Rug Road to Klondyke 3.5

Rug Road is a 4x4 trail that begins in Mammoth, traverses the famous "Carpet Hill" then climbs to Table Mountain Pass in the Zapata Mountains.  It then drops down into the Aravaipa watershed, passes through Klondyke and then either east to Fort Thomas on US 70 (this track) or south to Willcox on I-10.  Carpet Hill, wild horses, a cliff dwelling and great scenery.
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​Legend has it the road was first built to service the Salazar Ranch. Old man Salazar was driving back and forth to Mammoth regularly in his 2WD pickup in the early 1950's and got nervous about the way the road was eroding. So he went down to Tucson and gathered a truckload of old carpet remnants. On his way back home he stuffed those remnants into rough spots along the road to smooth out the road, give him better traction and slow down the damage from erosion. That part of the road is now known as "Carpet Hill," and it's a nasty, loose-rock, deeply rutted, steep slope that rises 650 feet in about 3/4 of a mile.  sangres.com

There is a gpx file at the bottom of the page.

Carpet Hill

This trail can be driven in either direction but is described here as starting in Mammoth.  The initial 8 miles follows the Copper Creek Road, a wide graded road.  Carpet Hill is about 4 miles after turning off Copper Creek Road.

The opening photo shows the major carpet remnants on Carpet HIll.

Carpet Hill is easiest if traveled downhill (south to north) because gravity will take you over ledges and boulders.  We rate this direction a strong 3.0.  Uphill is rated 3.5.

Copper Creek Road

More carpet remnants

Carpet HIll has eroded gullies, boulders and bare ledges.  It is fun to drive if you are properly equipped.

Eroded gully

Bare ledge

The 12 miles from the bottom of Carpet Hill to Turkey Creek is a grueling stretch of road with a strong 2.5 rating.  It is almost continuous rocks and ledges that never give you a break.  Plan on this 12 miles taking between 5 and 6 hours, and that is only to Turkey Creek.  In spite of that! - it is a very scenic trip with several points of interest.  You may even see wild horses.

Travel over Table Mountain Pass and drop down to Table Mountain Mine.  Remnants of the Table Mountain Mine office are along the main trail.  Rumor has it that the safe was blown open.

Table Mountain Mine office

The old safe

Across from the office is a spur road leading to the processing facilities for the mine.  There are boilers and what we believe were smelters.

Boilers

Smelters

Most people will turn around here, go back over Table Mountain Pass and then take the mostly graded Carpet Hill Bypass 2.0 (Cowboy Miller Road) back to Mammoth.  This will be a full day and will get you back to civilization for dinner.

If you want to do the remainder of the trail we strongly suggest you do it another day by skipping Carpet Hill and beginning your trip on Carpet Hill Bypass 2.0.  This thru run to Fort Thomas will take most people 8-9 hours, plus time to and from the trip.  Nice camping spots are available in Turkey Creek to make it a 2 day expedition.

Here is a small sample of rocks and ledges you will encounter.

Rocks

Ledge

And a couple more to emphasize how rough it is.

Long ledge

High ledge, with rocks

There is an abandoned cabin at Parson's Grove, and this is the area where we saw wild horses.

Parson's Grove Cabin

Wild horses

This long stretch of bumpy road does have at least one redeeming feature - great scenery!

End the rough part by dropping down into Turkey Creek.  There are big sycamore trees all along the creek, which you will cross numerous times.  The entire stretch from here out is well graded, which is very welcome.

Very scenic

Turkey Creek graded road and sycamore trees

Turkey Creek Cliff Dwelling is one of the best preserved of its kind in southeastern Arizona.  It was likely built around 1300 A.D. by prehistoric Salado people who lived permanently in the nearby Aravaipa Valley.  Although they were mainly farmers who grew corn, beans and squash, they used this base camp for hunting and gathering wild plants in the Turkey Creek canyon while their crops matured in the valley.

There is a sign and a parking area along the Turkey Creek road.  A very short walk.

Entry door

Deteriorating roof

Turkey Creek drains into Aravaipa Creek.  You will be in and out of Aravaipa creek for several miles before climbing out to an even better graded road that will take you through Klondyke to your final destination.  We ended our trip on US 70 near Fort Thomas, but you can also turn south and end at Willcox on I-10.

Aravaipa Creek is equally enjoyable

Graded road to Fort Thomas

Updated 2019.

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