Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Gisela, Arizona

This dusty, windy two track serves as a great off-road bypass into the Town of Payson. Low lying shrubs and cactus give way to pines as you gain in elevation and traverse the many creeks that bisect this trail. This area is best traveled during drier months to avoid swollen water crossings.
Learn more about Rye, Alder, and Cypress

FS 1556 starts off Trail 442 and quickly narrows into a tighter two-track with possible pinstriping from overgrown vegetation. This trail is not recommended in wet conditions, as past storms have created deep ruts and erosion throughout the route. As the trail approaches the wash crossing, larger ro...
Learn more about FS 1556

FS 1557 begins through a gated entrance off FS 1556. Please leave all gates as you found them unless posted to keep closed. This is an out-and-back trail with a very natural and narrow feel. Seasonal grass and ground cover can produce heavy sticker burs once dried out, so use caution if traveling w...
Learn more about FS 1557

Trail 442 (Rock Creek Road) begins off Trail 414 / Rye Cypress Road and is primarily an out-and-back route, although it does connect to several other spur trails throughout the area. The trail starts as a rocky gravel two-track winding through classic central Arizona high desert terrain filled with ...
Learn more about Rock Creek - FS 442

Mount Ord is almost 7,000 feet in elevation, so it is a nice place to be in hot weather, but not so good after a cold winter storm. This trip is an enjoyable way to spend a short day out in the brush--a fairly easy trail with great scenery. It can be done in any direction. Doing it from the north ge...
Learn more about Mount Ord

This is a scenic route suitable for any stock 4x4. There are no obstacles to tackle on this one, there are a few creek crossings that could be deeper depending on the time of year. Most of the trail is up along a ridgeline with sprawling views of the Mazatzal Mountains to the West and some roaming c...
Learn more about East Verde River

This trail is relatively easy in a stock truck. It is a steep incline of 2.5 miles. Closer to the top, the trail has a couple of tight technical turns. Once you reach the top of the mountain, it is a sweet easy trail. This route will take you to an old cowboy camp; its earliest date is 1972. If you'...
Learn more about Tow Strap

This long, dusty trail cuts through the ponderosa pines and junipers common in the shadow of the Mogollon Rim. The main road is well graded and free of obstacles. There are several offshoots if you are looking for a minor challenge. As this trail lowers in elevation, you'll come to Diamond Point Loo...
Learn more about Diamond Point Lookout

Greenback Road is an easy dirt route winding through high desert terrain with sweeping views of surrounding hills and plateaus. The surface is well-maintained and mostly flat, making it accessible for most 4WD and high-clearance 2WD vehicles. While the road is generally wide enough for two vehicles ...
Learn more about Greenback

This tight, pinchy trail starts off narrow with brush crowding the sides, so expect some paint pin striping and be sure to close the gate behind you. Early on, there is a steep drop into a wash followed by a narrow climb up the hill that includes one short shelf section and a few small washouts that...
Learn more about FS 197

This trail starts out easy and graded as you head toward the transfer station (green waste disposal site), making for a smooth warm-up. After that, conditions change quickly with washed-out, rutted sections that require careful tire placement. As you climb the switchbacks up the cliff, the road beco...
Learn more about Reno Pass - FS 524

The trail begins as an open, level dirt road that is generally smooth and easy to navigate. There are quite a few easy-to-access dispersed camping spots along the way. As you get closer to the historic Camp Reno site, the road drops into a lower elevation where it becomes rockier, and the trees tigh...
Learn more about Fort Reno 409

This relatively easy two-track circles east around Haystack Butte, offering beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and wide open desert landscape. The surface is mostly smooth dirt with a few dips and minor washouts, but nothing technical. There is one small pinch point with a cholla on one si...
Learn more about FS 1713/FS 1399

This two-track winds through open desert landscape as you head back toward the Mazatzal Mountains, offering wide open views of the surrounding ranges and the canyons that cut back into the mountains. The route follows along the edge of a gentle ridge with washes on both sides. The road is a little b...
Learn more about FS 259

