Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Nogales, Sonora

The Montezuma pass is well maintained but corrugated in sections due to high traffic, mostly border patrol vehicles. The views are excellent. You reach the top of the trail overlooking the border with Mexico, and there is a little campsite with a fire ring before the lookout. We camped in the flats ...
Learn more about Washington Montezuma Pass

Border Road is a well-maintained dirt road that runs along the southern edge of the Coronado National Forest, paralleling the U.S.- Mexico border. This route is frequently patrolled by Border Patrol vehicles, and travelers should expect to encounter agents along the way. The presence of law enforcem...
Learn more about Border Road

At the start of this trail is a large campsite with fire rings in an area passed often by border patrol. At first, the trail is well-maintained and flat, but that changes as you climb into more mountainous areas. The trail leads to a steep climb that ideally requires a low range, immediately followe...
Learn more about Upper Providencia

This is a well-maintained and undulating trail that allows you to travel to where the border wall abruptly ends. In parts, there is loose sand along the trail, and there are many areas to camp, further away from the border wall, as well as a restricted area. This trail loops back to Washington Monte...
Learn more about Piedragrosa - Forest Road 4667

This track is an easy drive but can only be driven as a return route unless you drive a very capable 4WD. The track itself is dry and dusty, with rocky sections and occasional moderate inclines and descents. Old mines dot the area, and there are abandoned open shafts, so exercise caution when explor...
Learn more about Palomas Mesa

This is a pleasant trail with great views. It is dry and dusty, with rocky sections and occasional moderate inclines and descents. The trail has a locked gate at the end, but dispersed camping is available. It is windy, and the road is not maintained or graded.
Learn more about Grande Forest Road

Accessed through a suburb, this trail at first appears not to be very interesting, but the further you travel, the more scenic the trail becomes. Winding through ranchland, the trail is bumpy, dusty, and rocky but not challenging until you reach the trail down to the small lake where camping is poss...
Learn more about Wise Mesa - FR4151

The FR215 Three Canyon trail leads to an abandoned mine and has two two-track trails that lead to dead ends and private land. The trail surface is dry, dusty, and rocky, with occasional off-camber sections. The abandoned mine at the head of the two-track trail to private land offers a haunting but f...
Learn more about FR215 Three Canyon

This loop trail is accessed through a closed gate. There are private ranches along the trail, and it is imperative that travelers close all gates securely behind them. After the second gate, and beside a well-maintained ranch house, we met an elderly cowboy who stopped to chat, toothlessly thanked u...
Learn more about Flying R Ranch/Guajalote Flat Loop - FR 4695 - 4695A

North Harshaw Road is a well-traveled double-track route that winds into the upper grasslands, eventually connecting with the Patagonia Loop Trail. The road is generally well-maintained, with a flat and mostly straight path, making it accessible to a variety of vehicles. However, drivers should proc...
Learn more about North Harshaw Road

The Apache Tank Road is a pleasant, easy drive through grassland and undulating hills. The trail drops down from the grassland into a forested area that is prone to flash flooding. There are a number of smaller trails branching off from the main trail, and there are many campsites to choose from, mo...
Learn more about Apache Tank 214

The pavement ends at the junction of South Harshaw Road and North Harshaw Road, and you will cross the first of two streams running across the trail. A broad and well-traveled trail, the North Harshaw trail offers multiple campsites with fire rings, and most campsites are large enough to accommodate...
Learn more about North Harshaw Road

This is a rolling maintained and well-used trail. It loops through the high desert, passing through many flowing streams in the wet seasons. There are old mines all along the route as well as an old dam. Also along the way are three old mining cemeteries. There are many spurs to explore off of this ...
Learn more about California Gulch Forest Road 217

The Washington Montezuma Pass is a maintained dirt road, though frequent corrugations make for a bumpy ride. Border Patrol vehicles are a common sight along the route, as the trail runs parallel to the border, which is marked by a simple fence. The terrain varies, with rocky sections appearing inter...
Learn more about Washington Montezuma Pass

