The BLOODY BASIN Road Experience | Journey to the Sheep Bridge & What NOT To Do | Arizona

North of Phoenix in the Agua Fria National Monument and Tonto National Forest is a 38-mile classic offroad Arizona drive. From hairpin turns, distant canyon and mountain views, and a historic bridge at the end, you cannot beat this experience.
Bloody Basin Road is an adventure like no other. This epic journey takes you about 38 miles from I-17 to the historic Sheep Bridge through some of the most beautiful terrains you will see. If you want a true Arizona adventure - this one is for you!
This trip is not for the faint of heart. Expect to spend an entire day making the journey and back so budget your time wisely. While many websites say a passenger car can make this trip, we recommend high clearance as a must and 4-wheel drive wouldn't hurt either. There are a number of portions that may easily become washed out or rocky depending on current conditions or any rains that have happened recently. One river crossing is also near the beginning of the trip so be sure to check water levels in case of flooding. Normally crossing is not an issue.
Come prepared for amazing views, bring snacks or a lunch and have an amazing time. You won't regret this trip!
VIDEO FILMED: 03/18-19/2023
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▬▬ T I M E S T A M P S ▬▬
00:00 Day One
22:41 Day Two
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Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking, day trips, and campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!

[@leapinlizard9487]

I worked in new product development for 22 yrs. for a major animal health care manufacturer. In the 80's one of my co-workers and I drive out to that ranch and waited until the rancher, his wife, son-in-law and two grown daughters brought in 60 mother cows w/their calves off the desert that hadn't seen any humans in about 6 months. We attached a new ear tag attachment to each mother cow that contact a special pesticide release system to control horn flies. They had no electricity on the ranch and only used a gas generator. We worked all day processing these cattle and the rancher never said one word to us. We finished just as it was getting dark. The rancher turned to me and in a "cowboy drawl" said, "you want to stay for dinner". We accepted and had a great meal & visit. The family did start to open up more as we visited and explained that the son-in-law and younger daughter ran the north end of the ranch and that he, his wife, and older daughter ran the south end.

[@brakeme1]

That was a very good story. Thank you.

[@mishv2367]

My Dad built a "baja bug" in the 70's & we would go all over the desert in AZ. The old bar in Crown King was one of my favorites 🎉

[@CactusAtlas]

So cool! 😄

[@TimAZ]

We used to go out in the '80s before the bridge was rebuilt. At the base of the old bridge there were petroglyphs. We would also come in either through Carefree or through the Horseshoe dam. Both shorter trips than driving in from I-17. I lost my four-wheel drive truck when I allowed my nephew to drive and he drove it off a small cliff we rolled a few times. We had to hitchhike out. We rebuilt the hot springs back in the day by dropping a 6 ft horse trough. Many memories. You're seeing the river at flood stage during the winter. In the summer you could drive across the river. Mazatzal pronunciation is Mah-zaht-zahl.

[@CactusAtlas]

Sounds like some good times! Outside of the truck accident. Hope everyone was okay afterward and continues to be.

[@TimAZ]

@@CactusAtlas Yes, that was one of many visits. We also would frequent the hot springs near Childs. In the day you could drive to the springs. Now they make you walk. We would get to Childs thru Payson. I also connected from Bloody Basin road and came into Childs from the Cave Creek side. One last way is to drive in from I-17 using a turnoff from Bloody Basin. We never tried that.

[@dudebroham4083]

I grew up in Fountain Hills and a lot of us used to go out there in the 80s. I probably soaked in your makeshift hot tub cattle troft lol. Thank you very much for putting it there. I live in Texas now but I was visiting family for the holidays back in December and we camped out for 5 days. It was everything but I was hoping it would still be.

[@TimAZ]

@@dudebroham4083 Truth, we did install a cattle trough. Right next to a steel bathtub someone else had installed. Shared memories.

[@rebeccapears7744]

LOL! I enjoyed your excursion with Slim! Nice Truck. 10-ply tires with a good spare.... no donut. a good jack and a few sturdy rubber-backed carpets to use when you get stuck. Use your 4x4 even if you have to lock the hubs! it takes only minutes. just remember they are locked. Running around in the desert has it surprises! and its a long walk out. Road service is hard to get if you can get cell service at all! You can spend days getting help. Rattlesnakes can kill you even if they bite your tire! be careful changing them. Sugar sand can bury you. Rock falls can throw you off a ledge. A running wash can drown you and sweep you away. The wind can throw you around. and all that if the heat doesn't get to you first or the cold at night It can drop 40 degrees once the sun goes down behind the mountain. Yes its a beautiful state, breathtaking, but so many die because they are not careful and have not prepared for survival.. . It would be nice to see you teach them how to stay safe if they are wanting to follow your trips themselves.

