If you have 30 minutes to take an easy stroll through the desert then put this on your list. It took us about 6 hours to get there from I-17 and Table Mesa Rd. Very muddy after the rain. To the north on the Parker Strip are Crossroads and Copper Basin Dunes OHV areas which offer challenging desert driving. Stay left. For more information contact the BLM Safford District Office at (928) 348-4400. With nearby hiking trails and beautiful desert panoramic views this is a deal you don't want to miss! The trailhead for Table Mesa Road West is on the northwest corner of Exit 236. You will pass a casual shooting range/area on the left, and Boulder Creek Ranch. A lot harder than we thought it was going to be. The entrance is reached from Phoenix by travelling north on Interstate 17, exiting at Table Mesa Road, which becomes Boulder Creek Ranch Road. GPS: 34.0042, -112.1613 . For Sale: 2 beds, 2 baths 1920 sq. A large RV or several smaller rigs could camp here. Lots of campsites. Medicare Provider Number: 035111. Want to report conditions for this trail? Want to report conditions for this trail? Turn left (W) and continue to Castle Hot Springs Rd. A few parts that were really rocky but just took it slow over those sections with no issues. Jana is a homeschooling mother of three children, and lives in Scottsdale with her husband, Chris. Seasonal. One day during the last rain the weather said it would be clear all day, so we decided to take a little road trip. Remember, protect your recreation areas by recreating responsibly. More information on the Cinder Hills OHV Area can be obtained by contacting the Coconino National Forest, Peaks Ranger District, 5075 N. Highway 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004. Glad all I got was a bruise and left with my life. It also has good access to other trails that might be a little more exciting. Its a little less than half a mile south of FR254 and only about 2000 feet north of FR1099. The ruins in the mesa are some of the best-preserved pieces left behind by this Indian community and now are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and monitored by the Arizona Site Stewards. Check the parks home page for hours. My husband and I love to hike with our grandkids, fish, hunt, shoot, and explore in our Hella Yella Jeep Wrangler. The 4.5-mile trail descends approximately 450 feet with no significant obstacles along the way. Seasonal. The site could accommodate 2 or 3 RVs or numerous smaller rigs. climbs and decents. Do not use trails if you have symptoms of COVID-19, which can include fever, cough and breathing trouble. Please contact the local land management agencies for updated information on access, closures, rules and regulations, and other information prior to planning activities. Loved the ride. Good tire placement likely. Oasis in the desert. Episode 11, in which destruction contains the seeds of creation. The Desert Belle riverboat has provided a pleasant and relaxing way to enjoy the beauty of Saguaro Lake for over fifty years. There is a ton of trash along the trail which is kind of sad. Nice trail with a few obstacles. Sticky mud. Lake Montezuma, Arizona EXIT 293 Mcguireville; Montezuma Well Rimrock, Arizona EXIT 289 Middle Verde Rd Camp Verde, Arizona EXIT 287 . The weighted average of your fellow members agreement of our trail At the park boundary, there is a little self-pay station on the right with envelopes. Designating Table Mesa Road within the AFCA as a low maintenance park . Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 16 min to complete. Any car could do this and nothing technical. If u dont want your gun writes kill bridget she hangs out at range collects the brass has a sleeve tattoo with heart that says brat, Hardly a trail, dirt road leading to a park entrance. https://maps.google.com/maps?q=33.970912,-112.208189&num=1&t=m&z=14, https://maps.google.com/maps?q=33.970912,-112.208189&num=1&t=m&z=14. 928 501 7368 The hike to the mesa is three miles from the designated vehicle parking area. The area is also called the Agua Fria Conservation Area. This route is simple but the side trips are great fun. There has always water in the creek every time Ive been there, and kids love it. The site has level ground and several rock fire rings. The water was a little chilly in mid-April but the kids quickly adjusted. 