Salt Trap Road leading to Safford-Morenci Trailhead

[SJFL]

I have a Subaru Forester. Which has decent (8.7") clearance and AWD. Has anyone been on this road recently? In your opinion, could a Forester get up there?

Thanks in advance.

[chumley]

Solomon Pass Rd was pretty rough last week. I didn't particularly enjoy driving it in my Taco, but there is nothing to keep a Subaru from making it. It's just rocky and rutted. Though the mileage is longer the road to the west entrance is paved all the way to Bonita Creek, and the West Bonita Rim Road was a more pleasant dirt experience than Solomon Pass was. (Both are ~7 miles of dirt, Solomon is just much worse dirt right now ... the west entrance features a lot more miles of pavement to get there).

With that said, I did not take Salt Trap this time so I can't give you the current info. However from past trips I would expect that you won't have any trouble with a Forester.

BLM is pretty hands-on out there so if you contact them, I'd be surprised if they don't have a good status update for you:
https://www.blm.gov/office/safford-field-office

[nonot]

Solomon Pass is a very rocky road. Super high clearance is not needed but moderate high clearance is needed, unless the road up Solomon Pass has eroded more since February. Going over Solomon Pass has a bit of pucker factor in which you must commit and cannot turn around.

While I wouldn't recommend someone travel the road with only AWD, I would say it is possible during dry conditions for someone who has a good amount of off-road driving experience. I would really only recommend a 4WD vehicle.

Once you get over Solomon Pass you will have no problem. The alternative route suggested by Chums that hooks around may be easier to drive but I haven't ever driven that way.

[SJFL]

@chumley
Thank you for writing this out.

Just to make sure I understand, the idea would be to take Sanchez to Bonita Creek. And then go north/west on Bonita Rim all the way until it hits Salt Trap. Then continue on Salt Trap until I get to the TH? I can't quite tell mileage; is that several hours of driving? May be my only option, but worth not wrecking/stranding in the middle of nowhere.

Spoke to BLM last week. As usual, they are very helpful. But the guy was a little iffy about the Forester on Solomon Pass.

[chumley]

@SJFL
Yes, Solomon Pass starts with 9 miles paved, followed by 7 miles of rough dirt.
Or you can continue on US 70, turn left onto Sanchez (and later onto Bonita Creek Rd), which is about 18 miles on pavement (5 miles farther on US70, 8 on Sanchez, 5 on Bonita), followed by 7 miles on the West Bonita Rim Rd (dirt).

So ~16 miles over Solomon Pass or ~25 miles the long way around. I would plan on at least hour to make this drive. It's pretty though...

[SJFL]

@chumley
Thank you again. Very helpful. An hour is worth it for the sake of getting a good night sleep before I go out...

[FOTG]

@chumley Ya what’s up with that, sections of Solomon used to be kind of cruiser, I found it to be the roughest I had ever driven back in the fall, also where the hell did that mine come from? lol They expanding out there!