Take a fun and mostly easy mountain road from the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains down into Black Canyon City. From Black Canyon City, you can take this trail in reverse to continue all the way to Crown King without touching asphalt.

Where to go:

From the I-17/Loop 101 interchange in Phoenix, head north up I-17 for 33 miles. Take exit 248 (Bumble Bee/Crown King) and turn left. Follow Crown King Road for 1.9 miles to the end of the paved road. Staging is along the paved road and to the left at the intersection. If you are taking this trail from Black Canyon City, take exit 244. Turn left after exiting. Follow the road west and then turn left, turning almost immediately right onto Maggie Mine Road.

Trail Description:

Begin heading south uphill from Crown King Road. Stay on the main road, ignoring side roads until 1.9 miles. Off to the right here is an optional and difficult side trip that drops into the Black Canyon River. The 1.4 mile shelf road provides access to a remote section of the Black Canyon River in addition to some interesting old mines to the south. The trail is rated a ‘5’ or ‘6’ and may have water crossings.

Back on the main trail, the road gets rougher as it turns east to cross over a natural gas pipeline at 2.8 miles. The trail then turns back south as it follows close to I-17 as it winds downhill. Slow down as you pass through residential areas at 4.2 miles. The trail reaches pavement at 5.3 miles. If you are not on a street legal vehicle, turn around at this point. If you are street legal, you can continue an additional 1.4 miles into Black Canyon City where you can access I-17.

Notes & Trail Ratings:

Overall this is a very short but scenic trip no matter which way you take it. Extend your run up to Crown King by starting in Black Canyon City and working your way north. Extend your day by exploring more difficult side trails that lead to the Black Canyon River. The main trail is rated a ‘2.5’ because it remains mostly wide and graded the entire way. High clearance is recommended but 4-wheel drive is not required. Allow for 1-2 hours to complete the trail round trip, add more if you take a side trip or stop.