Jeep Adventure - Montana Mountain Loop Trail & Mattie Earp’s Grave

Mar 26

3/26/2017

Jeep Adventure on Montana Mountain Loop Trail Arizona — *Montana Mountain Loop Trail, Tonto National Forest*

Now this is what I call a Sunday drive. If you want to feel like you’re in the middle of the Wild West, steep inclines and cliffs included, this is a drive for you. We left the ranch with the Jeeps and headed east to the Montana Mountain Loop Trail located near Superior and Queen Creek, about 2 hours from Phoenix.

This dusty trail provides that American West ruggedness that I’m obsessed with. It’s around 30 miles long and climbs to over 5,000 feet. It weaves up and down through Saguaro forests and rocky cliffs with panoramic mountain vistas to swoon over. It took us a little over 4 hours to complete the loop.

If planning to do the entire trail, a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle is recommended. We experienced ruts, washouts, mud, and standing pools of water as we journeyed higher. Definitely check weather conditions beforehand especially during monsoon season when it may be impassable.

We encountered a few exciting washouts.

Jeep Adventuring on Montana Mountain Loop Trail in Tonto National Forest, Arizona

I enjoy exploring abandoned structures. These remnants were a nice surprise.

Enjoyed seeing the cows on their walkabout!

A highlight of this trip was getting to see Mattie Earp’s grave. Yes, Mattie Earp as in Wyatt Earp. Since we were close, we headed there after finishing the trail. Her grave is located in Pinal Cemetery in Superior, Arizona.