When you think of rugged off-road trails, you typically conjure up images of a trail in a land far away and not right near a major metro area such as just Phoenix, Arizona. New River is rugged and will have you feeling like you are in a remote part of the world rather than a quick drive from the Valley of the Sun. Stretching over 19 miles long across the New River Mountains and Mesa, you will feel enveloped inside the mountains and surrounded by saguaro and other cacti of the area. On a good day, you can cross the New River several times when it is flowing.
Trail Difficulty and Assessment
Recommended Vehicle:
Lightly Modified 4X4 (Small Lift and Larger Tires)
Concerns:
Summary:
The newly formed obstacles at Waypoints 21 and 23 give this trail its rating.
Community Consensus
(Last reset on 01/23/2022)
5 votes
9 votes
0 votes
Easier
Spot On
Harder
The weighted average of your fellow members agreement of our trail
rating. As trail conditions change this helps us keep the community
aware of changes.
Mandatory
5 -
DIFFICULT
The hardest part of the trail that you
cannot bypass - you have to drive it.
Optional
6 -
DIFFICULT
The hardest part of the trail that is
purely optional - you can bypass it.
Rocky or undulated road surface. Potential rocks and/or tree stumps less than 24" tall and/or vertical ledges less than 24" tall and/or near vertical ledges or waterfalls less than 54" inches. Tire placement becomes more difficult. Can be steep and off-camber.Read More about our Rating System
FR 41 is a 19-mile trail that very loosely follows the New River from I-17 to FR 24 through the Tonto National Forest. The road begins as West Table Mesa Road on the west side before turning into FR41, New River. It can be driven from either east to west or west to east as mapped here.
Technical obstacles at Waypoint 21 and 23 will require your attention. The obstacle at Waypoint 23 does have a bypass forming around it, but there is no guarantee that it will remain the "easier" option after any given rain. Overall, the trail is very rough and requires driving over loose rocks, boulders, and deep ruts throughout the entirety of the trail. Hill climbs, and descents are also a regular occurrence along the trail. On top of all that, anticipate washouts that can happen after any rain.
This trail will push the limits of a stock SUV. Better suited for pure off-road vehicles such as the Wrangler, Tacoma, 4 Runner, Bronco, with a mild lift.
River Flow
The New River can be trickling or raging depending on the season and the weather. Always double-check the weather before adventuring in the desert. Using Gaia GPS, you can check flow rates through the USGS Streamflow layer. Alternatively, you can find streamflow directly from the government here.
Heavy side-by-side traffic on the weekends and flash flooding during weather events, in addition to mud forming when wet.
1. Trailhead (0
mi)
Right off I-17 heading east is a staging area. The sign read's "State Trust Land. No Trespassing. Permit Required"
2. Cattle Guard - Bend Left (0.94
mi)
Stay left through the cattle guard. To the right is a private ranch. Through the cattle guard there is another staging area and good place to leave a trailer if needed.
3. New River Crossing - Continue (1.71
mi)
Depending on rainfall or snowmelt, this river can be dry or flowing. Camping spurs can be found in the area.
4. Camping (2
mi)
An uneven area for camping, but not overly rocky. Large enough site for a few vehicles to camp with a view looking down into the New River.
5. Spur Road (2.84
mi)
There are a couple of spur roads in this area that are State Trust Land. The roads do not appear on any maps.
6. Rough Area Begins (3.55
mi)
The rocky nature of this trail kicks off at this point. Anticipate a slow go with plenty of rocks to drive over and hills to climb from here on out.
7. Forest Service Boundary - Continue Straight (4.18
mi)
Officially, New River FR41 starts at this point. There is flat ground in the area if required for camping, but not the most incredible spot for camping.
8. FR1484 - Bend Right (4.3
mi)
Bend right/straightish on the more defined road. FR 1484 is a short spur less than 1/2 mile long. There is flat and rocky ground here for camping.
9. Rocky Road Example (4.85
mi)
Another pitch up that is rocky and may require 4 wheel drive, low gears.