5918 W Table Mesa Rd, New River, AZ 85087 Lot/land Contact Agent Overview Facts and features Price and tax history Monthly cost Nearby schools Similar homes Neighborhood Local legal protections Homes for you Unimproved land No data No data No data 2.50% buyers agency fee Overview Water well Boulder creek high school Nearby hiking trails It is very underrated as the conditions have changed to where is almost impassable on a Larger ADV bike. I absolutely love to help people find fun things to do with their kids and grandkids. This is also the same river that we explored off the Black Canyon City Trail, and Badger Springs Trail. However, this is Arizona State Trust Land, and a permit is required to camp. Horsethief Basin Recreation Area: 3.5-acre lake, fishing, 3 small campgrounds (fee), picnic area, hiking trails. Usually, from the parking lot, you can walk just under 0.3 miles to the river and play, with numerous shade trees! That said, I drove it with a Trail Rated JL jeep 2 door with stock tires. Please support this program by maintaining current registration on your off-highway vehicle. The final ascent on the north slope is short but a real workout, reminding us of the hardiness of ancient Native Americans. 119 miles from Lake Pleasant across the gas line road, up Table Mesa to 7 Springs. Look at the pictures attached and you will see the road is closed but there is a provision to pay the seven dollar fee. It does seem to be a heavily traveled dirt road with a good up close view of saguaros. Keep the stub on the envelope to display in your window dash. Fun trail. Views are awesome and first 2/3rds of trail is challenging. The Lake Pleasant Regional Park is allowing recreationists temporary, Friday- through-Sunday-only motorized access to a designated portion of the Agua Fria Conservation Area through May 18 via the former access point along Table Mesa Road just west of Interstate 17. Table Mesa Rd New River, Arizona Nothing detected here. The scenery was beautiful, and we were the only ones out there on a weekday morning. It says Moderate, and I get that, but there are parts I would rate as hard, mainly in the wash outs and the rocky mountainous area. Start a free trial and get this level of detail on every trail Table Mesa Road Trail Moderate 3.5 (214) New River, Arizona Photos (74) Directions Print/PDF map Length 9.0 miElevation gain 679 ftRoute type Out & back Get to know this 9.0-mile out-and-back trail near New River, Arizona. We kept expecting the heavens to open and make it difficult to drive, but it never did. The camp host may also greet you at the parking lot. The location presented an easily defensible position for the Hohokam if attacked by intruders. Here turn south and climb a trail to Indian Mesa. Just like others described, this is where people come to drink beer and the shoot at the cans, and leave all the trash there. Lake Pleasant boat access seasonally on the north end of the lake and Agua Fria River.PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB NEIGHBORS. This 6.31-acre property sits up against the Aqua Fria Conservation with easy access from I-17 and only 30 minutes to Phoenix. Public accommodations protections include being unfairly refused services or entry to or from places accessible to the public (retail stores, restaurants, parks, hotels, etc). There is nothing to worry about on this trail but please be aware of the people shooting out here and the Park Rangers do patrol so it is fairly busy. It was about the same as Lake Pleasant, which was to be expected since it was basically the lake and not a flowing river! You can now get your permit on-line. We stop a lot to take photos and stuff, but on this trip we really didnt dawdle that much. Ran from West to East. ID: Taking all your nickels and dimes - Fernie Campendium Admin Edit Photos Admin. Worth it. There is a large sign saying area is a breeding ground for Bald Eagles and closed from December 15 to June 15. I got out my FJ, inspected the obstacle, then formulated a plan of attack. North of Phoenix, the GWT traverses rugged and beautiful country on the Tonto, Prescott and Kaibab national forests, as well as BLM lands on the Arizona Strip. The maps do not display specific shooting sites, but it can provide guidance to those seeking appropriate public lands for target shooting. It was actually a small adventure to even find water in the beginning. Designating Table Mesa Road within the AFCA as a low maintenance park road, including installation of barriers along the north and south sides of the river to keep the public from traveling off the designated route; Maintaining roads with no permanent improvements and only to the level that they are passable; County's Lake Pleasant Master Plan (LPMP) concerning management of the AFCA. But it is on the Jeep Badge of Honor trails so I took my Jeep to get my first trail completed. EXIT 232 New River New River, Arizona EXIT 229 Anthem Way Phoenix, Arizona EXIT 227 . One major Boulder field has a bypass. Table Mesa Recreation Area. A maintained dirt road BUT check out N Old Mine and Windmill Trails you can access from Table Mesa. