Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near San Manuel, Arizona

This route kicks off in the wooded, lower elevations of Peppersauce Canyon, northeast of Tucson, Arizona. It is a primitive, yet well-traveled two-track that runs parallel to a wash, westward into the Catalina Mountains. This forest road features shade and scenery, multiple small stream crossings, a...
Learn more about Ascent from Peppersauce Canyon

The Backway to Mount Lemmon is a scenic, 28-mile point-to-point offroad route that offers drivers of all skill levels a stunning climb from the desert floor to the high-elevation pine forests of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Ideal for four-wheel-drive SUVs, SxSs, and dual-sport motorcycles, this tra...
Learn more about Backway to Mount Lemmon

This scenic trail takes you on a winding journey through the rugged desert landscapes of southern Arizona, offering stunning views of mountain peaks as it meanders along. Starting in State Trust land, the trail leads you toward the active mining areas near Mammoth, Arizona, before eventually reachin...
Learn more about Copper Creek Mine Trail

This is a mid-mountain forest road segment in Catalina National Forest, northwest of Tucson, Arizona. It is accessible via Peppersauce Canyon and is an enjoyable, mildly challenging primitive route that culminates high on a mountain ridge, at the junction for Rice Peak Road. Enjoy exploring higher e...
Learn more about Nugget Road and Rolling Hills

This dirt and rocky road will bypass the famous Carpet Hill on the Rug Road to Klondyke trail, placing you approximately one mile North of Carpet Hill. The entrance to Cowboy Miller Road is off South River Road. Please be respectful of the private land staging area and follow signage to keep the gat...
Learn more about Cowboy Miller Road

If you love breathtaking scenery, driving through saguaro forests, and adventurous off-road experiences, the Continental Copper Access route is perfect for you! This road starts around two-thirds up the mountainside, beginning at the Mount Lemmon Control Road trail, and descends almost entirely to t...
Learn more about Continental Copper Access

Willow Springs Road stands out as one of the best-maintained main arteries in the area, providing a smooth and easily navigable route. This trail accommodates larger vehicles quite comfortably, including motorhomes and campers, especially in sections closest to the southern part of the route where y...
Learn more about Willow Springs Road

North Cascabel Road follows along the San Pedro River Valley connecting Globe to Benson, AZ. This route is section 2 of the Arizona Back Country Discovery route Benson to Globe. The road is lined with private property in the valleys with state land extending beyond up into the mountains. The road is...
Learn more about North Cascabel Road

The San Pedro River Road extends for about 10 miles, with approximately 4.5 miles consisting of a dirt and gravel trail. The trail is generally well-maintained and easy to navigate. The only potentially challenging section is a wash crossing, which may have flowing water depending on recent weather ...
Learn more about North San Perdo River Road

Falcon Valley Ranch Trail offers a rugged off-road experience, with dips, erosion, and ruts that add mellow technical challenges along the way. The trail features some braiding, requiring attention to stay on the most passable route. It ends at a locked gate, marking the boundary where vehicle trave...
Learn more about Falcon Valley Ranch Access

Start on East Golder Ranch Drive. Turn left through the cattle guard onto E Equestrian Trail. At a corral, you take the right at the Y and proceed onto a single-vehicle-width trail. The trail remains easy with the mountain bike trail called 50 Year Trail crisscrossing the 4x4 trail and campsites alo...
Learn more about 50 Year Trail Loop

This cut-across from East Edwin Road to East Cochise Springs Road is a nice 4x4 track that leads you to many more remote campsites and to the "Badlands" loop trail system for mountain bikes. The trail takes you through some beautiful Sonoran desert vistas and past some side trails with their own fla...
Learn more about Badlands Trail

When accessing this trail, the turn to the west from Highway 77 (North Oracle Road) has its own stoplight, making the turn easier. The road has several cattle guards, some with missing bars, so be careful to not get a flat tire. Signs alert you that you're entering Arizona State Trust Land, which ne...
Learn more about East Edwin Road

The trail veers off of the East Edwin Road just after crossing the first wash. You turn north onto the trail. The trail weaves through some tight spots in trees and cacti. The mud holes can get big after a rain, but the bottoms are mostly sandy. The main trail is the most used, but there are several...
Learn more about East Cochie Spring Trail