FR 766 is a well-maintained dirt road that winds through the sweeping grass highlands of Coronado National Forest, offering beautiful panoramic views of distant mountain ranges. Along the way, you'll pass a cattle guard crossing and find a few spots suitable for dispersed camping--just be prepared f...
Learn more about Jones Road - FR766

Williamson Tank Trail is a scenic off-road trail that begins on private land, meandering through rolling grasslands and past a quiet farmstead, where travelers may receive a friendly wave. The trail starts as a single-track route with a mostly smooth surface, though occasional bumps and rocky patche...
Learn more about FR4740 Williamson Tank

This entire trail is road-width, although designated for dirt bikes only. It starts off Sardina Canyon Road (684) in a wash full of small rocks, and rides north towards some rocky outcroppings, riding past the entrance for 485. The trail surface is constantly full of small loose rocks and shallow ru...
Learn more about 486

Chuparosa is a narrow, rocky, single-track trail that winds through open grasslands, offering a rugged yet scenic off-road experience. As the route follows the ridge, drivers will encounter several gates along the way, adding to the sense of adventure. The trail eventually leads to a steep and rocky...
Learn more about Chuparosa Road

Max Tank Road branches off to the right from the Patagonia Loop, welcoming travelers with sightings of deer herds near its entrance. The trail winds through open grasslands, where signs of cattle are evident, though few are typically seen along the route. As the journey unfolds, the road splits, req...
Learn more about Max Tank Road

Scenic views on this trail plus go by the historic ghost town of Ruby Arizona! The road will take you within 2.6 miles of the border with Mexico and along with the views, you'll pass by Arivaca Lake and Pina Blanca Lake. Both are great places to stop and relax on your trip!
Learn more about Ruby Road

The Montezuma pass is well maintained but corrugated in sections due to high traffic, mostly border patrol vehicles. The views are excellent. You reach the top of the trail overlooking the border with Mexico, and there is a little campsite with a fire ring before the lookout. We camped in the flats ...
Learn more about Washington Montezuma Pass

At the start of this trail is a large campsite with fire rings in an area passed often by border patrol. At first, the trail is well-maintained and flat, but that changes as you climb into more mountainous areas. The trail leads to a steep climb that ideally requires a low range, immediately followe...
Learn more about Upper Providencia

This is a well-maintained and undulating trail that allows you to travel to where the border wall abruptly ends. In parts, there is loose sand along the trail, and there are many areas to camp, further away from the border wall, as well as a restricted area. This trail loops back to Washington Monte...
Learn more about Piedragrosa - Forest Road 4667

This track is an easy drive but can only be driven as a return route unless you drive a very capable 4WD. The track itself is dry and dusty, with rocky sections and occasional moderate inclines and descents. Old mines dot the area, and there are abandoned open shafts, so exercise caution when explor...
Learn more about Palomas Mesa

The Montezuma pass is well maintained but corrugated in sections due to high traffic, mostly border patrol vehicles. The views are excellent. You reach the top of the trail overlooking the border with Mexico, and there is a little campsite with a fire ring before the lookout. We camped in the flats ...
Learn more about Washington Montezuma Pass

At the start of this trail is a large campsite with fire rings in an area passed often by border patrol. At first, the trail is well-maintained and flat, but that changes as you climb into more mountainous areas. The trail leads to a steep climb that ideally requires a low range, immediately followe...
Learn more about Upper Providencia

This is a well-maintained and undulating trail that allows you to travel to where the border wall abruptly ends. In parts, there is loose sand along the trail, and there are many areas to camp, further away from the border wall, as well as a restricted area. This trail loops back to Washington Monte...
Learn more about Piedragrosa - Forest Road 4667

This track is an easy drive but can only be driven as a return route unless you drive a very capable 4WD. The track itself is dry and dusty, with rocky sections and occasional moderate inclines and descents. Old mines dot the area, and there are abandoned open shafts, so exercise caution when explor...
Learn more about Palomas Mesa