Hayfield Draw OHV Area

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).

Standard Wash OHV Area is a BLM open-riding zone on the Havasu-Crossroads bench north of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, functioning as the primary gateway trailhead for the Lake Havasu Travel Management Trail System — an extensive network of marked desert trails spreading north and east from the Colorado River corridor into the Mohave County backcountry. Unlike the more developed Crossroads OHV Area to the south, Standard Wash operates as an open cross-country zone within the designated boundaries: riders navigate desert wash terrain, rocky desert flats, and scrub-covered hillsides without following a marked trail network. This format favors experienced riders comfortable with desert navigation and machine recovery. ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles, full-size 4x4s, and dune buggies are all permitted; no entrance fee or OHV permit is required. Dispersed camping is allowed throughout the BLM area under standard 14-day stay limits, making Standard Wash a natural base camp for multi-day riding excursions into the surrounding travel management system. The area is open year-round; conditions are most favorable October through April before the Sonoran Desert heat peaks. Water is unavailable on-site — carry adequate supply for the distance and temperatures planned.