[@lzwnn]

Drone shots! Superblooms! Epic scenery! Four-wheeling! Remote bridges! Not to mention Val Kilmer references. Can a better time be had on a Thursday night? I’d say not. Loved it. A daisy indeed.

[@CactusAtlas]

Haha! Everything is made better by a Val Kilmer Doc Holliday quote in our world. 😅 Thanks so much!

[@cherylkat2342]

When I was young we lived in Bisbee Arizona we would go upon mountains with station wagon that was in -70

[@anitabarra810]

This was beautiful! Amazing views! Great editing! It was like a PBS show!

[@CactusAtlas]

Oh,wow! Thank you! ☺️

[@cowelk]

I just discovered your site and subscribed. I look forward to seeing more of your videos especially in Arizona where I live. My wife and I did the Bloody Basin road separately from Sheeps Bridge a few years ago. Both are close to Phoenix and worth driving. You are so right, 25 miles at 5 mph takes a long time. And if you want to enjoy the scenery and relax that means stops are a must. Also, occasionally we run across a friend in need. If someone breaks down we can't just drive by. We stop. So, often that means driving home in the dark. Arizona's back roads are so remote and bumpy that few trips too far out of Phoenix can be a day trip. But the scenery and the bumpy road challenges are what makes them so great.

[@CactusAtlas]

Oh, for sure! We drove on the Senator's Highway last year and despite the bumps and rattling around bumping my head several times it was the challenges and navigating the rougher stuff I remember in a positive way. Also, kudos for aiding others! That's awesome. 😊

[@DovieRuthAuthor]

Wow, what a dilemma to be in the middle of an adventure and realize that the sun was going down. That’s real dedication to make a second trip. The bridge was amazing. I shudder to think of cows being on it. They can be so skittish and impulsive at times.

[@CactusAtlas]

I super proud of Glenn's dedication to go back that second day. I had a sneaky suspicion he wouldn't reach the bridge that first day considering how long it took us backwards from 24 once. I can't imagine cattle and sheep and such crossing that bridge much less the original one. 😵‍💫😅

[@JTube571]

I did this route at the end of a 3 day off road adventure. Started near Wickenburg and went overland up and over through Crown King, then crossed I-17 and went all the way down the Sheep Bridge. Then backtracked and took 24 into Cave Creek. Total mileage was around 160 miles. Anyway, the trail to Sheep Bridge is definitely a rough one. Not terribly difficult, just rough. And I was even aired down to ~15psi. Depending on the time of year and the Verde River levels you can cross it and continue towards Phoenix near Horseshoe Dam.

[@CactusAtlas]

Agree. That last bit can be a bit tiring mentally after a while. But MAN! What a drive you did! We've done most all of those drives just not at the same time.

[@WillySmith-sd4em]

Really enjoyed this one. Spectacular views!

[@CactusAtlas]

Many thanks! It's a fantastic drive. 😄

[@WillySmith-sd4em]

@CactusAtlas I feel like that I've been on it :)

[@LoriBH]

Love this video and all your other adventures! The whole thing was entertaining and informative, so thanks to Amy for not cutting out too much. “Brutal” is absolutely the right word for that road-we’re in Cave Creek and drove it from FR24 in our F150 a few years ago; it was just as bad then. Love that you appreciate the journey as much as the destination-we do the same and the Arizona back roads are too spectacular to breeze through. Great work, again!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! It's hard to gauge how much to cut when editing especially on something like this that was a full two-day adventure with such interesting changes from prickly pear to saguaro, that crazy section with switchbacks, etc. We've since taken some rougher roads than that one but I think the length of it lends to the brutality especially at that end. It's certainly a commitment getting to that bridge! 😅

[@jamesweston3679]

I used top cowboy for a living out in that country decades ago. Still recall aboutr 75-80% of the road you drove in the clip. You kinda took me back home. Thanks for that

[@SwiftyTravels]

The wildflowers are my favorite! So pretty! Quite a drive - I was getting nervous watching as it was getting later into the evening thinking that would not be a fun drive in the night! Thanks for the tour!!

[@CactusAtlas]

The flowers this year has been BEAUTIFUL. And I completely relate... I was crunching numbers when Glenn left to film the first day, imagining him going back up that steep switchback section in the dark, and was stressing. 😅

[@Rangerxpcrew]

That is a fun trail! I think I remember reading somewhere maybe in a book about how it got its name, bloody basin, we thought it was from some excellent battle that went on out there, but if I remember correct reading, it was because of the color of the dirt Great video thanks so much !

[@CactusAtlas]

We've read a couple theories as well, but the dirt color honestly makes the most sense. It's a pretty noticeable feature. 😅

[@SidetrackAdventures]

That looks like a pretty fun drive, the scenery was great. You were pretty close to the site of the Battle of Turret Peak. I have no idea how hard it is to get up there though.

