Dirt Bike Trails Near Payson, Arizona

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East Verde River

This is a scenic route suitable for any stock 4x4. There are no obstacles to tackle on this one, there are a few creek crossings that could be deeper depending on the time of year.…
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Total Miles
14.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Pyeatt Draw

You can opt out of the most difficult section of this trail by taking the forest road the winds along the wash. An obstacle called "The Filter" causes many drivers to exit at that point.…
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Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
8 Difficult
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Rim Road West

Epic vistas and endless possibilities! This trail offers little to no technical challenge but makes up for this with some of the most amazing views in the state. This is a great route for beginners…
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Total Miles
41.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Strawberry to Pine

This dirt trail connects the small mountain towns of Pine and Strawberry. It starts smoothly from Pine but is a series of switchbacks gaining some elevation. There is a popular hiking trail a quarter mile…
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Total Miles
6.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

504 to Pole Line

This trail is quite rutted. Evidence of large machinery recently grading the trail was apparent, and lots of rocks lined each side of the trail. This area can get pretty muddy in spring and after…
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Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

FR 167

Starting from the north side, you will climb a ridge and then drop down a rutted descent, into and across a rocky wash, and back up the other side. As you reach the backside, this…
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Total Miles
5.4
Tech Rating
4 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Fa

Twin Buttes Hiking Trail

This generally easy dirt trail leads to the Twin Buttes hiking trailhead. There is a pull-out parking area that can accommodate about five cars. This area is open range, and the trail passes next to…
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Total Miles
4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Mount Ord

Mount Ord is almost 7,000 feet in elevation, so it is a nice place to be in hot weather, but not so good after a cold winter storm. This trip is an enjoyable way to…
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Total Miles
16.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Sunflower Mine

Take a fairly difficult Jeep trail to an abandoned mercury mine in the rugged Mazatal Mountains between Mesa and Payson. The section below the mine is somewhat easier than above the mine. We prefer to…
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Total Miles
13.4
Tech Rating
8 Difficult
Best Time
Su / Fa

Tow Strap

This trail is relatively easy in a stock truck. It is a steep incline of 2.5 miles. Closer to the top, the trail has a couple of tight technical turns. Once you reach the top…
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Total Miles
12.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Campe Verde to Happy Jack Loop

Super fun trail from Verde Ranch RV resort to Happy Jack, AZ. This trail has all types of terrain-from mountain to high desert to rocks. The route is best driven in spring and fall, as…
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Total Miles
86
Tech Rating
4 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Fa

Fossil Creek to Irving Trailhead

This 2.7-mile point-to-point trail takes you from Fossil Creek to the Irving Trailhead. There are several parking areas along this trail. Parking in these areas requires a permit from 1 April to 1 October. The…
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Total Miles
2.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Mongollon Mesa Trail (9D)

This 9.8-mile point-to-point trail runs along power lines on the Mongollon Mesa. Enjoy great views of the Coconino Forest and the Fossil Spring Wilderness area. This trail does become muddy during the winter and spring…
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Total Miles
9.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

9D Technical Trail

This 3.7-mile point-to-point trail starts in the Fossil Creek Valley and climbs up to Mogollon Mesa. Enjoy the sweeping views of the Fossil Creek area. This trail is only open from October to April. This…
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Total Miles
3.5
Tech Rating
4 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Fa

Clear Creek Canyon(FR-677)

This trail begins off Highway 260 (approximately 6 miles east of the 87), and ends at the southern rim of West Clear Creek Canyon. There is no sign for the turnoff. If you blink, you…
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Total Miles
3.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

FDR 848

Very scenic drive with a great view and access to the nice creek to cool off in on hot days. This trail is very mild and friendly to all high clearance vehicles up to the…
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Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Fossil Creek to Child's Campground

This 6.5-mile point-to-point trail takes you from Fossil Creek to the Childs dispersed camping area along the Verde River. The last drop down to the campground is rated 2 Easy, do not attempt with a…
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Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Fossil Creek Road

This 13.2-mile point-to-point trail goes to the Fossil Creek Area. The trail ends in a permit-required area from 1 April to 1 October and must be purchased prior to arriving. There are several hiking trails…
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Total Miles
13.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Ike Tank Trail

This 6.5-mile out-and-back trail takes you to the Ike Tank. Enjoy views of the Verde River Valley as you drive along the spine of the Ridgeline, there is also a very serene overlook at the…
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Total Miles
4.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Buzzard Tank Trail

This 3.5-mile out-and-back trail takes you up to Buzzards Tank, which gives you a great overlook of the Verde River. This is a technical trail that requires a modified vehicle, recommend 33" tires and a…
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Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
4 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Bloody Basin Road

Take a day to drive this road through Agua Fria National Monument. You'll want to take your time to explore the archaeological sites and petroglyphs along the way. You can also enjoy a warm soak…
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Total Miles
35.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Backway to Sheeps Bridge

This trail provides a shorter alternative to Bloody Basin road for viewing Sheeps Bridge and the Hot Springs. This trail is not overly difficult, but there are a few water crossings. The second crossing across…
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Total Miles
11.2
Tech Rating
5 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Cedar Flats

This trail starts a couple miles East of Camp Verde off highway 260, and follows Cedar Flats Rd (FSR 214) to the Apache Maid lookout tower. The first 11 miles are on a mild and…
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Total Miles
31.1
Tech Rating
5 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Alder Canyon

This is a fast, fun trail that doesn't get much use. It is wide enough for all vehicles, but ideal for SXSs, ATVs and dirtbikes. There are some tight spots and fallen trees, but nothing…
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Total Miles
3.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Water Draw Loop

This is a loop trail with a moderate hill at east end. It is flat and winding through the trees. It's a fairly easy ride, but the hill is a bit more difficult.
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
4 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Waters Draw

This is a quick, fun and easy trail. You'll get a good variety of views with wooded trails, open power line roads, and a large rocky area next to the trail. There is a loop…
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Total Miles
0.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Mud Springs

Mud Springs is a very bumpy, somewhat scratchy, quite challenging in-and-out Jeep trail. The challenging areas are a lot of fun with a well-equipped Jeep, but the bumpy road will turn off many people. This…
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Total Miles
7.1
Tech Rating
7 Difficult
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

A-Cross Road

A-Cross Road is an easy 25-mile drive through the beautiful countryside north of Roosevelt Lake. There are wide open views of Roosevelt Lake and the Sierra Ancha Mountains for the entire length. One area of…
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Total Miles
24
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Wi / Fa

Quartz Ridge

A 5-mile, in-and-out trail with outcrops of quartz, nice scenery, and a saguaro with 4 crests.Even when saguaro cacti grow in their normal form, they rarely grow symmetrically. Saguaros sometimes grow in odd or misshapen…
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Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
5 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Cherry Creek

This beautiful Jeep trail starts in the heat of the desert near Globe and ends in the cool ponderosa pines at 6,000 feet south of Young. You will pass by rugged mountain ridges, interesting rock…
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Total Miles
38.6
Tech Rating
4 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Wi / Fa