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and accommodation requests. Very sad to see the amount of trash/debris left from all those shooters along the way. Only a few water crossings but plenty of dry creek beds full of large boulders, SXS and well kitted Jeeps will have fun anything less may bet turning around. Phone (928) 526-0866. However, due to low amounts of rain in 2021, we had to walk about half a mile to find water. Staging: There is a large staging area. The site is north of Phoenix, north of state Route 74 and west of Lake Pleasant. Has some challenging parts for anything stock but definitely doable. Amazing. Did the trail in a 4Runner TRD and had no issues. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Phoenix With Kids lists activities, destinations, and things to do in Phoenix with kids. The Hohokam also produced jewelry made of raw shells imported from northern Mexico, for which they traded. your device to facilitate the operation and functionality of our site, You are supposed to be able to access Lake Pleasant from this area. This is a popular trail for off-road driving, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The central part of the trail, between Waypoints 7 and 14, is on BLM land. For more details on this specific alert please visit: No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Overview. This is a very easy road I would say its a level one maybe two. ATV trails also exist on the Apache-Sitgreaves, Tonto and Coronado National Forests. View all posts by Margaret Anderson, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Two Great Winter Hikes (Walks) Close to Phoenix, BASS FISHING TIPS FROM ARIZONAS LEGENDARY ANGLERS, THREE GREAT WAYS TO CATCH SPRING CRAPPIE ON ARIZONA LAKES. The hike to the mesa is three miles from the designated vehicle parking area. Significant variation of terrain on this trail. Job in La Mesa - San Diego County - CA California - USA , 91942. It really isnt. This humble critic would have to agree. Free camping near Lake Pleasant Regional Park AZ&research=1. The Ultimate List of Holiday & Christmas Lights in Phoenix. privateevents@scorpionbayaz.com, Boat Brokerage When I was a kid, we absolutely loved playing on boulders we would have made my dad stop there and let us climb around for hours. The road shortly turns into a gravel and dirt road, with some washboard portions, but our mini-van made it fine. Click for Map. This is likely because the area is spring-fed almost year-round. From the left at the Pleasant entrance, it's 2.9 miles to the turn-off to Cow Creek Road, and the road is clearly marked. Cities Peoria With abundant outdoor recreation and attractions, such as Lake Pleasant, it's easy to see why Peoria is a favorite of visitors and residents. Beyond that great trail, awesome afternoon. & FR 67: Moderate, 29 miles of narrow primitive forest road, high-clearance vehicle required and 4X4 needed during inclement weather. The park is located within the municipal boundaries of Peoria, Arizona, and serves as a major recreation hub for the northwest Phoenix metropolitan area . JKU Rubicon on 35s. Great gateway to other, more technical trails, but definitely not challenging on its own. The best times to visit this trail are October through May. While the area is interesting, with a wide variety of trails, the unfortunate spectacle of trash and broken glass in the shooting areas detracts heavily from the experience. Watch the left side of trail for soft shoulder from rain run off Exit the way you came. The vote could pave the way for a large gas . If you were my friend and asked me if you should run this trail, I would tell you No! Lake Pleasant Regional Park the hike We will be hiking to the top of a small distinctive mesa overlooking the northern part of Lake Pleasant. Irresponsible off-highway vehicle usage was causing damage to the desert and riparian areas in and near the park. Listed on 2023-03-02. From I-17 to the gate for Lake Pleasant Regional Park. Street View. "The south Table mesa lake - Aspicteramo It was my first real off road adventure and my friend with SxS was behind. Distance: 36.7 miles Morristown to Lake Pleasant. Lots of trash at the beginning. Stock JLUR on 33. Does anyone know if Table Mesa Rd via Boulder Creek Ranch Road still allows access to the north-end of Lake Pleasant? Table Mesa Recreation Area. Spot On. Never saw that before. Occasionally I get in some hiking, backpacking, and bushcraft as well. Not hard of a trail. Otherwise its such a great place to go. There are numerous opportunities for OHV recreation in Arizona. Did trail in an F150 with bigger tires and