Boulders OHV

Boulders OHV is the main staging area for the Lake Pleasant and Hieroglyphic Mountains riding area in the Upper Sonoran Desert, about 45 miles north of downtown Phoenix. The land manager counts more than 200 miles of unimproved backcountry roads and single-track motorbike trails between roughly 1,700 and 3,500 feet. Expect rocky, hard-packed desert riding: sand washes winding past old windmills and corrals, rolling hills, saguaro and cholla, and views of the Hieroglyphic Mountains. Most of the mileage is wide two-track and wash riding that suits beginners and intermediates, with some singletrack that is meant for motorcycles and pushes into advanced terrain. It is also a busy ATV and UTV area, so weekend traffic can be heavy, and sand washes have blind corners.

The BLM describes a 22-mile Hieroglyphic Mountains OHV Loop that starts from this staging area and circles the mountains on existing roads. It is not signed as a loop, only as individual connecting roads, and the routes are not regularly maintained, so expect washouts after rain. The area is remote and has no water on the routes. Land ownership is scattered between BLM and Arizona State Trust land, so a land ownership map is worth having.

Riders also look this place up as "Mile Marker 11.5", after the highway marker where you turn off, or as the Boulders staging area.

Getting there

The staging area is in Maricopa County on State Route 74 (Carefree Highway), about 8 miles west of Lake Pleasant Regional Park. From Phoenix, take I-17 north to exit 223 and head west on SR-74 for about 18 miles. From the west, take US 60 to the Morristown exit and go east on SR-74. The unmarked gravel turnoff is on the north side of the highway near mile marker 11.5, between markers 11 and 12, and is easy to miss. The staging area is about one mile north of the highway. A kiosk is visible from the road.

Fees, permits, and rules

The BLM lists the staging area as free. Arizona requires an OHV decal on motorcycles and other off-highway vehicles of 2,500 pounds or less on public and state trust land. It costs $25 for residents and non-residents (plus a processing fee) and is valid for one year. The staging area has over 10 acres of primitive camping with a vault toilet and kiosk; there is no water, trash service, picnic tables, or designated campsites, so pack out everything. There is a fenced training lot for children.

• Stay on existing routes; cross-country travel is not allowed.
• Use an approved spark arrester.
• Obey the 15 MPH speed limit at the staging area; riding laps around it and spin turns ("donuts") are restricted because of county dust rules, and excessive dust can close the area.
• Use only dead wood already on the ground for campfires.

Some routes cross Arizona State Trust land, where staging and camping need a separate State Land Department recreation permit. Confirm which side of the boundary you are on.

When to ride

The BLM gives October through May as the best season. Summers in this low desert are extremely hot. Fall through spring is the time to go, and weekends can be crowded.