Montana Mountain Off-Road Trip

Our next off-road trip will be on 16 January to Montana Mountain. This is an easy trail for four-wheel drive vehicles. Stock 4x4’s with good ground clearance can make it on this trail. Skid plates are always recommended. Since this will be a loop trail, this will be a good trail for ATV’s and motorcycles to go along. The possibility of rubbing up against brush always exists on any trail, but it should not be major problem.  

Please plan on meeting at Cornerstone starting at 7:30 am. This trail is located Between Florence Junction and Superior, North of Hwy 60. This trail is rated as easy (please see ratings below) and is located within National Forest Lands. Skid plates are always recommended. The highest elevation reached on this trail is over 5000 ft. For ATV’s, return to the drop off/air down point can be done by way of Hewitt Station Road (graded/maintained dirt road). The last gas station before reaching the trailhead is located in Gold Canyon on Hwy 60 (Shell station with McDonalds on north side of road). This will be a good trip for the family to enjoy. Please bring food for lunch and snacks, as well as plenty of water. You should bring at least one gallon of water for each person traveling with you. Be prepared for cool to cold weather and rain/show is always possible.  Please note that an Arizona State Trust Lands Permit is NOT required on this trip. Please contact me if you have any questions.

I have included a link from Virtual Jeep Club: http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=17858.

• •  Please bring plenty to drink and a lunch.
• •  We will be driving in wilderness areas, so please be prepared.
• •  Always bring plenty of water, at least 1 gallon per person per day.
• •  When traveling please let others at home know where you are going and when to expect you home.
• •  Never travel alone.
• •  Portions of the trails that we travel on are Arizona State Trust Lands.
• •  If you wish to obtain an Arizona State Lands Recreation permit or find out more information about it, please visit this link: http://www.land.state.az.us/programs/natural/recreation_permit.htm.
• •  Remember to "Tread Lightly"

WARNING: The majority of trails we will be exploring are un-maintained forest/desert roads. A four-wheel drive vehicle is required. Depending on the trail traveled, a vehicle with high clearance and skid plates may be required. Arizona pin striping (brush rubbing against your vehicle) is always possible on any trail.

For more information:
Pete Charnisky
Charnisky@cox.net

Trail Ratings Defined:Trail ratings are very subjective. Conditions change for many reasons, including weather and time of year. An easy trail can quickly become difficult when washed out by a rainstorm or blocked by a fallen rock. If any part of a trail is difficult, the entire trail is rated difficult. You may be able to drive a significant portion of a trail before reaching the difficult spot.

Easy: Gravel, dirt, clay, sand, or mildly rocky road. Gentle grades. Water levels low except, during periods of heavy runoff. Full-width single lane or wider with adequate room to pass most of the time. Where shelf conditions exist, road is wide and well maintained with minor sideways tilt. Four-wheel drive recommended on most trails but some are suitable for two-wheel drive under dry conditions. Clay surface roads, when wet, can significantly increase difficulty.

Moderate: Rutted dirt or rocky road suitable for most sport utility vehicles. Careful tire placement often necessary. Four-wheel drive, low range, and high ground clearance required. Standard factory skid plates and tow hooks recommended on many trails. Undercarriage may scrape occasionally. Some grades steep but manageable if dry. Soft sand possible. Sideways tilt will require caution. Narrow shelf roads possible. Backing may be necessary to pass. Water depths passable for stock high-clearance vehicles except during periods of heavy runoff. Mud holes may be present especially in the spring. Rock stacking may be necessary in some cases. Brush may touch vehicle.

Difficult: Some trails suitable for more aggressive stock vehicles but most trails require vehicle modification. Lifts, differential lockers, aggressive articulation, and/or winches recommended in many cases. Skid plates and tow hooks required. Body damage possible. Grades can be steep with severe ground undulation. Sideways tilt can be extreme. Deep water crossing possible. Shelf roads extreme narrow; use caution in full-size vehicle. Read trail description carefully. Passing may be difficult with backing required for long distances. Brush may scratch side of vehicle.