Arizona Peace Trail with UTV Offroad Adventures

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Story and photos by Kim Krause

UTV Offroad Adventures Conquers the Northern Arizona Peace Trail!

March 14-16, 2025, UTV Offroad Adventures tackled the Northern Arizona Peace Trail, delivering an unforgettable experience packed with adventure, camaraderie, and unpredictable weather. The 300-mile round-trip journey took riders through Wikieup, Kingman, Lake Havasu, and back to Wikieup, showcasing some of the most rugged and scenic trails in Arizona.

What is the Arizona Peace Trail?

The Arizona Peace Trail is a 750-mile loop that winds through western Arizona, offering an unmatched off-road adventure. Created by dedicated off-road enthusiasts and local organizations, the trail connects a vast network of rugged desert terrain, historic mining sites, and breathtaking landscapes. The route takes riders through a mix of washes, mountains, and open desert, allowing them to experience Arizona’s rich history and stunning scenery. Over the three-day journey, we tackled the northern portion of the trail, experiencing everything from snowy mountain passes to wide-open desert trails.

Thursday Night Check-in

Riders gathered at Hidden Oasis RV Park in Wikieup fueling up and prepping for the exciting ride ahead. Wikieup remains a gateway to the Arizona Peace Trail, where thrill-seekers can explore abandoned mines, scenic trails, and remnants of the Old West.

Participants came from as far as Mississippi, Missouri, California, Utah, Montana, South Dakota, and Arizona, showcasing the widespread appeal of this adventure. Among them was the oldest guest, an impressive 84 years old, proving that age is just a number when it comes to off-road passion!

Friday – Into the Storm!

The morning kicked off with breakfast and a drivers’ meeting, and by 8:00 AM, the adventure began! Mother Nature threw in some surprises—a crisp 40 degrees, snow-covered trails, and relentless rain and wind that made for an exhilarating ride from Wikieup to Kingman.

Stops & Highlights:

• Hualapai Mountains
• Petroglyphs – Ancient rock art told stories of the past.
• Boriana Mine –Established in the early 20th century, the mine primarily extracted tungsten, a metal essential for hardening steel and other industrial applications. At its peak, the Boriana Mine contributed significantly to the local economy and the broader war effort during World War II.
• Gigantic Gold Fish Pond
• Rutherford’s 66 Family Diner – A well-earned classic diner meal after a wild day.

Overnight Stay: Riders checked into the Best Western Plus in Kingman, wrapping up the first leg of the journey in warmth and comfort.

Saturday – Iconic Stops, Wild Burros & Big Wins!

After breakfast at BW Plus and a quick group meeting, the crew hit the trails at 8 AM, traveling from Kingman to Lake Havasu and tackling some of the most exciting stops on the route:

• Panty Tree – A quirky landmark with a long-standing tradition.
• Red’s – A scenic stop where Retired Extremely Dangerous Seniors (REDS) showed off their skills!
• Oatman –A historic Route 66 mining town famous for its wild burros, Old West charm, and gold rush past. Once a booming gold town, it now thrives as a tourist destination with gunfight reenactments and historic sites.
• Blondie’s Route 66 Bar and Grille in Topock – A fantastic lunch stop to refuel before hitting the final stretch to Lake Havasu.

Along the way, we encountered lots of cattle on the trails, adding another level of adventure as riders navigated past grazing herds.

Overnight Stay & Evening Activities:
Riders checked into the Quality Inn in Lake Havasu City, and dinner was conveniently hosted at the hotel. The evening was full of excitement with a raffle featuring several great prizes, and poker winners were awarded for both the best and worst hands. Additionally, we took time to recognize our generous sponsors, the farthest traveler, and our oldest participant, highlighting the amazing support and dedication within our off-road community.

Sunday – Historic Cabins & The Final Stretch Back to Wikieup

Riders started the morning with breakfast at the hotel before hitting the trail. Shortly after 8 AM, the group departed Lake Havasu for the last leg of the journey back to Wikieup, taking in breathtaking landscapes along the way, including lush vegetation, colorful rock formations, and towering windmills.

Historic Cabins & Key Stops:
We explored several cabins, each rich in Arizona history:

• Woody’s Cabin – A rustic shelter with stories of early settlers.
• Founders Cabin – A well-preserved piece of Arizona’s past.
• Rock House/McCracken Cabin – Remnants of a once-thriving mining operation, giving us a glimpse into the hardships of early prospectors.
• Spider – A remote and scenic location along the way.

Dumb Ass Award: This ride’s winner? Race Ryan! After showing up late to staging Sunday morning, his excuse? “My bad.” He was officially crowned with a donkey trophy to mark his moment of fame.

Giving Back to the Community

A portion of the poker proceeds supports our chosen charity. This event, our off-road family went beyond the adventure, making a difference with a $340 donation to the Salvation Army Christmas Tree Angels. Once again, the UTV community proved to be as generous as it is adventurous!

300 Miles of Unforgettable Adventure!

Through snow, rain, wind, and rough terrain, the Northern Arizona Peace Trail ride was an adventure to remember. Riders bonded through the elements, conquered challenges, and made memories that will last a lifetime.

See you on the next ride!

For our next adventure, visit www.utvoffroadadventures.com