Butterfield Stage Route (1.5)

[schneiderdn]

Trail Description: A short, scenic section of the 2,800-mile mail, freight and passenger route trail (from Missouri to San Francisco) established by John Butterfield in 1857. Beautiful desert scenery with historic highlights along the way. Great for a two-hour (+/-) family run.

Difficulty: Easy (1.5) -- No rocks, just dirt trail and some loose sand/dirt along the way. Stock four-wheel drive vehicles will have no problem; two-wheel drive adequate most of the way when dry. Hardest part of trail is a small climb on dirt road; not an issue for stock SUVs (see attached photo). NOTE: Dangerously hot during summer months. Carry plenty of water and travel with at least one other vehicle.

Location: Southwest of Phoenix between Maricopa and Gila Bend (about 50 minutes from Chandler).

Features: A historic, scenic desert section of the Butterfield Stage Route inside the Sonoran Desert National Monument directly adjacent to a wilderness area. NOTE: It is imperative that you remain on the designate route at all times.

Time & Distance: More than 12 miles off pavement. Allow 1 to 2 hours to make the trip, 3+ if you stop to have lunch and/or take photos/read about history.

Directions: From the intersection of Highways 347 and 238 just north of Maricopa, head west 25.4 miles on Hwy 238. Turn north on dirt road at National Monument sign (just east of mile marker 17). See page 225 in "Guide to Arizona Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails" by Charles A. Wells for trail directions.

[gusol11]

I tried to take this trip in July but found that the BLM has closed this area Jun.2008 for approx. 3 yrs. for "vegetation rehab"
Gusol11



Edit by Moderator - Can anyone else please confirm this? Please PM Lifes a Jeep.

Thanks

[GRUNT]

Yes, the whole area is closed for a few years. The immediate area right off the road was trashed by people cutting their own tracks everywhere. I would routinely be driving defensively in the desert because the damn motorcycles/quads would blaze everywhere and pop out infront of you. Had one lcok up and crash to avoid hitting the side of my jeep. Idiots. It was getting worse everytime I was down there, was only a matter of time. It is a shame because it was not that bad at all if you followed the trail back in.

Some believe that the BLM has no plans to ever reopen this area, only prolonging the "rehab period."