| Alt Names |
Agua Caliente Scenic Drive, "hot Water", Yellow Medicine Hills, Gila Bend Mountains, Sonoran Desert, Gila Compressor Station, Eagletail Mountain Wilderness, Saddle Mountain, Black Butte, Fourth Of July Butte, Face Mountain, Coppper Wash |
| DESCRIPTION |
Because it is so hot and dry, Agua Caliente is best explored during the winter or spring months. Old mines and some narrow washes are among the many things to discover. (There used be a ghost town at Sundad but it has been leveled.) Although you won't find a lot of challenging trails or specific motorcycle or ATV trails, there is still a large network of sand washes and general 4x4 roads in a very remote setting. It's a good place for cruising. This area was a popular place to go in the late 1880's and early 1900's and the hot springs in the area were used for medicinal purposes. The sandy trails are surrounded by beautiful desert vegetation with the southern route climbing onto the Sentinel Plain lava flow - a landscape of lava from 15 to 45 meters thick. There are no services and no drinking water in the area, but nearby Painted Rock Campground does have picnic tables, BBQ grills, fire rings and vault toilets, plus an opportunity to view the prehistoric petroglyphs.
Trail Map... Directions... Nearby Trails...
|
| LOCATION |
| Nearest City |
Phoenix, AZ |
|
From: Phoenix, AZ
1) Take I-10 west to exit 112
2) Merge onto Hwy 85 south, continue 15 miles to Patterson Rd. exit 138
3) Turn right off the exit ramp, continue about 100 yards
4) Look for left turn lane and turn onto Patterson Rd., continue 3.5 miles
5) Turn right on Old US-80, continue 8 miles
6) Turn left (west) on Agua Caliente Rd., continue .6 miles
7) Veer right to stay on Agua Caliente Rd., continue about 300 yards
8) Turn left onto gravel road, stage here. |
| QUALITY |
| Pros |
large area, beautiful desert scenery |
| Cons |
no services |
| Rating |
 Good
|
| Recommended Stay |
Full Day
|
| TERRAIN |
| Square Miles |
200 |
| Miles Of Trail |
25 |
| Climate Type |
Desert |
| Elevation |
800 to 1700 ft. |
| Trail Maintenance |
Not Marked, Not Rated, Lightly Maintained |
| Loose Dirt |
 Little |
| Hard Pack |
 Mostly |
| Sand |
 Some |
| Mud |
 None |
| Dust |
Little |
| Rocks |
Little |
| Trees |
None |
| Steep Hills |
 Few |
| Water Crossings |
Few |
| Small Jumps |
Few |
| Large Jumps |
Few |
| Berms |
None |
| Sand/Gravel Pits |
None |
| Single Track |
Few |
| Roads |
Mostly |
| Intersections |
Some |
| Rider Traffic |
Few |
| Shade |
Few |
| Ranges/Gunfire |
Few |
| Hazards |
None |
 Novice |
Mostly |
 Amateur |
Some |
 Expert |
Little |
| REGULATIONS |
| Permit Required |
Yes |
| Dates Open |
Year-Round |
| Spark Arrestor |
No |
| Noise Limit |
No |
| Night Riding |
Yes |
| Flags |
Not Required |
| Two Strokes |
No Restriction |
| Cross Country |
Prohibited |
| ATVs |
No Restriction |
| UTVs |
No Restriction |
| 4x4s (registered) |
No Restriction |
| Unregistered Cars/4x4s/Buggies |
No Restriction |
| Bicycles |
No Restriction |
| Hiking |
No Restriction |
| Horseback |
No Restriction |
| Camping |
No Restriction |
| Campfires |
No Restriction |
| Alcohol |
No Restriction |
| Fireworks |
Prohibited |
| Firearms |
Some Areas |
| Law Enforcement |
Few/Periodic |
| Insurance |
| FEES |
| Parking |
No ($0.00)
|
| Entry |
No ($0.00)
|
| Riding |
No ($0.00)
|
| Camping |
No ($0.00)
|
| KEY SERVICES |
 First Aid |
30+ Miles (NE) |
 Gasoline |
5-20 Miles (NE) |
| Diesel |
5-20 Miles (NE) |
 Water |
5-20 Miles (NE) |
 RV Hookup |
20-30 Miles (S) |
 RV Disposal |
20-30 Miles (S) |
 Campground |
5-20 Miles (E) |
 Conv Store |
5-20 Miles (NE) |
 Swim Area |
30+ Miles (NE) |
 Water Body |
30+ Miles (NE) |
 Boat Ramp |
30+ Miles (NE) |
| CONTACTS |
| Contact Info |
BLM - Phoenix Field Office
21605 N. 7th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85027-2099
(623) 580-5500
www.blm.gov
|
| Contact Info |
Arizona Game & Fish Department
(602) 942-3000
www.azgfd.gov
|
| Comment |
OHV Decal Info |
|
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
 |
| The area consists mostly of sand washes and 4x4 roads like this one. |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
 |
| There are some really cool sand washes and channels. |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
 |
| Some of the channels look pretty narrow but there wasn't anything too narrow for a compact truck. |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
 |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| Although the terrain is pretty mild, the rules of the Arizona desert still apply. Be sure to bring supplies, especially water. |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| The main route is basically just a well maintained dirt road. |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| If you enjoy huge open spaces and appreciate scenic views you'll have a nice drive or ride. |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| These channels in the sand wash were kind of fun. |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| This was problably the narrowest of the channels we saw. A full size truck could maybe lose some paint here. |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| Some nice scenery. |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| Another great view from Agua Caliente scenery. |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| An example of a piece of trail from this area. |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| Some more great Agua Caliente scenery. |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| This gives you an idea of the riding terrain. |
| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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| Agua Caliente Trail Photo |
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Scroll down for trail contact information and regulations. Select a photo to enlarge.
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