Beyond The Pavement- A Short Ride To Shiprock

Arizona isn’t just a big flat desert sprinkled with cactus and rattlesnakes and you don’t have to travel very far from where we are staying to see some pretty spectacular scenery.

Our last trail ride was a group ride with the local off-road club here at North Ranch in Congress AZ. Four rigs, two side-by-sides, our Jeep Wrangler and a vintage International Scout. After arriving at the trailhead parking area, while the side-by-sides unloaded off their trailers, the two of us aired down and readied for the ride.

Beyond The Pavement-Dragoon Springs Station

Back in the late 1800’s traveling in what is now known as Arizona was a difficult and dangerous journey . Not only was the terrain often inhospitable for humans, the local natives weren’t always on good terms with the people who were trying to colonizing these lands. Natives were not the only ones who attacked the outposts that sprung up to support the stage lines and those who worked or rode them. In most cases it was a fellow countrymen that attacked and killed them. Such as the massacre at the Dragoon Springs Station which sits on the western slope of the Dragoon Mountains near where Cochise hid from the US Army in what was to be called Cochise Stronghold.

Beyond The Pavement-Wickenberg Massacre Site

On the morning of November 5th, 1871 a stagecoach belonging to the Arizona Stage Lines was ambushed by 15 presumably Yavapai Indians from the nearby reservation, killing all 8 on the stage. While there is a Historical Marker not all that far away on US 60 on the western fringe of the City of Wickenberg, Arizona, one doesn’t get the real feel for the scene until you stand and see where it actually happened.

Beyond The Pavement – A Trek Thru The Desert

We started off February with another great trek through the desert in the local area around Wickenburg, Arizona. Morristown, AZ is located on highway US 60 just northwest of the greater Phoenix area, not far from Wickenburg. There are several destinations in this area between Morristown and Vulture Peak accessible only by foot or Off Road vehicles. These include mountains, caves, natural arches, mines, wildlife and plenty of trails to access them.

This time we give you two different videos of this trek, first is an overview of sorts of our ride, this gives you a sense of the terrain we traverse that is often lost in our “dashcam” videos as everything appears flat.

Beyond The Pavement – Roleto Cabin

Out in the western United States many historic places are located on maintained gravel roads or rustic roads that aren’t maintained. Some of these “roads” were originally established during the 1800’s by those who sought out seclusion or the opportunity for prosperity. I’d even classify some as goat paths depending on their width. If visiting historic places very few others get to see, then this adventure Beyond The Pavement is something you’d enjoy, so get yourself a suitable vehicle or rent one and go!

Recently, a fellow Jeeper who is also a member of a local Outdoors Club ran lead for our trip up to Roleto Cabin. A miners cabin that is to this day is maintained and available for anyone wanting to spend the night in. While the claim apparently has played out, the current owners of the claim keep it registered to preserve ownership and the cabin.

This reminder, when you visit any site such as this cabin, leave it as you found it. Understand, anyone caught vandalizing property regardless of ownership will under state law be prosecuted. Leave only footprints and take away only memories, otherwise places like this will be removed from everyone’s enjoyment.

This is track we took too and from the cabin. Both starting and ending on Old Stage Coach Rd.

Roleto cabin is located between Yarnell and Stanton, Arizona off Old Stage Coach Road. Old Stage Coach Rd is a maintained county gravel road but it is twisty, hilly and rough and well traveled by local ranchers, prospectors and off roaders (mostly side by sides.)

Stanton has a nefarious history worth looking up. It is popular today with amatuer and professional prospectors looking for gold. Yarnell is a quaint small town that offers tourist and locals alike shopping and dining.

If you take this ride, plan on three hours. The trail is rated as a medium difficulty, but in and after inclement weather can change it into being very difficult. Nature has its way of rearranging rocks, sand and soil into either easily passable or impassible conditions.

You can ride along with us if you want…