overland

Phoenix locals - Oct 24-26 - Section part of the Sedona Backcountry route?

Bascal

Bascal

Weekend Warrior
Trail Ambassador
Joined
Jan 2, 2025
Messages
57
Location
Phoenix, AZ
I don't really want to make a whole event out of this because, quite honestly, I don't know how far I will get into the route, plus it's a bit short notice. I've just got a 3 day weekend coming up Oct 24-26 and I have been itching to go exploring again.

Note: Plans have changed due to the factors discussed below (and flooding from recent monsoons). We are now planning to section part of the Sedona Backcountry route.

My tentative plan is to start up by Globe, AZ. Drive in Thursday evening after work and camp around Pinal Peak, then get up Friday morning and start the route backwards. This way if we don't complete it over the long weekend, we can come back sometime over the holidays/new year to do the rest without worrying about the snow and cold at higher elevations.

Route info:
Trip length = 144 miles / 2.5-5 days
Avg technical rating = 3
Peak technical rating = 5
High clearance 4x4 recommend

I wouldn't mind a trail buddy or two if this sounds interesting to anybody in the Phoenix area. Feel free to reach out here or via DM.
 
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are the technical ratings out of 10 or 5? im in a 4runner on 32's. front locker, winch and sliders. just did the Ozarks Overland Adv Trail solo.

im more of an overlander that does some crawling if necessary vs looking for rock crawling.
 
Cardp17_-6468 said:
are the technical ratings out of 10 or 5? im in a 4runner on 32's. front locker, winch and sliders. just did the Ozarks Overland Adv Trail solo.

im more of an overlander that does some crawling if necessary vs looking for rock crawling.
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That rating comes from the OTG Gila Traverse route info copied below:
Avg Technical Rating: 3
Peak Technical Rating: 5

Typical Terrain: This track has a reasonable amount of steep and rocky jeep tracks (expect to be traveling at reduced speed), along with many graded dirt roads and minimal connecting pavement.
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Ben also has a write-up with a breakdown of the technical ratings found here: https://www.overlandtrailguides.com/trail-rating-system

Looking into it a bit more though, sections like Queen Creek Canyon are rated a 6/10 in OnX and a 5/10 in TrailsOffroad. We could detour through Superior, AZ and do the Montana Mountain loop on OnX instead. That is marked as a 4/10 in OnX. The southern half of the route is a bit more of a question mark. Trails like Telegraph Canyon/Muffler Mountain are rated as a 3/10 in TrailsOffroad but a 7/10 in OnX, and there are a lot more trails marked 5+ on both sites once you get down to the Box Canyon OHV area. I suspect washouts have changed the area, causing different apps to rate things differently, and we've had some decent rains this season, so I really don't know what it's going to look like until I'm out there. On that note, if there's rain anywhere in the area, I'm calling this off. I'm not messing around with late monsoons in the canyons.

My backup plan is to head up to Sedona to section the western part of the Sedona Backcountry trail (the more backcountry part). Basically from the Edge of the World trail south of Flagstaff -> Cottonwood, AZ. That is almost entirely green trails on all sites with some moderate ratings for certain sections. If you'd rather do that, I'm down to just change plans now. It'll be a bit colder up in Flag/Sedona (lows in the 30s/40s are possible in Oct) but most of the upper parts of Sedona are more maintained forest service roads. The harder parts of the Sedona route that are discussed in the route info are the named pink Jeep tour trails closer to the city center, which I would be skipping because I've done most of them. I think you could still do Outlaw and Schnebly on 32s if we have time though. In my experience camping and day tripping up to that area, the worst parts are just the small rock gardens that feel like they never end. AKA: The types of trails that aren't necessarily difficult nor have big obstacles/boulders, but you just have to crawl along in 4lo so you don't get bounced to death.
 
Definitely down for Sedona if youd like to switch it up. (dont have to if youre set on the Gila). Have done Schnebly a couple times along with Broken Arrow and Devil's Staircase. No issues. Love it up there. You ok w dogs?
 
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Cardp17_-6468 said:
Definitely down for Sedona if youd like to switch it up. (dont have to if youre set on the Gila). Have done Schnebly a couple times along with Broken Arrow and Devil's Staircase. No issues. Love it up there. You ok w dogs?
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I'm not picky at all and I love dogs! So let's do the Sedona Backcountry route. Want to plan on meeting up near Flag on Friday morning?
 
Bascal said:
Definitely wanting to switch things up now with all the flooding... My gf said one of her hairdresser friends who lives in Globe had two salons shut down from flooding with no idea when they'll be reopened. I hope the community can recover quickly.

For those unaware: https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/search-and-rescue-underway-after-severe-flooding-in-globe
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i was up in the white mountains this wknd. drove up through globe/miami (beautiful drive). they must have been hit hard Thursday night. mud everywhere.

raining hard when i arrived but dried up enough to set up camp. rained a bit that night and the next but nothing of concern. amazing spot overlooking the black river/canyon.

had no idea places got hit so hard. happy i chose to drive hm through payson vs globe.
 
Cardp17_-6468 said:
great trip, great route and a great time!
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Awesome time! If anybody is curious, here's a link to the my Google Album w/ my favorite pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NCk2HRY9WpP1nwSF7

I will need to go back through Gaia to remember where we encountered those blocked spur trails from downed trees on the OTG Sedona route. Something makes me doubt the FS will get out there before the snow hits...
 
Bascal said:
Awesome time! If anybody is curious, here's a link to the my Google Album w/ my favorite pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NCk2HRY9WpP1nwSF7

I will need to go back through Gaia to remember where we encountered those blocked spur trails from downed trees on the OTG Sedona route. Something makes me doubt the FS will get out there before the snow hits...
Click to expand...
Great Pics! Thanks for sharing.
 
Bascal said:
Awesome time! If anybody is curious, here's a link to the my Google Album w/ my favorite pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NCk2HRY9WpP1nwSF7

I will need to go back through Gaia to remember where we encountered those blocked spur trails from downed trees on the OTG Sedona route. Something makes me doubt the FS will get out there before the snow hits...
Click to expand...
marked them!

34.98644, -111.87141
35.00510, -111.90910

thx for the pics! cheers!
 
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