Ride to Wickenburg AZ, the back way

[culcune]

Originally Posted by Magician16

I'm a snowbird, living in Chandler in the winter. I plan on getting a bike in AZ when I get there, but I don't think I'd have it ready by the 7th. Looks like a fun trip for you guys.

I figured we would have more rides after last year's ride, but did not. In the meantime, I was poking around the net and came across the Arizona Peace Trail. It is a 750 mile loop trail that is located in the 3 westernmost Arizona counties including Yuma (where I live), La Paz, and Mohave Counties. Of course, doing the entire loop is a vacation/commitment (about a week's time), but I figured we could do a section round trip for a day's ride, or even attempt an overnight sometime in the later fall or wintertime. Or more Phoenix region rides. Once the weather cools off, there are a lot of places to explore in AZ.

[dh]

Originally Posted by culcune

I figured we would have more rides after last year's ride, but did not. In the meantime, I was poking around the net and came across the Arizona Peace Trail. It is a 750 mile loop trail that is located in the 3 westernmost Arizona counties including Yuma (where I live), La Paz, and Mohave Counties. Of course, doing the entire loop is a vacation/commitment (about a week's time), but I figured we could do a section round trip for a day's ride, or even attempt an overnight sometime in the later fall or wintertime. Or more Phoenix region rides. Once the weather cools off, there are a lot of places to explore in AZ.

Tried exploring the Mohave County leg of the Peace Trail earlier this summer in my wife's tired Navigator. When we got there the 4x4 hubs gave us problems, so we didn't get far but saw some great scenery nonetheless. I visit that area frequently, and early spring is my favorite. Good weather and wildflowers.

[culcune]

Originally Posted by dh

Tried exploring the Mohave County leg of the Peace Trail earlier this summer in my wife's tired Navigator. When we got there the 4x4 hubs gave us problems, so we didn't get far but saw some great scenery nonetheless. I visit that area frequently, and early spring is my favorite. Good weather and wildflowers.

I have not seen any of the trail with my own eyes, but where the route swings from east to west to north to south in Yuma County, that is where the scenery gets a bit more interesting since it starts to follow the Colorado River. It looks a bit more interesting that way until at least Quartzite on I 10. I don't recall if it goes inland from there (boring desert landscape) until Mohave County. It does get to some higher elevations as some people have talked about hitting relatively deep snow and spending a night in some rustic cabins they rented in the snow. I do know that even in the boring desert parts (such as along the eastern north-south part like where it crosses I 10 again) there are old mining towns with some remnants which should break up the monotony. That is where we would most likely have a group ride since that would theoretically be the closest bits to the majority of members in the Phoenix region who could simply get on I 10 and head west if we were to try a day ride on a section of the Peace Trail later in the fall or winter.

[calvarez]

In order to help people visualize the exact location, is this correct?

https://i.imgur.com/j8T9hHF.jpg

[alex_in_az]

I'm fine either way, at least we know the hazards on the wickenburg trail

[Musictrek]

Originally Posted by alex_in_az

I'm fine either way, at least we know the hazards on the wickenburg trail

that's right! I did an alternate route by my self to Wickenburg one time and found myself on a steep hill and the engine of course died and I was perched on the slope with a heavy Brozz. I have since avoided that part of the route.

Meetup same location as last year between 8am -9am.
The coordinates mentioned earlier are
33°39'40.95"N
112°31'45.81"W

[JerryHawk250]

Sure wish I could take some time off and join the group. It would be a pleasure meeting all you guys.

[Emerikol]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Sure wish I could take some time off and join the group. It would be a pleasure meeting all you guys.

We’d love to have you along! Any chance you could make it? If not this year, I’m getting the feeling that we’ll be doing this again next year.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Emerikol

We’d love to have you along! Any chance you could make it? If not this year, I’m getting the feeling that we’ll be doing this again next year.

Do they allow UTV's and ATV's? I know my daughter would be up to it for sure. Not so sure about the wife. That would be a long trip for her on the ATV. I know there are a few free campgrounds around that area. Might be a good vacation. I would need a two week vacation. It about 1500 mile trip one way.

[Musictrek]

Originally Posted by alex_in_az

I'm fine either way, at least we know the hazards on the wickenburg trail

Excellent fun trip for these 250's

[calvarez]

I searched through the thread and it sounds like anyone who might be camping might be doing so BEFORE the ride, at the staging area in Surprise? Not after? I couldn't find any solid plans on what people are doing after Wickenburg. I live in Peoria, so my time and route are easy and flexible. Also, if anyone needs a well-equipped shop for anything, let me know, my garage is open. I'm at the far north end of 67th Ave.

[Musictrek]

Originally Posted by calvarez

I searched through the thread and it sounds like anyone who might be camping might be doing so BEFORE the ride, at the staging area in Surprise? Not after? I couldn't find any solid plans on what people are doing after Wickenburg. I live in Peoria, so my time and route are easy and flexible. Also, if anyone needs a well-equipped shop for anything, let me know, my garage is open. I'm at the far north end of 67th Ave.

The camping suggestion was from last years ride. At this years meetup location is not really a place to camp. I guess it could be done. I've never seen it there though. The camping would be at the boulders OHV park off of Hwy 74 closer to Lake Pleasant.

[alex_in_az]

Originally Posted by calvarez

I searched through the thread and it sounds like anyone who might be camping might be doing so BEFORE the ride, at the staging area in Surprise? Not after? I couldn't find any solid plans on what people are doing after Wickenburg. I live in Peoria, so my time and route are easy and flexible. Also, if anyone needs a well-equipped shop for anything, let me know, my garage is open. I'm at the far north end of 67th Ave.

did we meet last year when Tako was visiting? you had an RX3 and I think I met him at your house.

[calvarez]

Originally Posted by alex_in_az

did we meet last year when Tako was visiting? you had an RX3 and I think I met him at your house.

Yup, that was me. I sold the RX3, now have a KTM 390 Adventure.

[Emerikol]

Is there room for one more? A buddy of mine has a BMW GS and was lamenting that he doesn't get any riding in. Would anyone mind if something as huge as a GS joined us? I'm not sure he does much in the way of off-roading, but maybe I can convince him that getting the big GS on the dirt might make Charlie and Ewan magically appear...

I didn't want to just invite him to come along without at least getting the ok from you guys. Thoughts?