my driver side lower control arm from winching over that nasty ledge. Here is the video:

arizonatrailways.com/.../6822.aspx

re: Pyeatt Draw Trail - Payson, AZ (With Video)

AzTacoma — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:38:46 GMT

Damage? Such as??? Only thing I noticed was some fender/bumper scrapage...

I was an awesome trip, very unique, I had a blast. Brian you turned out to be a pretty damn good spotter too. I'll post a couple pics in the AzBackcountry forum.

re: Pyeatt Draw Trail - Payson, AZ (With Video)

jkbrian — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:00:42 GMT

I thought it was a great trail and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. DAMION!!! AWESOME JOB covering the video. I was glad to meet some of you I haven't met before and it was nice to see another fellow cajun/coonass ;)

After I got all the mud off from the jeep I noticed some pretty intense damage. Looks like I will be needing to save up so I can take it down to 4Wheeler Supply. :(

re: Pyeatt Draw Trail - Payson, AZ (With Video)

Coma — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:19:31 GMT

Nice write-up and pics. The videos are awesome too! We need to head up to the pines more often!

re: Pyeatt Draw Trail - Payson, AZ (With Video)

06RubicAn — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:30:22 GMT

Holy Crap! You guys went where I would have never imagined. Talking about having faith and confidence in your Rig! Awesome job guys. I am in AWE!

re: Pyeatt Draw Trail - Payson, AZ (With Video)

Damion — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:58:30 GMT

I think thats a way better description then i could come up with sounds accurate to me

re: Chiva Falls - Tucson - Arizona

ryangibson — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:32:13 GMT

Thanks,for the feedback and THANK YOU for showing us around. Its nice to have a local trail leader who knows the area. I am looking forward to exploring more of Tucson with you and your family.

re: Chiva Falls - Tucson - Arizona

06RubicAn — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:24:11 GMT

Ryan you did a fabulous job with the video. Thank you and everyone for coming down and exploring this trail. There is still more here to explore when you are up to it.

re: The Coke Ovens - Florence Junction, Arizona

Freddy — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 11:15:09 GMT

Yep Thats a nice place to go. I like the Look for the place. Looking forward to the next trip.

re: Crown King Via the Desoto Mine Trail - Bradshaw Mountains, Arizona

dustin — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:54:18 GMT

This truly is the best route to Crown King. It makes the "Backway to Crown King" seem like a paved hightway. LOTS OF COOL VIEWS!

re: Arizona Strip & The North Rim - Grand Canyon

AzTacoma — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 22:37:43 GMT

Not many people know about the riches hidden in these secluded reaches known as the Arizona Strip. Perhaps this stark, beautiful land should remain an unknown hinterland!

In any case, this long awaited trip was a tremendous journey (1000+ miles with 225+ miles off pavement) and someday, hopefully, I'll return to further explore this magnificent land. Truly, a memorable trip.

Largely uninhabited (fewer than 3,000 people live in the Arizona Strip) the area contains some of the largest remaining roadless areas in the continental US. I cannot emphasize its remote quality enough... If a sense of solitude and unspoiled natural splendor are things you appreciate, there is no better place.

Strip's outstanding natural, archaeological and cultural treasures make it much more than a bunch of 4x4 trails. Towering mountains tower over deep canyons; high, forested plateaus connect to sagebrush plains... a series of mesas, separated by grassland valleys and tall buttes, unfold across its expanse.

This geological richness leads to an amazing biological diversity and it's a refuge for many rare and endangered wildlife. It's just such a big, remote, and unique place that any pictures don't do it justice. Well that's pretty much the case with any situation, but even more so here.

With decent weather, and no major injuries or damage, it's truly a trip for the books!

re: Charouleau Gap Trail - Catalina / Oracle, Arizona

ryangibson — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 17:05:12 GMT

I had to use the winch to keep from rolling over backwards and to keep my jeep of the rocky side. The angle was too extreme and the pictures do it no justice. I was winched straight up and Brain took the bypass after his first try (We both received lid damage on this one). It was butt puckering at is best, but what a GREAT time in the wonderful Arizona desert!

re: Charouleau Gap Trail - Catalina / Oracle, Arizona

Ruby Can — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 01:23:05 GMT

Looks like one heck of a fun trail ride. Did you have to winch up that one section in the pictures? Did Brian as well. Oh the day when I'm not running stock and can play with the big dogs.

re: Sunflower Mine - Maricopa County, Arizona

ryangibson — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:01:40 GMT

When I took the trail we traveled the entire network of roads and about 1/4 was boulder fields and 1/4 was tippy washed-out trails. The other half of the trail was quite simple.

There is also the Story Mine that is north west of the Sunflower mine. We found an old blue box truck near the loop, but the wash-outs prevented us from going any further by Jeep.