leveling kit, no issues with scraping. most 4x4 vehichles will be fine with proper tires. The Peoria City Council on Tuesday voted to rezone a parcel of land in the city's northernmost stretch, off Lake Pleasant Parkway near State Route 74. Awesome Trail, would have completed in 4 hrs but stopped and did random Sharing my experiences as a member of the Trails Offroad crew, instructing at Overland Expo, and hosting the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast are true pleasures. The 4.5-mile trail descends approximately 450 feet with no significant obstacles along the way. The staging area is south of U.S. Highway 260, approximately 5 1/2 miles west of I-17. A couple superb spots for picnic or even a quick swim. Figure 4 hrs if it goes according to plan. This is a super fun trip and a nice little break-in for our new Jeep. https://www.desertusa.com/desert-arizona/indian-mesa-ruin.html Table Mesa Road to Lake Pleasant - Road Closed? 928 501 3440 Those two roads are signed. Mountain biking on FR 136, The General Crook Nat. (Lake Pleasant Regional Park turnoff) and turn right (N). This area is rather large and the trails go on for miles. challenging trail. Within half a mile we came across two metal fences and hopped over those to access the water. I was in the area of North Phoenix and heard how easy this trail was so I decided to go real quick. Campground at a Glance Level: Fees /Night: No Fee Season: Year-Round Nearby City: Phoenix Valley Fishing: None Campground Website: Table Mesa Recreation Area Campground Map: Click Here Reservations: First-come, first-served basis Location: Nearby Attractions and Activities: The parking lot is at 33 58' 33.90N, 112 07 57.78W. From Phoenix, drive north on I-17 to Exit 236. Very Easy Trail. The difficulty spikes fast when you hit a fork in the road. Tent camping is possible. There is a shooting area the first 4 miles of the trail. Simple easy dirt road. Table Mesa OHV Road Moderate 4.1 (169) Tonto National Forest Photos (308) Directions Print/PDF map Length 21.5 miElevation gain 3,841 ftRoute type Point to point Try this 21.5-mile point-to-point trail near New River, Arizona. https://www.scorpionbayaz.com/, General Information & Boat Storage Slow moving trail but very fun. BLM LAND and State trust land. LOL! Lots of shooting spots. Pottery shards still can be found at Indian Mesa. Loop is rated moderate to most difficult due to 1,000-foot elevation change. Very rocky and washed out. Dont come without being ready to jiggle. Camping is permitted at the staging area. Lake Pleasant, AZ and all it has to offer!! PEORIA, AZ 85382 . Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 16 min to complete. Peoria homes for sale range from $1.95K - $3.35K with the avg price of a 2-bed single_family_house home of $2.78K. If you havent ever been to Seven Springs, you should check it out. Its a dangerous dump. Finding the trailhead can be confusing since the dirt road on the other side of the exit is Table Mesa Road East. I went up the first one and there was a pretty big dip/wash that needed good clearance but not necessarily 4wd. Please stay on the roadway. The road crosses a small wash. The park requires a fee payable as the self-service kiosk. GPS location for the parking lot is 335846.6N 1121129.8W More information can be found here. BillygoatRocklanding. definatley be prepared w a spare tire. Cutlers 1 year ago Track (8/12/21, 10:29:25AM) . Transportation. We spent about three hours enjoying the refreshing water of the river. for a nice day in some beautiful country. We applaud Maricopa County for allowing recreationists this valuable interim access that is so important during the spring fishing season. 5918 W Table Mesa Rd New River, AZ 85087 $350,000 $375,000 Est. The first few hundred yards of the trail has flat, clean campsites suitable for all types of camping. I strongly do not recommend this road for larger ADV motorcycles. Campsites at Waypoints 2, 4, and 6 are on Arizona State Trust land and require a permit for camping. rating. Look for the sign pointing to Frontage Road and follow it. Additionally, Arizona gun owners are some of the trashy people I have ever met. 928 501 2628 All of which very trashed. Views all the way around you can see Horseshoe Lake and the Verde River, and all the mountains all around. I'm only posting here to warn people, do not use this trail. My trips range from a few days to a month. Check the parks home page for hours. On the way to Seven Springs (or on the way past it if you started on Table Mesa Road), you will pass a road that is paved but doesnt have a sign except one that says 15 MPH. Directions: From Phoenix, take I-17 north to Exit 236, Table Mesa