El Camino Del Diablo (Rogue Trip) camping info.

[pskhaat]

Camping the first night in the Yuma area. Would like suggestions of a good first night camping spot. I've considered the Muggins Wilderness just a little north of I8 about 20 miles east of Yuma. Anyone been there?

Would prefer not to stay in an RV park...so any suggestions on a remote (yet easy back-onto I8) place?

But would consider ANY nice/scenic stop along the PHX->Yuma route.

[Hltoppr]

Perhaps some locals (to Yuma) can clear this up, but I've found in my trip prep. for Mexico that solo camping in S. Arizona can be a tad.....risky, as there's quite a bit of people "traffic" wandering the desert areas...often times pretty desparate....

I plan my trips to avoid camping solo in the area, hitting a Motel 6 in Yuma if necessary...

Any local beta?

-H-

[goodtimes]

The nice thing about Arizona....when you are "desperate", you never know how well armed the person's camp is. I have never had a problem solo camping in SoAZ....but I must admit that I have never been solo in the far s/w corner of the state. Maybe it is worse down there than places to the east and north.....

[BajaXplorer]

If you go into CA about 5 miles past Yuma and the Colorado River to the Algodones turnoff for Mexico you will see many, many snowbirds freecamping for the winter. Just pull up near someone and tell them your going to stay the night and like the safety of other campers in the area.
BX

[Hltoppr]

Good idea BX! I usually don't carry my AR-15 with me on the bike going to Mexico, so I'd just as soon avoid situation wherein I'd loose aeons of karma for gunning down someone who might just want a drink of water....

-H-

[BajaXplorer]

You might also consider driving to Quartzite and taking 95 south to Yuma. That would open up a lot of areas for camping like Kofa Widerness and Castle Dome area and your about an hour to Yuma.
BX

[pskhaat]

Not a bad idea to head on 95...

[BajaXplorer]

I am attaching a map that I have added some lines (jeep trails) to. They are additional dirt roads/tracks that are not on the MapQuest maps. As you come down 95 passed the area called Blaisdell on the map there is a road to the south it is called Rifle Range Road. It is the boondocks out there with several tracks going back up a canyon to an area where people have camped (N 32° 41.665 W 114° 22.819). This whole area is used by local 4 wheelers and there are plenty of places where I would not be hesitant to spend the night. Just wanted to let you know about it. Not particularly pretty and may not suit you, but its close in to town. If you have access to the USGS maps, look at the Fortuna Quad.
If your going to go down the west side of the mountains off of I8 to Cipriano Pass to get to El Diablo you also could camp out by the Fortuna Mine, which is a very interesting area.
BX

[Scott Brady]

I like the 95 idea as well. The Kofa is a beautiful area.

You could also camp just south of Tacna. That is a great entry point to the Diablo trail anyways.

[BajaTaco]

I don't mind taking my chances in SoAZ. I've done it alot and never had a problem. (not saying it can't happen though) My wife and I backpacked across the southern part of Organ Pipe (no trails) and slept on the desert floor a stones throw from the border once :smilies27 It was incredible. PERFECT silence (not even a plane in the sky, not a breeze, not an insect... nothing) and no light pollution whatsoever.

Anyway, if you don't want to drive past Yuma, there is a place that I like right off of I-8 at the base of the Mohawk mtns. It is within earshot of the highway, but it's quick and easy, and fairly concealed. It's just before Mohawk Pass (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=12&n=3625426&e=242713&s=50&size=l&datum=nad83&layer=DRG25) as you're heading west. You exit on the right, and double back on the road that starts to paralell the highway, then turns north. Shortly after the road turns north, start looking for two-tracks that head off towards the base of the hills. I located the red cross-hairs in the vicinity on the map. These mountains are gorgeous, and if you get there early enough, you can scramble up into them for a great view and some neat rocks (very rugged, no trails).

