Black Canyon Trail

Black Canyon Trail winds through the heart of Arizona’s Bradshaw Mountains, following an 1860s mining road that serviced silver and gold operations around Crown King. This demanding 40-mile route climbs from desert foothills through chaparral into pine forests, crossing Black Canyon Creek multiple times and navigating technical rock gardens that claimed countless ore wagons in the territorial days. The trail passes abandoned mine shafts, weathered stamp mills, and the still-operating Crown King Saloon — Arizona’s highest-elevation bar at 6,000 feet — where miners have been bellying up since 1898.

Difficult trail requiring experienced drivers and well-equipped vehicles with rock sliders, skid plates, and aggressive tread. Water crossings can be challenging during snowmelt or monsoons. Best attempted May through October when high-country snow melts out. No permits required, but check road conditions with Prescott National Forest. Stock up on fuel and supplies in Phoenix or Prescott — Crown King’s general store operates sporadically. This route rewards serious four-wheelers with genuine mining history, technical challenges, and mountain scenery that makes every scraped skid plate worthwhile.