Story and photos by Kim Krause
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.
Arizona Peace Trail
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.
The Group at Dinner
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!
Haulapai Mountain
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.
Hualapai mountain climb
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.
Burros in Oatman
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.
Taking a break along the trail
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.
Woody’s Cabin
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!
Group at a rest stop
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 and sign up today!
About the Arizona Peace Trail
The Arizona Peace Trail is one of the premier off-road destinations in the Southwest, offering more than 675 miles of interconnected OHV routes through western Arizona. The trail system traverses remote desert landscapes, rugged mountain ranges, historic mining districts, ghost towns, and scenic overlooks while connecting communities throughout Mohave, La Paz, and Yuma counties. Designed specifically for off-highway vehicles, the Arizona Peace Trail allows riders to experience a diverse mix of terrain ranging from fast desert roads and sandy washes to rocky mountain passes and technical trail sections. Whether tackling a small segment or attempting the entire loop, the Arizona Peace Trail delivers an unforgettable adventure that showcases some of Arizona’s most spectacular backcountry scenery.
UTV Offroad Adventures Conquers the Northern Arizona Peace TrailThe Arizona Peace Trail is a 750-mile loop that winds through western Arizona, offering an unmatched off-road adventure.
Southern Arizona Peace Trail Run with UTV Offroad AdventuresUTV Offroad Adventures hosted the Southern Arizona Peace Trail Run from November 8-10, 2024, with 34 UTVs joining from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, California, and beyond.
Wild Frontier Thrills: UTV Offroad Adventures Conquers the Northern AZ Peace Trail!In a whirlwind of excitement and camaraderie, UTV Offroad Adventures embarked on a thrilling expedition through the Northern part of the Arizona Peace Trail. Over three unforgettable days, 23 UTVs carrying 48 eager adventurers traversed approximately 300 miles of this renowned off-highway vehicle trail system. It was an inaugural event that left all participants yearning for more, showcasing the allure and grandeur of Arizona's wilderness.
Adventure Ride on the Arizona Peace TrailI absolutely love to explore and I think that is one of the reasons that I find UTVs so attractive. UTVs allow you to cover long distances in a wide variety of terrain in relative comfort. We decided to take on the Arizona Peace Trail on a four-day Adventure Ride through the Sonoran Desert in western Arizona.
Ultimate UTV Adventure Ride – 710 Miles On the Arizona Peace TrailIf you’re looking for an epic, multi-day UTV ride that takes you through some of the best off-road scenery in the USA, look no further than the Arizona Peace Trail (APT). We recently the completed the entire Peace Trail route south of the I-40. 7 days, 6 nights, 5 nights of camping off-the-grid, 5 guys, 4 UTVs, and 710 miles of total awesomeness. “Epic” doesn’t even begin to describe the journey that the AZ Peace Trail provides!
Southern AZ Peace Trail with UTV Off-Road AdventuresExplore the Southern AZ Peace Trail with UTV Off-Road Adventures. Experience an unforgettable journey through diverse terrains.
