Wildcat OHV

Wildcat OHV is the staging area most riders mean when they say they are riding Cave Creek's OHV country. It is the main gateway into the Desert Vista OHV Permit Zone on the Tonto National Forest's Cave Creek Ranger District, a 33,500-acre area about an hour from Phoenix with roughly 65 miles of open motorized routes. Expect open Sonoran Desert with saguaros, sand washes, and rocky hillsides and no shade. The Forest Service says the routes range from easy to very difficult, with most falling in the moderate to more difficult range, and that they vary in width, so pay attention to which routes are single track and which suit full-size vehicles. All routes are two-way.

Not every route is a narrow trail. RiderPlanet, a third-party listing last showing the area as open, describes a mix of single track, double track, sand washes, and banked turns, but says there is not much true single track and that much of the riding is wide ATV-style double track. It also mentions an open play area with a few jumps near the staging area. Camp Creek Wash (route MT-413) is a highlight, leading toward the Verde River and the Needle Rock Recreation Area. Dirt bikes share the zone with ATVs, side-by-sides, and Jeeps, so expect mixed traffic on weekends. The site owner lists this area as public; no first-hand riding details have been added yet.

The area has burned several times in recent years, and the Forest Service asks riders to stay on designated routes so the desert can recover. Some trails south of the staging area (the Granite Mountain multi-use trails) have been closed to motorized use since 2008 for dust control, according to RiderPlanet, so do not assume every old trail is open.

Getting there

The staging area is off Bartlett Dam Road, about a mile east of Cave Creek Road and 3/4 mile east of the Cave Creek Ranger District office. From the Phoenix side, take the 101 freeway to Pima Road north, then Cave Creek Road east, then Bartlett Dam Road east about a mile to the staging area turn-off on the right. There is ample room for trailers and tow vehicles and a vault toilet, but no drinking water. Other trailheads into the zone include the 388 and 404 trailheads on Bartlett Dam Road and several off Needle Rock Road and the 136th, 144th, and 160th Street areas.

Fees, permits, and rules

Parking at the staging area is free, and vehicles parked there do not need a permit. Riding out into the Desert Vista OHV Permit Zone requires a Tonto National Forest OHV Permit, sold only through Recreation.gov: $10 for 3 days, $60 for 6 months, or $80 for a year. One permit covers all four Tonto OHV permit zones. Riders under 16 do not need their own but must be with a guardian holding one. You also need the Arizona OHV decal and must follow state equipment rules: spark arrestor and muffler, brakes, headlight and taillight, license plate, and rearview mirror, plus helmet and eye protection. The staging area is day use only, with no overnight camping or campfires. Camping may be allowed outside the staging area with a 14-day stay limit. Pack out your trash. Only approved targets may be used for target shooting.

When to ride

The zone is open year-round, but summers are hot and dry with no shade or water on the routes, so most riders come in the cooler months. The Cave Creek Ranger Station (480-595-3300) is open weekdays for questions.