Gold Basin Road to Willow Springs — Tonto National Forest Four Peaks Wilderness Edge via Slate Creek
Rocky Sonoran shelves above Roosevelt Lake's broken country.
Four Peaks sits like a jagged crown above the Arizona desert east of Phoenix, and most people only ever see it from the freeway. This route changes that. Starting off FR 143 above the Salt River arm of Roosevelt Lake, the trail climbs through rocky desert scrub and chaparral toward the Four Peaks Wilderness boundary via Slate Creek drainage. The road is loose basalt and caliche with shelf sections that demand your attention, and the crossing at Willow Springs — a seasonal trickle in fall, a legitimate obstacle in March — is the route’s defining moment. Views of the Four Peaks massif from the upper benches are worth every washboard mile.
Minimum rig is a high-clearance 4WD with at least 8.5 inches of ground clearance; the rocky shelf sections will punish stock truck frames if you’re not precise. Spring brings blooming ocotillo and bearable temps; summer is dangerous heat — don’t attempt June through August without serious water planning. Carry at least four gallons per person. No permits needed, but the Four Peaks Wilderness boundary is a hard no for motorized travel. Dispersed camping is permitted outside the wilderness. Fuel in Globe or Mesa before heading in — nothing available on route.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 24 mi / 38.6 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5400 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Roosevelt, AZ |
| Land manager | Tonto National Forest — Mesa Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Tonto National Forest Mesa Ranger District Tonto National Forest |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or does it need to be built?
A stock high-clearance 4WD can attempt it, but the rocky Sonoran shelf sections and loose embedded rock climbs will punish low-clearance rigs and put stock skid plates to work. A lift and all-terrain tires are a real advantage here — this isn't a trail to debut a stock rig on.
When is this trail passable and what kills access?
October through April is the window — summer monsoons (July–September) turn Slate Creek crossings dangerous and make the clay-mixed surfaces impassable. Spring snowmelt at the upper elevations near 5,400 ft can also close the route briefly; call the Mesa Ranger District before a February or March run.
Do I need a permit to run this route or camp along it?
No permit is required for the road itself or dispersed camping in Tonto National Forest. Stay outside the Four Peaks Wilderness boundary — mechanized vehicles are prohibited inside wilderness designation. Campfire restrictions shift seasonally, so check active restrictions at the Tonto NF site before you go.
What's the hardest section and what am I actually dealing with?
The rocky shelf segments above Slate Creek are where this trail earns its difficulty rating — loose basalt and granite ledges with off-camber exposure and limited room to pick a clean line. Lockers or at minimum aggressive tires with good sidewall protection are not optional on those sections; a slip here means body damage or worse.
How many water crossings are there on Slate Creek, and are they drivable year-round?
Expect multiple Slate Creek crossings — conditions vary wildly by season and recent rain. After monsoon events or heavy winter rain, these can run thigh-deep or higher and are not safe to cross; outside of those windows most crossings are manageable for a high-clearance rig but scout every one on foot first before committing.
Trail track
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