Home > Arizona > Bulldog Canyon

Bulldog Canyon OHV Area

Saturday, December 14, 2024

Trail Map

Other Names

Dome Mountain, Orophi Mountains, Pass Mountain, Goldfield Mountains, Salt River, Tonto National Forest, Mesa Ranger District

Last Known Status

Open

Primarily a 4x4 playground, this area has numerous rocky desert trails with some great scenery. A gate combination code and a permit is required to access the area, which can be obtained online. There is a small fee charged for the permit but the process is quite simple and only takes a few minutes.

The south staging area has a really fun play pit with numerous trails and it comprises the most interesting terrain for ATVs and motorcycles. The rules state clearly that you need to stay on marked trails only, and that only some trails are open for vehicles, but the markings for motorized use can only be seen on the map that you receive with your pass so be sure to bring it on the trail with you.

Most of the motorized routes are simply 4x4 roads but the scenery is great here. ATV riders will probably have more fun than motorcyclists, primarily because one route is extremely chunky, and the other is relatively smooth and unchallenging. Primitive camping is permitted but there are no services.

Trail Map... Nearby ATV Trails...

REGULATIONS

Permit Required	Yes	AZGFD sticker required Tonto FS Permit
Dates Open	Year-Round
Other ATV Stickers Accepted	No	All non-residents must purchase an Arizona OHV decal.
Spark Arrestor	Yes	A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles.
Noise Limit	Yes (96 dB)
Whip Flags	Not Required
Maximum Vehicle Width	No Restriction
Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes	Permitted
ATVs	Permitted
UTV & SXS	Permitted
SUVs & Jeeps (registered)	Permitted
Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered)	Permitted
2 Stroke Engines	No Restriction
MX Helmet Required	Youth Only	required for persons under 18 by state law (RiderPlanet strongly recommends helmets for all riders.)
Camping	No Restriction	(camp anywhere)
Campfires	No Restriction
Night Riding	Yes
Trail Blazing	Prohibited	no trailblazing
Rule Enforcement	Few/Periodic

TERRAIN

Approx Size	34,000 acres (53 sq mi)
Miles Of Trail	20
Climate Type	Desert
Elevation	1500 to 2500 ft.
Trail Maintenance	Marked, Not Rated, Lightly Maintained
Loose Dirt	Some
Hard Pack	Some
Sand	Little
Mud	Little
Dust	Little
Rocks	Mostly
Trees	None
Steep Hills	Few
Water Crossings	Many	seasonal
Small Jumps	Few
Large Jumps	None
Berms	Few
Sand/Gravel Pits	None
Single Track	None
Roads	All
Intersections	Few
Rider Traffic	Few
Shade	None
Ranges/Gunfire	Few
Hazards	Few	(hazards not marked) loose boulders
Novice	Little
Amateur	Mostly
Expert	Some
Comment	Trail 10 is extremely rocky, 1356 is somewhat rocky but more smoother for motorcycles.

TYPE OF AREA

Area	Motorized Trails

Land	National Forest

GPS POINTS

KEY SERVICES

Gasoline	5-20 Miles (SW)	Chevron/Mesa (480) 357-3822
Diesel	5-20 Miles (SW)	Chevron/Mesa (480) 357-3822
Water	5-20 Miles (SW)	Chevron/Mesa (480) 357-3822
RV Hookup	5-20 Miles (SE)	Lost Dutchman State Park (480) 982-4485
RV Disposal	5-20 Miles (SE)	Lost Dutchman State Park (480) 982-4485
Campground	5-20 Miles (SE)	Lost Dutchman State Park (480) 982-4485
Conv Store	5-20 Miles (SW)	Chevron/Mesa (480) 357-3822

FEES & PASSES

Parking	(None)
Entry	(None)
Riding	Yes ($6.00 per rider) cost of six month permit
Camping	(None)

RATINGS

Pros	free, spectacular desert scenery
Cons	need to get permit & gate combo from forest service, no actual trails only roads, can ride roads only, trails are extremely rocky, trails are difficult to determine, no services
Our Rating	Fair
Recommended Stay	Half Day Spring
Comments	(Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Nearest City

Mesa, AZ

Address

Cactus Road, Mesa, AZ 85215

Trail Map

From: Phoenix, AZ
1) Take Hwy 60 East to Exit 196
2) Turn left (north) off the exit ramp onto Idaho Road, continue 5.3 miles
3) Turn right (east) onto McKellips Blvd, continue .5 miles
4) Turn left (north) on Wolverine Pass Road, continue .9 miles
5) Veer right on Tonto Street, continue .2 miles
6) Turn left (north) onto Cactus Road, continue .2 miles to staging area.

OFFICIAL CONTACTS

Contact Info

Tonto National Forest - Mesa Ranger District
5140 E. Ingram Street
Mesa, AZ 85205
(480) 610-3300
sm.fs.tontowebmail@usda.gov
www.fs.usda.gov

Contact Info	Arizona State Parks OHV Program (602) 542-6942 (602) 542-2146 mrogers@azstateparks.gov meberhart@azstateparks.gov azstateparks.com
Comment	Arizona State Parks OHV Grants Program