Trail Links:
Lukachukai Mountains Trail
(Not used during Syncro Safari '12)
This trail was scoped out for potential use at Syncro Safari in combination with the Roof Butte - Tunitcha Mountains trail, but was not used.
Here’s some trail information excerpted from a published sources:
(Excerpted from Massey & Wilson "Backcountry Adventures Arizona")
NE Region # 47 - Lukachukai Mountains Trail
Total Miles: 11.2
Unpaved Miles: 11.2
Driving Time: 1.5 hours
Elevation: 6,400 – 9,000 ft
Difficulty Rating: 3
Scenic Rating: 10
Special Attractions: The red rock of Lukachukai Mountains.
Aspen viewing in the fall.
Extremely scenic smaller trail.
Description (South to North)
This lightly traveled trail is smaller and rougher than many in the Navajo Nation. It also travels through some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Navajo Nation - the red sandstone cliffs and buttes of the Lukachukai Mountains.
The trail leaves Indian Road 13 just south of Buffalo Pass and for the first 1.6 miles travels through the pine and aspen forest. The shallow pan of Big Lake is passed, and briefly the traail passes through an open area in the forest that has many small natural ponds, some of which are carpeted with water lillies.
The trail drops in standard from a roughly graded road to a smaller, formed, singletrack. It starts to descend through more apsens and pines, twisting its way through the red rock canyons on the north side of the Lukachukai Mountains along a shelf road that is only wide enought for one vehicle. The trail surface is definitley suitaable for dry weather only, and the route should not be attempted in wet weather. Navigation can be a little tricky as the trail descends; none of the tracks are marked and there are many side trails. Pay close attention to the route description to avoid going the wrong way.
As the road descends, the view to the northwest opens up to reveal a glorious panorama of contrasting colors: the red sandstone of the mountains, the dark green of the oaks and junipers, and the muted yellow of the plain below. Far below, the settlement of Cove sits cradled in the natural bowl formed by the mountains. To reach it, the trail descends steeply along a series of switchbacks and through a gap in the bowl, the roughest and most uneven part of the trai. Black Rock, to the north, is easily recognizable by its dark color among all the red pinnacles that surround it. Shiprock, visable to the east, stands alone on the plains in New Mexico.
The trail ends at paved Indian Road 33 in Cove. From this point, the road is paved all the way back to the main highway to Shiprock.
This trail was scoped out for potential use at Syncro Safari in combination with the Roof Butte - Tunitcha Mountains trail, but was not used.
Here’s some trail information excerpted from a published sources:
(Excerpted from Massey & Wilson "Backcountry Adventures Arizona")
NE Region # 47 - Lukachukai Mountains Trail
Total Miles: 11.2
Unpaved Miles: 11.2
Driving Time: 1.5 hours
Elevation: 6,400 – 9,000 ft
Difficulty Rating: 3
Scenic Rating: 10
Special Attractions: The red rock of Lukachukai Mountains.
Aspen viewing in the fall.
Extremely scenic smaller trail.
Description (South to North)
This lightly traveled trail is smaller and rougher than many in the Navajo Nation. It also travels through some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Navajo Nation - the red sandstone cliffs and buttes of the Lukachukai Mountains.
The trail leaves Indian Road 13 just south of Buffalo Pass and for the first 1.6 miles travels through the pine and aspen forest. The shallow pan of Big Lake is passed, and briefly the traail passes through an open area in the forest that has many small natural ponds, some of which are carpeted with water lillies.
The trail drops in standard from a roughly graded road to a smaller, formed, singletrack. It starts to descend through more apsens and pines, twisting its way through the red rock canyons on the north side of the Lukachukai Mountains along a shelf road that is only wide enought for one vehicle. The trail surface is definitley suitaable for dry weather only, and the route should not be attempted in wet weather. Navigation can be a little tricky as the trail descends; none of the tracks are marked and there are many side trails. Pay close attention to the route description to avoid going the wrong way.
