By John Stanley
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 13, 2002


Off-road enthusiasts will converge in Williams on Saturday to dedicate a nearly 100-mile segment of the Great Western Trail stretching from the Sycamore Canyon area to the Utah border.


The ongoing project is creating a multiuse trail that provides backcountry access for users ranging from four-wheel-drive enthusiasts to equestrians, mountain bikers and hikers. When complete, the route will cross five states from Mexico to Canada.

Nearly 800 miles of the trail will pass through Arizona; after Saturday's dedication, about 650 of those miles will be complete, according to Don Blackburn, a Prescott artist who serves as president of the Arizona Section of the Great Western Trail.

"The Great Western Trail is a wonderful here-to-there kind of trail," he says, noting that now you can ride from Cave Creek to the Utah border almost entirely on back roads.

Saturday's celebration, which will honor trail volunteers and bring off-roaders up to date on the status of the trail, will feature speakers from the national Great Western Trail organization, the Kaibab Ranger District and Arizona State Parks. It is open to the public.

Leo Drumm, the off-highway vehicle program coordinator for the Arizona Department of Game & Fish, notes the huge popularity of off-roading in Arizona.

"Lots of folks like to get out on a dirt road and see where it goes," he says. "(The trail) is a good way for the public to get out and experience Arizona's backcountry, view wildlife and learn about Arizona in the process."

At the dedication, Drumm will hand out free educational material dealing with off-road techniques, regulations and ethics.

"Four-wheeling is a great way to get out of the city with your family and see our country," says Sandee McCullen, of Mesa, a liaison for Valley-area clubs under the umbrella of the Arizona State Association for 4-Wheel Drive Clubs. "The cultural and historical sights in Arizona are tremendous. And you can't see a lot of that stuff without going off the highway."

For more information, visit the Arizona State Parks OHV page

More information can be obtained from the Arizona State Association of four wheel drive clubs ASA4WDC


1998 Frontier 4x4 seriously built
2002 Xterra 4x4 still stock
"Conjunction Junction, what's your Dysfunction?"

very cool! I plan on driving the Great Western Trail someday. Can you imagine? Take a month or two off work and go drive the trail border-to-border? That'd be heaven.

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"I'm just a bill... on Capitol Hill.."

That really would be something!


1998 Frontier 4x4 seriously built
2002 Xterra 4x4 still stock
"Conjunction Junction, what's your Dysfunction?"