I tried couple of times to drive from oracle to mount lemmon. But gave up after 30 minutes from oracle. This video is wonderfully made and very informative. Thanks for your effort. I will drive one day on this route.
Thank you so much! It is a nice route in the spring and fall and worth the trip. The road was pretty good the last time I went up a few months ago, but it can be a bit rough near the top sometimes.
Thanks for the video I live here in TUCSON for 20 years and didn’t know anything about this off-road trail at all hope some day will do the same as you did thank again
Oh cool! Thank you for watching the video. It is a nice drive and the road is really mellow. At times the control road can be a little rough, but not too bad.
Thank you for the video! I'm in the process of moving from WA to Catalina, AZ, and would love to try out this road with my KLR 650 Dual Sport!. Love the trail/road up to the mountain, reminds me of some in E. WA and N. Idaho!
Very nice! I have had a couple of KLR's in the past and the road is excellent for them. I think I mentioned it, but you can continue all the way to Benson instead of heading up the backside of mount Lemmon. The road is closed a couple of months over the winter so be sure to check its status before heading out.
Rick I grew up souht of Yuma. I went to school in Tucson in late 60's to mid 70's. Drove out that way at that time. Last time through Reddington to San Manuel. @ 20 yrs ago. My sis was living out near Lil Abner's. Took her along for the ride. Then up on Kitt Peak. Currently live North side of SF bay. If I had to move back to AZ would be Tucson or SE of it. It is the most misunderstood part of AZ. Keep up the good work.
@@AZdroptop Tucson had a different vibe than the rest of the state when I was there. Hope it is still the same. Beat the snow plow to the top Mt Lemmon once. Also, when I was there Joe Bonano Sr live there and the basic attitude of most people was "so what." Also, my mom's uncle who played 2nd base for Pop McHale in the 20's lived out by Himmel Park and his amazing girlfriend of over 60 years the last time I saw them. She had grown up rich Packard Convertible. Dad owned a mine down by Twin Buttes. Lost it all in the crash. As I understand it Linda McCartney chose to die out in Reddington Pass bc her neighbors would leave her alone. After she died one of them said he'd once told Paul a Ford Pickup would do better on that gravel road than his Bentley. Thank foe all this,
Great history thank you! Tucson is still different than Phoenix mostly in good ways, but it has definitely gone downhill the past number of years. There is still a lot to like about it, but these days most of that is outside the city limits unfortunately. Downtown is one positive as they have revived that pretty well otherwise not so much. We still have our mountains, weather and proximity to a lot of great stuff. :)
Nice Vid, thanks for sharing. Nice to meet your wife, great looking couple you two make. My wife and I almost drove down the back way in my Outback last April 2020. Now I really wish I would have.
Thank very much! I am a very luck guy to have her in my life. Definitely a nice trip if you get the chance again...The Outback would have no trouble at all.
Thank you Bob. It was a fun day and it was nice having Kari along for a change. It was very mellow so she enjoyed it. One of these days you two will have to come visit and we can see it in person. I'll send you some pics to share with Jocelyn from the backyard of the Saguaro's blooming.
well made video: informative. well-edited, captions add corrections in places, drone used to add perspective, good commentary on fires, good photography of road conditions
Great video and beautiful countryside even the roasted trees have a beauty all their own. Those weird drone shots are really cool, don’t know how you do that. Anyway, one of the first things I had to add to my Willys was a left foot dead pedal rest for those long rides. Thanks for sharing Rick, nice meeting your wife.
Hi Mick, it is really nice back there for sure! The opening shots are actually shot on a 360 camera and a long monopod. The technology is just crazy. Fun stuff. Interesting about the dead pedal...I'll have to check that out. Have a great week.
@@AZdroptop yes, it’s the second place up the mountain where people congregate and it’s the high trail. You know you’re on the right path if you see a sign with hand painted warnings on the yellow sign posted. It’s off the road a bit.
Man that is awesome! Listen I just moved here from Illinois, and I’ve been to Mt. Lemmon, but I’m looking for that same road to take with my Jeep Willy’s wheeler! So does Tanque verde takes you straight trough that road? Great video and drone footage! By the way great looking Willy’s!👌😎👍👋
Thank you. Yep, just take Tanque Verde E and it will turn into Redington. When you get all the way through you can go the route I did here up Mount Lemmon or continue the other way and come out by Benson. Both trips are cool.
@@AZdroptop man that’s so awesome! Thank you so much!🙏✌️I can’t wait to try!👋😎🤟Jeep wave my friend! One more thing! Is there a fee to drive through the trail like some other trails?
There is not a specific fee for any of the trails that I know of, but it is suggested that you buy a State Land permit. I don't think most people do, but it is only $20 bucks for a family. Here is the link if you are interested. I buy one periodically, but not every year and I have never been asked for it by anyone. asld.secure.force.com/recreationalpermit/
@@AZdroptop thank you brother!🙏 I actually drove it today! All the way to route 77 to oracle. I even saw a few Sheriffs and a Border patrol SUV’s pass next to me on the road and they just waved! That was cool!👋😂✌️👌👍👋thanks! Jeep wave!
