Trail/sightseeing recommendations for the Colorado River

[ChrisJHarney]

The family and I are planning to head out to Anza Borrego to see the wildflower bloom. After that we’ll have around 3-4 days to meander around. I’ve never explored the Colorado River area and wanted any recommendations for any out of the way spots that we should consider seeing. We are good to go on most trails that are rated up to between 6-7, but since we are going it alone, would prefer to stay at or below 6. We aren’t so much interested in the touristy areas, but rather out of the way local gems that most people pass up. Either side of the river is fair game too.

We’re mostly into historical areas, mines, scenic trails, etc.

I’m planning on cutting over and heading back W by NW at Parker towards Death Valley via Old Woman Wilderness and Mojave Preserve, so anywhere from Yuma to Parker is where I’m looking for recommendations.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MAST4R]

We have been exploring part of the area of interest to you lately, in fact finished the season today with a glorious trail. It is already hot. And definitely warm enough for the snakes.

If you are serious about the area just around Quartzsite and KOFA, send me a PM. But I don't want to write an essay just for the heck of it. For the CA side, check John The Luck's thread, he was just there and found some nice trails around Blythe. Hey, Blythe has Starbucks!

We just drove a great trail today, info here; it became one of our Top 3 AZ trails alongside Double Crater and Broken Arrow.

Drive the Hogsback and see Apache Chief Mine - Jeep the USA Their rating system tops at 5. This one is 2.5. Their 2.5 generally correspond to moderate in Wells or 5s in Massey. Their 3.0s are standard difficult trails that we drive solo like Broken Arrow, Fins and Things, Tower Arch, Crapshoot, Crown King Backaway and the like.

also here:
In the Desert, Apache Chief Mine, Quartzite, Arizona, Garmin GPS track, Maps.google Map.

 

[ChrisJHarney]

Thank you! I was hoping you'd reply.

I hadn't considered going as far into Arizona as Kofa, although I have White Tank pinned as a place of interest for a future trip and would love to pick your brain about the area then.

I was looking for trails that generally followed the Colorado north bound from Yuma towards Havasu. I was hoping to finally explore Old Woman Wilderness and a few places on the eastern side of the Mojave Preserve before ending up at Ash Meadows and in towards Death Valley.

I pinned Picacho State Rec area as a possible destination, but as I said, the Arizona side is also a possibility if there is something really interesting there.

As far as Quartzsite, I could easily cross over at Blythe and head up the Arizona side if you have some trails or places of interest between Quartzsite and Parker.

As far as weather, it looks like I'll be getting lucky as it's forecast to cool down mid week, hopefully. But I also don't mind the heat. One of my favorite trips was out to Anza Borrego in late September, dash readout was 104 degrees. Hiked Slot Canyon that day.

I will check out those links you added above when I'm done packing.

 

[MAST4R]

I will check out those links you added above when I'm done packing.

OK, maybe let's talk KOFA another time. It will require more time and planning. Except KOFA Queen Canyon, which is spectacular, easy, and short.

For the area around Quartzsite and Parker,

JeepTheUSA is your best bet. By far. Massey has some trails and so does Wells, but JeepTheUSA have a much better selection, more recent data, and free gpx files.

 

[ChrisJHarney]

I was just checking out some of the trails as you were typing, that's a great resource, definitely bookmarked! How are the mines out there? Any of note that are accessible and worth checking out? We have a few out in Old Dale where you can venture in at least a quarter of a mile, the ladders and equipment are in pristine condition.

If we are only going to be in the area one day, what would be the best trail for our time?

 

[MAST4R]

How is it going? What have you driven so far?

 

[ChrisJHarney]

How is it going? What have you driven so far?

Just got back last night. LOVED Picacho State Rec. area! Loved it so much we decided to stay an extra night along the Colorado at Outpost camp and take some trails out to see some of the volcanic monoliths. I took White Wash until my skid plates couldn't take it any more, then went on a sunset hike up to the base of one of the monoliths to get some shots of the river and surrounding terrain.

We also stayed an extra night out in Anza Borrego and took some trails and hikes that I've been eyeing for a few years, namely Mine Wash and North Fork of Fish Creek, which also did a number on my skids and sliders, and which I now have off along with my roof rack to do some much needed maintenance.

I felt that I wouldn't be getting the full experience if I rushed through all the areas I had originally planned, so I basically cut my destinations in half. Only made it into Arizona to get gas but I know there will be much more adventures there in the future.

I'll post some pics tomorrow when I can resize them for this damn website. Or do you have any recommendations for hosting sites other than Google pics? I see people link pictures that way but I've never researched it, but now it's super inconvenient to have to resize every pic just to post an album.

 

[ChrisJHarney]

North Fork Fish Creek

 

[ChrisJHarney]

Bear Wash Falls, Picacho SRA

 

[MAST4R]

Nice! Yes, I, too, prefer to do more in-depth exploring except when the area is so far from home that a return is unlikely.