By far the best 4x4 adventure in Arizona
The Grand Canyon is the largest in the world. Most people will never get a chance to experience most of this natural wonder. To reach many of the canyons overlooks, you must have a highly modified 4x4, superb driving skills, days to spend, and a full tank of extra fuel. Don't forget your camera, because you're going to need it!By: Kevin M. Allard
Kevin is a Christian, constitutional, conservative, and the founder of Arizona Backcountry Explorers. When he's not adventuring in the Arizona backcountry, he spends his time burning iron behind a welding hood. He is privileged to write for 4low Magazine, and some of his work is available in the Western Journalism Foundation. Through these unique opportunities, he feels fully obligated to forwarn our community of the changes we face.azbackcountryexplorers@gmail.com
Day one and two | Meeting at Little Finland in the Gold Butte National Monument
Following Gold Butte Rd from Riverside, Nevada is a rough and long paved road. Deep potholes are scattered throughout the trail. It's slow and will probably take you about an hour or more. Excited to start the day, with the camera in hand, I set off on foot towards the intricate sandstone formations. I spent about an hour exploring the area and snapping photos. Eventually, everybody was packed up and ready to go. After a brief discussion of our route, we hit the trail with the anticipation of reaching Trail Canyon by 6 pm.
Little Finland in the gold Butte National Monument. 🙂👍
Posted by Arizona Backcountry Explorers on Sunday, November 24, 2019
It was nearly an hour before we were back on the trail, and time was running short. Following a beautiful smooth two-track trail, we arrive at Nutter Twists Rd and head north. Climbing Tweeds Points to the Hidden Rim is a rough, steep climb with a few mild rock obstacles. The trail is true to its name and twists left to right while straddling the cliffside between Hidden Canyon and Hidden Cliffs. Looking behind, you get an incredible view of Grand Wash.
Our Hidden Spring campsite from Expedition 1 was just ahead. We decided to utilize our campsite one more time. The cow dung was minimal this time, thank goodness. During our stay, we ran into the guys in the Subaru again. "Glad to see they are ok," I think to myself. They stopped to ask about trail conditions farther down the trail. They wanted to know if its safe for them to continue towards Bar 10 Ranch.
Up ahead, the trail gets tight as it winds through Hidden Canyon up to Shivwits Plateau. From there, they can hop on a maintained road to St. George, Utah. The drive is nothing a Subaru cant handle. I glimpse at their fuel gauge and notice they have less than a quarter tank, and I immediately suggest they visit the ranch for fuel. They won't make it out with just a quarter tank.
The excitement of Mollies Nipple is too much to bear, and the erection of rooftop tents commences.
Day three | Hidden Spring to Mollies Nipple
The Trail Canyon dugway drops you into the most beautiful Canyon in Arizona. Don't attempt this one without low range. The 25% grade is enough to make your four-wheel drive work for it. 🙂🌵
Posted by Arizona Backcountry Explorers on Sunday, November 17, 2019

By the time we got the 4runner through, the sun was setting. We still had another 10 miles to go before we reach Mollies Nipple in the Grand Canyon National Park. At the current pace, 10 miles could mean 3 hours. Some in the group contemplated quitting before we reach the end. Peer pressure and encouragement kept the group focused on the task. As the sun disappeared, the trail got rougher. Several large ledges and bumper dragging dips separate us from the nipple.
Setting up camp was slow with exhaustion. The group was super excited but absolutely wore out from the 12-hour trek. Around the fire, we discussed our plan to fix the trail and decided it was best to leave camp as early as possible. We knew it would be a long day.
Day four and five | Making our way back to civilization
I took a short hike around the point and enjoyed the view. The air was foggy, which made shooting a good photo difficult. I imagined the dust from our adventurous stampede, just barely starting to settle. Following the cliffs, I could see what felt like miles down the canyon. I found a neat shelf overlooking the Grand Canyon. It wreaked of Mountain Loin, but the treacherous predator was absent and nowhere to be found. The shelf had an overhang that provided shade and shelter. I wonder if the Mountain Lion enjoys the view as much as I do.
The scale of the massive granite gorge was starting to settle in. We had traveled nearly 200 miles since we left the Gold Butte National Monument on Saturday. Our path brought us through multiple layers, resembling giant steps that led us to this beautiful place. It's hard to imagine the blood, sweat, and tears from the Arizona Pioneers who tamed this land.
The Grand Canyon is more than a canyon, its a dance through time. Each canyon contains another canyon, which includes other canyons. Each layer is massive, with its own habitat ranging from lush forest at the top to dry desert at the edge of the Grand Canyon. In between, you find substantial riparian areas with mountain springs and beautiful, unique plant life.
Cryptobiotic soil covers the ground as far as the eye can see, dictating the beautiful landscape. Lichens accompany the microorganisms that help bind the soft sandy soil together. Together they create a crust that covers the ground. Natures way of slowing erosion. The result is an unprecedented growth on top of the soil. It's especially important not to disturb cryptobiotic soil. Lichens take hundreds of years to develop.
We kept the pace as fast as possible without risking any damage. Before we know it, we're at the collapsed section of the trail. The plan was to wench the fallen rock to the side so we could get around. Six people in the group quickly took over the task, including one anchorman, one wench operator, one line tender, and two strap positioners. The trail is now safe for others to pass by.
Eventually, we start our climb out of Parashant Canyon and get another feel of the 25 percent grades. We drive over one of the biggest waterfalls I've ever seen, but I can't see it. A blind right turn takes you up and over the falls with a sheer dropoff on the right side. This spot is frequently affected by rains and can wash out. Close attention to the weather is crucial to making sure you and your crew can make it out safely.
Beat up, worn out, and covered in an unusual amount of dirt, we find ourselves a campsite at the top of Trail Canyon. A good friend served everyone some Hawaiian pulled pork sandwiches with a choice of either coleslaw or potato salad. I chopped up a watermelon and passed it around. This was our last night camping, and we had plenty of firewood left. Every last piece turned to ash while we stayed up until 2 am reminiscing old times. It was time for day 4 to wind down.
The following morning was no different than any other. Breakfast, drown the campfire, pack up camp. We still had an entire day worth of driving before we arrived home. Our departure would consist of 90 miles of nice smooth dirt to Fredonia, Arizona. It's a beautiful drive with a couple cool things to see along the way. The pace was kept at a steady 45 to 55 miles per hour as the Parashant Crew barreled themselves through the dust, all the way to the pavement.
The route
DOWNLOADS | |
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GPX | CLICK HERE |
KML | CLICK HERE |
KMZ | CLICK HERE |
Trail Rating | |
Technical | |
Scenic Beauty | |
Isolation | |
Physical Demand | |
Ooo Ahhh | |
Trail Information | |
Fuel Stop | Mesquite, Bar 10 Ranch, Fredonia |
High Clearance | Required |
Full Size | NO |
Nearest Wilderness Area | Mt Logan, Mt Trumbull, Grand Wash Cliffs, |
Opportunities | 4X4, Camp, Bike, Hike, Fish, Hunt |
Land Management | Trust Land, BLM, USFS, Private, National Park Service |
Flash Flood | Yes |
Winter Closure | No |
Best Season | Avoid winter |