Trail Overview
This rocky two-track climbs steadily up the side of a hill, weaving through tight, overgrown trees that narrow the trail. Despite the tighter corridor, the drive is incredibly scenic with sweeping views of Roosevelt Lake, Angel Wings, and the surrounding desert filled with saguaros. As you gain elevation, the trail transitions into a narrow shelf road that feels less exposed thanks to the vegetation lining the hillside. The climb continues with a few mildly off-camber sections and a steeper, narrower, rocky hill climb near the end that requires careful tire placement. Full-size 4x4s may feel a bit tight through several sections. Near the top, a short off-camber stretch leads to a beautiful lookout point with expansive views. The trail then snakes along the top of a grassy mesa, where you’ll find a small camp spot with incredible 360-degree views of surrounding mountains, canyons, Roosevelt Lake, and Four Peaks. Wildlife is abundant, and in the spring, the area comes alive with blooming flowers. Note that while the map may show a continuation past where this Guided Trail ends, the route does not appear to connect through, and there is no clear access to the adjacent shelf road visible on the next ridge over.
Difficulty
This trail is rated 2/10 due to the generally mild terrain and steady climb with only a few rocky and slightly off-camber sections. The main considerations are the narrow, overgrown corridor and tight shelf sections, which may feel restrictive for full-size vehicles but do not add significant technical difficulty.