[@CactusAtlas]

Not sure ourselves at this point either. Would have been fun doing that as well but the journey was long enough as it was. Maybe something to figure out for the future. 😄

[@bvs9631]

What a BEAUTIFUL GORGEOUS place!! So many speechless views! So amazing! I would be camping there for weeks taking pictures. Thank you so much for taking me there!! 💓😍🌵

[@CactusAtlas]

Glad you enjoyed it! Camping there sometime is on our list to do in the future FOR SURE. 😄

[@marshmallows5641]

Love these off-road adventures! That bridge is awesome.

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you so much! We're happy the off-road adventures are being enjoyed. They're a lot of fun for us. 😊

[@erickirn622]

We ride our "Dual-Sport" motorcycles out AND over Sheepbridge. Coming back under the dam and out to Cavecreek. We can travel alot faster than a jeep can travel and do this in about an 11 hour day door to door. Remember, when in doubt, Gripit-N-Ripit!!

[@tushkafilms1061]

I wrote an article for a magazine a few years ago about a battle at bloody basin, which is where it gets its name from. The battle of Turret Peak was fought between the U.S. Cavalry and an encampment of Yavapai Indians. The Yavapai were surprise while sleeping and many were killed, in fact unfortunately some jumped to thier deaths trying to escape the advancing Cavalry.

[@CactusAtlas]

Oh how very cool! We would love to read more about it. 😄👍

[@albertballtrip6706]

Awesome!!!! Thanks for the adventure..

[@CactusAtlas]

Our pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it! 😄

[@joywyse6996]

Thanks for the ride Cactus Atlas. I've lived in Arizona for 30 years and this is the first 4-wheel tour I have had, although I had a ride in he San Juan Mountains in Colorado.. It was beautiful .I'm moving back to AZ soon from Colorado. I miss it so much. Thank you so much.

[@CactusAtlas]

Our pleasure! 😊 Hope your move goes smoothly and welcome back! 👍

[@donaldpruett852]

I'm an Arizona Native and avid back-road explorer, I have been back and forth over the Bloody Basin road many times. The only part of this road that would be much easier with four wheel drive in the section west of the junction with Cave Creek Rd. Bloody Basin Rd. is also U.S.F.S Rd #269. About 5 miles prior to this junction heading East is FS#44 that goes North from the Basin Rd. This road can take you nearly to the base of Turret Peak. This road is extremely rough and four wheel drive with high ground clearance is recommended. Tire damage is also possible due to the sharp jagged rocks the trail seems to be paved with. A distinct landmark and historic place visible to the North is Turret Peak, elevation (5,840 ft.). This is where the last major battle between the Apache Indians and the U.S. Army was fought in the spring or summer of 1873. A war party escaped from the San Carlos Reservation and went on a raid killing ranchers and stealing cattle. The U.S. Army from several Arizona Forts tracked the Indians to their holdout on top of Turret Peak. Not aware of the Army's position around the East and North base of Turret Peak the Indians camped on top of the peak for the night. The Army waited until first light then attacked. All of the adult male braves were killed, some by jumping over the steep cliffs on the Peak's Southern side to their death. The young and women were returned to San Carlos. Turret Peak can be seen from I-17 looking Eastward for a few miles South of Cordes Junction. Ot looks like a flat Mesa with a point on top at the South end. From Cave Creek Rd. Eastward on Bloody Basin Rd. will take you to Sheep Bridge Crossing on the Verde River. This section is a tire shredding, slow going pace on some of the roughest off-road driving anywhere. The Sheep Bridge is a foot bridge over the Verde River. If you rake Cave Creek R. South from Bloody Basin it will take you into Cave Creek and Carefree Arizona. This road is smooth going by comparison to what you have just been on. In the springtime this is a photographer's dream for desert cacti and windflowers in bloom.

[@minnesotawyatt2821]

Spent a month at Bloody Basin in 2008. Best vacation ever had. Fished, panned for gold, drank beer from folks coming up for the day. I was told it got its name from a shootout between ranchers and sheepherders. Thanks for the Vid.

[@CactusAtlas]

Anytime! Sounds like you had a great time out there! 😄👍

[@betonarchese]

I took a Samurai down there and got stuck for two days until another Samurai pulled me out. Never going down there without a real 4X4..

[@gstiles7]

According to Bard "There is no exact number of rattlesnakes in Bloody Basin, Arizona. However, the area is home to a variety of rattlesnake species, including the Western diamondback rattlesnake, the Mojave rattlesnake, and the sidewinder. These snakes are all venomous and can be dangerous to humans. It is important to be aware of the presence of rattlesnakes in Bloody Basin and to take precautions to avoid being bitten." Sleep easy friend!

