Pioneer Pass 2.0

Pioneer Pass starts near the center of Globe, circles the south side of Pinal Peak and ends on Forest Service Road 651 leading to Pinal Peak.  Climb to Pioneer Pass at 6,000' elevation, drop into Pioneer and Bobtail Basins at 5,000' then climb back up to 6,000' on the Pinal Peak Road.  An enjoyable ride through somewhat remote country.
Most of this trip is on GP rated roads, with less than 6 miles rated 2.0.  We ran the 2.0 section in August, 2019 and met the Forest Service surveying the road.  One of the employees told us she expected the road to be improved fairly soon.  We did not learn how much of the road or when.

​This adventure can easily be run in either direction, but is described beginning in Globe.

There is a GPS - gpx track file at the bottom of the page.
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Pioneer Pass
The first 5 miles from US 60 is paved. Not long after pavement ends is the Ice House picnic area, constructed by the CCC.
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Paved section of road
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Ice House picnic area built by CCC
This fairly wide, well graded road begins in pinyon-juniper forest at lower elevations and soon turns to beautiful ponderosa pine as you climb higher on the mountain.
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Climbing up from Globe
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Ponderosa Pine at higher elevations
Pioneer Recreation Area, prior to Pioneer Pass, makes good use of the ponderosa stands.

Ponderosa ends abruptly at Pioneer Pass as the southern exposure appears to be too hot and dry.
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Pioneer Recreation Area
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Beyond Pioneer Pass
The road stays high for over a mile beyond the pass and offers great long distance vistas.
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Interesting flat grassy areas
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Dripping Spring drainage from right to left
Drop down to +/- 5,000' and stay down for several miles.

The 2.0 section is not hard, but it is quite a bit slower because of numerous eroded gullies both down and across the road.  Perhaps it will have been rebuilt by the time you get there, perhaps.
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Crossing Pioneer Basin
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2.0 rated section
The road continues up and down across the countryside, still with nice views into the distance.  A sharp eye can pick out Magma Mine (Resolution Copper) near Superior.

This must be water for wildlife.  There is a cement ramp up to the edge of the tank and then a metal one down into it.
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Up and down across the countryside
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Wildlife water
There is a waypoint for a spot where you can see a mine shaft down in the bottom.  This general area contains both the Bobtail and Doak Mines.  We did not learn this until after leaving the area so do not have any more information.  Will do more looking next time by.

Climb up to the Pinal Peak road.  Either turn right for Pinal Peak or turn left to go back down to Globe.

Page updated 2019.
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