This moderate trail features dirt and rocky terrain with step-like inclines, descents, and tight switchbacks that may challenge longer vehicles. As you ascend, the landscape transitions into lusher greenery, offering a striking contrast to the lower desert. The historic DuPont Cabin awaits along the...
Learn more about Dupont Cabin

This rocky dirt road begins with a climb right out of the gate, featuring some washouts and uneven terrain early on. As you continue, the route gains and loses elevation frequently, with several steep climbs up small hilltops. There are a few great dispersed camp spots along the way offering fantast...
Learn more about Cedar Mesa - FS 322

This mostly easy dirt trail connects Cline Bouquet Road to Bluebird Mine Road, providing a straightforward route through open desert terrain. The surface is primarily smooth dirt with a few dips and small divots from washouts, but nothing technical or overly challenging. There are a couple of cattle...
Learn more about FS 1714

This trail begins with a short but steep climb that quickly wraps around a cliffside. The shelf road is somewhat narrow for full-size vehicles, and a few washouts add mild difficulty, though nothing overly technical. There is one particularly steep pitch right at the end of the initial climb as you ...
Learn more about FS 1380

This trail is a scenic route in the Tonto Forest off State Route 288, approximately nine miles south of Young, Arizona, with expansive views of pine forest and Jerky Butte forming a prominent backdrop. This is a straightforward route that can be completed in two-wheel drive and runs roughly nine mil...
Learn more about Buzzard Roost - FS 486

This dirt road features several dispersed camp spots along the route and leads out to a beautiful campsite with great views over the rim at the end. Along the way, you’ll encounter multiple large puddle sections that can become very challenging after rain or snow, though there are usually a few driv...
Learn more about Myrtle Point - FS 300C

This dusty, windy two track serves as a great off-road bypass into the Town of Payson. Low lying shrubs and cactus give way to pines as you gain in elevation and traverse the many creeks that bisect this trail. This area is best traveled during drier months to avoid swollen water crossings.
Learn more about Rye, Alder, and Cypress

FS 1556 starts off Trail 442 and quickly narrows into a tighter two-track with possible pinstriping from overgrown vegetation. This trail is not recommended in wet conditions, as past storms have created deep ruts and erosion throughout the route. As the trail approaches the wash crossing, larger ro...
Learn more about FS 1556

FS 1557 begins through a gated entrance off FS 1556. Please leave all gates as you found them unless posted to keep closed. This is an out-and-back trail with a very natural and narrow feel. Seasonal grass and ground cover can produce heavy sticker burs once dried out, so use caution if traveling w...
Learn more about FS 1557

Trail 442 (Rock Creek Road) begins off Trail 414 / Rye Cypress Road and is primarily an out-and-back route, although it does connect to several other spur trails throughout the area. The trail starts as a rocky gravel two-track winding through classic central Arizona high desert terrain filled with ...
Learn more about Rock Creek - FS 442

This dusty, windy two track serves as a great off-road bypass into the Town of Payson. Low lying shrubs and cactus give way to pines as you gain in elevation and traverse the many creeks that bisect this trail. This area is best traveled during drier months to avoid swollen water crossings.
Learn more about Rye, Alder, and Cypress

FS 1556 starts off Trail 442 and quickly narrows into a tighter two-track with possible pinstriping from overgrown vegetation. This trail is not recommended in wet conditions, as past storms have created deep ruts and erosion throughout the route. As the trail approaches the wash crossing, larger ro...
Learn more about FS 1556

FS 1557 begins through a gated entrance off FS 1556. Please leave all gates as you found them unless posted to keep closed. This is an out-and-back trail with a very natural and narrow feel. Seasonal grass and ground cover can produce heavy sticker burs once dried out, so use caution if traveling w...
Learn more about FS 1557

Trail 442 (Rock Creek Road) begins off Trail 414 / Rye Cypress Road and is primarily an out-and-back route, although it does connect to several other spur trails throughout the area. The trail starts as a rocky gravel two-track winding through classic central Arizona high desert terrain filled with ...
Learn more about Rock Creek - FS 442