The Arizona Department of Mines and Minerals has some good documentation of the area's history. Like most mines of the era, there was lots of scandals within the mining organization and with the lessors. I recommend checking out their reference library if you're in to that sort of thing. Its like an 1800's soap opera without the low budget scripts.

re: Woodpecker Mine Trail - Florence Junction, Arizona

ryangibson — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:34:56 GMT

The Woodpecker Mine trail is certainly a great run, short and somewhat challenging for the more aggressive off roader. My personal favorite is the Martinez Canyon loop. Very challenging, but when your far back into the canyon, the views are rewarding.

re: The Coke Ovens - Florence Junction, Arizona

ryangibson — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:29:22 GMT

Yeah crossing that river can be scary. I like the Box Canyon way in and out anyway. That way you see two different sides of the scenery. If you go there again, on the way out look for a wash into a canyon on the east side of the trail. If you travel down this wash there is a perfect view of the White Canyon Wilderness area. Also the canyon walls resemble Sedona like buttes about a mile off the trail.

Next time I am back in that area I WILL HAVE A CAMERA and will plan spending more time on the way out.

re: Broken Arrow & Greasy Spoon Trail - Sedona, Arizona

AzTacoma — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 01:29:49 GMT

I'll have to amend my statement about the tour drivers: I had no problems at all on Broken Arrow this time around. Maybe they're getting better about that?

It's true the Red Rock Pass isn't required, but you're supposed to have it if you do park, ie, get out of the vehicle. I'm usually dilly-dallying in and out of the truck on this trail -and all the designated red rock pass area around Sedona- so I get it to be safe.

re: Woodpecker Mine Trail - Florence Junction, Arizona

DiffBuster — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 19:38:56 GMT

The woodpecker trail is one of the best trails yet! Thanks for the Info! This is a trail Ill take again,and tell others about.

re: Sunflower Mine - Maricopa County, Arizona

AzTacoma — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 16:53:54 GMT

The Sunflower Mine trail is fun, and the area is indeed very scenic. IMO there's only one technical spot, near the beginning, and there's a bypass for that. I thought the creek crossings were all relatively easy, but I can see how it could be much more difficult when the water was high.

The mine itself is a real treat, for those who like these sorts of things. I noticed a trail that continues on, climbing and leading away from the mine... I wonder where that goes?

It should be noted that you can continue straight instead of turning left at the final Sunflower Mine turnoff. Doing so leads you to the most challenging section of trail, with severe creek terrain and more extreme obstacles. Stock vehicles would certainly crash and burn here. The trail travels another mile or so and dead-ends at some trailheads. There's also a small mine (Cornucopia Mine) about a quarter mine north of of the dead-end.

re: Broken Arrow & Greasy Spoon Trail - Sedona, Arizona

ryangibson — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:45:58 GMT

I have heard that before about the pink jeep drivers drivers being a-holes. When I took this trail, which the visitor center said no "red rock" pass is required, the guides on the trail were respectful. Maybe I was just one of the lucky few.

Absolutely beautify trail though, pink jeeps or not.

re: Broken Arrow & Greasy Spoon Trail - Sedona, Arizona

AzTacoma — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 13:43:39 GMT

Nothing against that ever-present denizen of the trail: Pink Jeep Tours, or their cozy relationship with the forest service and Sedona Chamber of Commerce, but the two tour guides I had interaction with were rude idiots. I didn't think much of it, until over the years virtually everyone I talked with or every internet account referenced the same thing- tour guides with attitudes. So I think a fair warning is in order...

Also, you have to buy the Red Rock Pass on Broken Arrow and some other trails in the area. It's not a huge deal -like 5 bucks- and I don't mind paying a fee when I use something, especially when the money supposedly goes towards the "thing" I'm using. I've lived here for over 30 years, and with all the population growth, that's just the way things are going.

I think Broken Arrow might be the coolest trail a good, stock 4x4 (and a decent driver) can go on in Arizona. If you have trouble with the very first step at the start of the trail, turn around before it's too late.

re: The Coke Ovens - Florence Junction, Arizona

AzTacoma — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:08:54 GMT

That's some good info, and nice pictures to boot.

I called this road the "Bull Ride" because it knocked my rocks off during 1000ft descent to the Gila River valley. I found it fun and bouncy, with two spots in particular where wheel placement was more important than usual. The worst (or best) part was near the end of the trail when it forked into a large loop... the west side of this loop is where I popped an oxygen sensor out. It was totally user error. Oh well.

The views of the rugged mountains and Gila River are excellent. Plus -of course- the trail's namesake, something very few people will ever get to see: The old Cochran Coke Ovens. Very cool.

I took Box Canyon in and out, and there was a fair amount of water flowing in it which made things kind of different. I was hoping to cross the Gila to get out, but the river was flowing pretty good at the primary fording point. I aint that crazy.

I haven't done any other trails in that area, and I know there's many. I'm thinking some of the more famous ones are out of my league until I get my project machine back home and fixed up.

- AzTacoma