As the road descends, the view to the northwest opens up to reveal a glorious panorama of contrasting colors: the red sandstone of the mountains, the dark green of the oaks and junipers, and the muted yellow of the plain below. Far below, the settlement of Cove sits cradled in the natural bowl formed by the mountains. To reach it, the trail descends steeply along a series of switchbacks and through a gap in the bowl, the roughest and most uneven part of the trai. Black Rock, to the north, is easily recognizable by its dark color among all the red pinnacles that surround it. Shiprock, visable to the east, stands alone on the plains in New Mexico.
The trail ends at paved Indian Road 33 in Cove. From this point, the road is paved all the way back to the main highway to Shiprock.
DIFFICULTY RATINGS
[The information below is mostly excerpted from Massey & Wilson's "Backcountry Adventures" book series difficulty ratings so you'll know how to interpret the ratings above. Ratings or 4-5 seem best suited for what might be called "mild to moderate, family friendly 4-wheeling" in a Syncro.]
1 [Graded dirt]
2 High-clearance 4WD preferred, not necessary. These trails are dirt roads, but may have rocks, grades, water crossings, or ruts that make clearance a concern in a normal passenger vehicle.
3 High-clearance 4WDs are preferred, but any high-clearance vehicle is acceptable. Expect a rough road surface; mud and sand are possible but will be easily passable. You may encounter rocks up to 6 inches in diameter, a loose road surface, and shelf roads, though these will be wide enough for passing or will have adequate pull-offs.
4 High-clearance 4WDs are recommended, though most stock SUVs are acceptable. Expect a rough road surface with rocks larger than 6 inches, but there will be a reasonable driving line Patches of mud are possible but can be readily negotiated; sand may be deep and require lower tire pressures. There may be stream crossings up to 12 inches deep, substantial sections of single-lane shelf road, moderate grades, and sections of moderately loose road surface.
5 High-clearance 4WDs are required. These trails have either a rough, rutted surface, rocks up to 9 inches, mud and deep sand that may be impassable for inexperienced drivers, or stream crossings up to 18 inches deep. Certain sections may be steep enough to cause traction problems, and you may encounter very narrow shelf roads with steep drop-offs and tight clearance between rocks or trees.
6 These trails are for experienced four-wheel drivers only. They are potentially dangerous, with large rocks, ruts, or terraces that may need to be negotiated. They may also have stream crossings at least 18 inches deep, involve rapid currents, unstable stream bottoms, or difficult access; steep slopes, loose surfaces, and narrow clearances; or very narrow sections of shelf road with steep drop-offs and potentially challenging road surfaces.
7 through 10 [Not considered for Syncro Safari routes so their descriptions are not depicted here.]
END EXCERPT
1 [Graded dirt]
2 High-clearance 4WD preferred, not necessary. These trails are dirt roads, but may have rocks, grades, water crossings, or ruts that make clearance a concern in a normal passenger vehicle.
3 High-clearance 4WDs are preferred, but any high-clearance vehicle is acceptable. Expect a rough road surface; mud and sand are possible but will be easily passable. You may encounter rocks up to 6 inches in diameter, a loose road surface, and shelf roads, though these will be wide enough for passing or will have adequate pull-offs.
4 High-clearance 4WDs are recommended, though most stock SUVs are acceptable. Expect a rough road surface with rocks larger than 6 inches, but there will be a reasonable driving line Patches of mud are possible but can be readily negotiated; sand may be deep and require lower tire pressures. There may be stream crossings up to 12 inches deep, substantial sections of single-lane shelf road, moderate grades, and sections of moderately loose road surface.
5 High-clearance 4WDs are required. These trails have either a rough, rutted surface, rocks up to 9 inches, mud and deep sand that may be impassable for inexperienced drivers, or stream crossings up to 18 inches deep. Certain sections may be steep enough to cause traction problems, and you may encounter very narrow shelf roads with steep drop-offs and tight clearance between rocks or trees.
6 These trails are for experienced four-wheel drivers only. They are potentially dangerous, with large rocks, ruts, or terraces that may need to be negotiated. They may also have stream crossings at least 18 inches deep, involve rapid currents, unstable stream bottoms, or difficult access; steep slopes, loose surfaces, and narrow clearances; or very narrow sections of shelf road with steep drop-offs and potentially challenging road surfaces.
7 through 10 [Not considered for Syncro Safari routes so their descriptions are not depicted here.]
END EXCERPT