10. Saddle and Camping - Veer Left Uphill (5.1
mi)
You will reach a saddle of sorts before one of the more intimidating hill climbs on the entire trail. Three posts stand that must have held a sign at one point in time. A large camping site overlooks New River off in the distance and is large enough for several vehicles, but expect wind.
11. Hill Climb (5.23
mi)
Skirting the north side of the point named "West Point," the hill climb is more intimidating than it looks. The rocks are loose but not overly large; 4 low will be helpful for a slow but methodical climb up. When reaching the top, there is plenty of room to pull over and wait for other members of your party.
12. Rocky Area (5.99
mi)
Exposed undulating sandstone along the trail.
13. Rocky Area (6.01
mi)
Coming uphill, the rocks are loose and ever-shifting. Slow and four low will make this area much more manageable.
14. Cattle Guard (6.12
mi)
Impressive views of where you came from or where you are going can be found right here.
15. Cholla Basin and Switchbacks (6.57
mi)
Large wrapping switchbacks are rutted and rocky descending into Cholla Basin.
16. New River Crossing (7.3
mi)
Water may or may not be flowing depending on seasonal conditions.
17. New River Crossing (7.78
mi)
One of the actual obstacles on this trail is just on the west side of the river as you come down into the river bed. Once in the river bed, you must contend with small boulders which shift in position all the time. Sometimes you may have a clear path across, while other days, it may require more thinking. Once through, you must drive a loose rock hill on the other side of the River.
This area is also a nice spot for a break or lunch depending on how much water is flowing in the river.
18. Monsoon Washout (8.52
mi)
Depending on your vehicle size, your experience, and your crew, you may not want to proceed past this point until the washout has been repaired. The loose ground on the downslope does not indicate that it will stay contained and not giveaway with you and your vehicle dropping 7' below.
19. Scenic - Continue Straight (9.69
mi)
This is an excellent location to get out and stretch the legs. There is room for roughly six vehicles to pull off to the side of the road and not obstruct other traffic.
20. Obstacle with No Bypass (10.35
mi)
Formed from the monsoons of 2021, this obstacle has no bypass but does have a clear line through it. Inexperienced drivers may want a spotter.
Note: The photos are taken driving the trail from west to east, which is the opposite of how the trail guide is written. There is no difference in difficulty going in either direction.
21. Obstacle with No Bypass (11.02
mi)
This obstacle, formed in the monsoons of 2021, has no bypass. However, there is a clear line through requiring only careful tire placement.
Note: The photos are taken driving the trail from west to east, which is the opposite of how the trail guide is written. There is no difference in difficulty going in either direction.
22. Corral - Continue Straight (12.05
mi)
Old corral and river access here.
23. Major Rock Slide with Bypass (12.27
mi)
This is the most challenging portion of the trail with a six technical rating. A spotter may be required for inexperienced drivers and or for vehicles without lift modifications. These boulders are loose will shift when driving over them, making the tiptoe across these boulders more interesting. Careful tire placement will rule the day here.
Note: The photos are taken driving the trail from west to east, which is the opposite of how the trail guide is written. There is no difference in difficulty going in either direction.
A bypass has formed dipping down into the wash to the north of this boulder field.
24. Minor Slide Obstacle (12.9
mi)
This is the easiest of the new obstacles formed as a result of the monsoons of 2021.
Note: The photos are taken driving the trail from west to east, which is the opposite of how the trail guide is written. There is no difference in difficulty going in either direction.
25. FR 37 Trailhead - Go Right To Follow Main Road or Left for Lunch Spot (13.86
mi)
Stay right to continue on FR 41. To the left is a fun side road to explore.
26. Scenic Area (13.67
mi)
Great spot for lunch! Take note of all the fascinating rock formations in this area. There is a good spot for camping one vehicle on the high side of the wash, which is to the north.
27. FR 374 Trailhead - Go Straight (16.26
mi)
Continue straight.
28. FR 17 Trailhead - Stay Straight (12.05
mi)
Stay straight for FR 41. To the right is FR 17, New River Mesa. This road takes you high up on the mesa and is extremely rough and rocky.
