Route Editor
Route Scout
The Punkin Center crossing on FR71 was being rebuilt when we crossed it on 2022-01-27. A main flow was full of even grapefruit sized smooth rocks, with a little berm above to slow down flow and some heavy machinery was moving rock and dirt about. Was probably around calf-high clear water, spread around 4 crossings. At ~23cfm it wasn't that much, but in mid November at around 10cfm vehicles were lurching about and dropping to the tops of their tires etc and we bailed on trying it in a Subaru... so grading makes a difference! Had dropped to 19cfm when we crossed back Sunday and took the photo.
Lots of traffic going across both times (and in November), so it's useful to pull to the side and watch locals cross to get a feel for how it looks. You shouldn't have to wait long (or at all).
- the crossing on 2022-01-30.
- the main channel on 2022-02-06, smooooth.
FR71 itself is a solid dirt road ok for cars when dry, though the first main hill rising up was a lot more washboarded than before, enough you could lose traction if you're being overly aggressive but not an issue at all otherwise.
Useful links:
USGS Tonto Creek Gauge Data (well upstream)
National Weather Service Hydrologic Prediction Service for that Gauge
Weather.gov forecast for the Malicious gap area (should be more in hellsgate I guess)
Lower FR236(A)
FR236 is mid clearance 2WD fine to the gated junction with FR236A - with a couple minor washes you wouldn't want something super low clearance on but a Subie or whatever would be fine. FR236A is similar up to the little junction jeep road (unmarked, past FR2933) with a nice wide pull out and fire ring - it's also worth noting is the road starts getting more claylike past here vs dirt/sand, so if precip is in the cards it's a safer place to stop. There's a new washout after that which is 2WD high clearance between it and the little spot off to the side past the corral before it gets really rough that you wouldn't want to take a Sedan over. When in doubt park at a safe spot and walk the road to where you want to go and then drive it.
- a little washout between FR2933 and the spot by the corral before it gets proper 4WD
[ photo ] - the safe ~mid clearance spot is "junction flat camp", the HC 2WD one is "nice flat vancamp".
The huge washout further down the road is still impassable to any reasonable 4WD unless you're bonkers with a pretty shear ~5ft drop.
