Question regarding access to trails by car

Mauvaise · Post by **Mauvaise** » Apr 03 2007 11:31 am

I hope this is the correct forum. I am fairly new to hiking - only started back in September, and with the exception of one Sedona hike and one GC hike, I've only hiked in the Phoenix Metro area.

I would like to start expanding from Phoenix and I have "wish-listed" about 20 hikes that are day trips from Phoenix. But a lot of them list in the directions that they are FRs/gravel, or "car ok when dry". I drive a Saturn sedan, not really made for anything hard core. I do not like to take it where it feels like you're driving over logs and you fear you'll brake an axle.

What I need to know is if these trails are really "car ok" or are they "Car ok if you don't mind severely bumping along for 5+ miles at 2mph"?

Barks Canyon (lower)
Barnhardt Trail (I'm really hoping to do this one)
Big Dipper
Boulder Canyon
Dripping Springs from Peralta
Fossil Springs
Gaddes Canyon 110
Haunted Canyon 203
Kachina Trail
Peralta Trail
Pine Canyon Loop
Reavis Falls Hike
See Canyon Hike
Sycamore Canyon (Dogie to Taylor Cabin)

Thank you in advance!

-
T

Grimey · Post by **Grimey** » Apr 03 2007 12:34 pm

Anything from the Peralta trailhead would be fine for your vehicle, the road is almost like pavement except for a few spots... and of course during/after a storm.

Also Boulder Cyn or anything from Apache Trail (where you park at the marina or right off the road) would also be OK. Problem there is increased likelihhod for vandalism.

Hoffmaster · Post by **Hoffmaster** » Apr 03 2007 4:14 pm

Anything from the Peralta trailhead (Dripping Springs, Peralta trail, Barks Canyon) is fine for a car. Usually there are more cars in the parking area than SUVs. I have driven a Ford Focus back there many times. Let's just say that my average speed was more than 25 mph.

I was just at Haunted Canyon; perfectly doable by a car at reasonable speeds (25-35mph) unless it has just rained within the last few days. The puddles might be a bit much for a car, but I'd go anyway.

Fossil Springs, Barnhardt Trail, Sycamore Canyon and See Canyon are all easily done in a car. I took a 1970 Ford Maverick to the Barnhardt trail. I took a 2004 Ford Taurus to the Dogie Trail with no problems at all. Some spots were slow going, but certainly not bone-jarring.

The Reavis Falls hike is probably not accesible by car, as far as I know. The other hikes you mention I am not familiar with...yet.

Obviously you can't drive a dirt road like you would a paved one. But just because you have a car is no reason to stay away. Most of the info on this site is fairly accurate. No one would tell you that a road is ok for a car if it really wasn't. Most of the FR's are graded every so often, but again, they are dirt, so there will be bumps. You certainly will not break an axle...unless you are driving like an idiot.

DarthStiller · Post by **DarthStiller** » Apr 03 2007 4:49 pm

Reavis TH is easily accessible by a car. I was there 2 weeks ago and saw quite a few low clearance Hondas, Chevy Cobalt, etc. Fish Creek Hill may look a little scary going down on the way there, but its fine.

and Kachina is paved the whole way there. its right by the Snowbowl.

Hoffmaster · Post by **Hoffmaster** » Apr 03 2007 8:20 pm

In response to Stiller's reply: Dude, I did not know that you can get to that trailhead so easily! I've been mislead! Now I'm angry...I've been wasting time!

joebartels · Post by **joebartels** » Apr 03 2007 8:24 pm

Echoman wrote:01/28/07 - triplog: The road from Apache Trail to the TH was just graded, smooth as a baby's bottom, take your Civic.

Mauvaise · Post by **Mauvaise** » Apr 03 2007 9:07 pm

Awesome news! Thank you all so much. I was looking into renting a more appropriate car/suv/truck for a week (friend coming in from out of town beginning of May and we're going to try to do 5 hikes in 5 days), but when I checked the rates I was annoyed by all the fees they tack on. That's some racket...

djui5 · Post by **djui5** » Apr 04 2007 2:07 pm

The only place in the Superstitions I know of that you CAN NOT get to by a regular car is the Tortilla Ranch trailhead (thought you can hike the mile or so along the road), and possibly the Iron Mountain area as the road back into there is pretty rough in some places. Depending on your driving skills you might be able to get a car back there.

Everywhere else you can get to by car. Might be a little rough, but it's doable.

The most common places are First Water (near the Ghost Town) and the Peralta Trailhead mentioned above. Both of these roads are almost paved quality, especially after a good grading.

Also to note, if your going down the First Water road and would like to head right towards Massacre Grounds, you should probably be quite cautious and stop if you feel you need to. This road back to the trail head is really really rough in places. Thankfully it's not a long hike. This trail head leads to Massacre Falls/etc.

If you ever need a ride somewhere, let me know please. I'll get you there for the price of gas if the Jeep is available.

te_wa · Post by **te_wa** » Apr 04 2007 2:34 pm

Stay away from:
Upper Horell
Campaign creek
Tortilla
Two Bar Ridge
Rogers Trough

the Tortilla trail is a 3 mile road walk.

DarthStiller · Post by **DarthStiller** » Apr 04 2007 3:44 pm

You can get to Two Bar Ridge via Tule TH on a normal car, but Upper Horrell not so much.