29. FR 3193 Trailhead - Stay Straight (18.13
mi)
Follow the main road.
30. FR 1090 Trailhead - Stay Straight (19.43
mi)
31. End at Cave Creek Road (19.43
mi)
This is the end of the trail at Cave Creek. Go left to head north towards Bloody Basin and into Yavapai County. Go right around the hairpin to head south back into town.
Dispersed
Not necessarily a camping trail, but there are plenty of spots to set up for the night. Many people camp towards the western end around the first river crossing at Waypoint 3 but anticipate crowds. The Waypoints in this guide notate areas where small spaces for camping were found. Waypoint 10 has the best ground condition but will be windy. Take note: the ground is rocky, and you will want to have a cot or rooftop tent.
Starting Point
Phoenix, Arizona
Travel north on I-17 to exit 236 Table Mesa Road and turn right. There is a staging area just east of the interstate. There is also a staging area exactly one mile east down Table Mesa Road.
Ran the trail from East to West. We were in 2 stock Mojave Gladiator with myself pulling my off road trailer. This was a fun trail to run with the center 10 or so mile being a rock garden it seem none stop. The wife did spot a few time.
As a new off roader, I found the trail quite challenging. Went West to East. Waypoint 18 was intimidating but not really a problem. Waypoint 23.. we took the bypass. The trail was more difficult than I anticipated but made it through with no real issues.
Been almost 2 years since running this trail last, although it's gotten more technical since then we have to agree with others that this trail is a bit easier than a 5, it's a strong solid 4. We also agree the obstacle at way point 23 is in the 6-8 range, we considered it a solid 7. This trail has tons of awesome views and a great mixture of different terrains. We saw a decent amount of traffic, full size & mid size trucks, a Bronco, a couple of quads, 2 & 4 door Wranglers, a Gladiator and plenty of side by sides.
We ran this trail, both times, from east to west, seems you get the best views running this direction.
At the start of the trail, there was a large dirt parking lot of trucks and trailers for side-by-sides, but the trail was quiet. There was no water flowing. I would rate this trail a 4. The final obstacle would be a 6-8, but it has a bypass. Enjoyable ride so close to the city! Stopped for lunch in Cave Creek at one of our old favorites El Encanto.
We rode this "backwards" (East to West) yesterday so if the rockslide at Waypoint 23 was too gnarly we could turn around and go back. I have a built Gladiator and my buddy has a built 4Runner and even though we're confident both would have made it we opted to take the bypass that's formed down in the wash. The other washouts require attention, but they're packed down enough right now that the boulders aren't moving so that's easier.
Overall, this trail is much more fun and technical than it was the last time I ran it back in February of 2021. We'll see what happens with the winter rains and summer monsoons in the future
Waypoint 23 definitely makes it a 6, but the rest of the trail is more of a solid 4 than a 5 right now
Fun trail. It does take a while to get through it and can be quite dusty at the beginning and end when you can pick up the speed a bit. Definitely some harder spots but which could be more challenging had there been water flowing. We did run across a recent rollover of a 4-door Wrangler. There were a couple of sheriff vehicles there and 2 helicopters. Be safe out there.
Good trail, some fun spots, good views. In one spot I can see anyone on 35s or smaller wanting to take the bypass.
The washed out area listed would be very tight for a full size truck in its current condition.
Otherwise, anyone on 32s+ who drives safely and uses the bypasses available should be able to complete our
Drove this trail today with a group of 5 Broncos. The rock obstacles are daunting but we all made it through with zero issues. No water running at this time. Great run took about 4 hours from the trail head to Cave Creek. Highly recommend, but make sure you have decent clearance.
I had a really fun time on this trail! I probably would have gave it a higher score if there was more water. Most of the water was dried up, so I will be coming back after some rain finally hits phoenix! I wrote that this was a little easier than a 5/6. I would put it at a 4/5 in my opinion. I have done other 5/6 trails and they are much harder. Overall though, this is a great trail with lots of variety. There is water crossings, hill climbs and rock bolder sections. The valley views are fantastic as well!
