Back road to (north side) Mt. Lemmon is graded dirt road. The south side is paved winding road. Very scenic drive.
Venue Website: elcorraltucson.com
On Alvernon and Pima
Sycamore Creek offers outstanding views on a moderate to difficult trail. There are a few ‘Oh My’ obstacles that look much worse than they are as well as some play hills to challenge any Rover.
The trail starts by crossing the dry Sycamore Creek and wandering through a mildly improved area back and forth across the creek to a dry wash. The wash narrows and can be tricky for full sized vehicles without extra clearance. As the trail starts to climb out of the wash the views begin. There are options of varying difficulty to obtain the ridge where stunning views of Four Peaks and the desert are afforded. A windy narrow desert road travels ridges and ravines offering easy to moderate off-roading.
Shortly after a steep decent into a wash a wall like obstacle is reached. It is easy to drive by because it is a slab of granite that does not resemble the road. A great sense of accomplishment is felt for new comers as they conquer this impossible looking obstacle with ease. More easy to moderate terrain follows
After climbing to a saddle with interesting quartz rock a steep twisty decent takes you into another wash. The wash has some small boulders and interesting wheeling. This wash will take you to the exit Lower Sycamore Road. Here you have the opportunity to try numerous play hills some of which shrink to canyons only inches wider than your car.
If you want more adventure, continue down stream in Sycamore Creek until you hit the Verde River. At low flow times, you can cross the river even in a stock Rover. On the other side of the river a seldom used road leads you back to Fountain Hills.
Offers optional play hills and one optional obstacle for those wanting more challenge. It can be run in 3-4 hours depending on the number of vehicles and the usual circumstances. Stock vehicles can run this.
This trail follows a narrow valley surrounded by interesting rock formations. Very enjoyable hard-core run. Lockers and very high ground clearance recommended. A stock vehicle is certain to get damage. Getting stuck in mud is a real possibility if there has been lots of rain. The trail is rated both difficult and very difficult because there is a separate run that concentrates on the extreme portions of the trail that should be avoided by everybody except the most experienced/equipped drivers.
This trail was graded after the fire on Mt. Lemmon. It is starting to wash out again in spots but is fairly easy except the last 500 feet to the top of the peak which is a steep climb and loose rocks.
original writeup: Originally not a difficult trail. With the fires and washouts, it’s rating has been upgraded to a 3.5. The last few hundred meters feature loose, thin shale that adds a bit of excitement on the final ascent.
The Rover’s Playground. Trails abound here, and there’s something for every level of driver. 4+ trails offer complex and technical challenges while some of the less challenging drives offer spectactular scenery.
Worth the trip, every time.Venue Website: http://www.royallandrover.com/index.htm?client=safari&rls=en&q=royal+land+rover+tucson&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Forrest Service graded roads to access camping areas.
This trail combines the astounding Sedona beauty with moderate to challenging difficulty. The Red Rock country is the backdrop for this expedition that includes sights named Submarine Rock, Chicken Point, the Roundabout, and Devils Kitchen, with the challenge of slick-rock obstacles.
While relatively short in terms of distance, this trail calls for slow driving due to its tightness and rocky terrain. Many places are challenging because the driver needs to be well aware of their vehicle spatially and how to manage it over slick-rock, so drivers should have some experience.
The stock Range Rover, Discovery (including LR3), and Defender are well equipped to deliver a fantastic day.
