Top 4 ATV Trails in Arizona, RideNow Chandler / Euro
There are quite a few ATV riding opportunities in Arizona. It is a large desert state after all! It is not a small island state like Hawaii and unlike the state of New York and California, AZ has not outlawed fun like those states have, and RideNow Powersports Chandler is thankful for that!
Moreover, there are trails which wind through red rock canyons, towering forests, and rolling deserts. It's going to be very difficult for you to choose which terrain you like the most. Riding conditions and time of the year should help make this choice easier.
Even though ATV trails in Arizona will never leave you disappointed, there are some which really stand out from the rest and here at RideNow Powersports Chandler, we have compiled our favorite ones. Let's see which ones they are:
The Lawless West
Tombstone, a town called the "town too tough to die," is the perfect place to start your ATV journey into the Dragoon Mountains. This uneven, rutted dirt road was once the route for a stagecoach trail that connected Tombstone with the then prosperous mining towns of Courtland, Pearce, and Gleeson. No, you do not have to worry about Johnny Ringo taking a shot at you!
You can set up camp at Cochise Stronghold Campground which is located near Pearce and then make your way back along the rugged ATV trails to the Council Rock. This is where Cochise had signed a treaty which ended the war between the settlers and the Apaches. You can head back to Tombstone from there. This route covers about 100 miles in the Wild West.
You may not want to do this in August! If you do, bring plenty of water and sunscreen and wear a large protective hat. No, you do not need to bring some pizza with you either. You do not want to dry yourself out. You do not need to put that type of pressure on your body. Bring a light sandwich and some veggies and fruit; some granola bars are good too and do not litter! No, donuts are not wise to bring! Not even for Homer Simpson!
Under the Tonto Rim
The Mescal Mountain located near Kearny has everything that a novice rider could be looking for. There are restrooms, staging areas, picnic areas, water, and even a campground which makes it easy to spend a few days exploring those rocky trails.
Twisting and turning between the mountains and the desert, these wide trails have a lot of loose rock, sandy washes, and steep inclines. Summer days can get really hot, and the temperature will cross 100 degrees, although the winter is pleasant with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees throughout the day.
There's also the Gila River which is only 5 miles away and is the perfect place to go for a quick swim as long as it is not January!
Canyon Walls
This is supposed to be the most scenic trail you will find in Arizona. The Broken Arrow Trail goes over some slick sandstone under the red monoliths of Sedona.
This is the trail which provided the scenery for the James Stewart movie with the same name. It loops around for about 4.1 miles. You will need some expert skills in order to navigate the obstacles such as the steps.
The Great Western Trail
This trail runs for around 800 miles. It begins from the Mexican border and goes all the way to Utah. The trail is just a series of back roads which run for more than 3,000 miles from Mexico to Canada.
Riders can really enjoy riding through the rugged forest roads in Tonto, Coconino, Kaibab, and Coronado national forests.
The roads are shared by ATVs as well as various other off-road vehicles, horseback riders, and mountain bikers. It winds through Phoenix and Tucson before going into Verde Valley and up the Piney forests next to Flagstaff. It leaves the state through Kaibab National Forest just north of the Grand Canyon.
Now that would be fun! Bring an extra gas tank!