[@CactusAtlas]

😂😂 So millions then? 🤣

[@rile_up]

Judging by those bullet holes it looks like that Chevy as been there 15 or 16 hours. 🤔🤣

[@CactusAtlas]

🤣🤣 Likely the case.

[@jgoo4572]

If you look down to the left from the entrance of the Sheep’s bridge, there is a big patch of reeds. Inside those reeds is a hot springs. If you can make your way to the center you will find some hot spring pools someone made with rocks and cement. It’s really hidden, and cool. I am guessing the that the geothermal activityhot springs and the red boulder patch are related somehow. I visited this area a few years ago, and I was amazed at the feeling of isolation and scenery! Minus the naked hippies I ran into down the river! Lol

[@CactusAtlas]

Haha! Pretty much the reason we didn't film the hot springs. People using it at the time. 😅

[@donaldpruett852]

Where you drove down that long, winding and steep road and stopped and got out of your vehicle and was talking about the red dirt and coloration, off in the center distance you were looking at that sharp, pointed peak on top of Turret Peak Mountain. That is the mountain top and cliffs the Indians jumped off of in the1973 battle.

[@pcs9518]

In my younger less educated years I took my 1986 Chevy celebrity out to seven springs and kept going. It was a long trek up the mountain and I ended up popping out on bloody basin rd. I don’t think I’d ever try that again in a compact passenger car lol

[@CactusAtlas]

Hahaha! Yeaaaaah.... it can certainly do a number on a car. Probably why that one was left there. 😅

[@pcs9518]

@@CactusAtlas the crazy part is in my teens I used to drive those roads regularly at night with that car it drove more off road than our current Chevy 4x4 ever has 🤦‍♂️

[@motorcycleguy73]

Not that bad of a drive. I've driven my 2 wheel. Drive Van down that road. Just need a little bit of clearance.

[@CeCe-fo2ov]

Enjoyed pictures and history of the sheep bridge.

[@CactusAtlas]

Very cool! Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@tracykooken2606]

Great stuff 😊

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks! 🙂

[@artistry-lifeart9721]

What a lovely adventure 😊 That's super amazing my friend 💯 Great work 👍

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! 😄👍

[@davidelack8809]

I used to camp at seven springs when there were large trees. No more! Haven't been to the sheep bridge(yet) Thanks for the adventure!

[@CactusAtlas]

Anytime and thank you as well! Man... would love to go back in time and see Seven Springs with more trees. It's a lovely area.

[@davidelack8809]

It was amazing to camp there with all the large trees but 20 yrs of drought and the creek being empty more often than not. Trees die and people use them for firewood rather than leaving the small amount of shade provided. Life goes on

[@hightidelowtide4300]

Might be (IMO) THE COOLEST ADVENTURE TO DATE.. camping out there is a must!!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! We hope to one day. 😄👍

[@donaldpruett852]

Another very good adventure for you if you haven't already done it is to go over Four Peaks Rd (Also called "Cline Cabin Rd." and "El Oso Rd." FS#403 from the Bee Line Highway (SR #87 Phoenix to Payson). The right turn-off from Hwy 87 is just a couple of miles north of the Sahuaro Lake turn off and is also the left turn off to Sugarloaf Mt. It will take you to some breathless close-up views of the 4 Peaks of the Mazatel Mt. Range of the Tonto National Forest East of Phoenix. The road goes over the mountains to the North of the 4 Peaks. Closed in Winter. It will bring you into Tonto Basin and Roosevelt Lake. It's not that many miles as the bird flies but plan of about 6 - 8 hours of driving, just on that dirt road. Four Wheel drive is highly recommended for a significant amount of the road in the higher elevations. If you do it on a weekend in nice weather you'll have plenty of company in the flatland portions of the roadway. Through the week it can be pretty lonely. When you get to pavement on the Roosevelt Lake side, go South (right turn) to the Butcher Hook Cafe for a pretty good meal.

[@CactusAtlas]

Appreciate the recommendations! Thank you! 😄

[@larryimus9527]

We did that drive all the way to Phoenix years ago. Awesome drive.

[@CactusAtlas]

Truly is a good one. Has a little bit of everything. 😊

[@mycyclingobsession7002]

Hello Glen. Greetings from San Antonio TX. I stumbled upon your channel, and subscribed immediately. You see I'm a cyclist, but have always done paved roads, aka "roadie". But recently started to venture out on to dirt, gravel, anything non-pavement. So for a guy like me who is looking for off-pavement adventurers, your channel is a gold mine! Many times family members like to come along on my adventures, but they don't ride, so your on foot excursions are perfect "stop-by" locations they can enjoy while I'm out riding. I'm looking forward to making my own adventure videos in the future and your channel content is great encouragement. Thank you so much for your informative and entertaining videos, they are real treasures.

