PHX - El Camino Del Diablo

What could be better than riding the legendary El Camino Del Diablo, Highway of the Devil???

How about riding it twice, once in each direction!! 300 miles total. About 260 of that off road. Probably 200 of that in the SAND!

What could be better? Lets see the rest of the ride report and then we can give you an answer..

I didn't take any pictures.

PYSCH!

Waiting for some good photos and ride report. I am sure it will be very interesting to say the least..

How about riding the pipeline road from Ajo to Casa Grande? If you liked the Devil's Highway, you'll enjoy the 95-mile pipeline route. You don't even need permits, sand/silt not a problem, pronghorn sheep and wild burro's along the route, and sometimes you even run into drug smugglers and illegal aliens wandering across the desert.

The cabeza prieta wilderness is beautiful, but highly overated and overpriced IMHO.

I was thinking this would make a good big bike ride, but I don't know about fighting that much sand.

On with the pics!

I'm in. After watching NS ride this ought to be good.

OK, I took some photos. This was an ATR role call ride including, EsconDeasy, PHXMAN, Ryan, Steve, Father Goose, Eric, and Nightstalker. This was an unsupported ride, so we had to cover our own asses should something go wrong. The biggest concern was the 137 miles between gas stops and what kind of gas mileage we'd get riding in that much sand.

Nightstalker, Honda 450X



EsconDeasy, Honda 650L



PHXMAN, KTM 450



Eric, KTM 450



Ryan, KTM 525
Father Goose, Husky 610



Steve, Honda 650L

We started in Ajo and headed for the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. It's a fast, wide bladed graded dirt road.





Hey PHXMAN, which way to Bates Well??



OK, lets go!

Welcome to Bates Well.



Here's the interesting story of conflict of interest between a private citizen and the government, with the citizen winning the conflict.



The ranch is in surprisingly good condition for its age and there are signs of restoration in progress.

Next stop, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.



Lots of Border Patrol vehicles and surveillance stations.

Welcome to Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge!



Before entering the Refuge, you need to obtain a permit that allows you access to both the Refuge and to the Barry M. Goldwater Range. The permit is free, however, you must go in person, watch a video, and sign a release (in about 100 places) of liability in case you blow yourself up on unexploded ordinance and they accidentally drop a bomb on you.

We read that travel across the Refuge is limited to groups of 5 so we split into two groups of 4 and 3. Each group with the resources to sustain itself in case of problems.

Why the little bike and not the 950? Where is this area?

Great question! I was thinking it would be a great route for the big bike. However, there is copious amounts of SAND, so I was concerned. I was smart to be concerned and take the 450. I had a great time on the 450, the 950 would have been A LOT of work. The guys on 650's were not enjoying the sand so much.

Awesome! Can't wait to see the report!

The sand really started once we hit the CPNWR.



Lots of green!

And then the steel grates. OMG! Trying to ride on these was pure TERROR! Fortunately, there was plenty of room on the side.

These emergency call boxes were located throughout the range.



The Border Patrol drags the sandy parts of the road regularly to look for footprints. All I know is that there's nothing better than riding on a freshly dragged road!!



One of the Border Patrol stations.

Vastness...



Black hills contrast the tan sand.



This section would be terrible if it were wet.

And then we hit the moon dust. WOW! Was this hard to ride through!





Father Goose, relieved to reach terra firma again!