Question about Sasco to Silverbell Ghost Towns, AZ

[louie]

Hello all, doing my usual beta to get intel from peeps about if I would be able to get my 25ft class C out to the Sasco ruins from the red rock exit. My concern is the river bed crossing. I’d never do it when it’s running but when it’s dry is it doable to get a rig like mine across that and out to the ruins? Appreciate the insight. Much thanks!

Would this sort of question be more suited for the road conditions forum?

[azbackpackr]

I don't think many people on this site go out that way very often. That's why you've had no responses. I haven't been to Sasco myself since about 1990.

[Jim]

If you're concerned about it being wet, I think the Santa Cruz is almost always flowing these days out there. Pima County discharges their sewage effluent from around Ina Rd, or maybe the plant near to the Sweetwater part of town, into the Santa Cruz normally dry river bed to infiltrate into the aquifer, and it is the primary source of water in the river these days. The flow is nothing like a flood following a week of heavy summer thunderstorms, and there is likely little mud or debris in it.

You can see this from crossings like Cortaro RD and Twin Peaks Rd. The water has a very distinctive smell from the high nitrogen levels. When out well past Red Rocks in December of 2023 the was water flowing in the braided channel that is the continuation of the Santa Cruz out near the Sawtooth Mountains, there was a lot of flowing water with that same smell. There may also have been additional water from agricultural runoff, but I had no way of knowing. The flow out near the Sawtooths in February of 2022 was very impressive.

You can always PM RWStorm, he used to visit the Sasco area for poppy photos most every spring, but with the dry winter he might have skipped it.

[louie]

Good intel. Much appreciated. Are there decent campsites for a rig like mine before the Santa Cruz? It sounds like camping by the river is a bad idea with the smell. What about going the other way from Silverbell? If I go from Silverbell I would pull my jeep so my next question would be are there decent RV sites going from Silverbell? I’ll message RWStorm. Thank you for the help. Much appreciated!

[Jim]

I don't know about camping on Silverbell, as I think of that being from near Sombrero Peak down to St Marys Rd and all very urban.

I did see abundant camping spots on the road to Ragged Top coming from Maranara last winter. Road access was tame.

[rwstorm]

I have made quite a few trips out to Waterman/Silverbell Mine area since December. Also one to Sasco just to look around, though no flowers this time. I would forget about heading that way from Red Rock, mainly because of mentioned basically permanent flow in the the Santa Cruz there these days. However, since you mentioned you are in a motorhome towing the scout vehicle, there is free BLM camping along Pump Station Road (in places where it is within Ironwood Forest Natl Mon) between Avra Valley and Silverbell Rds. This is very popular with the nomad, RV crowd in the winter season. There were lots of them out there in Jan/Feb. Nice flat spots that would be good base camp for exploring. The area is marked and you will occasionally see signs "entering monument lands." Because of road/bridge construction taking place along Silverbell Road between Marana and Ragged Top, I would not recommend going there at this time, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. Best hassle free advice is to take I-10 to Avra Valley Rd exit, then west past Marana Regional Airport, continuing on Avra Valley Rd to Pump Station Rd, then north to camping areas (some south of El Tiro Rd, but best spots are north of that as you head toward Silverbell Rd). If you want to go to Sasco from the camping area, just head up to Silverbell Rd, hang a left and continue on Silverbell past Ragged Top until you reach Redrock/Sasco Rd. then right turn to get to Sasco ruins. Whatever you do, don't head toward the Silverbell Mine area as the roads get nasty out that way.

[louie]

@rwstorm
Perfect! Thank you for that info. It’s been decades since I’ve been out there. I always liked that bar at the exit at red rocks. They had pigs feet in a jar at the bar. Seems like it’s closed now. I didn’t remember the road being all that bad. Water in the river is now the wild card. Is there any decent RV sites before the river coming in from Red Rock? My jeep can run the river no problem as long as it’s not like a flash flood or something.

[rwstorm]

@louie
It is only a short ways from Red Rock to where Coachway Road intersects by the feedlot. But lots more homes/people there now, more than 20-30 years ago (true everywhere ), so no good camp spots there. Sounds like you don't want to drive too far in the RV, but really the best camp spots are along Pump Station Rd. Anyway, I was out by the water crossing in January in my 4x4 Tacoma and could have crossed, just wasn't feeling adventurous without a back up vehicle that day. Like Jim H says, the usual flow is mellow and the crossing point looked fine. And yes, that is a pretty wild group that has run the bar at Red Rock for years. It is closed much of the time, but if you get lucky and it is open, makes for a fun stop.