Middle Sand Wash Trail

Length is what sets this one apart among the nearby wash routes, at 4.3 miles of native dirt. Grades stay in the 5 to 8 percent band, so the distance rather than the pitch is the work. ATVs, bicycles, horses, and hiking are the allowed uses, and motorized traffic is part of the mix. Trail 0527 is rated class 2, with light construction and a simple tread. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. Plan for a longer day, carry water, and tell someone your route. Conditions change after rain, so check with the ranger district before setting out.

Riders on an ATV share this one with people on foot, on a bicycle, and on horseback, so expect to meet motorized traffic. It runs 3.07 miles on native dirt, with grades in the 5 to 8 percent range, which makes for a moderate and fairly even pull. Trail 0546 is rated class 3, a step more developed than a rough footpath, with a wider and better defined tread. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. Dirt tread can wash out after a storm, so ask the ranger district about conditions before a long ride. Yield rules matter here, since users travel at very different speeds.

Short and mostly gentle, this route covers 1.35 miles with grades in the 5 to 8 percent range. The tread is native dirt. It is open to ATV riders, bicycles, horses, and people on foot, so a quiet walk is not guaranteed and it pays to listen for engines. Trail 0526 carries a class 2 rating, meaning simple construction and few built features. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. Its length makes it a reasonable choice when time is short or when you want to link it with something longer. Conditions in a wash change after rain, so check before you go.

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Underhill Trail is a short route of about 1.3 miles in the Prescott National Forest. The Verde Ranger District manages it and it is numbered 0528. Hiking, horseback riding, bicycles and all terrain vehicles are all allowed, so expect mixed traffic. Grades run from 8 to 10 percent, a moderate climb. The surface is native material, meaning dirt and rock. It is rated trail class 3, so the tread is better built than on the plainest routes in the district. The short length suits a quick outing or a link between longer trails. Check conditions with the Verde Ranger District.

Trail 9705 runs 2.4 miles over native dirt, with no paving and no surfaced tread. Grades sit in the 8 to 10 percent band, so the climbing is steady rather than gentle. Hikers, riders on horseback, and people on bicycles may all use it. Motorized vehicles are not among the listed uses. It is rated trail class 2, which means a basic route with light construction and few built features. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. Check with the ranger district for current conditions, since washes and storms change dirt tread quickly. Carry water and wear shoes with grip.

Riders on an ATV share this one with people on foot, on a bicycle, and on horseback, so expect to meet motorized traffic. It runs 3.07 miles on native dirt, with grades in the 5 to 8 percent range, which makes for a moderate and fairly even pull. Trail 0546 is rated class 3, a step more developed than a rough footpath, with a wider and better defined tread. The Verde Ranger District of the Prescott National Forest manages it. Dirt tread can wash out after a storm, so ask the ranger district about conditions before a long ride. Yield rules matter here, since users travel at very different speeds.

Grades of 0 to 5 percent make this one of the flatter routes in the area, and it runs 4.29 miles on native dirt. Trail 1000 is rated class 3, so the tread is wider and better defined than a rough footpath, which suits a steady pace over a longer distance. This is Red Rock Ranger District land, on the Coconino National Forest. Allowed uses are not listed here, so check with the ranger district before bringing a bicycle, a horse, or anything motorized. Gentle grade does not mean short, so carry water for the full distance and ask about conditions after any storm.