Trail Overview
Pioneer Pass starts near the center of Globe, circles the south side of Pinal Peak, and ends on Forest Service Road 651 leading to Pinal Peak. Climb to Pioneer Pass at 6,000' elevation, drop into Pioneer and Bobtail Basins at 5,000' then climb back up to 6,000' on the Pinal Peak Road. An enjoyable ride through a somewhat remote country.Most of this trip is on easy-rated roads, with less than 6 miles rated 3. We ran the most difficult section in August 2019 and met the Forest Service surveying the road. One of the employees told us she expected the road to be improved fairly soon. We did not learn how much of the road or when. This adventure can easily be run in either direction but is described beginning in Globe.The first 5 miles from US 60 are paved. Not long after the pavement ends is the Ice House picnic area, constructed by the CCC.This fairly wide, well-graded road begins in the Pinyon-Juniper Forest at lower elevations and soon turns to beautiful ponderosa pine as you climb higher on the mountain.Pioneer Recreation Area, prior to Pioneer Pass, makes good use of the ponderosa stands.Ponderosa ends abruptly at Pioneer Pass as the southern exposure appears to be too hot and dry.The road stays high for over a mile beyond the pass and offers great long-distance vistas.The 3 difficulty section is not hard, but it is quite a bit slower because of numerous eroded gullies both down and across the road. Perhaps it will have been rebuilt by the time you get there, perhaps.The road continues up and down across the countryside, still with nice views into the distance. A sharp eye can pick out Magma Mine (Resolution Copper) near Superior.This must be water for wildlife. There is a cement ramp up to the edge of the tank and then a metal one down into it.
