South Mariposa to Turtleback

Trail Overview

This trail can be picked up from the end of the street at South Mariposa in Wickenburg. Stay right of the barriers and drive up into Arizona State Land Trust land. The trail has an excellent viewpoint from above before dropping down a steep hill into the wash with a hard left. It's then a quick right up into the wash that will zigzag back and forth up at the canyon. This is a very tight, narrow wash with lots of bushes to scratch the sides and roof of your rig. There are a few rocks to navigate. It's definitely a better trail for side-by-side and smaller vehicles. There is a tight uphill at the end of the wash. The trail continues up and down the hills with beautiful views as you crest the tops. There are lots of off-camber and rutted-out sections to navigate. It drops back into a wash for a while that is slightly bigger than the first one. The hill climb out of the wash is technical and leads to several more technical hills, climbs, and descents. Some are rocky and off-camber, some are washed out, and some have steep transitions at the bottom. Eventually, the trail will drop into Turtleback Wash. This is Arizona State Land Trust and permits are required. AT&T cell service is good in the neighborhood at the beginning of the trail and nonexistent the further in you go. Be sure to plan ahead and download your offline maps before you get out here. Also, being in the desert, be sure to bring plenty of extra water and supplies in case the unexpected happens.

Photos of South Mariposa to Turtleback

Want to see more?

Login

Difficulty

The technical rating for this trail is for the more complex later sections of the trail. There are steep rocky hill climbs and descents. Off-camber sections require careful line choice and there's some softer sand here and there. Some of the hills are rutted and washed out, making for a more exciting drive. Be aware of sharp rocks that could cause sidewall damage.

History

This route is on Arizona State 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.

Technical Rating