PAUC Lake Pleasant – Castle Hot Springs – Buckhorn Mtns – Wickenburg Ride (Lake Pleasant OHV Area)

Nov 7, 2019 – Lake Pleasant – Castle Hot Springs – Buckhorn Mtns – Wickenburg Ride (Lake Pleasant OHV Area)

This is a last minute spur of the moment ride.  Lauren H and I are doing an exploratory ride on Thursday, Nov 7th from the Lake Pleasant area through the Buckhorn Mtns to Wickenburg for lunch.

ALL MEMBERS, GUESTS, VISITORS, AND POTENTIAL NEW MEMBERS ARE WELCOMED ON THIS EXPLORATORY RIDE.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
On Thursday, November 7th, at 8:30 AM, Lauren H and I will lead a ride north of Lake Pleasant with a stop at the Castle Hot Springs Resort and then down and through Castle Creek to the Buckhorn Road/Walkers Gulch intersection (approx 13.5 miles from staging area).   We are going to drive through the scenic Buckhorn Mountains along the 11-mile N Buckhorn Road segment with a stop at the Abe Lincoln Mine.  Heading north on Buckhorn Road with its many changing mountain range elevations, we will come out on Constellation Road and then head 10 miles SW on Constellation Road to Wickenburg for lunch.   After lunch at the preferred Tastee Freeze or the optional McDonalds restaurants in Wickenburg, we are going to return with a side trip via Blue Tank Road north of Wickenburg before returning on Constellation Road.   Total estimated mileage using that route would be between 80-85 miles in length.   All mileage quotes are only estimates.  Extra fuel is usually not required but each driver should know their vehicle’s gas consumption and plan accordingly.   If desired, you can buy gas in Wickenburg.

TRAIL RATING
The majority of the proposed trail routes are an EASY-to-MODERATE (Green-Blue; Level 1-2) ride rating with the occasional DIFFICULT (Red; Level 3) section thrown in.   DEFINITION: May have some spots that are off-cambered; some hilly/rocky spots or few steep slopes; recommended for riders with more than 12 months of riding experience.)  UTVs / SxSs / ROVs okay on this trail width. 2WD vehicles may have difficulty on terrain and changing elevations.  Low range gear recommended for some rocky areas.  Two-Up ATVs okay for passengers.  Kids under 18 years old riding on their own vehicles are NOT permitted on this exploratory pre-ride due to unknown trail conditions and for safety concerns by the ride leader.

DIRECTIONS TO STAGING AREA AND START TIME
The general riding area is north of Lake Pleasant.  Assuming an approach from I-17, take Carefree Highway (AZ-74) west 11.4 miles to Castle Hot Springs Road which is on the west side of Lake Pleasant. Turn north on Castle Hot Springs Road and go north 5.5 miles.  There are two parking lot staging areas on both sides of the road about 2 city blocks before the road curves and ends at a T-intersection and stop sign by the north park entrance to the Castle Creek boat launch and campground.  Google Maps has the approximate GPS coordinates at N33° 54.247′ W112° 19.558′ or by copying the following map coordinates [33.904117, -112.325967] into Google Maps Satellite view.  Click the embedded map to get driving directions from your house to the staging area.  The ride will stage at the roadside parking lot and depart at 8:30AM after the 8:15AM safety meeting.  Get there early to unload and meet-and-greet other riders.

