Apache-Sitgreaves NF OHV

Bulldog Canyon OHV Permit Zone is a 34,000-acre designated vehicle corridor in the Mesa Ranger District of Tonto National Forest, located approximately 30 miles east of Phoenix near the communities of Mesa and Gold Canyon. The zone encompasses the Goldfield Mountains and a broad swath of Sonoran Desert terrain — saguaro and cholla cactus, rocky bajada slopes, sandy washes, and desert scrub that provides a dramatically different riding environment from the forested and mountain OHV systems found in other regions. Approximately 20 miles of routes are available, ranging from relatively easy desert wash driving to rocky technical sections among the Goldfield Mountain ridges. Full-size 4x4 trucks, Jeeps, ATVs, UTVs, and motorcycles are all permitted within the designated permit zone boundaries. Access points include the Usery Mountain Regional Park trailhead and the Blue Point Boat Launch staging area. A Tonto National Forest OHV Permit is required for all vehicle entry and must be obtained in advance through Recreation.gov — no walk-up purchases are available. The desert heat makes fall through spring the primary riding season; summer temperatures regularly exceed 110°F. Wildlife including desert mule deer, coyote, javelina, and Gila woodpeckers inhabit the zone.

Crossroads OHV Area is a 1,500-acre BLM day-use riding area on the eastern edge of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, managed by the Lake Havasu Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management. The area provides immediate access to desert off-road terrain from the edge of one of western Arizona's fastest-growing communities, making it a favorite for local Lake Havasu riders who can reach the staging area without trailering. Terrain is characteristic of the Lower Colorado Desert — sandy washes, desert shrubland, short rocky climbs over rhyolite and basalt outcrops, and expansive views of the surrounding ranges and the Colorado River corridor. Motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, and other OHVs are all welcome; no entrance fee or permit is required. The developed staging area includes paved parking, an unloading ramp, and vault toilet facilities. The area connects informally to the broader Lake Havasu Travel Management Trail System to the north, extending the rideable territory substantially beyond the 1,500-acre core for those with navigational capability. Open year-round; fall through spring offers the most comfortable riding temperatures. The surrounding desert supports a healthy population of desert tortoise — riders are advised to yield and avoid contact. Managed by the BLM Lake Havasu Field Office (928-505-1200).

Hayfield Draw OHV Area is an 80-acre designated off-highway vehicle zone in the Verde Ranger District of Prescott National Forest, located northwest of Camp Verde in Yavapai County, Arizona, approximately 75 miles south of Flagstaff and 90 miles north of Phoenix. The facility is structured around four color-coded skill progression zones — green, blue, black, and double-black — giving it a more organized and graduated character than most desert open-riding areas. The terrain is rocky high-desert chaparral at Prescott National Forest elevations, with technical sections appropriate for the upper difficulty ratings. Motorcycles and ATVs and other OHVs up to 50 inches wide are permitted; the width restriction limits larger UTVs. Hayfield Draw operates seasonally: open September 1 through May 31, closed June through August to reduce resource impact during the hottest and driest months and to protect seasonal wildlife use. A $5 per vehicle day-use fee applies. No overnight camping is permitted at the OHV area itself; developed campgrounds in the surrounding national forest serve overnight visitors. The Verde Ranger District office in Camp Verde (928-567-3000) handles current conditions and seasonal closure information.

The Kaibab National Forest encompasses 1.6 million acres bordering both the North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon in Coconino and Mohave counties, northern Arizona — the high-plateau ponderosa pine forest country that flanks the canyon on both sides and provides the most accessible high-elevation OHV riding near one of the most visited destinations in the American West. The forest is divided into two non-contiguous units: the Kaibab Plateau on the North Rim (8,000 to 9,200 feet elevation, accessed from Jacob Lake on US-89A) and the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts south of the canyon (6,500 to 7,500 feet, accessed from Williams and Flagstaff on I-40). The South Rim units provide the OHV access most relevant to the major visitor market — riders based in the Williams/Flagstaff area can access designated forest OHV routes in ponderosa pine and pinyon-juniper terrain just minutes from the Grand Canyon Village and the South Rim corridor. The North Rim Kaibab Plateau unit provides more remote riding on the high plateau between the canyon and the Vermilion Cliffs, with dense forest of ponderosa, aspen, and Engelmann spruce and the meadow openings of the plateau's grassland parks. Arizona OHV registration is required for all machines on designated routes. The Williams Ranger District office (928-635-8200) serves as the primary contact for South Rim-adjacent OHV route information and seasonal closure updates for both the North and South Rim districts.