Saguaro Lake is located about 30 to 45 minutes outside of Mesa, Arizona  (Phoenix Area).  The lake has 4 coves that you can access by 4x4 or boat.  You can camp in these coves and burn any wood found on the ground.  There are lots of small pieces of wood around for fires.  This area supports many trails, most are easy, scenic runs.  There are enough trails and activities in this area to fill a long weekend.  Depending on your needs, this area offers both a relaxing or challenging 4x4 weekend.  Most areas are accessible to stock 4x4s, but a locker in the rear end would be most helpful.  High clearance is not an issue because there are very few rocks in the area.

Where Is it...
Access to the trails around the lake is simple. From highway 60, exit on Power Rd and head north. Power Rd. will turn into Bush Highway once you exit the north end of town. You can also access Bush Highway from Highway 87 and head south. The Bush highway is only 20 to 25 miles long, so there is little time difference on which direction you go. Power Road is more direct, but has many traffic lights, and Highway 87 is virtually none stop. The lake is only 3 miles from the Bush Highway and Highway 87 intersection. Once on the Bush Highway, take the Butcher Jones turn off (it only goes on way). This will lead you to the lake and picnic area. This area is a fee area if you plan to park there, day use only. The picnic area is the end of the road.

As you loop through the picnic area, you will see a green gate, this gate is the entrance to the 4x4 area. Keep the gate closed and latched, it's there to keep cows from entering the picnic area. From the gate, continue following "up" the wash. Any "Y's" will usually return you to the same main road. Eventually you will need to climb out of the wash and up onto a ridge.  Climbing out of the wash and onto the ridge: 

One "Y" to the right will require you to climb a difficult hill to return the main trail on the ridge. Taking any of the hill climbs will return you to the main trail. If you stay on the main trail, you will have to drive up the ridge were the ridge comes down into the wash. This could be difficult for stock 4x4s because of large holes.

Once on the ridge, look for the first right turn that goes down, then up immediately. If you don't make this turn, just make the next right turn. And find your way from there. There are a lot of turns and options, but all these trails will eventually get you to any one of the coves.

The coves:

All the cove trails are washes that lead to the cove. Above the washes are ridge trails that will eventually drop you down into the washes that lead to a cove. The best way to get to a cove is to head down hill, whether you are on a ridge or in a wash. You should be able to get a sight on the lake for reference. The only trick is getting to cove 2 from cove 1. The ridge between these coves will not get you to cove 2.

You need to drive away from the lake on a rocky trail for about 10 minutes looking for the next wash trail that leads to cove 2. From cove 2, look for an up hill climb to get over the ridge between cove 2 and cove 3.  Any hill climb will do the job, just pick one. Once you have dropped down into the cove 3 wash, going right at a "Y" will take you down hill to cove 3, left at the "Y" will lead you to the final hill climb leading to cove 4.

Getting to cove 4 without going to any of the other coves takes about 30 minutes in a locked up Jeep or truck. There are a lot of hill climbs to play on, varying in difficulty. Cove 1 has a competition style hill. I optioned not to do it because failure to climb it would cause a very difficult recovery. It is possible to roll the Jeep from the top (150 ft) and land in the lake. If the roll doesn't kill you, then drowning will.

The only recovery is to back down because you have to make a sharp right or left turn at the top. Therefore, a winch vehicle would not be able to pull you over the top because it would be in the way.

Also, the top of the hill is almost vertical with loose sand and layered stone. This hill is doable, but I suggest that you have a recovery plan in place prior to an attempt. It will take about 10 minutes for a recovery vehicle to drive the long way around to get to the top.

We decided to go down this hill, it was very steep. I lifted a rear tire while traversing one of the many large holes near the bottom. The Datsun had a difficult time keeping the engine running, the carb was flooding.  The scariest part was the approach. It's a hard right, totally blind, off camber, down hill approach. There's not enough room to backup and achieve a straight on approach. All you see is sky and the lake 150 feet below, as you feel your right front tire begin to roll you to the right. Yes, your right front is off the ground as you start the turn. You have no idea what's ahead of you until you have fully completed the turn.

