Trail Overview
Mt Ord is almost 7000' 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.We like to do the northern 4WD part of the trail first, but it certainly can be done in any direction. Doing it from the north gets the few relatively easy challenges out of the way and then you can putz around some easy roads and coast on home.The northern 4WD road is Forest Service Road #27. It has a couple of tippy spots and numerous areas of gullies caused by erosion over the years. The main road to the peak (#626) is a well-graded road suitable for most vehicles. The road is gated before actually reaching the peak.There is no problem finding a lunch spot with a view. You might even see a prescribed burn beyond the Mogollon Rim.When you are done exploring the high country head on down the west end to Highway 87.
Difficulty
Mostly easy trail with a few washes. These can become larger after heavy storms
Angelo Patane
FR 1688 is an offshoot of the main Mt. Ord trail. FR 1688 is a twisty, single track with tight turns that may have washout. There is nowhere to turn around until you get to the top of this trail, coordinates approx 33.90686, -111.42007. Expect pinstripes. I really recommend turning around here. If you take the trail further, the road gets bad, quickly narrows and tilts slightly sideways, and will have your right tires hugging the edge of a ledge. This portion of the road comes to an abrupt end and you cannot turn around. You will have to back up about 100+ yards slightly up hill, tilted towards the edge, and hugging the edge. I consider this stretch dangerous.
Dale Schmidt
We came in from Slate Creek on the north end of the trail labeled FR27. This is definitely not a 3 rated trail.
Very steep off camber sections, tight switchbacks and washouts. Very deep crevices and rocky outcroppings. Turns into a graded forest road near the intersection of FR 626 near the tree line. This trail needs to be changed from green to black on the App.
Wyatt Pace
Easy trail, trail to little Ord is single lane track with no camping and very few turn offs. FYI
Patrick Conners
From Hwy 87, we followed FR 626 to the Y of Old Mount Ord and FR 27. From the Y we took FR 27 to the top. It was 109 F at the bottom and a comfortable 79 F at the top! I would rate the route as a “2.” It was a well-graded dirt road that most cars could drive. The view from the top is beautiful.
Coming down, at the Y, we took the FS MT-27 (Old Mount Ord) trail to Hwy 87. I would rate it a “6” or “7.” It is NOT a ‘green’ trail, as onX shows. It is a shelf road and not maintained. There are deep washouts much of the way. The ruts aren’t a problem; the problem is washouts at the sharp turns on switchbacks. People have worked to build up the trail to make the turns passable. It has worked. With some shoveling, we managed to get stock 4-door Wranglers down the trail. Any longer wheelbase may be unable to make the turns.
It’s a fun trail. Take a shovel, don’t go alone, be patient, use spotters on any precarious turns, and you’ll have a blast!