Fun trail but be aware it is very rough and rocky. The going will be slow.
Of not the mountain Mesa just before hitting the big uphill climb has prehistoric indigenous peoples ruins on its top. Warning there’s some major scrambling on top but if you’re so inclined take this in. Option 2 would be send a drone up for a video capture.
Went West to East; the trail does have it's challenges! Conditions similar to what's already reported. Water is flowing right now but I'd expect it to dry up as summer comes. We chose to use bypass at WP23 due to clearance concerns and vehicles are our daily drivers....if using bypass, look to left near log corral and you'll see drop-in for the wash. Trail was dry and dusty, especially towards the end of this trail and heading south on Seven Springs; not an issue for lead vehicle but more gap space needed to see the trail.
The trail took a bit longer than I had planned but it was a great experience. The washout(s) were a bit sketchy so instead of three wheeling it I drove completely on the side. My 5th gen ORP felt like it was about to end up like a turtle on its back. I did bypass 23 since I was alone and I’m a beginner/intermediate; there really was no river to speak of there. Also was a little worried about the bulls until I saw they had no horns and moved out the way as I was passing. They were definitely staring me down. Lol
Four Jeeps, 2.5” min lifts, 35s, didn’t need lockers, New River Trail, East to West. Trail seemed somewhat more difficult than last two years. I’d rate it 5/10 for difficulty and 8/10 for scenic value. We did use the newly forming bypass at WP 23. The Monsoon Washout at WP 18 has been built up and not a problem.
Photos are: 1. Derelict SUV on rock pile. 2. Considering avoiding the obstacle at WP 23. 3. Monsoon Washout at wp 18.
Great trail. Ran from interstate 17 east to Cave Creek. Stock JLU Rubicon diesel on 33s. Some of the boulder fields that have filled up the washes last year were the most challenging part of this trail. The biggest boulder pile has a bypass that goes around. Many areas have pretty good ruts but were manageable. Ran this mostly in 4 HI. Certainly hit the skid plates a few times but overall this was a great trail run. Water crossings were not very deep and just added to the cool factor.
This trail guide's difficulty was changed on
01/23/2022
We have updated this trail guide with new photos of the obstacles formed by the monsoons of 2021. As always, I enjoy this trail being so close to home. It is hard enough to keep out the masses and is extremely interesting with the various rock formations and vegetation along the route. Diverse from end to end, I put this as a must-do trail near Phoenix!
There is a potential show stopper washout for larger vehicles at: 33.97528, -112.01606, it’s not so much that it’s off camber as much that the ground on the low side is extremely soft and gave way just with foot pressure.
Agree with everything Nick B says below. The trail was more difficult than expected. Rough and rutted until the last three miles. Three or four steep climbs or descents over boulders. One narrow shelf ledge that has gotten narrower and requires a spotter. Rode in a Rubicon with a 2.5 lift and felt like I needed all of it.
Great trail though with a little bit of everything and great scenery. Was challenging but fun!
Not impassable. The trail has become a little difficult with rock slides in a couple of the washes. The trail requires a spotter and planned boulder driving across the washes. We did it with one stock JLUR 2021 and 2020 JLURD 2.5". Some have started to drive in the river to by-pass the washes. Please don't drive in the river to by-pass the washes, it's illegal and pollutes the water.
Rode this trail on 9/11/21 after the recent rains. The trail is much rougher than it was 1-2 months ago. The boulders in the washes have moved and one wash on the trail is completely impassible with large boulders and trees having come down the mountain. Also, what was the trail is covered with said debris and there is a 5' ledge where it used to be. We were able to back track and head into the main wash and get back up on the trail ~0.5 miles later by climbing 3' dirt ledge. Would currently rate this trail as hard as opposed to moderate. Recommend large tires and a lift and rock sliders.
Saw a group of three Jeeps on the trail along with another UTV so somewhat remote. Scenery is top shelf.
