[CindyC]

Has anyone done the 'backroad' to Crown King? If so could you tell me how to access it and how would you rate it? Thanks!

[joe bartels]

From Prescott it's Senator Highway all the way

From I-17 - Take 1-17 north out of Phoenix. Pass Black Canyon City up to the Bumble Bee Exit just after mile marker 248. Follow FR259 all the way


It's doable by car either way. My father has done it in a porsche sports car. It's rough, but can be done.

[chihiggs]

By backroad do you mean the one leaving from the northwest side of Lake Pleasant? I've driven in off the I-17 through Bumble Bee and Cleator (sp?). Easy enough in any vechicle. Kind of rough when I do it on my motorcycle.

But if you do mean the route from the backside of Pleasant; yeah I've gone that route too. It is used by ATV's and dirt bikes for the most part. Plenty of Jeeps and trucks do it too. I don't think it would be all that fun to hike as it is a road. Pretty scary at times on a dirt bike because you can't see around some corners and you are on the edge of a cliff. I've come skidding into and around Jeep front bumpers. When I go up the backside with friends we take quads and I ride a Kawasaki KX 500 to do some camping and head into Crown King to play at the bars. Be sure to go in the general store as the fudge is amazing. It truely compares to Mackinaw Island fudge.

Back to hiking though.... I do not know the exact distance but on my dirt bike it takes about 2-3 hours depending on how many flat tires. It is very rocky and sometimes steep. There are some amazing views but I have heard it is roughly 30 miles from the northwest side of Pleasant. I believe it's an old jeep trail that is used for recreation now. I haven't seen anybody walking it unless their vehicle broke down on the trail somewhere. If you would like directions---just post back here and I'll provide them.

[joe bartels]

Duh, didn't realize what you meant by backway

From Lake Pleasant in a car - No way

[joe bartels]

Below is a quote from
http://www.crown-king.com/

Which has received a total amount of page views in it's life as HAZ receives in an hour

(GTG check out their host )

A third route is to come up from Lake Pleasant on the "Backroad" which is for serious four wheel drive enthusiasts only. TOTAL DRIVE TIME: 1.5 hours (backroad up to 6 hours)

[Snick33]

Did it once two years ago, it took me 5 hours, it was hell, strickly for Mad Dogs and Englishman. My idea of "off roading" does not include actually falling off the road!

[CindyC]

I suppose it must be the road from behind Lake Pleasant. I have heard it takes about six hours. According to the 'official' HAZ 4 wheel drive rating scale, how would you rate it?

[Snick33]

Most definitely a big 5

[joe bartels]

Most definitely a big 5

I suppose it could be done in a big pickup, but I can't imagine a car making it a go. Maybe one of those old beefy AMC thingys.

There are steep sections that require power and clearance. What I'm not big on are the wash-outs. Similar to Cibecue, just scarry and on the edge.

I'd rate it Strickly 4x4 but on the lowest end of that

Personally the route doesn't appeal to me. It's something like 50-55miles. Not FUN 4x4ing in my mind, it's just a long bad road.

[chihiggs]

Cindy--I'd have to agree with Teva on the road assessment. The hardest obstacle has been removed with dynamite. It isn't an obstacle course for your truck but a long, very rocky road. However, when I read your signature containing that K. Hepburn quote; I can't help but think you might enjoy it. The bars are fun anytime. There is a small reservoir with some decent fishing; catfish and small mouth bass. The camping is good with plenty of "campsites" existing. Lots of famillies head up on the wekends with kids and their mountain bikes, dogs and volleyball nets. Also it's much cooler than the valley and of course the fudge from the general store is to die for....

Some friends and I are going up there on dirt bikes in two weeks. I try to make it at least two times a year. Took my mother up there last year and she loved it. She was visiting from Michigan and she really loved the town. The idea of a dirt road town with two bars and a general store appealed to her. We took the back route in my Bronco. To give you an idea though, it had a 6" suspension lift with 35" tires. We didn't get stuck and she enjoyed it as long as I rolled over the rocks. Along the way up you can see people panning for gold. You can stop to have a picnic in a shaded area along the creek. As far as hiking is concerned, I've really only bushwhacked around camps and don't really know of any particular trails. They may exist, I just don't know of any. The locals all seem genuinely friendly as long as you do leave

[Pellegrino]

Hi Cindy

Sounds like you received all the right info and I'm kinda jumping on the band wagon a little late but thought I'd give you might POV on this road. Of course the main road up is easily accessible all the way to the town by any vehicle but the back road via Lake Pleasant is anything but accessible.

