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By: Dave Helgeson
Places to Ride:
Cinder Hills near Flagstaff, AZ
Even some hill climbs are available.
Acres and Acres of cinders.
Cinder Hills camping under the trees.
Track berm
Majestic trails. |
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Cinder Hills OHV area consists of 13,500
acres of great ATV riding. As the name implies,
the area is volcanic in nature consisting of
volcanic cinders and cinder cones. There is
something for every rider at Cinder Hills.
Horsepower junkies can climb the large cinder
cones, and families can ride the trails. Those
that just want to zoom wherever they please will
enjoy the expansive cinder field which seems to
go on forever. Trails are numerous with
junctions every hundred yards or so, allowing
you to create loops of varying size and
duration. In addition, there are numerous
user-made tracks with berms and whoop sections.
There are multiple staging areas and trailheads
from which to base your ride. The cinders are
loose and deep resembling coarse sand. While
paddle tires aren’t required, you might find
them useful; just remember the cinders are
highly abrasive which will wear your paddles
down quicker than normal. The elevation of the
area is in excess of 7,000 feet, keeping it much
cooler than the rest of Arizona. Large Ponderosa
pines provide shade for the trails and
campsites.
The area is open to ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles,
and full-size four-wheel drive vehicles.
A map of the area can be found at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/peaks/ohv-cinder-hills.shtml.
Most of the trails are not marked, and there are
many more trails than are shown on the map.
Camping:
You may camp most anywhere on the Coconino
National Forest (unless otherwise posted)
according to the following guidelines:
Generally, there is a 14-DAY PER MONTH STAY
LIMIT (14 days in a 30-day period-forest order
#04-99-08-R) on the Coconino National Forest.
Please note that there are some exceptions where
the limit is less than fourteen days. At Cinder
Hills OHV-area camping is prohibited within the
first mile of leaving the highway. If you are
looking for a private campground with hookups,
there is a KOA a few miles south of the riding
area on Hwy 89. There are no restrooms at the
site; go prepared.
Getting There:
Drive northeast of Flagstaff on US 89
approximately 7 miles north of Flagstaff Mall.
Turn east (right) on FR 776. If you are
navigating by GPS you will find the turn off at:
N 35 19.716 W 111 32.725
Services:
Food, lodging, gas, and most other services are
available in nearby Flagstaff.
Rules and Regulations:
- Helmets are required by state law for
all drivers and passengers under the age of
18 years.
- Only licensed motor vehicles will be
permitted on Forest Roads 414 and 776.
- All vehicles are required to have a
Forest Service approved exhaust system or
spark arrester and be in good condition.
- Vehicles shall not be driven carelessly
without regard for the safety of others or
in a manner that is likely to endanger any
person or property.
- Glass containers are not permitted in
the Cinder Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area.
- Camping is restricted on several
portions of Forest Road 776. These areas
shall be posted (refer to map for
locations).
- Campfire and smoking restrictions may be
in effect during dry periods. Please check
with any Forest Service office for current
fire restrictions.
For Additional Information:
Peaks Ranger Station
5075 N. Highway 89
Flagstaff, Arizona 86004
(928) 526-0866
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/peaks/ohv-cinder-hills.shtml
Be safe, enjoy, and I hope to see you on the
trails.
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