Rode in Two Seat Honda Talon R UTV with 32" tires
Rough rough rough! The trail beat me up, I only went 4 or so miles and turned around. Ran into another jeep and they turned around too. The road after the first wash crossing is beat up and feels like being on a boat in rough seas.
Stock JKU Rubicon with intermediate driver... no issues with only light scraping. Super fun trail with some great views and nice challenges. There were a few body parts along the trail so if you don’t have an off-road aggressive truck/suv be prepared for some carnage. Had to get out and stack rocks a few times just to be safe. There was almost no water in the river crossings when I went but I could see these areas being pretty tricky with some water flowing.
Solid moderate rated trail, but have others have mentioned thing can change depending on recent rains so go prepared.
was a little rough for a new driver in a new trail hawk, but made it to cave creek. had some tough spots and should have a lifted truck or jeep for sure.
This trail may have been moderate at one point but there are several crossings of streams and the river that are very washed out with lots of boulders to cross. There are also a couple shelve sections that are a bit sketchy due to erosion. It’s not extremely difficult but I would not call it moderate. I just did Chimney Rock, rated difficult, and it was much easier than this. We came from the east, Cave Creek to Sheep Bridge. There are great scenic areas and some burns that seem to be recovering well. Fun but leave some time to complete it and don’t come without very good clearance.
This trail exceeded expectations in both scenery and wheeling difficulty. The views in all directions were amazing, and despite the river beds being dried up, it was still fun passing through them. While not too difficult, some of the rocky portions posed more of a challenge than we had initially expected. It's a great area to explore if you're in the Phoenix area.
Tonto National Forest has been temporarily closed because of extreme fire conditions. This is a link to the official closure notice https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD759503
My first time driving and I got lessons on a bit of everything. Went out in Jeeps and had a blast. Some spots were intimidating for a first timer, but I was too stubborn to give up. Multiple water crossings, some steep rocky areas, sandy spots, and a small washout. Never got stuck, but there were some hairy moments. My experienced driver friend admitted that this was definitely NOT a beginner trail, but I still passed. :) SO MUCH FUN!!!
In it's current state, I would not attempt this trail without 4 wheel drive.
First of all, this trail was a blast. Having said that I would no longer consider this trail to be "moderate". It was a very, very wet winter and as a result portions of the trail are completely washed out leaving behind large boulders. I tagged a long in my long bed tacoma with a jeep grand cherokee and a two door wrangler and we barely made it through. Took about five hours to go from the 17 and table mesa all the way through to carefree. We spotted each other at numerous places due to all the rocks and trail washouts. Definitely got a few more dents on the armor on my truck. The trail in it's current state is not suitable for CUVs (hyundai Tucson, explorer etc) in my opinion.
If you are going to tackle this trail alone, bring plenty of water and some recovery gear in case you get stuck on a rock on one of the water crossings like I almost did.
What a great trail, very diverse in scenery as you travel from west to east. I would highly recommend this trail for anyone looking for a trail close to Phoenix and wants to feel away from it all!
I ran this trail with a large group after a few good rains and a snowmelt so there were lots of water crossings and flower bursts making it absolutely gorgeous and fun. The main trail was easy but there were a few offshoots and hills around it that looked more challenging that I want to go back and try.
We traveled this trail a couple of days after some heavy rain. Plenty of deep mud. Three of the river crossings required some scouting before venturing across. Bounced off a few hidden boulders that would be visible with low water. Beautiful scenery and easy to moderate trail. Nothing really technical
Relatively easy trail for the most part. There are a few parts that are a bit more "technical" but aren't hard at all. Nice scenery and we went after a few monsoons so there was a lot more mud puddles to play around in.
Nice trail to go and and have some lunch at some point and then came down back to Phoenix through Cave Creek
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Todd
Founder
Todd is an avid wheeler who loves to explore new trails whenever and wherever possible. They say necessity is the mother of all invention, which is true for Todd. His want and desire to find passable trails and new nooks and crannies of the Great American west to explore were his reasons behind starting Trails Offroad. On any given day, you can find Todd on an obscure 4x4 trail, curating Trails Offroad guides, or using his legs to hike to an alpine lake.
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