The Gasline Trail mirrors the rugged nature of Lovetta, featuring steep hills with loose, off-camber erosion that requires careful attention. As you navigate, keep an eye out for hilltop campsites, offering scenic spots to stop along the way. The trail eventually mellows out, transforming into a smo...
Learn more about Gasline Trail

The eastern section of East Willow Springs Road offers a well-manicured two-track trail that winds through vibrant fields of prickly pear, cholla cactus, and yucca plants. As you journey along this route, you'll enjoy stunning views of the backside of Mount Lemmon and the Santa Catalina Mountains to...
Learn more about East Willow Springs Road

This trail starts on a steep and rocky incline but quickly settles into a well-maintained ranch road with some small seasonal mud patches. It offers stunning views of the valley between the Rincon and the Galiuro mountain ranges. The trail ends at a large turnaround that spurs into other trails lead...
Learn more about Sheep Camp Wash

You can start this trail from the north at Highway 79 or south at East Edwin Road. The trail follows a small powerline and cuts through several washes. Be careful in monsoon season or while raining. You pass several corrals and go through a couple of BLM grazing gates. The only hazards are cacti, tr...
Learn more about Tortolita Powerline Trail

This trail is a long day, but we thought it was well worth the trip. The scenery is nice, there is a natural bridge, and the cabin is interesting. You will pass through Muleshoe Ranch on your way to the cabin. The Muleshoe Ranch Cooperative Management Area (CMA) is 55,000 acres of rugged beauty, lu...
Learn more about Jackson Cabin

Park Tank Road (Forest Road 4424) is a scenic connector weaving between the Chiva Falls Loop and Italian Trap Trail through classic Sonoran Desert terrain. This trail is a mix of sandy stretches, rocky ledges, and shallow wash crossings, making it a great way to link routes into a longer off-road ad...
Learn more about Park Tank Road #4424

This route kicks off in the wooded, lower elevations of Peppersauce Canyon, northeast of Tucson, Arizona. It is a primitive, yet well-traveled two-track that runs parallel to a wash, westward into the Catalina Mountains. This forest road features shade and scenery, multiple small stream crossings, a...
Learn more about Ascent from Peppersauce Canyon

The Backway to Mount Lemmon is a scenic, 28-mile point-to-point offroad route that offers drivers of all skill levels a stunning climb from the desert floor to the high-elevation pine forests of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Ideal for four-wheel-drive SUVs, SxSs, and dual-sport motorcycles, this tra...
Learn more about Backway to Mount Lemmon

This scenic trail takes you on a winding journey through the rugged desert landscapes of southern Arizona, offering stunning views of mountain peaks as it meanders along. Starting in State Trust land, the trail leads you toward the active mining areas near Mammoth, Arizona, before eventually reachin...
Learn more about Copper Creek Mine Trail

This is a mid-mountain forest road segment in Catalina National Forest, northwest of Tucson, Arizona. It is accessible via Peppersauce Canyon and is an enjoyable, mildly challenging primitive route that culminates high on a mountain ridge, at the junction for Rice Peak Road. Enjoy exploring higher e...
Learn more about Nugget Road and Rolling Hills

This route kicks off in the wooded, lower elevations of Peppersauce Canyon, northeast of Tucson, Arizona. It is a primitive, yet well-traveled two-track that runs parallel to a wash, westward into the Catalina Mountains. This forest road features shade and scenery, multiple small stream crossings, a...
Learn more about Ascent from Peppersauce Canyon

The Backway to Mount Lemmon is a scenic, 28-mile point-to-point offroad route that offers drivers of all skill levels a stunning climb from the desert floor to the high-elevation pine forests of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Ideal for four-wheel-drive SUVs, SxSs, and dual-sport motorcycles, this tra...
Learn more about Backway to Mount Lemmon

This scenic trail takes you on a winding journey through the rugged desert landscapes of southern Arizona, offering stunning views of mountain peaks as it meanders along. Starting in State Trust land, the trail leads you toward the active mining areas near Mammoth, Arizona, before eventually reachin...
Learn more about Copper Creek Mine Trail

This is a mid-mountain forest road segment in Catalina National Forest, northwest of Tucson, Arizona. It is accessible via Peppersauce Canyon and is an enjoyable, mildly challenging primitive route that culminates high on a mountain ridge, at the junction for Rice Peak Road. Enjoy exploring higher e...
Learn more about Nugget Road and Rolling Hills