[@CactusAtlas]

That is so awesome to hear and very appreciated! Another channel we really like (and he also has a good website) is AZOffroad.net. Good info there. But anyway, we have more off-road stuff coming out in the upcoming weeks! Thanks for checking us out!

[@Paul_2805]

My Dad & I drove that route back in the 70s. Bloody Basin Rd to the Sheep's Bridge. Back into Phx thru Carefree. Great drive. Thanks for sharing! FYI we were driving a ford econoline van. We added rocks in the back to hold the rear wheels down heading down into the Verde Valley. Almost there, we met a Galaxy 500 driving out. He was missing a muffler but he made it.

[@CactusAtlas]

Very cool! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your story. I'm sure a missing muffler from driving that road sometimes isn't all too uncommon. 😅

[@mikehenry4743]

Back then we did it several times in a friends Buick Electra, it was very do able in a sedan. It was also a time when you could camp at the sheep bridge for a week and never see another person.

[@destinationdero]

Nice share of the Basin. Have a great weekend

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks, you too! 😄👍

[@CJ-fz2fm]

One of your best adventures so far! And a little challenge for Slim 😎

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you so much! Slim is getting some good use and loads of adventures. 😊

[@SwiftyTravels]

That bridge is SUPER COOL!! Way worth it! 😮

[@CactusAtlas]

Isn't it?? So much longer than either of us thought it would be!

[@SwiftyTravels]

@@CactusAtlas spectacular!

[@JeanSebastianZean]

Excellent Production!

[@CactusAtlas]

Much appreciated!

[@KarM908]

Nice. :) Thank you sharing.

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you too! 😊

[@user-df8zq5nx8l]

Thank you. Beautiful. Food for thought... this was when march 2023? We have been having our lakes out here mysteriously disappear. Lake mead, lake pleasent. And more.

[@davidlarned4315]

Great video !!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@mcoffroadinaz4075]

It's a mild Jeep trail. :)

[@CactusAtlas]

😂 One could say that, yes. 😅 For the average person in a passenger car, it definitely is something to think about.

[@mcoffroadinaz4075]

@@CactusAtlas I went down to 12psi on non-beadlock wheels safely on my Jeep. If the road is simple, but harsh, this is my go to now. On 33" tires, I'd easily go to 15psi on non-beadlocks.

[@raymonddettlaff1386]

This is where a family of pioneers were murdered by Apaches. The dry grass is rye. The fire pit by the freeway is where hunters take time in October to set up rigs and ready horses.

[@radiocake28]

The purple flower are wild onions.

[@doctube2020]

Well Done! I’ve driven this a few times in a RZR 900xp and a Honda Pioneer 1000-5. It is a rough long drive, especially the last 1/3 of the road near the bridge.

[@CactusAtlas]

Yup. That's the part where it gets really tiring. 😅

[@robertlyman9789]

Do you carry extra fuel?

[@doctube2020]

@@robertlyman9789 I didn’t carry any extra just a full stock tank on RzR and Pioneer. Just made sure I was full unloading from interstate. I had 1/3 to 1/4 fuel left after round trip to bridge

[@jamesmolenaar6750]

Should have read our reviews on trails off-road lol. That trail is brutal at the end

[@stephenshort839]

Perhaps you could let the tires pressure down to 20lbs psi, it would certainly improve the ride. Pump them up when you get back to the pavement.

[@intuitivegina]

I don't have an off-road vehicle and even if I did I don't have the nerve to drive on such scary roads. So this video was so enjoyable for me I got to see things I wouldn't ordinarily see

[@CactusAtlas]

Well, glad we could virtually bring you along! 😊

[@intuitivegina]

@@CactusAtlas ❤️

[@SomeplaceOrAnother]

That bridge looks worth the drive 😎 but can you imagine how it shakes with cattle on it 😬

[@CactusAtlas]

Surprisingly Glenn said it was extremely solid with no shake. Granted that is without a load of animals on it. 😂

[@donaldpruett852]

FYI: Those "Pink" and "Rouge" colored rocks and cliff's is said in Arzona History books, the way the Bloody Basin got it's name.

[@thepainguins333]

Born & raised in Phoenix- now in Australia. Thanks for the video- it alleviates homesickness. Mazatzal is pronounced Mad-uh-zahl.

[@CactusAtlas]

That's quite the distance from Phoenix! Happy that we could provide a piece of home for you and thanks so much for the info on pronunciation. 😄👍

[@TimAZ]

Yep!

