boyfester
Observer
After many years of mapping and planning, I was able to complete one of my bucket list items last May 2023 and visit the Arizona Strip aka Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument (GCPNM). I hooked up with friends that I met on a 2015 Ultimate Yota trip (link to that inaugural Mojave Road trip is here and was actually my first Trip Report in this forum). The guys on this trip included JD - @JD914 , Sean, and Troy - @troyboy162 and we spent over a week on the trails completing over 450 miles of off-road driving. We left pavement in Mesquite, Nevada and didn’t see it again until St. George, Utah. There are no single books dedicated to the Arizona Strip and so my research was done from visiting the GCPNM website, reading other people's trips online in forums (Expedition Portal, ADV Rider, T4R), and talking to people thru social media over the years (Instagram, YouTube, and TrailsOffroad.com). With no visitor centers or service stations in an area larger than the entirety of Rhode Island, we each carried 20+ gallons of gas and 20+ gallons of water. Some of us had no cell service, so it was truly being off the grid with solar, extra batteries, tools, good tires, and great attitudes all required. We did visit the spectacular Bar 10 Ranch in Whitmore Canyon and after paying for an amazing dinner, we were treated like royalty and allowed to shower, procure some additional supplies and more fuel.
I also can’t say enough about this crew of friends. No drama, no politics, and willing to try anything. I proposed changes along the way (hikes to mountain peaks, more difficult travel routes, etc.) and they were all game. We also helped each other with any mechanical issues. Truly a great group of people. When I did finally have some cell coverage on Day 7, I spoke to my wife and when she asked if I was tired of driving, my reply was "Nope". This group of guys and this place are truly special.
The following photos were taken by all parties and so, I've compiled them for this report. For anyone else who wants to complete similar trip to the area, I strongly recommend the Trails Offroad website (www.trailsoffroad.com) and the GCPNM website for Road Descriptions and Conditions page (https://www.nps.gov/para/planyourvisit/road-descriptions-and-difficulty-ratings.htm). The road conditions are pretty up to date, although we were able to drive some of the roads in our trucks that the GCPNM recommended for UTV only.
Day 1 - Mesquite, NV to Red Pocket Tanks, AZ (18 miles)
We met up in Mesquite in the afternoon, but Troy was running late so we headed off without him. Just south of Mesquite, we found a great place to air down.
![IMG_7984.jpg IMG_7984.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698954-5e8dc9fb30364b1ac04a7dd6fb8a8e10.jpg)
Nothing like a sign like this to get you ready for a week long trip.
![PXL_20230521_015819346.jpg PXL_20230521_015819346.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698961-f37a92000208aaff02c29c77471a0a98.jpg)
![PXL_20230521_025235285.jpg PXL_20230521_025235285.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698962-38292c221b63f759aeecf85e2d13738d.jpg)
The route that I had was along CR 242 through Lime Kiln Canyon. I tried experimenting with using an emergency mylar blanket on my roof to see if it would keep the plastic gas cans from expanding, but it didn't work well.
![IMG_7987.jpg IMG_7987.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698955-805bf8b3a143543127adb39e3c9332b9.jpg)
I thought it was going to be a fairly easy road, but we had to use 4LO a few times due to the rocky terrain. The surrounding hillside was RAD!
![IMG_7990.jpg IMG_7990.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698956-5068a55752eaa12a82ddb8ca61c78e4f.jpg)
![IMG_7992.jpg IMG_7992.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698957-f3e22248a4c99deed5f9d9096789797f.jpg)
When we reached the top of the pass, we saw our first sign that we were in Grand Canyon Parashant NM.
![IMG_7994.jpg IMG_7994.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698958-cc4c1d63672a6cea3ffe553ef1d8b44f.jpg)
We reached Red Pocket Tanks (small ponds for wildlife to drink from) by taking an unnamed trail west and kept driving until we found a good spot to camp for the night.
![IMG_7998.jpg IMG_7998.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698959-05ae611a379bbea0bf76101a0905ce60.jpg)
Day 1
![AZ Strip Google Earth - Day 1.jpg AZ Strip Google Earth - Day 1.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698960-35727c30e2693bbcf661c9057f62b0b5.jpg)
I also can’t say enough about this crew of friends. No drama, no politics, and willing to try anything. I proposed changes along the way (hikes to mountain peaks, more difficult travel routes, etc.) and they were all game. We also helped each other with any mechanical issues. Truly a great group of people. When I did finally have some cell coverage on Day 7, I spoke to my wife and when she asked if I was tired of driving, my reply was "Nope". This group of guys and this place are truly special.
The following photos were taken by all parties and so, I've compiled them for this report. For anyone else who wants to complete similar trip to the area, I strongly recommend the Trails Offroad website (www.trailsoffroad.com) and the GCPNM website for Road Descriptions and Conditions page (https://www.nps.gov/para/planyourvisit/road-descriptions-and-difficulty-ratings.htm). The road conditions are pretty up to date, although we were able to drive some of the roads in our trucks that the GCPNM recommended for UTV only.
Day 1 - Mesquite, NV to Red Pocket Tanks, AZ (18 miles)
We met up in Mesquite in the afternoon, but Troy was running late so we headed off without him. Just south of Mesquite, we found a great place to air down.
![IMG_7984.jpg IMG_7984.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698954-5e8dc9fb30364b1ac04a7dd6fb8a8e10.jpg)
Nothing like a sign like this to get you ready for a week long trip.
![PXL_20230521_015819346.jpg PXL_20230521_015819346.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698961-f37a92000208aaff02c29c77471a0a98.jpg)
![PXL_20230521_025235285.jpg PXL_20230521_025235285.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698962-38292c221b63f759aeecf85e2d13738d.jpg)
The route that I had was along CR 242 through Lime Kiln Canyon. I tried experimenting with using an emergency mylar blanket on my roof to see if it would keep the plastic gas cans from expanding, but it didn't work well.
![IMG_7987.jpg IMG_7987.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698955-805bf8b3a143543127adb39e3c9332b9.jpg)
I thought it was going to be a fairly easy road, but we had to use 4LO a few times due to the rocky terrain. The surrounding hillside was RAD!
![IMG_7990.jpg IMG_7990.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698956-5068a55752eaa12a82ddb8ca61c78e4f.jpg)
![IMG_7992.jpg IMG_7992.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698957-f3e22248a4c99deed5f9d9096789797f.jpg)
When we reached the top of the pass, we saw our first sign that we were in Grand Canyon Parashant NM.
![IMG_7994.jpg IMG_7994.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698958-cc4c1d63672a6cea3ffe553ef1d8b44f.jpg)
We reached Red Pocket Tanks (small ponds for wildlife to drink from) by taking an unnamed trail west and kept driving until we found a good spot to camp for the night.
![IMG_7998.jpg IMG_7998.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698959-05ae611a379bbea0bf76101a0905ce60.jpg)
Day 1
![AZ Strip Google Earth - Day 1.jpg AZ Strip Google Earth - Day 1.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/698/698960-35727c30e2693bbcf661c9057f62b0b5.jpg)
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