71 Powerlines to the Railroad

Trail Overview

This trail is technically an easy out-and-back trail following the powerlines off Highway 71. There are multiple gates to open and close along the route. The western end of the trail is wide and easy. It has several large dispersed campsites close to the highway. There are a few small sand washes to drop in and out of. The trail's southern end is narrower and can be very muddy when wet. There are long, boggy mud holes to get through in some sections that cannot be bypassed. The middle section of the trail goes up and over some small hills. On one side of the hill is the old Ritter Dam. It's a large man-made dirt dam that was used for livestock and native wildlife. This area gets very hot in the summer months. Bring extra water and supplies if traveling in the hot months. Keep an eye out for rattlesnakes. This trail is on state trust land and permits are required.

Photos of 71 Powerlines to the Railroad

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Difficulty

This route primarily consists of minor erosion washouts and sand washes to cross. On the trail's southern end, there are two narrow but deep washouts to watch out for. They will swallow a tire at speed and cause potential suspension damage. In the winter and wet months, sections of this trail get very muddy, creating some long mud bogs, and not all of them have bypasses.

History

This route is on Arizona State Land Trust Land. This land requires a yearly permit that can be purchased and printed online. The permits allow certain recreational activities, including camping, bicycling, bird watching, GPS-based recreational activities (geocaching), hiking, horseback riding, off-highway vehicle (OHV) usage, photography, picnicking, and sightseeing. There are a few permit options depending on your use type: An Individual Permit is $15 and grants a single person access to State Trust Land for the above-listed purposes. The permit is good for one year from the date of purchase. A Family Permit costs $20 and grants a family unit (two adults and their children under 18) access to State Trust Land for the above-listed activities. The permit is good for one year from the date of purchase. A Small-Group Permit costs $15 and grants up to 19 people access to State Trust Land locations for five consecutive days for certain types of non-commercial recreational activities, including the above-listed activities. The permit is good for one year from the date of purchase. A Large-group Permit is for a group larger than 20 people. You must apply for this size separately online and be approved for group activities of this size. Responsibilities: Permittee(s) shall respect the land and adhere to the terms and conditions of the permit at all times. Permittee(s) shall comply with all federal, state, county, and municipal laws and ordinances while on State Trust Land. The Permittee(s) shall have the permit with them at all times while recreating on State Trust Land and have it readily available if stopped by law enforcement or any State Land Department staff. The Permittee(s) shall not remove natural products from or visit archaeological sites on State Trust Land. The Permittee(s) shall not create or leave any trash on State Trust Land, except for geocaches placed according to ASLD. The Permittee(s) shall not discharge a firearm on State Trust Land except pursuant to lawful and licensed hunting. An ASLD Recreational Permit is not required for individuals with a valid hunting and fishing license who are actively pursuing game or fish. The Permittee(s) shall only participate in OHV usage on State Trust Land with an ASLD Recreational Permit and an OHV decal or license plate. The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is the issuing agency for the OHV decal, certificates of title, registrations, and license plates.

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