Kelly Point Adventure

The advent of the UTV has created an avenue of exploration into some incredible places. Exploring out in the deserts of the southwest US, it is as evident as ever that the west is still plenty wild. We decided for this adventure, we were going to head out into the Arizona desert to make our way to Kelly Point, a very remote western point of the Grand Canyon. We prepped and packed up the machines to make sure they were ready to tackle the rugged desert conditions and headed out on our Kelly Point UTV Overland Adventure Ride.

The route began in Mesquite where we quickly crossed over into Arizona to begin a trek up the canyon. High canyon walls, campgrounds, desert wildflowers, and grazing cattle were some of the sights that met us along the way. The trail was smooth for most of the canyon but did require some higher clearance on the back side.

Continuing on, we passed through the scenic Pakoon Basin. We were met with massive Joshua trees, and we also started seeing more color popping here and there from the local flora and fauna. If the Joshua trees weren’t indicative enough, the temperatures in this area can climb quickly, depending on the time of year. We were well into the 80’s before noon, so it was imperative that we came prepared with plenty of fluids to keep ourselves hydrated and enjoy a nice cold drink in the hot desert sun.

The road through the basin flows along with the natural elevation changes and provides plenty of great vantage points to experience the vast beauty of the desert. There are a few roads to choose from on the way to Kelly point, but we were up for a challenge; we opted to take the Grand Gulch route from the basin to experience some fun technical sections. Since we were rock crawling in the remote desert, we made sure that not only were our machines equipped with the necessary items to successfully traverse the terrain, but also that we had plenty of machines in our party so if something went wrong, we’d have help at the ready.

Our machines crawled through the Gulch without any mishaps, and we came out on top to find a smooth, sprawling, winding trail awaiting us that lead to Grand Gulch Mine. This historical stop along the route shows remnants of what was once a working copper mine – a large smelter, an old bunkhouse, a couple of old mining trucks, some artifacts, and more – all telling a story of days gone by.

The scenery started to change once we left Grand Gulch. Joshua trees gave way to junipers and pines, and the temperatures cooled slightly as well when the mountains came into view. This part of the trail is tame and easy, leading down the road to Ware Ranch. We stopped to stretch our legs and to make sure our machines were good for the next leg of the journey, and then got back on the trail headed towards Kelly Point. The terrain turned a little more rugged once again from here but offered beautiful scenery all around as we made our way through the pines.

We rolled up on the Kelly Point overlook of the Grand Canyon after the sun had already set, but still were able to see a little of the spectacular view. With several sandy spots available to set up camp for the night, we settled in and woke up to an incredible scenic view in almost every direction. Though the trail is incredibly remote and often rough, if you are prepared for the journey, the views will be worth every mile.

From Kelly Point, we packed up camp and headed towards Snap Point on the very western end of the Grand Canyon. The road was rocky and slow, but fun to test the machines and our skills on. There were also many points of interest along the way, such as the monument to the old Mathis “VT” Ranch. Those are always fun to stop and check out to learn about the history of the area.

We ended up skipping Snap Point and opted to go down Snap Canyon instead due to the heavy winds on top of the point. We put our machines and our skills to the test as we dropped down to visit Savanic Mine. This trail is not for the faint of heart; cliff edges, heights, and calculated maneuvering over rocks and boulders makes for a slow, concentrated ride. But the views from the trail were worth it, and we took the opportunity to teach a member of the crew that was newer to driving UTVs how to rock crawl on some super technical sections.

After coming out the drop down into Savanic mine, we jumped on 113 for a bit and then work our way through Whitney Pocket and around to the front of the mountain. From there we stay along the front range until we drop down to Mesquite. However, there are plenty of other routes to take and explore if you want to spend more time out in the desert. The scenery changed with the elevation changes, and we once again found ourselves among the cacti as we neared Mesquite. Rd 113 had several gate crossings, as do many others out in the area. Make sure to always close the gates after you pass through them so that we can preserve our riding privileges in these areas for years to come.

This route can be gnarly, but we tend to lean towards the rock crawling and rougher trails for our adventures. However, the trip can be completed on much smoother routes if the rougher, rocky sections don’t appeal to you. Whichever routes you choose, you are bound to see some incredible sights in the deserts of Arizona.

Preparation

In preparation for any adventure ride, it is critical you take time to carefully plan. Not only do you need to plan routes, food and time, but you need to make sure that your side-by-side is ready and that you have the right tools, camping gear and emergency equipment.

• Tusk UTV Adventure Accessories

• Cardo Systems Headset UTV Communications Kit