Well, at the last minute I decided to take off work yesterday and go do some Javelina prospecting up north.

Decided to take a look at FR393 that runs from Sunflower Work Center to the Verde at Bartlett Lake.

I spent most of the time hiking around the area, so didn't get too far driving, only about 3 miles in. The trail is very good, as far as I drove it, with only a couple spots that might get trickier over time due to erosion.

The trail was not full-size friendly, as it's quite narrow in a few places, and one spot in particular I hugged the uphill bank tight to squeeze thru. Generally speaking, it was pretty easy going, though I wouldn't do it in 2wd.

Views from up top are incredible, being able to see all the way south to the Bartlett Lake Dam, about 15 miles away. I believe it's the McDowell's that are in the distance past Bartlett that can be seen. Thru binoculars I could see how muddied up Bartlett is from the run off.

The Verde is flowing at a good clip past Ft. McDowell at the moment, so maybe later this spring the flow will reduce enough to attempt running the entire trail and getting across the river.

My Tonto Nat'l Forest map has FR393 clearly marked; I forgot to look if they show any other trails that exit out of the area, to see if any other options exist.

Anyways, it was a nice day, much better than work.



If you look really hard, the light colored area just above center left is the Bartlett Lake Dam. Mountains farthest in the background are the McDowell's.

Very Beatiful.

I wanna run that one!!!

Sorry about the dupe post, I deleted the other one.

Yeah, definitely need to get and explore that one in it's entirety. On my way out, there was a white Bronco (early 70's) I noticed off in the distance, also heading out.

I hadn't seen it all day, so they must've gone in before me and travelled further. The trail looks like it sees some use, though there were only a couple sets of tracks that were recent.

Regards,

-matt

I've seen that road on the map book,but where exactly does it start? Is it a posted trail off the Beeline? Does look like a pretty trail.

It starts about 033 54' 20.04" N 111 29' 0.24" W, which is near the Sunflower Work Center on the *OLD* section of 87 that has since been bypassed.

USGS Quadrangle "Reno Pass" shows it.

To get there, take the 87 north out of Fountain Hills for approx 36 miles. You'll go by Bushnell Tanks, keep going north to the top of the pass at Kitty Joe Canyon (new section of 87).

There'll be a turn you can make at the top - Sunflower to the left, Mt. Ord to the right. Turn left and drop back down into the valley, following the old 87. The trail will be on the right as you head south, immediately before the old 87 ends.

The trail has a gate at the entrance and is marked (FR 393).

I see on the Tonto Nat'l Forest map that FR 3456 runs east from FR 393 from Bartlett to the 87 near Round Valley. Looks like it passes thru Log Corral Wash and Log Corral Canyon, near Granite Mountain. It doesn't show connecting on the USGS map, but it could be an alternate way out.

The Mesa Ranger Station said that the first 4 miles of FR 3456 that fall in their area are open (87 running west), but that they hear a lot of stories of people getting stuck (including their own Rangers). They did not know the condition of the rest of 3465, as it falls into the Cave Creek District.

So, I called Cave Creek, and they have no idea of the 393 or 3456 in that area.

Guess it'll be up to us to check it out.



Regards,

-matt

Thanks for the info,looks like a new spot to explore!

You wouldnt 2wd it...?? but what about me.??

Damn...Im off on Mondays too.....

Brad could do it in 2wd, based on his previous White Tanks driving demonstration.



Anyone else may want to consider 4wd.

What about my 2wd???

Lol,nobody would ever believe Mongo is 2wd, so I think you're good to go.



-matt