6 Arizona 4×4 Trails to Explore

Arizona, home of The Grand Canyon, offers optimal conditions for getting your heart pumping and your wheels dusty. The cacti are towering, the rocks are red, and the sun beats down with a scorching fist. If you’re looking to get into some epic desert shenanigans, these 6 Arizona 4×4 trails are for you.

Apache Trail (AZ-88)
Apache Junction to Roosevelt Lake
President Roosevelt remarked upon the Apache trail after visiting to see the large dam named after him. “The Apache Trail combines the grandeur of the Alps, the glory of the Rockies, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon, and then adds an indefinable something none of the others have. To me, it is the most awe-inspiring and most sublimely beautiful.” Seems like Apache has something you

Cinder Hills OHV Area
Flagstaff
The geology buffs will love this one just as much as the extreme offroaders. Cinder Hills is named for the “dunes” made from volcanic cinder that cover the area. The landscape has a fascinating geological history that has shaped this trail into something distinctly beautiful. However, it is unforgiving and will rip pieces off your vehicle with no warning. Just ask the victims of “Hundred Dollar Hill”.

Box Canyon
Florence
If Arizona had a face, Box Canyon would be the smile. The trail passes through a narrow canyon sprinkled with acarosporaceae fungi, a vibrant green fungi that looks spectacular against the desert rocks. Beyond the canyon, you can also find petroglyphs and old stagecoach stops. Exploring Box Canyon is not only a delight, it’s also an access point to many other trails in Florence Junction.

Rocker Panel Pass
Tonto National Forest
From the names of the local flora to the features of the trail, Rocker Panel Pass is playful all around. It’s home to teddy bear cholla cacti, prickly pear cacti, and brittle bushes and it’s full of boulders to crawl. Make sure you’ve bring a modified vehicle and a buddy to spot you.

Log Corral
Fountain Hills
This trail doesn’t just sound like a Splash Mountain-type amusement park ride, it feels like one. Log Corral follows a charming little creek and crosses frequently. You’ll be splashing your way upstream to a high ridge that overlooks the eastern shore of Lake Bartlett. At the end of the trail, you’ll find the perfect escape into nature with remote camping and fishing sites.

Chimney Rock
Coronado National Forest
We’re ending strong with this one, check your faint hearts at the door. Chimney Rock is one of the lesser-known Coronado National Forest trails, but it sure isn’t lesser in any other way. The difficult path of Chimney Rock demands four-wheel drive, rock rails, skid plates, and all the focus you can muster. It’s full of rocky climbs, water holes, boulder crawls, deep V washouts, thick bushes, and high desert oak scrubland. Be ready to get up close and personal with nature.

Pack your bags, rev those engines, and beep those horns. Your Arizona adventure awaits.

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