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Route Information
Route Description
Download
This download consists of GEOJson, GPX, and KML files.
Get your rig ready and make sure you’re prepared for this 400 mile plus journey to the most beautiful overlooks of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. You will travel through Arizonas deepest sandstone canyons as you make your way to the Granet Gorge.
This collection consists of maintained county roads and highly technical 4×4 trails. You will find several sections that require technical driving skills and recovery equipment. Vehicle failure is possible on these routes and could be devastating. A vehicle recovery could take 4 days or more, so be prepared for anything.
There are over 1,500 miles of trails in this collection that provide many route options. These routes are not maintained, and there are no services for hundreds of miles. You will need to pack in a full tank of extra fuel for each vehicle plus enough supplies for a minimum of 5 days. Do not underestimate this area. Climbing in and out of deep canyons will use more fuel than anticipated.
Statistics
| Difficulty | Expert |
| Miles | 450+ |
| Time | 5-6 days |
| Land | BLM, NPS, AZTL |
| Elevation | 1300-7000 Ft. |
Destinations
There are endless opportunities for adventure along these routes. Nearly a hundred old ranches lay scattered throughout the Parashant National Mount, along with several other relics of the pioneer days.
There are four National Parks in this collection. The only area requiring a fee is the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The Gold Butte National Monument and the Parashant National Monument do not require an entrance fee.
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park is accessible from Mollies Nipple. However, you will need to hike approximately 2 miles to visit the Mollies Nipple overlook.
Requirements
This collection consists of about 1,500 miles of dirt roads. The shortest distance required is 400 miles of dirt. This route will require a minimum of 4 days to complete but can take up to 5 or 6 days, depending on destination. Requires expert driving, route finding, and problem-solving skills. You will find boulders 12 inches in diameter or more on some sections.
Trail Write-ups
Parashant 1 day 1
Parashant 1 day 2
Parashant 2
Parashant 3 is coming soon!
Also, visit the Parashant National Park website to read more about road conditions.
Important information
A $25 entrance fee is required to visit the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Visit the National Park website to learn more.
DO NOT DRIVE INTO THE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK! There is no gate and only signs to indicate the National Park boundary on your way to Mollies Nipple overlook. You must park at the boundary and hike the last 2 miles to the overlook. No fee is required to hike into the Grand Canyon National Park.
Hi ranger Todd!
There is no cell phone service anywhere along these trails. Cell phone service is currently only available at the canyon overlooks if you use the Verizon network.
Photos
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400 4×4 trails and 1500 points of interest in Arizona
I’m sure a lot of you have seen our adventure map. It’s one of the biggest reasons folks visit our website. It’s an amazing collection of offroad trails throughout Arizona, and all of them were recorded during our travels. Arizona is full of offroad adventure, and by tracking our every move, we have developed a collection that takes you to nearly every corner of the state. Whenever I hit the dirt, the GPS track starts recording, and we have always tried to find the best way to share them with you.
First, it was the files tab in the Facebook group, then google drive with google maps to view the tracks and I thought that was awesome. But unfortunately, it was a lot of work for us to maintain and didn’t work as planned. Then we tried Caltopo, and it was horrible. The map was unresponsive and nearly impossible to download.
But now, it’s a whole other ballgame.
A whole new Arizona 4×4 adventure trail map
Fooling around with GIS software for the last couple of years, I have figured out how to manipulate and build GPX files from scratch, and, in reality, this has been preparing me for this new map project all along. Using the software, I can add and remove attributes such as milage, max elevation, average speed, hyperlinks, HTML code, and other data to show in a dialog box when clicked. We can also use these attributes to style the tracks based on their values.
Using ArcGIS, we can now provide online, interactive maps with real-time data paired with our GPS track and POI collection. This means our new Adventure The map shows current weather, current radar, current fire conditions, all updated every 15 minutes. Furthermore, ArcGIS offers an easy way to download the contents of the map on our ArcGIS profile. Therefore, we can direct you to our profile under a certain category to find the links.
We do have our Adventure Map page here on the website. You can always find this map in the navigation menu at the top of the screen. But for your enjoyment, we will embed the map below, along with a link to the downloads.
May you have a blessed weekend. Happy Trails!