[@jgoo4572]

“Mad as hell! “ The casino up there use to run a funny commercial with an old lady trying to pronounce it. They kept telling her she was pronouncing it wrong, then she said she was “mad as hell” and they said “bingo” lol classic

[@charlesbee8740]

My wife and I went there back in the 70! Took forest road 24 to the old bridge which had boards missing from the deck then went bloody basin Rd to I-17 plus had a flat tire to boot all in one day. Later I found out there was a road on the other side of the Verde. You go to Carefree then Barllett Lake Rd turn off on Horrseshoe Lake Rd. There will be a ranch on the east side of the Verde, Ford it and the road to the bridge is a breeze!

[@CactusAtlas]

That sounds like an incredibly long day especially with a tire change as well! Interesting note about the other route. Maybe we will try it one day for fun. Thanks so much! 👍

[@carolguezen5829]

Freakin' awesome. I need to quit my job and live life on the many roads! Just gorgeous and so adventurous. I just love all your videos and as a narrator you are key to that enjoyment!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks so much! Quitting a job and being on the road full time would be a dream, wouldn't it? 😄

[@bobnoon253]

Tens of thousands 😮

[@Papicodone]

Nice video, thinking of doing this trail soon, I just finished the East New River Rd which had some awesome views.

[@CactusAtlas]

Definitely worth the experience and views for sure! It's a great ride! 👍

[@shirleyrichards2514]

Beautiful area. Looks like cool camping. I think there is rattlesnake everywhere. ❤

[@CactusAtlas]

You are probably right! 😂

[@donaldpruett852]

You addressed the amount of rattlesnakes that are unseen. My son and I were both heavy equipment operators. I'm retired and he is not. It is, and was never, uncommon for one of our dozers, road graders, scrapers to cut into a dirt embankment and have a den of rattlesnakes spill out like a giant bowl of spaghetti. These vipers will be put in the endangered species list about five days after house flies make that list. We have five different species of rattlesnakes that are common to our deserts and mountains. Rattlesnakes exist in every one of the lower 48 states.

[@CactusAtlas]

Man, that is a mental image that I'm not sure that I'd want to see in reality. 😅

[@intuitivegina]

Those flowers might be what they call Mexican wildflowers or Mexican sunflowers

[@timbrown7980]

Did this road last month, it definitely was demanding. Hope you aired down! We camped there overnight.

[@CactusAtlas]

Oh nice! We still haven't camped out there yet. I bet it provides a great experience. 😄

[@user-qw6lq4rq7y]

Are you going to get some overland equipment for Slim? I will miss your amazing tent pad ratings at national parks, but would love to see your boondocking adventures 🙌🏽

[@CactusAtlas]

Overland equipment - possible but not in the plans. Probably will still be doing a lot of tent camping. And on that note, keep an eye out in the future. 😉🤫

[@tbaker294]

I did the same thing last year...late start on the trail, and turned myself around near the Cave Creek road; back at the 17 about 20 min past sunset (seems like I have a habit of starting late...always doing that to 4 Peaks...but it's fun; especially near a full moon). Came back last Fall and after the 2nd creek crossing, the road got real rough in my 4Runner...would have proceeded, but I still had stock tires...decent for mild off-roading, but not worth chancing it. Put some real off-road tires on the 4R since then; no excuses next time.

[@CactusAtlas]

I can only imagine what that area looks like in the light of a full moon. But yeah... starting late? Totally our habit too. 😅

[@MysticWolfAZ]

Surprised you didn't air down, tires are your first line of defense to tearing up your rig.

[@shodopoet]

Cool video mos def going pulled off there before now have a Subaru though not sure about crossing river plenty of room to turn around

[@CactusAtlas]

We've turned around at the river once. Always better safe than sorry. 🙂

[@cq7415]

Really nice. Shows how bad the road can be.

[@CactusAtlas]

Road condition varies so much. Sometimes we read about something being passable by passenger car and get there and realize we're really glad we have our truck now. 😅

[@martinrodriguez7615]

21:35 I made the same mistake. But so worth it

[@CactusAtlas]

It's easy to underestimate how much time it takes. 😅

[@jamescox4823]

well done

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks!

[@guswatts]

Great adventure! I have passed Bloody Basin sign and always wondered what was down that way and today I saw it all. Great video. How do you drive and drone? Maybe an answer In A future video.

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks 👍 We too passed that sign for years and wondered too. So thrilled to finally have the ability to explore. As for the drone, it has a follow mode - Glenn can just highlight the truck once it's in the air and it follows.

[@hendrsb33]

Always wondered what was down that road. As many times as I've driven the I-17 corridor, I've never been back there. I'll do it someday but I'll wait until I get a vehicle appropriate for 4-wheelin'.

