Month: November 2020

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Overnight on the edge of the Petrified Forest National Park

“The stars were vivid.”

Painted Desert Ranger Cabin

A few weeks ago, I was searching around looking for a place to camp in northern Arizona and ran into this website: painteddesertrangercabin.com

This cabin is a special and unique place. You will need a high clearance vehicle (4×4 recommended) to get to it. My KLR was a fun ride. Built by Ranger Ross in 2015, it is a backcountry off-the-grid cabin on the edge of the Petrified Forest National Park’s northwest side. You can book it on the website listed above or find it on Hipcamp for a couple more dollars a day.

I arrived at the Ranger Cabin at mid-day. I had plenty of time for a hike into the Petrified Forest National Park and over to the Devil’s Playground area. You walk up the wash to the west, duck under the fence that designates the National Park, and head to the northwest. There are piles of rocks and petrified wood everywhere. This one is the most accessible hike. The next time I come, I will stay for a few days and do some of the longer hikes. After booking, Ranger Ross will send you a list of destinations and descriptions.

The cabin is as bare-bones as described, but it has many amenities compared to many huts that I used. There is a pellet stove, solar electricity, a shower, heated water, a flush toilet, a small fridge (with ice cubes!). This cabin is one of those places that your experience will be directly affected by how the previous users leave it. When using the cabin, be a good human and use the resources sparingly.

 

 

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Verde Hot Springs

“A high clearance road, perfect for a loaded KLR. The trip ends at a free dispersed camping area. The hot springs are a little over a mile up river on the opposite bank.”

The springs are funky. Built-in the 1920s, the resort burned in the 1960s. If you bring some paint to leave your mark, you wouldn’t be alone. You will meet a lot of locals there.

This is a good description of the hot springs. Verde Hot Springs Guide

Ride to Verde Hot Springs

I started my ride in Camp Verde, AZ, a convenient town to get gas or supplies. From State Route 260, it was about an hour of riding to the campground on FR 708 (Fossil Creek Raod). I stopped a lot to look around, so the time is an estimate. I also ride pretty slow. Along the way, there are a few hot springs signs to help you with the turns. Right now, FR 708 from the intersection of FR 502 to the Town of Strawberry is closed due to road damage. Google Maps showed that it open. To get to Payson, you will have to retrace your route back to State Route 260.

Keep in mind, it’s a high desert and can get hot. It was 85 degrees at the end of October when I rode in. The road can be loose, rutted, and muddy. My tires are Shinko 705s and did just fine most of the time, but I can see how wet conditions might make it a challenging ride in some sections.

You will see signs telling you that you need a permit. You don’t need a permit. The permit system is for Fossil Creek Road, and you will pass the permitted parking areas. FR 502 is a bad road, so be ready for a more challenging ride from the intersection down to Childs Power Plant.

I was there on a busy Saturday, and there was no problem finding a camping spot. It was more crowded than I’d prefer so on busy days go early. If staying late, make sure you have a decent headlamp for the hike. It is rough, with no real good markings, and you should wear sturdy shoes or sandals. You will get wet crossing the river to the springs. The amount of wet varies with the season and can be cold and have high water.