© All Rights Reserved. Please don't paste flashy images and other medallions in the comment section.

One of my all-time favorite desert shots. Along the well-kept Agua Caliente Road, looking northwest at the distinctive shape and rugged beauty of Saddle Mountain.

The well-groomed trail heads for the heart of Hewitt Canyon.

I was really happy with this shot in a particularly narrow and tall section of Box Canyon. Again, I thought having the Jeep in the shot would add size perspective.

Boz wanted me to follow him back down the canyon.

© All Rights Reserved. Please don't paste flashy images and other medallions in the comment section.

A closer look at Saddle Mountain with the desert blanketed in green from unusually heavy winter rains.

I forgot to get a shot of the rocky steps we had to climb while a bit off-camber to get to this point. The extra lift I had added to the Grand Cherokee came in handy. Not sure if it would have made it when stock.

Desert scenes just north of the Gila River on the way to Box Canyon.

Not much room for error over this narrow track. The first real obstacle we ran into in Box Canyon. Probably a piece of cake for more experienced "wheelers", but I erred on the side of caution since this is my daily driver.

No way to squeeze between these two boulders. We had to ride the lower side of the one on the left, where the tracks go in this shot.

Many sections of Box Canyon are not wide enough to fit two vehicles side-by-side, but there are plenty of pull-outs along its roughly two mile length.

We could not have asked for a prettier day to go exploring the desert.

Boz and Jake helping me survey the best route over these rocks. The wet tire track on the left was from a sand rail that came through the opposite direction moments before.

Looking more like a volcanic butte somewhere in the tropics, Yellow Medicine Butte was alive with a mantle of green.

© All Rights Reserved. Please don't paste flashy images and other medallions in the comment section.

Behind where I was standing was the remains of a red Toyota pickup that had tried to cross Queen Creek just a week before when it was flooded. We decided to try again in April when things had dried out a little.

A closer look at Byous Butte. The trail soon cut away to the northeast to start climbing Montana Mountain.

- Taken at 5:27 PM on February 16, 2010 - uploaded by ShoZu

North Butte in late afternoon light, from Box Canyon Road, just north of the Gila River.

Lying to the east of Arizona's famed Superstition Mountains, this trail offered much of the same rugged beauty at every turn.

Boz (on the left) and Jake (on the right) scouting the trail ahead (or so they'd have you believe).

Boz and Jake had a blast cooling off in the "creek" trickling through the canyon. This shot makes the canyon look wider than it felt where we were stopped.

When this was taken in late February 2005, Queen Creek would not have been difficult to cross, but we were concerned other parts of the trail would be dangerous from the rains.

Answering the call of nature (just kidding). There was a geocache hidden near this spot, but we didn't look high enough on the canyon wall off camera to the left.

When we came back in early April of 2005, we were greeted with wildflowers and new growth all along the trail.

Closer shot of lichen-covered canyon walls.

After nearly two months of uncharacteristically heavy rains throughout much of southern Arizona, the desert was alive with the colors and scents of new growth.

My lovely wife-to-be, Cathy, in an almost equally lovely setting.

Saguaros marching up the east side of Hewitt Ridge.

More desert scenes just north of the Gila River on the way to Box Canyon.

For someone who's lived in the Phoenix metro area for 35 years, it was eerie but awe-inspiring to see the desert covered in such lush shades of green.

This section of the canyon had a lot more green and yellow lichen on the walls. The "desert varnish" in the center must be from run-off during heavy rains to be that narrow.

Off-road trails can provide for recreation or transporation. This trail links several important destinations: Glendale Outdoor Leadership School (GOLS), Wofford College School of Environmental Studies, the shoals at Glendale, Lawson's Fork Creek, Glendale Preserve, and Glendale Bridge.

One of my favorite desert vistas, looking southward from the remains of the ghost town of Sundad at Montezuma Head and Face Mountain.

After all the winter rains in 2005, just about every wash we encountered had a little water still yet, even in April.

Most of this hilltop overlooking the ghost town of Sundad was carpeted with these flowers, even in January, due to the heavy rains.

Looking north at the southern flanks of Saddle Mountain. Along with the lush green growth, the crisp, fresh scent of the Sonoran Desert after a hard rain was a wonderful treat.

At the end of July I attended the Jeep Jamboree – 12th Coal Mountain which takes place at AOAA in PA. This was the forth time I have attended this Jamboree. I had a great time hanging with everyone and going off-road.

tjpowell.net/2023/08/01/jeep-jamboree-12th-coal-mountain/

Thanks for your comments, views, and favorites!

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Copyright T.J. Powell

Overlooking the hills surrounding the ghost town of Sundad.

Looking southerly from the ghost town of Sundad to Montezuma Head (right) and Face Mountain.

4x4 CLIFFHANGER TRAIL/ KANE CREEK – Have a look to Utah-Moab / Schaut mal nach Utah-Moab! 😮😍

#amsa #awesome #caneCreek #cliffhangertrail #easternjeepsafari #extremecars #fiftynine #Fordbronco #insane #Jeep #minecraft #moab #music #offroadaction #offroadtrail #Rockcrawler #Utah #VaughnGittinjr

🎥 @rockstargarage (copyright)

offroadcracks.com/?p=32893

4x4 CAN AM OFFROAD: DAKAR CHAMP TOBY PRICE (KTM) auf den besten Offroad Trails at Bike Territroy! 😮😎😍

#Action #CanAm #Justdowntheroadfeat #NewSouthWales #Offroadtrails #Offroadcracks #part1 #Sidebyside #SSV #SXS #Teil1 #TobyPrice #UnvorgivingLand #UTV #Video #X3CanAm offroadcracks.com/?p=20627

The obligatory "Jeep on the trail" shot, with Saddle Mountain in the distance.