[@CactusAtlas]

Not a bad idea. While much of it COULD be doable, it's always best to be ready for any changes to risk conditions as we've found many reports on roads to not quite be accurate when we got there. 👍

[@BigTsPerspective]

The corner you you turn at 31:20 , I got my van stuck ... smh lol How was the climb out ? Absolutly love the river valley down there.

[@kenanderson2216]

The 7 springs way is faster, but may be flooded at the time of filming.

[@danjacobsen7645]

Are these rivers always flowing or just in the spring? Thank you for sharing this adventure!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks! The one water crossing we made in this video varies from what we showed to under an inch and easily crossable with any vehicle. As for the Verde River at the Sheep's Bridge, it's always flowing just not as much as what was shown in our video. Just really depends on the recent rainfalls. We had had a lot of winter rains and snowmelt when we filmed if i remember correctly.

[@mitzioden4926]

Spectacular video! I think the snakes would be in the thousands.

[@CactusAtlas]

They certainly could be! Kind of don't want to think of that being a reality. 😅

[@Starfish2145]

Hardly lol.😂

[@guswatts]

I loved this video so much. I don’t know if it was the flowers, the bridge or the bloody rocks! Just my 2 cents for a gal of gas.

[@CactusAtlas]

Oh my gosh! Thank you so incredibly much! This experience was truly a fun one for us (from filming to editing). We're so happy sharing these adventures and are so pleased you enjoyed this one. Thank you again! 😊

[@roderichroby6236]

The battle of Bloody Basin is discussed in the book "Joseph Redford Walker and the Arizona Adventure" by Daniel Ellis Connor. Maybe the very best book on the first white people to settle into what would become Prescott. Very violent stories of almost constant warfare. King Woolsey was the leader of a group of miners confronted by Yavapai or Apache warriors. Crazy insane story. Only one white guy was killed, name of Lennon and was buried at the battle scene. He was run through with a cavalvry saber lashed to a pole and used as a lance.

[@CactusAtlas]

Well, I guess we have some reading to do! Thanks so much for the info! 👍

[@roderichroby6236]

@@CactusAtlas I believe you'll be impressed with the story!

[@sniper7439]

The fastest way to sheep bridge is off Bartlett lake road. Take the horse shoe damn exit. You end up on the “beach” below the bridge. And it’s an easy walk up to the top of the bridge and across. Takes about 45 minutes on a ktm 500exc-f.

[@CactusAtlas]

Yeah, we know there's other ways to get there. Just really depends where one is coming from. Wouldn't mind trying that one some day but would be longer for us actually. 😅

[@morganjarrett2565]

I am going to do Sheeps bridge to camp this weekend and am seeing so many mixed reviews about best way to get there. I will be coming from the 101 to Carefree. Do you think the neck way by Bartlett needs a more effective off-road vehicle than my 4x4 Ram? Would you recommend it over the FR 24 to 269 route?

[@johnchavez5027]

Great video. How long would you estimate to travel in and out with minimal stops on the way to the bridge?

[@CactusAtlas]

Hmm. Well, it depends on your vehicle and how quickly you're willing to go. Google of course says it takes about 2.5 hours. Obviously the first part goes a bit quicker than that last bit towards the bridge but I would estimate 3-4 hours potentially one way at LEAST. It's very easy for the venture out there to turn into a whole day affair from what we learned. 😅

[@doctube2020]

Nice ZR2! How’s it holding up? Looks like you are getting the most out of it and take care of it. 👍

[@CactusAtlas]

Doing well and still out exploring. 😄👍

[@user-xx6ds3zl2g]

Dude you should take the payson highway 4 peaks road all the way to Rosavelt pake run its a good scenic high clearance required road its worth it. Im exploring the trails now south or superstion mt and nirth of superior east of queen gally to ft lorence trails in the big flats south of hey 60

[@huskerhank9896]

I don't know the answer for that particular habitat in AZ but I have spent over 40 years exploring the canyon country of Utah as well about 20 or so trips below the rim in the Grand Canyon and I have seen perhaps 15 or 20 rattlesnakes. Maybe I'm just lucky or not very observant. I think the snake population is proportional to the amount of available food like rabbits.

[@CactusAtlas]

You've seen more than us then! Not counting some we've seen locally, we only just saw our first rattlesnake it the wild. The little guy makes an appearance in a video in the upcoming weeks. So perhaps it is a bit of luck and observation as you say. 👍

[@mikebarriga1701]

Thank you for an amazing adventure and video! Couple of questions once you were on the dirt road, did you air down your tires? Did you have to use 4wheel drive? Thanks again!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! Gosh... unfortunately Glenn isn't around for me to ask at the moment, but I'm 99% sure he didn't air down his tires. As for 4WD, I'm sure there were parts he might have switched into 4WD for but I'm not entirely sure. I'll be sure to ask him if I get a chance today and update later. 😊

[@CactusAtlas]

Just spoke with Glenn... he did not air down his tires and used 4WD the whole time. He isn't sure whether it was necessary but it's just his habit to do that once leaving pavement. Hope that helps! 😊

[@mikebarriga1701]

@@CactusAtlas Thank you! You guys are the best!

