How difficult is Bradshaw Mountains OHV Network (Prescott National Forest)?

Bradshaw Mountains OHV Network (Prescott National Forest) is rated difficult.

When is the best time to visit Bradshaw Mountains OHV Network (Prescott National Forest)?

The best months are Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov. Avoid Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug.

Do you need a permit for Bradshaw Mountains OHV Network (Prescott National Forest)?

Yes — a permit is required. It is managed by U.S. Forest Service — check the agency listing for current requirements and fees.

Guides/OHV areas

OHV area120+ miles of designated routes trail midifficulty: difficult

Bradshaw Mountains OHV Network (Prescott National Forest)

AgencyU.S. Forest ServiceLast verified—

Photo by Mimi Cummins via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Area vitals7 facts

Trail miles

120+ miles of designated routes

Technical difficulty

Difficult

Vehicle classes

Motorcycle / Dirt bike, ATV, UTV / Side-by-side, 4WD truck/SUV

Best months

Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov

Permit

Required

Fees

No Adventure Pass on Prescott NF. Standard recreation fees at developed sites.

Cell coverage

Drops out fast in the canyons. Service appears at the high points and at Crown King.

Take action

Plan in Epic Plans Open in Google Maps Official site

The Bradshaw Mountains OHV network is the spine of off-road recreation on Prescott National Forest, the cluster of forest roads and named jeep trails that connect Prescott, Crown King, Mayer, and Bumble Bee. The system covers more than 120 miles of designated routes through the Bradshaws at 4,000 to 7,500 feet. Senator Highway / FR 52 (the historic Prescott-to-Crown King road) is the spine; named technical trails like Gladiator Mine, Castle Hot Springs, and the Algonquin Trail branch off it.

The Bradshaws were heavily mined for silver and gold from the 1860s through the 1930s, and the existing road and trail network was largely cut by miners. Crown King at 5,800 feet is the network's interior basecamp, with a saloon, restaurant, and small store but no fuel. Snow closes the southern segments from January and February most years; summer thunderstorms wash out drainage crossings. April-November is the practical window, with the cool October-November stretch as the prime overlanding season.

Hazards

Read before you go

Loose volcanic rock. Sidewall punctures are common. Bring a spare and a plug kit.
Shelf-road exposure. Several segments are narrow with significant drop-offs. Use pullouts.
Winter snow. January and February typically close the southern segments.
Summer thunderstorms. Monsoon storms wash out drainage crossings.
Mining-era hazards. Old shafts, adits, and tailings sit just off the road. Stay on marked routes.

Area map

OHV area

Coordinates 34.21200, -112.33600

Area facts

7 fields

Agency	U.S. Forest Service
Nearest town	Crown King, Arizona
Permit	Arizona OHV decal required for non-street-legal vehicles registered in Arizona. Spark arresters required. Riders under 18 must wear helmets.
Agency contact	928-443-8000 (Bradshaw Ranger District)
Website	www.fs.usda.gov/r03/prescott/recreation/bradshaw-ranger-district-0
Closed	Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug
Coordinates	34.21200, -112.33600

Getting there

Directions

The Bradshaw Mountains south of Prescott have two main day-use OHV staging areas (Alto Pit and Hayfield Draw) and nearly 400 miles of motorized trails.

Alto Pit OHV Area, from downtown Prescott: Take Montezuma Street north (becomes Whipple St) about 1.5 miles to Willow Creek Road. Continue west on Iron Springs Road for 3 more miles, then turn left onto Spence Springs Road.

Alto Pit, from Willow Creek Road: Travel northwest on Iron Springs Road approximately 5 miles to the OHV area on the right. The road is paved to the campground and graded dirt inside the OHV area.

Photos

2 photos

Photos · 2

Field notes

Getting Oriented

The Bradshaw Mountains lie south of Prescott and west of I-17 in central Arizona, on Prescott NF's Bradshaw Ranger District. The network's main entries are Senator Highway / FR 52 (south from Prescott), Crown King Road / FR 259 (west from I-17 at Bumble Bee), and the Wagoner-Yarnell roads (east from US-89). Crown King at 5,800 feet anchors the interior; Horsethief Basin Recreation Area lies six miles southeast.

What to Expect

The network exceeds 120 miles of designated routes. Most are graded forest roads; named technical trails branch off them. Senator Highway / FR 52 is the main spine, with Castle Hot Springs Road and Crown King Road as the cross-axes. Hard trails include the Algonquin Trail (a steep climb out of Bumble Bee), Gladiator Mine (rocky climb to a mining-era site), and the Castle Hot Springs descent (one-lane shelf road). The system's character is loose volcanic rock, narrow shelf sections, and exposure rather than granite slab.

Vehicle and Permit Rules

Arizona OHV decal required for non-street-legal vehicles registered in Arizona; out-of-state OHV registration is honored.
Spark arresters required on all motorized vehicles.
Riders under 18 must wear helmets.
Stay on designated routes. Prescott NF's Travel Management plan governs which roads are open to which vehicle classes.
Several routes are restricted to vehicles 50 inches wide or less; check the MVUM before riding a UTV or full-size 4WD into the network.

Hub Towns and Trailheads

Prescott. Largest hub. Whiskey Row, fuel, lodging, OHV shops, and the western entry via Senator Highway.
Crown King. Interior hub at 5,800 feet. Saloon, restaurant, and small store; no fuel.
Bumble Bee / Cleator. Eastern entry off I-17 at the Bumble Bee exit. Crown King Road / FR 259 leaves here.
Mayer. Service town on SR-69 east of Prescott with fuel and groceries.
Yarnell. Western entry on US-89 with the Yarnell Hill Memorial.

Where to Camp

Horsethief Basin Recreation Area (USFS-developed campgrounds, lake, and lookout) is the network's interior camping hub. Lower Wolf Creek and Hilltop Campgrounds (USFS-developed) sit on Senator Highway's northern segment. Dispersed camping is allowed on Prescott NF land off the main routes with the standard 14-day stay limit, and the network has many turnouts that work as primitive sites. Crown King has a private campground at the south end of town.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

Pick up Prescott NF's Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) before riding. Prescott NF has implemented Travel Management strictly; off-route use is enforced.
Plan around the season. Snow closes the southern segments in January and February; summer monsoons wash out crossings in July and August.
Carry recovery gear and a spare. The volcanic rock punctures sidewalls regularly.
No fuel inside the network. Top off in Prescott, Mayer, or Yarnell.
The Bradshaw Ranger District (928-443-8000) handles current conditions.
Pair Senator Highway and Crown King Road for a 65-mile loop that returns via I-17.

Frequently asked

Common questions

How difficult is Bradshaw Mountains OHV Network (Prescott National Forest)?: Bradshaw Mountains OHV Network (Prescott National Forest) is rated difficult.
When is the best time to visit Bradshaw Mountains OHV Network (Prescott National Forest)?: The best months are Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov. Avoid Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug.
Do you need a permit for Bradshaw Mountains OHV Network (Prescott National Forest)?: Yes — a permit is required. It is managed by U.S. Forest Service — check the agency listing for current requirements and fees.
Is there cell service at Bradshaw Mountains OHV Network (Prescott National Forest)?: Drops out fast in the canyons. Service appears at the high points and at Crown King.