Easy Access to Cove 4:

There is an easy trail to cove 4. It will take about an hour and most of it can be done in 2 wheel drive. Close to the Butcher Jones turn off is a boat trailer parking/camping area. It is within 1/8 of a mile from the Butcher Jones turn off. Enter this parking area and exit out the back onto a dirt trail and make a left turn (away from the lake). This trail has trail markers and its number is 13. Stay on trail 13 heading mostly north at first, then north east, then east. You will see many other trail markers on the way. Eventually (30 minutes or so) you will see trail marker 1829. There is also a fence line that parallels this trail. So if I got the trail number wrong, look for a fence. 

This should be a right turn heading east. Additionally, going straight will take you "down" to a wash about 400 to 500 feet in elevation from the turn off. Follow the fence line for about 10 minutes. You will come to a hill (easy climb, not steep at all) and before you crest the hill you will see a right turn that side hills around a large bush/tree. Other signs of this turn are that the original turn has been blocked off by a small fence and a pile of dirt. After making this turn, you should be headed down hill straight for the lake on a ridge. The ridge will eventually drop you into a wash that is on your right. Follow the wash to cove 4. Do not make any turns. Remember the rule, "down hill goes to the coves". If you make a wrong turn, just head for the lake and try the short cuts explained above. This is about a 20 mile run. All these trails will end up at either a cove, high 87 or Bush Highway.

NOTE: Watch out for cows, so don't drive too fast in the washes.

Bulldog Canyon:
Bulldog Canyon is a great trail, 8 miles of loose rock, wash crossings and beautiful landscapes. I was more impressed with this trail over the Saguaro Lake trails. It was much more scenic, with constant challenges around every corner. Stock 4x4s would definitely find this challenging due to the loose, rocky hill climbs and rock filled wash crossings. It would be an interesting trip in the rain for sure. Bulldog Canyon is a great day run, all you need are drinks and a lunch. Gas, food, and supplies is readily available upon completion of the run. 

There is a optional hill climb about 6 miles up the trail that offers a terrific view down the canyon (locked up, geared down, big tired vehicles only on this hill). I climbed it lifting a tire while traversing the off camber, side hill "S" turn before heading for the near vertical, rocky summit. After the "S" turn, and faced with the remaining assent, I was wishing I was back at the lake, sitting in my chair with a beer in one hand and my fishing pole in the other. The remaining assent is made of loose layered rock, big holes, and vertical rock ledges. You need to pick your way through this section carefully, failure could put your shorts in a bind.

The trail can be accessed from Bush Highway. Look for a gate south of the Blue Point bridge. There is only one bridge on Bush Highway, and there is a sign with the name of the trail at the gate. This trail will take about 2 to 3 hours depending on the size of the group.

You will need to get the gate lock combination from the Mesa Ranger District to gain access the trail.

Mesa Ranger District
P.O. Box 5800
Mesa, Arizona 85211-5800
602-610-3300
602-379-6446 (This Phone number was scratched out)

This trail follows a power pole line, so it is easy to traverse. Just stay on the road most traveled and you should find your way easily. There are some "Ys" leading off the trail, they are mostly for Power Pole service and are dead ends. After 7.3 miles there is another locked gate to get off the trail. This will lead you to a graded dirt road. Make a left at the graded dirt road (down hill). Eventually you will see some houses and a street sign that labels this road as "Cactus". At the intersection of Cactus and Tanto, turn right. This will lead you to Wolverine Pass road which is paved. Turn left (down hill) on Wolverine Pass to McKellips. Make a right on McKellips to Meridian. Turn left (down hill) on Meridian to University.

At Meridian and University, there is a Circle K with gas and food. Make a right on University towards Phoenix and you will eventually reach Power Road. Make a right (up hill) on Power Road which will turn into Bush Highway and take you back to the trail head (full circle).

If you need parts, or a store, head south on Power Road and you will see an auto parts store on your left. If you reach Main street, you past the parts store. Also, turning right on Main street (towards Phoenix) will gain you access to food, K-Mart, etc.

We found a Napa parts store several miles down Main street. Napa had the idler arm bearing we needed to fix the power steering on the Datsun.  From the NAPA store, it took about and hour and 30 minutes to get to our camp in cove 4.

I will definitely be returning to these trails in the fall.

Responses to this story may be emailed to:

andy@dirtfirst.com
 

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