Friday, April 24 8:00 am – Sunday, April 26 ~4:00 pm

Trip Description: 

El Camino Del Diablo
We’re going to drive through an old trade route known as El Camino Del Diablo due to its remoteness and lack of support and services; this is known unofficially as the longest unsupported backcountry drive in the nation. Our plan for this trip is to drive it East to West – from the mining town of Ajo in Arizona all the way to Yuma, crossing Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Cabesa Prieta Wilderness, and Barry Goldwater Bombing Range.

Difficulty rating: 3 out of 5, mostly due to remoteness of the area. Rainstorms shortly before the trip may affect the itinerary and our progress: the area known as Playas will turn from dry tracks to deep mud. In absence of rains, expect a mix of sand (deep in places), rocky surface, and well-graded dirt roads. 

Group limit: none, but preferred under 8-10 vehicles.

Itinerary:

Day 1 (04/24/26, Friday):
Meeting at Ajo Plaza at 1-2 p.m. – https://www.google.com/maps/place//@32.3727094,-112.8628044,274m/
Driving times: 330 miles / 5 hours from San Diego, 260 miles / 3:50 hours from De Anza Springs Resort or Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel, 280 miles / 4:05 hours from Buckman Springs Rest Area on I-8.
Fuel up in Ajo. 
Comment: I have never taken time to stroll through Ajo Plaza – it seems like a place with some historical significance, and we can stock up on food/firewood/whatever we might need.

For those who’d prefer to convoy from Buckman Springs – you can meet at Buckman Springs Rest area off I-8; if you take off at 9am from Buckman Springs, you’ll make it to Ajo by 1pm.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/is1mGQnFySepiVLV8
Camping about 30 miles from Ajo near John The Baptist Mountains (approx. location –  32.259830, -112.893482 ).

Day 2 (04/25/26, Saturday):
John The Baptist Mountains – Growler Pass – Poso Nuevo – Tule Mountains – F-4 Phantom crash site: 105 miles (all on dirt)
That’s going to be a long day, even if there are no breakdowns and no mud near the Playas.
We’ll pass through Organ Pipe Cactus National Wilderness and Cabesa Prieta Wilderness, and make it to an old F-4 Phantom crash site.
Camping location TBD (approx. 32.389723, -113.913970 ).

Day 3 (04/26/26, Sunday):
F-4 Crash site – Tinajas Altas – Border Wall – Fortuna Mine – Yuma: ~70 miles (dirt); stop by Yodaville Overlook (binoculars are nice) and Fortuna Mine.
Yuma (Fortuna Hills, fuel) to Buckman Springs Rest Area – 140 miles, 2:08
https://maps.app.goo.gl/tyTmfQ2jRAA45XMy6
Fuel up in Yuma, and we should be good to go all the way to San Diego.

Permits:
Every person over 18 years old must have a permit from https://bmgr.recaccess.com/
Permit is free, and valid for a year – it is an improvement from older permitting at Luke AFB. It covers Cabesa Prieta as well as Barry Goldwater Bombing Range.
Everybody must check in at the same link prior to the trip – this is a safety/border control issue.

What to bring and other suggestions: 
Fuel, water, and food for two full days
Camping gear 
Cold weather gear (it may get cold at night even in late April)
Hot weather gear (it will get hot during the day)
Consider the vehicle maintenance prior to the trip
Pets are absolutely welcome, and the planned campsites are mostly free of cholla – but beware old cholla and rattlesnakes.
Navigation: GPS and/or smartphone/tablet with GaiaGPS or OnX 4×4 mapping software.
Communications: ham VHF 147.58MHz simplex (strongly encouraged), GMRS (backup). 
Binoculars and nighttime photo equipment encouraged.
Proof of citizenship or naturalization documents – this is an area with a very heavy Border Patrol presence.

INFO and links:
Cabesa Prieta: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/cabeza-prieta/visit-us/rules-policies
https://cabezaprieta.org/destinations/el_camino_del_diablo.php
https://azstateparks.com/historic-trails-of-arizona-el-camino-del-diablo
https://npshistory.com/publications/blm/el-camino-del-diablo/visitors-guide-2016.pdf
https://occidentalist.org/el-camino-del-diablo/

https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/arizona/f-4-phantom-crash-site-spur
… and, of course, our own trip diaries:
https://3rj.org/ElCaminoDelDiablo/index.htm
https://3rj.org/Arizona.B3/index.htm