Hope this helps. I didn’t write this. It was an email from Mark West, a guide, to a friend of mine.
How, When & Where?
In light of this season to experience the most activity seen on the Arizona Peace Trail, comes many questions. Rightfully, this is a good thing as this this group and many other resources provide an excellent means of gaining insights on how to plan your Greatest Adventure off road.
I'm a firm believer in "keeping it simple". There's a lot of decisions and equal number of options. First, how will you start your AZPT? "How and "Where" are fairly close in the basics of forming your plan. Simply, deciding where you'll start from. Quartzsite, Salome and Kingman offer excellent staging. Quartzsite offers a specific AZPT staging area and the Stagecoach Motel is a great place to stay with eating within walking distance. Salome provides staging at Stanford Inn, having their own Bar/Cafe, with the Salome Restaurant about 3 miles west on Hwy 60. Kingman provides excellent staging at the Best Western Kings Inn, with AZPT discount on your stay there. Equally, two very good restaurants within walking distance. Years ago I staged in Bullhead, rented a space for a week at Right Place Storage, very reasonable and secure. Yuma and Lake Havasu provides a greater challenge for staging. The two motels in Fortuna don't allow staging, limited parking as it is. Regarding Lake Havasu, if you're intent on starting from there, I would recommend reaching out to the local UTV groups and our AZPT group members for recommendations.
Staging and where you start are obviously one in the same. Of the countless Peace Trails runs I've done, I've started from Salome, as I'm staged there for the duration of the season. However, with respect to a starting point, you have two of the Peace Trail longest runs either north or south. For the ease of getting acquainted to following your GPS/Maps, I personally feel the southern route is your best choice. If time is an issue, the Peace Trail offers an alternate route when you reach the farmlands, a little pavement saves a whole lot of time. Plus you can top off your fuel in Welton. Going north provides a little greater challenge along with time issues. From Salome via Tank Pass (new route on latest AZPT download Jan 21, you circle around towards Lake Alamo, stopping at the Wayside is always recommended, huge supporter of the Peace Trail, you can top off your fuel as well. From the Wayside there's a real time choice to make. There's a lot to see on the north side of the lake, mines and the most popular is Maggie's Wash. However, the Peace Trail goes north just before Maggie's, taking you on the "mountain trek". Many choose to make the turn to Wikieup. If not, and you stay on the mountain trial, you won't arrive in Kingman until well into the evening, late night. My personal choice and the choice given to groups I've lead, they've all preferred to stay in the desert, so we take our time around Lake Alamo, lunch in Maggie's and come out on Lake Alamo Rd., north on the improved road to the Gas Line trail just before Yucca into Kingman, without fail, we've always arrived in Kingman between 4:30 and 5:00. It purely comes down to a matter of choice.
Keep in mind, it's not the miles, it's the trail. Various sections of the Peace Trail presents equally variations in terrain or simply types of trails. My best two examples are between Yuma and Quartzsite, shorter miles, but trails from slow to moderate spends until you enter into Cibola or out of Cibola. Regardless if you do the Good Bad Ugly or not. This is one of the most time sensitive areas, there's a lot to see, time just slips away, even with earlier starts.
The second example is Kingman to Bullhead, even with taking my time, I can be in Bullhead in 5 hours, six if I stretch it out from the Panty Tree on the trail over to Silver Springs Rd. So, often I add in Chloride, great place to vista, Tuesdays\'s Restaurant is a must, perfect stop for breakfast, then a must see, Andy's Devin's rock paintings.
One last note, the trek through the Lake Havasu washes to or from Planet Ranch. This trek is a fairly long one, especially with stops at Woody's Cabin and the famous Founder's Cabin. I always shoot for around noon to leave Founder's Cabin, a little latter if heading into Lake Havasu. Please keep in mind, if you are on an weekend coming into or leaving Lake Havasu, the washes get a tremendous about of activity from the locals, please be cautious and safe.
Most important, rarely would any group size be able to see and do everything that is available to see and do on the AZPT in just one trip. Many return to do various sections again, explore side trails and other various points of interest. Additionally, the more adventurous types camp on the Peace Trail, extend the days, etc., this in itself opens up a lot of opportunities on the Peace Trail.
With regards to "when" to do the trail, every month is a good month. Less activity in October and late March into April. I personally believe the prime months are from November thru March. January poses some issues with the Best In the Desert off road races. This effects Butler Valley, to and from Planet Ranch. The BLM will be posting a map soon on the closer dates. However, for three weeks of the month the area is swamped with people. There's work arounds, but options won't be available to pursue until the map is published. About three years ago I used the Swansea turn off of Planet Ranch Rd., hooked up with the upper part of the Powerline Rd and picked up the Peace Trail, did a big "U" with some cow paths added in.
Finally, everyday on the Peace Trail is time sensitive, the downside of it so to speak - well, unless you are camping out or willing to running after dark. Our dusk to dawn narrows as we move towards winter. I recommend starting early, so to manage 9 hours of light. With my groups I average 2 or more hours of various stops. For those new to the trail, the stops will lengthen due to following your GPS. However, the one most crucial part of this is you don't know what lies ahead as the time element is always present. It is natural to want to stop and see as much as possible, but ahead on the trail is the constant time differential - how long will it take, it's not the miles - it's the trail.
Foremost best advise in planning your Peace Trail Adventure.
First, select a date. Make your motel reservations way in advance.
Download the latest Peace Trail GPS/KMZ files. This download is large, takes a while to load. May be an issue on a notebook using Wifi. Start with it on you home laptop, high speed. I use Pro Google Earth, the KMZ files. Study the trail at home, spend hours on it. Whether you use your onboard navigation, smart phones or tablets, link it in your mind. Gaia, onX is a big help. Avenza is outdated, but it doesn't get any simpler to follow. The updates can be viewed on Google Earth and followed on board with Gaia or your download to your onboard navigation if you have it.
Plan well in advance and don't hesitate to ask for help in your planning!
Happy Trails & Have A Whole Lot of Fun on Your Greatest Adventure Off Road!
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