Miles of trails in AZ

[desdawg]

Lately I have been riding in the Sand Tank Mountain area of the Sonoran Desert National Monument. This is also known as the Barry M. Goldwater Range and has been used for many years by the Air Force and as a pilot training area. I access the area from the Vekol Valley and ride from my home south of Maricopa to that area. It makes it nice for me as I don't have to do any trailering. There are miles of trails in that area. In an effort to become familiar I have been trying to cover as many as possible. I see a new one and ride it, in that process find two more new trails that I haven't ridden yet. It is seemingly endless. In order to legally access that area a permit is required. I obtain mine at the Air base south of Gila Bend. The permit is free and requires watching a 20-30 minute video about the area. I have to sign a hold harmless agreement with the USAF stating that in the event I get myself in a problem out there I won't hold them responsible.
I have been enjoying exploring the new to me area. I haven't been able to find any maps showing all of the trails. They are all marked with BLM signs and have road numbers but they don't show up on any maps I have been able to obtain. I travel armed as it has been noted that the smugglers from Mexico use this area as corridor for their travel. I rarely encounter another human being in my travels. I have seen a couple of mountain lions and a Bobcat however.
I am always looking for riding companions so if anyone is interested in exploring the area let me know.

[Thor]

Please post some pics of the riding area if you have them. It would be fun to see. Our plans are to relocate to the Prescott AZ by the end of 2013. I always love to see different areas so I know what to look forward too.

[Ghost Rider]

Try calling the forest service or parks dept and see if either one of them has trail maps of that area. If there all marked with BLM signs then you should be able to find a map somewere.

[SledRacer112]

I was in Las Vegas 2 weeks ago and we took a ride out through AZ and south eastern Cali...I was amazed with the area and completely blown away by some of the areas that you can ride out there! It seems like you could just cruise around out there forever! I saw some people riding some dunes and some of the big flats...I was jealous! We still have 3 feet of snow on the ground so we won't be riding up here until at least probably the end of March...possibly well into April if the weather doesn't break.

[desdawg]

Originally Posted by Thor

Please post some pics of the riding area if you have them. It would be fun to see. Our plans are to relocate to the Prescott AZ by the end of 2013. I always love to see different areas so I know what to look forward too.

I have some pictures if I can figure out how to post them. but i should tell you this area and prescott are not similar.

[desdawg]

Originally Posted by Ghost Rider

Try calling the forest service or parks dept and see if either one of them has trail maps of that area. If there all marked with BLM signs then you should be able to find a map somewere.

I thought so too. I have BLM maps entitled Surface Management Status that I ordered from the Internet and they just don't show the trails. I have been updating them in the field. I am sure someone must have good maps. Our tax dollars are not working very well in this area. I had to try this emoticon out, sorry.

[desdawg]

Originally Posted by SledRacer112

I was in Las Vegas 2 weeks ago and we took a ride out through AZ and south eastern Cali...I was amazed with the area and completely blown away by some of the areas that you can ride out there! It seems like you could just cruise around out there forever! I saw some people riding some dunes and some of the big flats...I was jealous! We still have 3 feet of snow on the ground so we won't be riding up here until at least probably the end of March...possibly well into April if the weather doesn't break.

Well Sled Racer the trails are seemingly endless. The Goldwater Range consists of over a million acres. It extends all of the way from my neighborhood to Yuma and pretty much from I-8 to the Mexican border . So it is huge. C'mon we will go for a ride while you are waiting for your snow to melt.

[The Cheshire Gang]

Riding Arizona - One Trail At A Time

Before I went military and was transplated to Europe and now Arkansas, this was my home.

Awsome folks and a ton of information

[desdawg]

It is warming up so I suppose that I am about done for this season. The BLM Rangers have been out in force recently. I rode through the area on my Harley last weekend and counted 5 different BLM vehicles along I-8 in that area. Not too mention a Border patrol vehicle. This area is posted as a smugglers route but I rarely see anyone when I am out riding. I always travel armed just in case

[Jack1000]

We will be in Tucson in march and I will have my wife with me. Any reccomendations for easy senic tails.