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The long-awaited adventure around the four corners
The everlasting desire to see something new and experience life from a different perspective will drive us towards more and more adventure. Our time in the backcountry, no matter where we are, gives us a chance to escape the pressure of daily life. Despite the negativity in the world today, we find ourselves escaping to our own dimension—a world where only nature judges and deep canyons keep you imprisoned. The journey isn’t only an adventure. It’s a time of kinship and camaraderie with a small group of friends.
PLEASE BECOME A SUPPORTING MEMBER TODAY.
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The crested saguaro cactus is an attractive destination
Among the thousands of saguaro cactuses in Arizona, there are a few who stand out from the rest. Most humans give them no attention as we pass by daily. Maybe the saguaro blends in with the rest. Or perhaps they are just disregarded as a freak of nature.
Continue reading
PLEASE BECOME A SUPPORTING MEMBER TODAY.
It is now more important than ever for motorized users to defend motorized access. For just 10 cents a day you can become part of the solution. Your support will help us meet our goals and continue to challenge the radical green agenda.
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Escape the crowds and go camping in the Arizona backcountry.
I have been asked many times, “where is the best place to camp?” My response is always the same, Arizona. Our excess of public land allows us to camp nearly anywhere in the state. Not including private property, most areas are open for camping. With thousands of miles of backroads, the possibilities are endless.
In this article, I will attempt to highlight every single camping opportunity in Arizona. My idea is to provide the ultimate resource guide for both primitive and designated camping. Below you will find information on who, what, where, and when. I hope this article will give you a starting point for finding your next adventure. Bookmark this article because you might want to come back. Continue reading
PLEASE BECOME A SUPPORTING MEMBER TODAY.
It is now more important than ever for motorized users to defend motorized access. For just 10 cents a day you can become part of the solution. Your support will help us meet our goals and continue to challenge the radical green agenda.
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By far the best 4×4 adventure in Arizona.
The Grand Canyon is one of the largest canyons in the world. Most people will never get a chance to experience most of this natural wonder. To reach many of the canyons overlooks, you must have a highly modified 4×4, superb driving skills, days to spend, and a full tank of extra fuel. Don’t forget your camera, because you’re going to need it!
Continue readingPLEASE BECOME A SUPPORTING MEMBER TODAY.
It is now more important than ever for motorized users to defend motorized access. For just 10 cents a day you can become part of the solution. Your support will help us meet our goals and continue to challenge the radical green agenda.
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Day 2 of our 250-mile expedition through Parashant National Monument
We finally made it to the north rim of the Grand Canyon after a joyful ride through the Hidden Mountains. Huge canyons, rocky mountain shelf roads, and thousand-foot sheer cliffs make you feel incredibly small in this enormous world.
A nice easy ride to Parashant Canyon
We woke at Hidden Spring after sleeping for nearly 10 hours. If you’ve been paying attention, you should have read about day one. Our lack of sleep the previous day was exhausting, and no one stayed up late. I was excited to wake up in the middle of Hidden Canyon. As Arizona’s last frontier, the Parashant National Monument is an unforgettable experience, and everybody should witness its beauty. I spent my morning walking around snapping photographs.
I’m usually the first one packed up and ready to go. My “overland” kit consists of a small bbq grill, ice chest, sleeping bag, and a fishing pole. I keep it simple because that’s all I need.
We started the day off like every other Adventure. A wonderful communal breakfast with some good friends. It was nearly 10 a.m., and we had overslept. To fulfill our plans and reach our destination, we must leave camp as soon as possible. The plan for day two was to reach the Grand Canyon and set up camp right at the edge.
First in line, and a clear site ahead, I lead the group up and out of Hidden Canyon. Hidden Canyon tightens up and starts gaining elevation quickly as you reach the top of Shivwits Plateau. Just ahead, you’ll find another historical cabin at Dewdrop Spring near the base of Poverty Mountain. Just southeast of Poverty Mountain is our next destination, Parashant Canyon.
Whitmore Point right on the edge
Continuing east on a fast-paced trail, Parashant Canyon becomes visible with its distinct red rock walls. After reaching a private ranch, we head south, paralleling Parashant Canyon. The trial gets interesting with deep ruts that nearly scrap your mirror on the grade. Shortly after, a sign greets us to the Parashant National Monument.
