Hell's Gate: An ATV Ride

Robert and I decided to join our friend Chuck on an ATV ride on Saturday since the weather had cleared and it was supposed to be nice all day. I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to get out of the house!

At first we thought we would go lower in altitude thinking that it would be warmer. The problem was that all the major creeks were running, including Tonto Creek. So, we decided to stick close to Payson and find a place that seemed pretty reasonable.

We decided to take a ride up to the Hell's Gate Wilderness area. (I thought hell was supposed to be quite warm). The weather was nice all right but the snow hadn't melted yet. It was a little cold and parts of the trail were a little icy and slippery.

This ATV ride is a bit challenging. In fact, I let Robert do most of the driving through the rough areas because I just didn't trust the ice with a drop-off on the other side of me. Even in good weather I would recommend a 4-wheel drive ATV.

To get to the starting point of this ride, drive east from Payson on Highway 260 for about 11 miles. Just after the ranch in Little Green Valley make a right. I believe this is milepost marker 263.

Note: If you are early enough in the morning you can see elk feeding in the meadow just before the ranch. This is an awesome sight especially during the rut. This picture was taken several months ago.

Okay after you make the right after the ranch, continue onfor about half a mile to a clearing on the right. You will see a large Forest Servicesign for the Hellsgate Trailhead. This is where we offloaded the quads.

You will enter a gate at a water trough. The trough was frozen at the time that we went. It even looks like the water was still moving when it froze.

Cross the creek and continue up the trail. Pretty isn't it? Yeah, well it's pretty cold too. Brrrrr.

Pretty soon you will come to a sign declaring the road as the 893 road.

After you've been traveling for about a mile you will see another sign for the Hellsgate Trail. This is the point where the foot trail begins. No motorized vehicles are allowed past this point but the quad trail continues around the wilderness area.

As you follow the quad trail it begins to get pretty rough and climbs higher and higher onto the mountain.

Some parts of the trail smooth out but this ride has a lot of ups and downs through the canyons.

The downs are pretty and there were a lot of what I call tweety birds around but the ups promised some magnificent views of the Hellsgate Wilderness and the Mogollon Rim.

After about 3 miles or so, we were just about to round a bend when all of a sudden several 4-legged beasts attacked us. (Okay, fine, they almost licked us to death).

Actually a local veterinarian and a buddy were out riding and had their dogs with them. One of the men was on a horse and one on a burro. After one said to the other, "Get your burrito moving", we continued on our journey.

About 3 miles in, the 893 road seems to continue on but you will come across a road that turns to the left. You will want to go left here. There is no Forest Service marker but this should be the 656 road.

About 3.7 miles in, we came to a flat area that people had been using for a camping area. This area has some pretty good views too. On our way out we stopped and had lunch here.

Chuck tried to converse with the cattle who didn't want to converse with Chuck.

The last quarter to half mile of this trip is extremely steep and drops into a canyon below. The trail was so steep that we actually questioned continuing for fear of not being able to get back out. In the end we decided that our 4-wheel drive wouldn't let us down and we were right.

At the end of the trail, about 5 miles in, we came to another flat area that had been used for camping. We came across this sign and knew that this was the end of the road.

The way back out was even more challenging than the way in because now the snow was starting to melt, making the road wet and slimy. It was fun though!

After a long, slow ride, Robert decides he needs a little play time in the snow.

If you have any questions please email me and I will try to answer them. I hope everyone enjoyed this ATV photo essay and can someday use the information and enjoy the places that we have enjoyed. Arizona has some awesome country!!! Please share with us the places that you've been.