Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Arlington, Arizona

Agua Caliente Road

Loop the Gila Bend Mountains while visiting the Gillespie Dam and Bridge plus Sundad Ghost Town.Start this run in Gila Bend then go north up the Gila River Valley on historic US Route 80, which…
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Total Miles
83.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Margie's Cove Trail

Margie's Cove Trail skirts the south side of Margie's Peak, splitting the Sonoran Desert National Monument and North Maricopa Wilderness. The trail is mostly a rutted dirt track with long stretches of soft sand. You…
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Total Miles
5.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Belmont Mountain

Watch for open mine shafts on this scenic mountain road. The view from above is phenomenal. There is an optional route to the east that is narrow and fun for ATVs and UTVs.
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Total Miles
12.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Wi / Sp

Hassayampa River

The Hassayampa River trail is a wide sandy wash. Great for playing around in the sand, with a lot of smaller shorter trails to explore. You will need an Arizona State Trust Land recreational permit,…
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Total Miles
5.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Eastern Gasline - Courthouse Rock Access

This access route follows along the Gasline road. Just be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the deep washouts hiding in the shadows as you cross the washes. Plenty of side trails offer ample…
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Total Miles
11.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Sp

Castle Hot Springs Road

Castle Hot Springs is a natural hot spring that has had a series of resorts, several of which have burned. It is now privately owned and overseen by caretakers. Not open to the public.As of…
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Total Miles
33.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Ox Wash Singletrack

This is an entertaining beginner singletrack. This track winds through the desert with some great views and unique cacti to see. There is one hill that is a bit loose with a washout that can…
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Total Miles
14.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Sp / Fa

Carefree Highway R87 Exit

This trail allows riders a simple route to Highway 87 from the Wrangler's Nest Trail or the West Vistancia Loop Trail. If you have ever off-roaded in this area you know how difficult it is…
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Total Miles
1.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Twin Buttes to Hwy 74

This is a great short and quick trail, or gateway trail, through desert terrain that gets you from the Twin Buttes to Hwy 74. This trail is north of the Vistancia area, which can lead…
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Total Miles
6.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Harquahala Peak

This trail is a BLM National Byway. It will take you to the top of Harquahala Peak at 5,681 feet. There is a nice parking area with picnic tables at the top, so bring a…
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Total Miles
9.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa

Nose Dive

This route takes you from the base of Harquahala Peak to the town of Wenden AZ. There is some fun scenery, lots of quick paced desert trail, and then past a few farm fields on…
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Total Miles
24.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Sonoran Desert 8009

Take Freeman Road exit about 17 miles east of Gila Bend. BLM. Camping is available, but put some distance between yourself and the interstate. It is an easy drive, though clearance is necessary in some…
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Total Miles
11.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Lower Scenic Loop Road

This is the eastern section leading from town out to the network of trails in the area. It begins in a residential area then progresses to the wild all the while remaining graded washboard and…
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Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Sp

Box Canyon at Hassayampa River

This trail will take you along the Hassayampa River. Often, the river is dry or shallow. There are some great shady spots provided by beautiful redrock walls. You can get off the trail on Rincon…
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Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

The Rincon Cutover

This trail cuts from the residential area over to the scenic loop. The base of the trail has a few cleared spots for staging and or dispersed camping with a fire ring. Be aware of…
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Total Miles
1.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Sp

51st North

This trail could easily be considered the smoothest road out here. Its sandy surface and regular grading make for an easy shot across the desert. At least for a section of it. There's an old…
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Total Miles
6.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Black Hills, Box Canyon and Beyond

This mostly graded trail ends at Hassayampa River on one end and the other at the transition to the more difficult section of the Scenic Loop. In winter and rodeo season there will be lots…
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Total Miles
5.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Wi / Sp

Buckhorn Road in the Bradshaw Mountains

Buckhorn Road connects many trails in the Bradshaw Mountains. It is a groomed dirt road with easy riding. The views are amazing as you come west down the mountain facing Wickenburg, AZ. Easliy down in…
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Total Miles
3.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

El Paso Pipeline Road

This is a dirt-covered service road that is regularly maintained. It's a fun, easy route for getting to different areas. Nothing technical about this trail aside from a couple of sandy washes. Note of caution,…
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Total Miles
5.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp

Buckhorn Wash Trail

Buckhorn Wash Trail connects Castle Creek Road (Wash) to Bradshaw Mountain Trail, then to Constellation Road (Wickenburg, AZ) Which then offers two choices. Going north leads to the North end of the Box Canyon Hassayampa…
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Total Miles
9.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Corral to Corral Cutover

This primarily sandy cutover passes between the mountains and runs from one corral to the next. It's narrow with plenty of tight Mesquite trees just dying to add some Arizona pinstripes to your paint job.…
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Total Miles
7.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Sp

Cactus Express

A quick, short little section of trail that connects Lake Pleasant road to Saguaro Way trail, which leads to a shooting area. There is nothing terribly technical about this route aside from a couple of…
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Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Saguaro Way

This section of trail weaves its way through the beautiful desert and leads to a shooting area at the North end. It also connects to a handful of other trails. There are a couple of…
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Total Miles
2.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp

AT&T Frontage Cutover

The perfect route to get back into the desert. This mostly wide, somewhat graded trail leads from the I-10 freeway back into BLM land. It begins as a washboard with plenty of room to pass…
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Total Miles
6.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Sp

Trail 9949

This short section of trail is more narrow and therefore is only open to small utility SXS and smaller. No full-size trucks or SXS's. Nothing too technical on this trail, aside from one section with…
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Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp

Old Alamo Road

This trail runs from Highway 93 all the way to the shores of beautiful Alamo Lake. There are plenty of dispersed camping spots on either end and if you prefer a more established campground, those…
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Total Miles
31.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Hillbilly

This trail winds through the Little Harquahala Mountains, starting from I-10, and ending near the town of Vicksburg on Hwy 60. It was given its name because of the hills and valleys you go up…
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Total Miles
28.8
Tech Rating
3 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Indian Fort

A stone wall fort on a small flat-top hill just off the Table Mesa North Access Road. Drive to the base of the hill and scramble up an easy climb to enter the fort. Commanding…
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Total Miles
1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

AZPT Hovatter to Vicksburg Road

This connector trail leads from the Arizona Peace Trail across the desert toward Vicksburg Rd. There are a few options to refuel and restock at the truck stops. The eastern section of the trail is…
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Total Miles
6.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Sp

Gas-line Scratcher

This alternate to the AZPT section may be a more direct route, but it's not more traveled. There are narrow sections with angry Mesquite Trees that will inflict paint damage or clothing damage regardless of…
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Total Miles
6.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Wi / Sp