Trail Overview

This route starts at Highway 178 and travels South along the West edge of the Nopah Range Wilderness to Chappo Spring. This 2-track trail is mostly hard-packed with gravel and a few washes. Use caution when approaching the washes as they can change over time from erosion caused by monsoon rains. The trail is mostly straight but has several short segments routing through deeper washes with sharp turns. It ends at Chappo Spring, which is an active spring and a small swamp with palm trees. There are some buildings and other artifacts in the area. The trail is clearly marked with BLM signs. This is a very hot desert environment, so make sure you bring plenty of water. It is best traveled in the winter. If you go in warmer seasons, go very early in the morning to avoid the intense heat.

Photos of Chappo Spring (BLM AR233)

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Difficulty

Washes can change and have drops. Loamy gravel and deep ruts from Monsoon rains.

Technical Rating

Ginger Fields

Mar 12, 2026

Open

The road to Chappo Sorings leaving from Hwy 178 was pretty straight forward easy to follow, a little scouting was necessary in a few places where the road was rerouted due to road damage. The road is poor maintained if at all. At the edge the springs from this direction a significant portion of the road has been washed out and apparently rebuilt with available rock to make entering the site possible, it’s a little sketchy but our Jeep 2 door managed it OK, but it could be a stopping point in with a bit more degradation. To access the rest of the trail you have to drive towards the palm trees and through the small spring creek. Continue on AR350 into Tecopa. The road transitions from rocky to lake bed sediments consisting of fine mud and clay, this portion of the route would be a no go if there were any recent moisture or possibility of rain.