[BajaXplorer]

That is a good spot BT. Forgot all about it. We camped there one night several years ago around the side of the one hill that stands by itself nearest to the offramp.
BX

[pskhaat]

start looking for two-tracks that head off towards the base of the hills.
Google Earth calls a road Ave 53.5E and another (just a 100 yards or so West?) Ave 52E Is that the two-tracks you're talking about?

http://xepoch.com/mud/spot.jpeg

[BajaTaco]

I'm not sure what is up with Google, but that road shown furthest west (52E) does not exist until what they show as 53 1/2E turns at about a 45 degree angle NW and then north again. That is where 52E is. The dirt tracks I mention just take off on the left side of the road, and head toward the hills.

[BajaTaco]

Here we go, try THIS (http://local.live.com/?v=2&sp=aN.32.750424_-113.738404_approx%20area%20to%20look_~aN.32.749242 _-113.746032_approx%20area%20to%20camp_) link - not sure if it will work.

EDIT: Use the "settings" menu at upper right to switch to "Aerial" mode. You can use the mouse to zoom in/out and pan (like Google Earth).

[pskhaat]

Would probably help too if I had Windows on my desktop, eh? Okay, connecting to a Windows syste (do people still use Windows nowadays? :) ), Okay, I see what you're talking about....

[BajaTaco]

:hehe: yes, windows. Sorry mister macattack :D

[pskhaat]

Nay, I'm a Unix bigot through and through (though OSX could be logically argued in that also).

[BajaTaco]

unix bigot! :xxrotflma

eunuchs need love too...

:jump: J/K!!

[pskhaat]

eunuchs need love too...


I could be bad here in my response, but I'll just smile thinking about it :D

[Boston Mangler]

I might be able to make this trip depending on the dates (i dont see any posted) and if there is still room! Sounds fun!

[pskhaat]

I might be able to make this trip depending on the dates (i dont see any posted) and if there is still room! Sounds fun!

Jan 14-16, leaving the 17th open just in case, but 3 days should I think do it? We're all meeting in Phoenix and driving Yuma way that night, hitting the permit place in Yuma in the morning and then heading out. We have 2 guys from Durango (fj803fe & durango60), a guy from NE AZ (freightdog) and one of Durango60's friends from DFW and myself.

Let me know if thosee dates work for you and if you'd like to make it, where you could meet us; we'd love to have you along (the more the better ;-)

[Boston Mangler]

Jan 14-16, leaving the 17th open just in case, but 3 days should I think do it? We're all meeting in Phoenix and driving Yuma way that night, hitting the permit place in Yuma in the morning and then heading out. We have 2 guys from Durango (fj803fe & durango60), a guy from NE AZ (freightdog) and one of Durango60's friends from DFW and myself.

Let me know if thosee dates work for you and if you'd like to make it, where you could meet us; we'd love to have you along (the more the better ;-)

Thanks for the reply Scott. Unfortunately, i will be in Laughlin for a race that weekend! Have a good time! My schedule frees up quite a bit after Feb! Woo Hoo!

[pskhaat]

Would y'all suggest dropping onto the trail in Welton or Fortuna?

[BajaXplorer]

Depends on amount of time you have. From Wellton, its a quick drive down through the Goldwater Range (no loitering) to Tenajas Altas where you may want to climb to the top to the tanks before continuing over to Tule Wells. We have a cache at Tenajas Altas if your a geocacher.
From Fortuna you can drive through the old Fortuna Mine site and south past Spook Canyon and on down to Cipriano Pass over to Tenajas Altas. There is a 4x4 track at the south end of Vopoki Ridge (south of Spook Cn) that you can take NE back up to the rim of the canyon (N 32° 29.009 W 114° 16.783) for some great views of the canyon and Hooterville the marine urban warfare training site to the west. A simulated village constructed from shipping containers. If its still there. An interesting side trip.
There is also another entrance (a gate in highway fence) near MP42 on I8 that goes straight south through Christmas Pass to Tule Wells. Lot of sand wash before rocky Christmas Pass. Fun drive.
BTW, there are sensors all over the place that you will trip, so you can probably expect a visit from the Border Patrol at some point.
Also, here is a website that I got info from before my first time down that way. http://www.4x4now.com/pp001.htm
BX

[pskhaat]

Got whatever time it takes, or at least 3-4 days :) Which would you suggest?