Back way to Crown King

From what I understand the forest service has complete control of that road. A few years ago they were proposing closing it down. Some good lobbying by the town of Crown King as it would be devastating. They were concerned about all of the accidents and deaths on the road and the possible liability. To cut down on the accidents they decided to grade the road. In the 25 years I had a place in CK the forest service occasionally brought up some sort of change for that road depending on who was in charge at the time.

 

Went today and it was good and challenging for my DCLB. Everyone was super nice and there was quite a bit of people. The little miner/rock bed area wasnt bad at all really

 

Did Crown King again today. It was easy going through the mining area with no water running. Those other 3 spots were much rougher this time. Drug my plates twice, steering wheel is a little off, and now have a battle scar on one of my sliders. All in all a beautiful day.

 

I gotta do this trip! Any cool spots to camp over there? Ive never spent any time in the area.

 

There's loads of trails shooting off the main route and even some of the pullout had fire rings. All you need to decide is how cold do you want it to be. Starts in the desert and ends at like 6500 ft.

 

It's a GREAT trail. I've done it many times in a 2001 Tahoe and a 95 Bronco. The offshoots are great when you have the right vehicle. You can take the trail into Crown King or into Prescott.

@Atl-atl let me know when you want to go. I've never had my Tacoma on that trail and have been wanting to take the wife.

 

Also, I've never came across any miners or anyone at trying to pull a gun on me on this trail. And I've come across some real "special" people. But no one has ever pulled a gun.

 

LOTS of history along this trail.

 

Let me know if you want to do the trail. It’s been on my todo list as well!

 

I want to do it but Im so friggin busy. Moving this weekend so thats out. Maybe sometime mid February? Do you have a free weekend coming up? Hopefully things arent too insane at the hospital.

 

Do tell!

 

The new lady and I want to explore this area as well, but February is busy for me with work travel and conferences.

 

Way too much to write a dissertation here, but along the trail you'll pass Kentucks place, it was a tiny two story cabin built into the cliff south of Fort Misery,, Kentucks grave is on a hill right there.
Fort Misery was a bustling spot in it own right, it was Al Francis's place, he was the local fright hauler.
Oro Belle is the bigger mine and town along the trail, that's the one with the rock wall right along the trail, the two story white saloon in Crown King was moved from Oro Belle to its current spot.
Burro John owned that saloon and the top floor was a whore house.

So much more. Lucky for me I've been around long enough to have seen many of the buildings still standing, slept in a few even, and watched them succum to vandalism, time and FS bulldozers.

edit, for name correction

 

there is so much in the bradshaws its rediculous,,,, but for anyone who enjoys history i'd recommend a drive down Wagner rd also, lots of history there, from Minnehaha flat, where you can see remains of the stage stop, shelly ranch cabin, the town site, White ranch, Laphams place and grave site, further down is where the Button mine was but it was completely bulldozed a dozen years ago do to increased vandalism and safety concerns, and all the way out to Walnut Grove where there was a large lake made by wooden dam, that broke one night killing at least 50people, you can still recognized where the lake was, it drew folks up from Phx in the summers as a getaway.

for a more 4x4 type trail with a bit of history head out toward Cleater and do the DeSoto mine loop, it runs around tower mtn and connects back Senator hiway.

oh i almost forgot, Walter Tewksberry, yes, of feudal fame, was the last surviver of that era, his house still stands in Crown king

 

My friend used to own the Tewksberry house, it was a dump. There are also 2 plane crashes and remnants of lukes hoist the man they named Luke air force base after. Crystal mines and so much more.

 

yeah, berilleum mine,, in over 30 yrs of off and on exploring i feel like i still havent seen half of it,,, been to the behive kilns?

 

I have a newborn so still pretty hectic at the moment. But maybe late spring??? April ish? Hospital is the worst I’ve ever seen it :/

 

I’m in for a group run-pretty inexperienced so I have no idea how these group rides get together. I’m just willing to participate and my new sliders need a christening rock-kiss.

 

Cool, I hear the trail is at least moderate. Any upgrades lift/tires?

 

Spacer lift/33’s