Gold Road to Oatman — Black Mountains Desert Pass via Sitgreaves Summit
Route 66's roughest mile. Burros included.
Before Route 66 was paved, freight wagons and Dust Bowl migrants clawed over Sitgreaves Pass on the original alignment through the Black Mountains west of Kingman. The Gold Road Mine — active from 1902 and one of the richest producers in Mohave County — sits right on the route, its rusted headframes still visible from the trail as you descend the rocky two-track that parallels the old highway above Oatman. The surface is loose basalt over hardpack with ledge steps that bottom out underprotected rigs; the exposure on the western descent is real. Wild burros own the lower canyon, and they know it.
Most of the road is passable in a stock 4WD with decent clearance on a dry day — call it moderate. Lockers make the ledge section less exciting. Run October through April to avoid summer heat that regularly tops 110°F in the canyon. No permit needed. Water and fuel in Kingman — Oatman has cold drinks and burros but no gas. The historic context here is thick: you’re driving the same line miners and migrants drove a century ago, and the landscape hasn’t changed a bit. Short enough for a half-day push out of Kingman or a morning leg of a larger Mojave crossing.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 18 mi / 29 km |
| Duration | Half day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3550 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Kingman, AZ |
| Land manager | Bureau of Land Management — Kingman Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | blm.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Wrangler handle this without any mods?
Yes — stock high-clearance 4WD is the listed minimum and it's accurate. The rocky descents near Sitgreaves Pass benefit from low-range, but a bone-stock 4Runner or Wrangler will get through without drama if you're not rushing it.
Is this trail passable in summer, or does the desert heat make it a no-go?
Technically drivable year-round, but summer temps in the Black Mountains regularly crack 110°F in the lower canyon sections near Oatman. Best season is October through April — if you're going in summer, go at dawn and carry extra water for the radiator, not just yourself.
Do I need a permit or pay any fees to run this route?
No permit required and no fees — it's BLM land managed out of the Kingman Field Office. Standard BLM rules apply: pack it in, pack it out, don't mess with the historic mining structures.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect on it?
The descent from Sitgreaves Pass toward Goldroad is the crux — loose rock, off-camber shelf road sections, and enough exposure to make passengers grip the door handle. It's not technically extreme, but the combination of steep grade, rocky surface, and tight switchbacks rewards slow, deliberate driving over confidence.
Are the wild burros in Oatman actually on the trail, or just a town thing?
Both — the burros roam freely and will absolutely walk out onto the trail as you approach town, not just the main street. Slow down well before you reach Oatman, they're unpredictable and completely unbothered by your bumper.
Trail track
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