RIDE DESCRIPTION

Set OHV odometer to zero (0) at the roadside staging area. Turn north on Castle Hot Springs Road and go north 0.3 miles until it curves and ends at a T-intersection and stop sign by the north park entrance to the Castle Creek boat launch and campground.  Turn left (north) at the stop sign onto Castle Hot Springs Road where it becomes a dirt road.  There is a lot of oncoming traffic through the area so be careful.  At 2.5 miles, you will cross the land bridge over a portion of Lake Pleasant.  At 3.1 miles, you will hit the intersection of Cow Creek Road and Castle Hot Springs Road.  Stay heading straight (north) on Castle Hot Springs Road. Watch for wild burros through this next area. There are two distinct family herds (one grey and one black) along the Castle Hot Springs Road river bottom. Proceed through river bottom mining community and canyons for 4.6 miles to the Castle Hot Springs Resort at the base of Governor’s Peak Mtn [7.7 – first stop to stretch legs and take pictures]. We will continue around the resort and down the road through a scenic desert / mountain area (lots of Kodak moments so don’t be afraid to stop). The Hell’s Canyon Wilderness Area will be on the northside of the road in the distance.  Watch for cows on all the roads. Proceed for 1.9 miles to Champie Road intersection [9.6 – second quick stop to make sure everyone turns left]. Another 1.0 mile and we hit the Buckhorn Road intersection [10.6- third quick stop to collect everyone). Proceed right and down into Castle Creek river bottom. This is a soft and sandy area due to the winter rains washing a lot of sand into the creek bed. Depending on the recent rain in the northern watershed, Castle Creek may have some shallow water in it. There is a 1.5-mile sandy stretch that usually has a meandering creek 6” to 12” deep flowing back-and-forth. A lot of times it is bone dry during the year. Look for shallow crossings and watch your trail buddy. We will stop at the Walker’s Gulch/Buckhorn Road intersection [13.4 – water bottle break]. From there, we will go 200′ east to the N Buckhorn Road and head north for 11 miles to the Constellation Road.  Turning left (west), we ride the 2-lane graded road 10 miles to Wickenburg for lunch.                                    

TAIL GUNNER NEEDED
I need a tail gunner for the ride if any member wants to volunteer. Otherwise, a responsible rider will be appointed at the staging area.

COMMUNICATION
Leader, mid-pack wingmen, and tailgunner will be on GMRS/FRS Channel 5 (sub-channel 0) in case you want to bring your walkie-talkies or CB / HAM radios. I think the UHF channel frequency is 462.6625 MHz depending on your radio.  I highly recommend bringing a walkie-talkie to listen to approaching traffic and trail conditions.

VEHICLE & EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
All ATVs, UTVs, & SxSs should be street-legal and have the Arizona Off Highway Vehicle Decal sticker. Dress appropriately and keep hydrated. Bring a lunch, snacks, and beverages. Bring a camera for those Kodak moments.  Depending on the size of the group, the ride will be about 80 miles in 7 hours including the meal & scenic meet-and-greet stops. Extra fuel is usually not required but each driver should know their vehicle’s gas consumption and plan accordingly.

Helmet that is properly fitted, fastened, and has a USDOT safety rating for those 18 years of age and younger who ride on an OHV. Riders in an OHV such as a ROV / UTV / SxS or similar vehicle, while recommended for safety, do not require a helmet unless a rider is under 18 years of age. The Phoenix ATV/UTV Club promotes the use of helmets on all its rides. Eye protection is required for operators of vehicles not equipped with a windshield. You should use common sense for eye protection, bandanas, scarves, and dust masks for large group riding due to the dust conditions anyway.

SAFE, ETHICAL and RESPONSIBLE OPERATION OF YOUR VEHICLE

All Phoenix ATV/UTV Club members, visitors, and guests are expected to have appropriate vehicle registration, license, and personal insurance and to operate their vehicles in a responsible manner.  The Phoenix ATV/UTV Club is a responsible member of the OHV riding community.  As such the Club promotes safe and responsible operation of OHVs during club rides.  Arizona Revised Statute 28-1381 prohibits the operation of motorized vehicles, including OHVs, while under the influence of any substance that may impair the operator’s judgment or ability.  Therefore, the Club prohibits the consumption or use of any substance during a club ride that has the potential to impair the operator’s judgment or ability.

Live to Ride… Ride to Live!  Happy Trails…

Bob Maitzen
Phoenix ATV/UTV Club

(480) 363-7723
Bob.Maitzen@gmail.com