Nellie E. Saloon Road

Few trails in Arizona pack more history into a shorter distance than the rough track to Nellie E. Saloon, the skeletal remains of a 1890s mining camp tucked high in the Superstitions. The route starts innocuously near Tortilla Flat but quickly turns technical as it climbs through saguaro country toward the old townsite. Rock ledges, tight switchbacks, and loose decomposed granite make this a proper 4WD workout, with the infamous Devil’s Canyon crossing at mile 3 serving as the make-or-break obstacle that turns back many would-be explorers.

This is a difficult trail requiring experienced drivers and capable rigs — articulation and skid plates are your friends here. Summer heat makes this torture, so stick to cooler months from November through March. The Tonto National Forest requires no permits, but respect the wilderness boundary markers. No water sources exist along the route, so pack extra. Dispersed camping is possible near the trailhead, but the destination itself offers only day-use exploration of the mining ruins. The reward is stepping into Arizona’s raw frontier past.