[@daveweber9737]

For every rattlesnake found, there are at a minimum of 10 not found. Some are in a burrow, others hiding in plain sight, others hiding under a bush. You wont find any Sidewinders here, but you will find Western Diamondback, Blacktail, possibly Tiger and Arizona Black. Im not so sure about Mojaves getting up there.

[@CactusAtlas]

That's kind of what we figure, but prefer to try not to think about it TOO much. 😅

[@user-xx6ds3zl2g]

I remember that hill that turn after turn bur mever seem to get to its crest i deemed it forever hill

[@brakeme1]

The road to heaven is bumpy and painful…i heard it right here

[@CactusAtlas]

😂 Indeed.

[@raymonddettlaff1386]

That was beautiful. You should do a deer hunt with an Arizonan.

[@CactusAtlas]

Hunting isn't our thing.

[@daynavillanueva1732]

There is a small hot spring near the bridge.

[@CactusAtlas]

When we filmed, there were people there so we didn't want to be intrusive and make anyone uncomfortable. 😅

[@douglasvamateurradioandmore]

When you are out doing this and see a white 2012 f150, stop by and say hello. I will likely have some amateur radio equipment with me.

[@robertlyman9789]

ALWAYS have coms

[@douglasvamateurradioandmore]

​@robertlyman9789, that's why I installed a dual band amateur radio and a cb in the truck.

[@robertlyman9789]

I even have a Yaesu 7900 on my quad 🤣

[@b.simmons5234]

That’s a grueling trip I would say, and you will need to start early. I also underestimated that trip once and also ran out of daylight. I lost interest finishing that trip due to the roads being so rocky and sharp rocks everywhere. There’s another way to back there coming from cave creek area. Not sure if it’s shorter distance? Definitely you need to bring some extra gas on that trip of your car would end up like that shot up white vehicle if left unattended. To me Sheep Bridge, is a one time deal and can forget about it. There are many places near Phoenix that are shorter distance and enjoyable. I keep my offroading adventures under 30 miles.

[@CactusAtlas]

You are correct... there's a road from the Cave Creek/Carefree area that connects with the road. We've driven that section a couple times. The Sheep Bridge is pretty cool but honestly, I think the star of the route is the descent down into Bloody Basin with the views. Just stunning!

[@david.rencher]

Airing down,would make that road way less jarring. Just Cary a small bag compressor and air back up when you get back to pavement.

[@christianholmstedt8770]

I drove this a few years ago and the end of the road was just as bad as you experienced. I did not make it all the way because of low fuel. I think I actually turned around at the spot at 26 mins.

[@CactusAtlas]

Not exactly a place you want to run out of fuel in. 😅 Definitely a long bumpy ride to get through in parts.

[@christianholmstedt8770]

@@CactusAtlas On top of that I did not have very good maps. I was thinking about bailing out via 24 but didn't know for sure if it would lead to civilization so I drove all the way back. I did camp out at a very nice 'oasis' by a creek just before getting back to the split in the road leading to 24. It was really nice.

[@littlerayofsunshine69]

Pretty. Hopefully it wont become a strip mine one day. Who knows? It's Arizona.

[@CactusAtlas]

So true. So true... Seen so many over the years in this state. 😞

[@joecerda630]

Did you air down?😮

[@lalalisa9307]

Great video by the way how are videoing yourself driving ?

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you. I use 2 go pro’s. One is mounted on the windshield facing forward, and the other towards me. I have them synced to single a remote. So when I hit record, they both record at the same time. It is a safe way to do it, and completely hands-free. Have been thinking of making a video about my set up sometime. I think we have a link below that lists the equipment we use if you are interested to see more.

[@lalalisa9307]

I got inspired by your videos I traveled through the desert before yrs ago now I feel it’s something I really want to do again and overcome my fear of doing it alone

[@neilalexander2662]

Mazatzal is pronounced as if you are saying "Mad as Hell".

[@cscrossman]

I wonder how long that SUV has been sitting there. More importantly, I wonder what it would take to get it dragged out and clean that spot up.

[@CactusAtlas]

Not sure. It’s been a year at this point so one of these days I’ll have to go look. At that point, I am on National Forest land, so not sure if the forest service would take care of that or not.

[@cscrossman]

Oh it's probably gone by now, at least I would hope so. I was more just wondering out loud what the cost of removal looks like.