One of our favorite things about staying at Pine, Arizona Cabin is that adventure starts the moment you leave the driveway. If you love riding side by sides, ATVs, or quads, you've found the perfect home base. Pine and the surrounding mountain communities are filled with miles of beautiful trails just waiting to be explored.
Whether you're looking for an easy scenic ride through the pines or a more challenging trail with rocky climbs, creek crossings, and plenty of mud, there's something here for everyone. The trail systems around Pine, Strawberry, Payson, and Happy Jack offer endless opportunities for riders of every experience level. Families, couples, groups of friends, and seasoned off road enthusiasts can all find a trail they'll love.
One of our favorite traditions is packing a cooler with lunch, plenty of water, and a few snacks before heading out for the day. There is something special about finding the perfect spot along the trail to stop, relax, and enjoy the fresh mountain air before continuing the adventure.
And if you've never come back completely covered in mud, have you really been riding? Around here, we like to joke that the best rides are the ones where you can't even tell what color your quad was when you started. Those are usually the days that end with the biggest laughs and the best stories.
Every ride offers something different. You may wind through towering ponderosa pines, discover quiet mountain meadows, spot deer or elk, cross seasonal streams, or find breathtaking overlooks that make you want to stop and soak it all in. No two rides are ever the same, and that's what keeps us coming back.
Helpful Tips Before You Ride
One of the easiest ways to find trails is by using the AllTrails app. While many people think of it for hiking, we've also used it to discover some fantastic off road routes and scenic adventures. The app provides maps, trail descriptions, difficulty levels, elevation changes, reviews from other users, and GPS navigation, making it a great tool whether you're hiking or riding.
Many riders also use OnX Offroad, which is specifically designed for ATV, UTV, and 4x4 trails. It shows trail access, difficulty ratings, public land boundaries, and downloadable offline maps. It's an excellent option if you plan to explore more remote areas where cell service is limited.
Before heading out, be sure to download your maps for offline use. Cell service can be spotty in the mountains, and having your route saved ahead of time can make your adventure much less stressful.
Don't forget to bring:
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Plenty of drinking water
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Lunch and snacks
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Sunscreen
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Hats and sunglasses
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A first aid kit
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Extra layers for changing mountain weather
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A basic tool kit and tire repair kit
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A fully charged phone or GPS device
Our Favorite Riding Areas
Some of our favorite places to ride include the forests around Pine and Strawberry, where you'll find peaceful rides through towering pine trees and beautiful mountain scenery.
Just a short drive away, Payson offers hundreds of miles of trails ranging from beginner-friendly forest roads to more technical routes for experienced riders.
Happy Jack is another favorite destination, known for its cool temperatures, beautiful forests, and long scenic rides. It's a great place to spend an entire day exploring.
Each area has its own personality, which is why we never get tired of coming back.
If you're planning a stay at Pine Trail Cabin, don't forget to bring your side by side, ATV, or quad. The surrounding area is one of Arizona's hidden gems for off road adventures, and we're always finding new favorite trails to explore.
We hope you enjoy these trails as much as we do. Ride safely, stay on designated trails, respect wildlife, pack out everything you bring in, and leave the forest even better than you found it.
We'll see you on the trail. Just look for the muddy quads. If you can still tell what color they are, you probably didn't hit enough puddles.
By Ivette Roche, Open Roads Retreat
Pine, Arizona
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