Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Payson, Arizona

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.…
Learn more about East Verde River

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…
Learn more about Rye, Alder, and Cypress

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…
Learn more about Diamond Point Lookout

This trail starts about 3 miles in from where Rim Rd 300 begins off of HWY N 87. The first 6 miles of the trail are on a well-maintained dirt road that is easy to…
Learn more about Milk Ranch Point

Epic vistas and endless possibilities! This trail offers little to no technical challenge but makes up for this with some of the most amazing views in the state. This is a great route for beginners…
Learn more about Rim Road West

This dirt trail connects the small mountain towns of Pine and Strawberry. It starts smoothly from Pine but is a series of switchbacks gaining some elevation. There is a popular hiking trail a quarter mile…
Learn more about Strawberry to Pine

This trail picks up off Highway 87 and runs all the way down to connect with the Rim Road. The beginning of the trail, which is close to the highway, has several nice large open…
Learn more about Potato Lake Rim Road

This is a great trail! You can take your time to enjoy the scenery or drive quickly to reach your destination. The road is mostly gravel and dirt, with some deep ruts and mud towards…
Learn more about Battleground Ridge

This trail is quite rutted. Evidence of large machinery recently grading the trail was apparent, and lots of rocks lined each side of the trail. This area can get pretty muddy in spring and after…
Learn more about 504 to Pole Line

This trail is big rig-friendly. This is a nicely maintained wider dirt road with many large campsites to choose from. The trail connects to the main Highway 87 and ends at a network of trails.…
Learn more about Hicks/Duncan Trail

This is a lovely, mostly graded dirt road that connects from Highway 89 over to the Hicks/Duncan Trail. There are a plethora of large open flat campsites to choose from, particularly on either end of…
Learn more about Pivot Rock Canyon

Deceivingly, this trail runs above Corduroy Wash up in the trees. The trail is narrower, with pullouts for oncoming vehicles to pass. Several excellent, large, open, dispersed campsites are tucked in the shade of the…
Learn more about Corduroy Wash Trail

This route is another beautiful drive through the trees with many dispersed camping options. Two small lakes along the route may be relatively low in summer but nice and full after a wet winter. The…
Learn more about Dry Lake

This trail connects Highway 87 with Highway 260. Starting from the south side of this trail, the first half mile is where all of the more difficult rocks will be. All are 5 inches and…
Learn more about Six-O-Nine

This generally easy dirt trail leads to the Twin Buttes hiking trailhead. There is a pull-out parking area that can accommodate about five cars. This area is open range, and the trail passes next to…
Learn more about Twin Buttes Hiking Trail

This trail runs from the highway all the way to Tom's Creek, where the trail crosses the Tom's Creek water crossing. At that point, the trail heads uphill and turns into a narrow cliff-side shelf…
Learn more about Clover Spr Maintained

This is a nice wide dirt trail that shows regular signs of maintenance and a road grader. Access to this trail is from the main highway. A gate at the entrance can be seasonally closed…
Learn more about FR-144

This is a short point-to-point trail with an abundance of large group sites. The trail is well-maintained, and there's easy access for RVs. Lots of large, tall trees provide excellent shade. This is a great…
Learn more about Long Valley Dispersed

This cutover route connects to the main graded trails. The trail begins nice and easy from the north with just a few rocks and progresses into a rock garden around the animal water tank. Beyond…
Learn more about FR-9403E

This is an out-and-back trail with several other finger trails branching from it. It starts as a well-maintained dirt trail with a couple of open campsites tucked into the shade of the trees. The trail…
Learn more about FR-142E

This out-and-back ridge trail starts at an intersection with many trail options. There is a large grassy dispersed campsite at the beginning of the trail that can accommodate multiple vehicles and trailers. There are many…
Learn more about Good Enough Ridge

This is an out-and-back trail to a small campsite with the littlest of views. The trail out can be pretty muddy; if it's not muddy, there are ruts left over from the muddy spring season…
Learn more about FR-142F Little View

This is yet another out-and-back ridge trail with no open view at the end. However, there is a lovely private campsite at the end in the trees with enough room to bring your friends. Keep…
Learn more about FR-6362 More Trees

This is a bumpy, rocky, rutted-out trail. This trail is on the shorter side, but it is primarily a rock garden. And when it's not a rock garden, it's full of old muddy ruts. Generally,…
Learn more about Revenge of the Rocks FR-9364R

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…
Learn more about Mount Ord

This out-and-back trail ends at a couple of fire rings with little to no parking and an awkward place to turn around. This is another trail that heads out onto the end of a ridge…
Learn more about FR-6363 No View

This is an out-and-back trail like a number of the other trails area. It travels all the way out to the edge of the canyon. The trail is wide and pleasant, with easy dispersed camping,…
Learn more about FR-122C

This is an out-and-back trail to the West Creek Wilderness boundary area. This trail ends at a campsite and a fence where the boundary is. There is a wire gate for foot traffic into the…
Learn more about Good Enough Spur

This is a nice little bumpy jaunt through the woods. Some rocks sprinkled all over the trail make the trail slow going. One might have to clear downed trees in the trail from winter storms…
Learn more about FR-9353F

This out-and-back trail picks up from a network of trails in the area. It leads out to a finger on a ridge point where the trail's end has a fire ring. There are some partial…
Learn more about Flat Rock Point