Road. Have fun exploring! Great Rock obstacles! then there is ALL the TRASH that people have left. More to Explore Near Lake Pleasant Cities Phoenix Phoenix is the capital city of Arizona and is located in the central region of the state. The Desert Belle. The idiots with the guns need to stay where they are supposed to stay but they have decided to spread out and shoot wherever. Show all Entertainment Food Shops And Service Night Life Recreation Travel. Camping is also possible here. From the I-17, north of Anthem, take Table Mesa Road west (exit 236). Where did they get water? Does anyone know if Table Mesa Rd via Boulder Creek Ranch Road still allows access to the north-end of Lake Pleasant? North Little Grand Canyon New River, AZ 85087 623-580-5500 Official Website. View the sections below for local contact information, fire restrictions, and closures for the area (s) you are planning to visit. Dirt road that ends at a gate. I took it slow and steady. It is an easy Jeep badge of honor, so that is cool! West side is very rocky leading to a few shallow water crossings. Reclamation will complete an EA prior to determining whether an environmental . Lake Pleasant Regional Park is a large outdoors recreation area straddling the Maricopa and Yavapai county border northwest of Phoenix, Arizona. Ehhh. enhance and customize your user experience, and to analyze how our There is a large sign saying area is a breeding ground for Bald Eagles and closed from December 15 to June 15. - Phoenix, Arizona. About a mile or so west of the junction with 37, the hills on the side of the road look very strange. 33.970912,-112.208189 is the location I am trying to access, the road leads right to this spot as you can see on Google Maps. The road continues to the boundary of Lake Pleasant Regional Park, about 3.5 miles. Ranking: Lake Pleasant Post Acute Rehabilitation Center is ranked #6 out of 18 facilities within a 10 mile radius and #21 out of 60 facilities within a 25 mile radius. [Note: The distance between cities in Arizona (US) distance chart below is straight line distance (may be called as flying or air distance) between the two locations in Arizona (US) calculated based on their latitudes . How much does a house cost in nearby? The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Box 670, (300 East Highway 260), Camp Verde, AZ 86322, for further information. very rocky and washed out in spots. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Mesa, Scorpion Bay is Arizonas premier floating playground, offering everything from daily pontoon and ski boat rentals to slips for harboring your yacht (or dinghy). Hope to see you on the trail soon. This is a very easy trail and requires just shy of something bigger than a car, but if you can't air down, your gonna hate your life. We had a deadline so had to turn around just short of half way. It was fun today to get the Jeep muddy in the rain/sleet and get some practice handling it in mud but I realize this is probably a rare occurrence. Tons of illegal, unsightly garbage has been removed during several clean-up efforts since the motorized vehicle closure. Pleasant Harbor RV Resort. Black Canyon Trail: Rock Springs to W Care Free Highway, Lower Terminator and Judgment Day OHV Trail, Sheep Bridge Hot Spring via W Table Mesa Rd, Lower Daisy Mountain Loop [PRIVATE PROPERTY]. Dispersed camping is allowed along Table Mesa Road West in previously established sites. AZCO Mine Road, TMRA 9999, goes off to the right and connects with a large number of other trails. Part of the trail is nothing but river rocks. Arizona (US) Distance Chart (Distance Table): For your quick reference, below is a Distance Chart or Distance Table of distances between some of the major cities in Arizona (US). Try this 14.5-km out-and-back trail near New River, Arizona. Not as easy due to rains washing out parts of the trails and new boulder fields. Location: Take I-17 north to the Table Mesa Road exit and go left over the freeway (The exit is just a little ways past the town of New River). Its a dirt road that any vehicle can travel, with trails that branch off that are a little more advanced. TMRA 9953 goes off left and soon becomes very technical. Just past Cholla Basin the road starts to follow along the New River and there was a spot where the road was very narrow and had started to wash away on the river side, even though the river wasnt that close. Gate Closures Effective as of Monday, May 19, 2008, June 23 , 2009 The Desert Wells rules, regs and map brochure is now available at Arizona State Land Department Offices, the State Parks Office, the Game and Fish Region 6 Office in Mesa and the Game and Fish Headquarters on Carefree