The trail evens out, and signs point you towards Whitmore Point. Along the way, several side trails take you to different overlooks. We stayed on the main track and found an incredible overlook just feet away. Our group took the opportunity to enjoy the view, and we got a great group photo. It was just a small part of what we were about to witness.
Whitmore point at the Grand Canyon is stunning!
Posted by Arizona Backcountry Explorers on Monday, August 26, 2019
Best campsite in the world! Words can’t describe this weekends adventure! Stay tuned for our story! www.AZBackcountryExplorers.com
Posted by Arizona Backcountry Explorers on Sunday, June 30, 2019
Camping at Whitmore Point
At Whitmore Point, we found a beautiful campsite that gave us a nearly panoramic view of the gorge that’s only beginning. Fifteen hundred feet separated us from the seemingly large desert floor below. Which in its self contains large gorges and hundreds of square miles. Objects that appear to be close sport a blue tint as if they are miles away. In terms of sea level, we sit nearly a mile above the Colorado River.
We can see the original destination, Mollies Nipple, and the trail that takes us there from our campsite. From Trail Canyon, it’s another 100 miles in and out. We shall return for Episode 2 with an extra full tank of fuel. This November, we will set off on episode two with a mission to see the sparkling waters of the Colorado River.
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Before I made the trek into Parashant, I had no idea of the beauty that was just hours away from my home. It’s easy to underestimate the Parashant. I have seen so many pictures of the Grand Canyon; I feel like I’ve been there a million times. But there is nothing like camping right on the edge of the canyon.
An incredible route through the Parashant National Monument
Genuine Packages Overlander Bundle
We started around 8 A.M. With just 3 hours of sleep. Waiting for the trail leader to arrive kept everyone up all night. I had a cooling fan go out on my way up. After acquiring the part and changing it out, I was hours late. Close communication kept everything smooth.
Smittybilt Overlander Xl Roof Top Tent – $1099.99
Continuing down the trail, we reach Jacobs Well just in time for lunch. Everyone gathered near an old cabin for a quick bite to eat. I took a walk around to look at the old relics in the area. An old windmill, a couple of unknown pieces of machinery, and an old cabin are scattered across the field. It appears to be used by ranchers but located on public land.
Our campsite was located at yet another old cabin. We set up camp at Hidden Spring just outside an old corral. While settling in for the night, we witnessed a beautiful sunset from the bottom of Hidden Canyon. With little sleep, I decided it was a good time to call it a night.
PLEASE BECOME A SUPPORTING MEMBER TODAY.
It is now more important than ever for motorized users to defend motorized access. For just 10 cents a day you can become part of the solution. Your support will help us meet our goals and continue to challenge the radical green agenda.
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Okay folks, mark your calendars!
Episode 2 of the Parashant National Monument Backcountry Expedition.
After a wonderful, festive night of entertainment at Parashant Canyon, we will navigate Parashant and Andrus canyons to our original destination of Mollies Nipple. If time allows, We will spend two nights at Mollies Nipple before our departure.
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| View of Parashant Canyon from episode 1. Our trail can be seen at the bottom of the canyon. |
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Itinerary
Arrive at Hells Hole camp around 4 pm.
PLEASE BECOME A SUPPORTING MEMBER TODAY.
It is now more important than ever for motorized users to defend motorized access. For just 10 cents a day you can become part of the solution. Your support will help us meet our goals and continue to challenge the radical green agenda.
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A great resource to find your next adventure.
If you don’t have a 4wd to get into the deep backcountry of your state, then you might like this map. On this map, you will find various places to visit on Bureau of Land Management land. This information is provided directly from BLM’s website.
This map has everything from hiking trails and facilities to kiosk locations, wilderness boundaries and campgrounds. Not just for Arizona, but all BLM public lands across the US and Alaska.
Many places are accessible by car and suitable for RV’s. It’s your responsibility to do your research before making any decisions.
Sorry, no legend or downloads. Enjoy!
PLEASE BECOME A SUPPORTING MEMBER TODAY.
It is now more important than ever for motorized users to defend motorized access. For just 10 cents a day you can become part of the solution. Your support will help us meet our goals and continue to challenge the radical green agenda.
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