Trail Overview
Pick Ax Road boldly splits off from Grandma's Road, immediately plunging explorers into a dramatically scenic, rugged desert canyon environment heavily flanked by steep, imposing cliff walls. Maintaining a steady average speed of 7.3 mph, the early sections of this 2.3-mile route are relatively straightforward, presenting only minor 8-inch ruts carved into the dirt and loose rock. Despite what some outdated digital maps might suggest regarding motorized restrictions, prominent on-site signage actively confirms that this entire route remains legally open for motorized travel. Around the 0.8-mile mark, drivers will casually pass through an open gate that officially divides the trail sections. For those looking to spend the night, a highly secluded dispersed campsite is tucked away along the route, offering exceptional privacy and a truly remote, serene backcountry camping experience. As the journey continues, the trail corridor significantly narrows; drivers of wider rigs should anticipate unavoidable pinstriping as dense, untamed desert shrubs and low-hanging trees aggressively crowd the path. After successfully navigating a few steeper, rockier sections, the trail ultimately concludes at a major four-way intersection, cementing its value as a crucial, scenic connector within the broader regional network.
Difficulty
Pick Ax Road earns a Level 4 technical rating. Over its 2.3-mile distance, the trail presents a mix of easy, rolling dirt tracks and abruptly technical interruptions. While the initial 8-inch ruts are easily managed, the difficulty definitively peaks at a specific, demanding obstacle that requires approximately 18 inches of ground clearance and a highly favorable approach angle to avoid severe front bumper or undercarriage damage. This sole feature elevates the entire trail's rating and strictly mandates the use of a modified, high-clearance 4x4 or a highly capable SUV. Additionally, drivers must contend with intensely narrow sections where thick, unyielding desert vegetation actively encroaches on the trail, guaranteeing paintwork pinstriping for any full-size or wider vehicle.
