View Full Version : Coke Ovens
Hi all,
Did the Martinez Ranch, Box Canyon run this past Saturday morning with some buds and had a really good time. The group decided to head out towards the Coke Ovens as none of us had been there before. After much knashing of teeth & bulging of brow, (and some directions from other riders on the trail), we finally managed to locate the cutoff trail that leads there and I believe that we found the infamous "stairsteps" i've been hearing so much about. As only one member in our group had 4 wheel drive, the rest of us had no desire to climb back up the way we came in, so we headed to the ovens. Pretty cool site. After resting up & re-hydrating, we headed towards the train tracks. We found the bridge & the tunnel, shut our bikes off & listened carefully for oncoming rail traffic. After deciding who would go first, we all headed over the bridge & through the tunnel and out the other side. SPOOOKY stuff that tunnel. My questions are, has anybody else done this and is there another way back to US60 without going through the tunnel or back up over the "stairsteps"? Thanks in advance.
Jerry
Is being asymmetrical really so bad?
vpihlman
09/21/03, 5:13 PM
I have wondered about this area - how difficult would it be for dirt bikes - and I am interested in the same as above - that tunnel sounds awful! Thanks for the info.
CRAZY CRF 230
Bunk n Teri
09/21/03, 6:31 PM
The tunnel is scary, as these tracks are active, and highly illegal.
The only other way to reach the Coke Ovens I know of, other than the Stairsteps, is by crossing the river. There is a trail to the crossing before the tunnel and then cross back over past the trestle.
If you come in from the Cocrhan side there, is only the one crossing past the trestle.
This, of course, is all relevent to how high the river is running.
Most of the way (not the Stairsteps) is easy to moderate at best.
Teri
[u]Wanna keep 'em? Keep ta the trails 'n keep 'em clean!</u>
Green 'n Red Honda 2x Ranchers... Tagged 'n Ready!!!
HardHeadedWoman
09/21/03, 7:58 PM
If the Gila River is low you can cross the river below the trestle and ride beside the tracks to the conversion damn.
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Did you get any pictures? We'd love to see them.
Syreda
Honda Foreman 450es 4x4
Don't follow David. There must be an easier way.
No, none of us had the bright idea of bringing a camera. We also did not see any water. Very dry out there. Thanks for the heads up about the tunnel. So, if i'm following correctly, we can cross the river below the train bridge and avoid the tunnel completely? We followed the tracks & wound up entering Box Canyon & returning back to the staging area. If I understand, we could reach the Coke Ovens from the second flagpole by heading south through Box Canyon, make a left at the train tracks, cross the Gila below the train bridge & swing back north to the ovens. Thanks for all the advice & the cool pics. I'll bring that dang camera next time.
Jerry
Is being asymmetrical really so bad?
vpihlman
09/22/03, 5:29 AM
Beautiful!! What are the old fashioned directions to the staging area??
CRAZY CRF 230
Pugsley
09/22/03, 10:11 AM
Also, if the water was that low (non-existent) I have actually ridden down the river to the diversion dam. Lots of little water crossings through the pools. There is also another way around the south butte. Take a look here: http://ridingarizona.com/forum/trailguide/trail.asp?TRAIL_ID=40 That is staging from the diversion dam, but that is basically where Box Canyon road meets the train tracks, so you can easily figure it out from there.
Vpihlman, you can stage in a number of places. One of the easiest is the second set of flagpoles on US 60 East of Florence Junction. Head south and you will eventually end up in Box Canyon. There is another staging area off SR 79 about 5 miles south of US 60 and Florence Juntion, or you can stage out of Florence on Box Canyon Rd. or Diversion Dam Rd.
HTH,
Pugs
Gary - '02 Sportsman 500
Hope - '01 Trailboss
Ryan(8)- '02 Sportsman 90
A big thank you to everybody with the information. I'd like to explore the area around the ovens a little more without coming in from the second flagpole, and all the directions are greatly appreciated.
Jerry
Is being asymmetrical really so bad?
You can get to and from the coke ovens via the second flagpole w/o crossing the river and w/o running the stairsteps. If, however, you thought running up the stairsteps wasn't what you wanted, you won't want to run the trail I am referencing.
-Grover
-Oh Oh Honda Rancher
-86 Honda TRX 125
I didn't think the stairsteps were as bad as they looked and I'm not saying they're easy.
I did it on my Warrior with a lot less experience than I have now.(that ain't sayin' much) Just a matter of finding the right line. Got off my quad twice to find the best way. I will do it again.
Being careful and careful planning is good.
'01 Warrior (His)
'00 Warrior (Hers)
'04 Weekend Warrior Super Lite (Ours)
Lots of Fun