Highway. Map All Arizona Campgrounds The route. Desert Tortoise Campground is located at Peoria, AZ 85383. Bird's Eye View. Any vehicle can easily drive this road. Very unorganized, dangerous, and someone is going to get killed. D'Vine features minimalist decor and an all-black clad wait staff. Definitely need high clearance for this road. Its a bit warm in summer as we all know, but its not unbearable. Table Mesa Road and the Agua Fria River. The whole place is clean and well managed; beaches are kept free of litter and the roads are regularly patrolled by rangers. Specialties: Located just hours northeast of Phoenix, this paradise of water-skiing, fishing, boating and camping also comes with the friendly service to match. Watch for roaming cattle here, and of course, keep an eye/ear out for rattlesnakes. Mesa: 33: 50 min: Gilbert: 37: 56 min: Chandler: 38: 57 min . 9 mie dirt road to nowhere. Unit Operations Center Morristown, AZ 85342 Phone: 602-506-2930 maricopacountyparks@maricopa.gov Headquarters Admin Hours Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. except holidays A winding path leads to the top which extends for about 6 acres and from there the view overlooks Lake Pleasant and the Agua Fria River. not just a little either. Then N off W Table Mesa Rd Campground Details: free, All Year, All Ages, Tents, 1925 ft elev, toilets, dispersed (C) . Little Pan Mine Roadcrosses the seasonably variable Agua Fria River. Mortgage $2,098 /mo * Get Pre-Qualified Local Information Schools Shop & Eat Google -- mins to Commute Destination Description This 6.31-acre property sits up against the Aqua Fria Conservation with easy access from I-17 and only 30 minutes to Phoenix. A campsite sits on the right side of the road. As trail conditions change this helps us keep the community Tent camping is possible. From the I-17, north of Anthem, take Table Mesa Road west (exit 236). There was a spot I didn't think I was going to be able to cross. Delivery. We range over all the southwest exploring remote places and trying to get as much dirt under the wheels as possible. (Morristown) - Effective July 1, 2007, in accordance with the Park Rule R-107 and 1995 Park Master Plan, the restrictions on motorized vehicle use at the Lake Pleasant Regional Park Agua Fria Conservation Area entrance will be enforced. Not all of them, but most of them shoot in areas marked "No Shooting", they leave trash all over the place and shot in areas that are occupied. So we backtracked a bit and found a wide grassy spot with little cattle poop. 19,740 were here. However, this is Arizona State Trust Land, and a permit is required to camp. policy linked to above. Follow @phoenixwithkids on Instagram for daily photos around Phoenix! The Agua Fria River does flow into Lake Pleasant, and it is possible to paddleboard or kayak to the lake. It is considered part of the Bradshaw Mountain Range. The ground is smooth enough for tent camping. GPS: 33.9865, -112.1698. This will be his first. Removal of artifacts is strictly forbidden. The Indian Mesa ruins at Lake Pleasant Regional Park are on a mesa, a flat-top hill, by the shores of the lake and Agua Fria River. will again be available thanks to a special development project of the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Boating Access Program. A staging area sits on the left side of the road. The conservation area is located at the north end of the park just south of Table Mesa Road. Phone: 623-566-0642. A lot of target shooting along the road. This 2,000 acre area of rolling sand dunes offers an open riding area for OHVs. If your cool with all that, go enjoy this 5 star trail. The wickedly difficult Terminator trails result in a lot of bent metal. If youre looking for an out of the way water adventure, theres a great spot off Table Mesa Road, with access to the Agua Fria River! Please contact the local land management agencies for updated information on access, closures, rules and regulations, and other information prior to planning activities. Meh. Contact the Prescott National Forest, Verde Ranger District, P.O. The Hohokam culture didnt vanish overnight. If you have a 4WD vehicle and would like a bit of an adventure, take Table Mesa Road to FR24 and Seven Springs. I've been an outdoor writer for over 30 years and have written for pretty much all the major fishing magazines, The Arizona Republic (I did the outdoor page til they discontinued it), and many online sites. this should NOT be a jeep badge trail as it's just a dirt road. Take side road (N Little Grand Canyon) around closed area. Glad we started at the I-17 side, the hardest part of the trail was at the beginning and it got easier as we got deeper on the trail.