IT TOTALLY ROCKS - on an ATV that is. The day we rode up there last spring was super duper awesome EXCEPT for the folks in some sort of a "fun run." These folks were in what appeared to be the endurance test from hell meanwhile folks like me were blasting by totally dusting them out. I have to admit I felt like _hit riding by. Trying to go slow enough as to not dust them out but to no avail. So I would post this road as "HIKERS BEWARE." It simply isn't safe.

Now, as far as the four wheelin I have to say I wouldn't take anything but a quad up this road. There were 4X4 groups who actually all got out of their vehicles to manuever each and every vehicle around certain areas and these were totally tricked out 4X4's. There were some idiots taking the family Suburban up and you could tell by their expressions - no one was having fun. I saw the same freaked out expressions on folks who put their mother on a dirt bike and took her out riding for the first time in years. Personally, I enjoyed riding around all those slow 4X4 trucks as I hadn't been riding since I was a teen and my new Yamaha Grizzly 660 made me feel like an expert.

We actually got snowed on as we reached the top and felt like we were returning heros as the crowds cheering the "fun run" lined the streets as we rode in.

Crown King has always been one of our favorite places to camp in Arizona and we couldn't wait for the day we could drive up the back way on quads and it really was worth the wait. Some good friends of ours got engaged up there at our favorite camp site and just celebrated 14 yrs of marriage.

[Daryl]

On the Jeep scale I think the trail rates a 3.5 (with 5 being impossible). Most of the road isn't too bad (from a jeep point of view), but there is one place near the end, depending on the condition, that can be real tricky. I've heard there is a way around it though.
If you're not a regular 4x4 driver with a pretty good vehicle I wouldn't suggest driving it.

[CindyC]

Thanks for all the info. Think I just may try it. I have a Cherokee with a 5" lift and quick release suspension. It's definitly been places. Plus I'll have someone that can handle the road if I can't. Any other suggestions for 4 wheelin' with a great destination?

[chihiggs]

Cindy--

You've probably seen it but here is a good book--Guide To Arizona Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails. It's by Charles A. Wells and can be found in most valley 4x4 shops. Got my copy @ Fly-N-Hi

That said, out between Florence Junction and Superior on the BLM land there are some super trails. Couple box canyons to put your toy into and a couple of trails full of fun obstacles, one is Ajax Mine and the other is Woodpecker Mine. If you need or want it let me know and I'll go to a friends and scan in a map and e-mail it to you.

Enjoy!!

[chihiggs]

Oops!!

I just read your post more carefully--you were looking for the destination. Well those earlier suggestions are just fun trips. Great destinations abound--last week we went through the rolls off Bush Highway and took 13 all the way around to 1829 (on US Forest Service, Tonto National Forest Map 2001) and dropped into this little hidden cove across from Bagley Flat on Sugaro Lake. No one showed up so we had the cove to camp and play in all to ourselves with lots of pretty easy trails for a rig like yours to play on.... Same thing can be done from Cottonwood Creek at the end of 401 were Tonto butts up to Four Peaks Wilderness. Some more technical rock obstacles in there....

Another fun place close to the valley is up north of the Horseshoe Reservior. You can drop in next to the Verde River and play all day. Plenty of picnic and swim places.

Hope that helps!

[azrocks]

That 'fun run' is the annual Crown King Scramble:

http://www.arizonaroadracers.com/crown_king.htm

It's 31 miles, 6000 ft ascent, the winner did it in 4:07

[Daryl]

I can't see what would be "fun" about running 31 miles up hill. Maybe I'm just weird.

[CindyC]

Pretty amazing what some people can do! I like to run but not THAT much. Think when it comes to that kind of distance I'll stick to my wheels. Again, thanks everyone!