Hi Rick, awesome video! I'm actually planning on taking a trip down there from Phoenix. Would you happen to be able to share your route somehow? So that I can plug it into an app? Thanks!
Hi Alex, thank you very much for watching. Unfortunately Motion x was discontinued in the App Store and that is what I recorded the route on. I can not find it or any of the files on my phone? I will keep looking around and see if I can come up with anything for you. If so I will post back here.
One thing to make sure of is that the gate on the mount Lemmon control road is open! They close it during the winter and it probably will not be open for a couple months.
Those roads look pretty rough, Rick...scary stuff! Not sure my Gladiator Rubicon could handle them -- without a spotter? ;-) Seriously though, it looks like great Gladiator Mojave country...and were I still living in West Texas (El Paso) with all the desert out there -- and the scenery looking almost identical to what you have there in AZ -- I'd likely have gotten a Mojave vs. a Rubicon...but the Rubicon is more "appropriate" up here in Colorado. You know, "Rocky Mountain High" as John Denver said. ;-) Could never GET (over 2 months of waiting for it) my "Plan A" Chevy Colorado ZR2 (as mentioned here back then) due to GM's ongoing/no-end-in-sight computer-chip shortage. So I gave up on it and went to "Plan B" -- the Gladiator. Even though I DON'T have a "desert-runner" (aka: "Desert Rated" Mojave) will still take my "Trail Rated" Rubicon out there when I visit ELP occasionally -- like this coming June. I'm sure it can do at least SOME "desert-running" -- but for sure, I won't be 'jumping" it. ;-) Happy Trails, -- BR
Awesome Bill! I think you would be able to do thee roads with your eyes closed. :) LOL Hope you are liking that Gladiator! My son and I stayed in Colorado Springs on the 8th after driving from Illinois...beautiful place. I really want to get back to then Silverton area again to do some exploring in the Jeep. You have some amazing country to get out and in enjoy! Great hearing from you Bill!
@@AZdroptop Thanks... Haven't been to Silverton but do plan to drive some of the many high-altitude mountain passes here, but not the HARD and/or SCARY ones (like Black Bear Pass -- scary). And some of the local (to COS) forest/service roads in the mountains immediately west of COS. Enjoy cruising the "outback" of AZ, -- BR If you ever get back to COS, let me know (billredding2000[at]gmail.com -- given this way to foil Internet spambots? So "fix" it to make it valid)
I don't blame you on Black Bear! If you get the chance check out Bleepin Jeep's black bear video. It's pretty good and when the storm comes in its pretty intense. I will let you know for sure as I definitely want to get back there and do some trails. Amazing scenery everywhere.
@@AZdroptop Yes, "scary" at the very least, worse for some: ruclips.net/video/2R5cLghSWGQ/видео.html Sure, some people take their full-size trucks on it -- even Power Wagons (!) -- but for me, I'll just go halfway up, take some pics at the sign (summit), then back down to Ouray...will NOT take the second half of the trail down into Telluride. We could still do Black Bear -- if you want -- but YOU go first! ;-) Drive Carefully, -- BR
Ha ha. No thanks. I'm good just watching the videos myself. We did to a few of them on motorcycles, corkscrew sticks in my head, but Black bear is a skip for me too. :)
I tried couple of times to drive from oracle to mount lemmon. But gave up after 30 minutes from oracle. This video is wonderfully made and very informative. Thanks for your effort. I will drive one day on this route.
Thank you so much! It is a nice route in the spring and fall and worth the trip. The road was pretty good the last time I went up a few months ago, but it can be a bit rough near the top sometimes.
Thanks for the video I live here in TUCSON for 20 years and didn’t know anything about this off-road trail at all hope some day will do the same as you did thank again
Oh cool! Thank you for watching the video. It is a nice drive and the road is really mellow. At times the control road can be a little rough, but not too bad.
Thank you for the video! I'm in the process of moving from WA to Catalina, AZ, and would love to try out this road with my KLR 650 Dual Sport!. Love the trail/road up to the mountain, reminds me of some in E. WA and N. Idaho!
Very nice! I have had a couple of KLR's in the past and the road is excellent for them. I think I mentioned it, but you can continue all the way to Benson instead of heading up the backside of mount Lemmon. The road is closed a couple of months over the winter so be sure to check its status before heading out.
Rick I grew up souht of Yuma. I went to school in Tucson in late 60's to mid 70's.
Drove out that way at that time.
Last time through Reddington to San Manuel. @ 20 yrs ago.
My sis was living out near Lil Abner's.
Took her along for the ride. Then up on Kitt Peak.
Currently live North side of SF bay.
If I had to move back to AZ would be Tucson or SE of it.
It is the most misunderstood part of AZ. Keep up the good work.
Thank you very much James. Great post and thank you so much for watching. So much to love about AZ and Tucson!
@@AZdroptop Tucson had a different vibe than the rest of the state when I was there. Hope it is still the same. Beat the snow plow to the top Mt Lemmon once. Also, when I was there Joe Bonano Sr live there and the basic attitude of most people was "so what." Also, my mom's uncle who played 2nd base for Pop McHale in the 20's lived out by Himmel Park and his amazing girlfriend of over 60 years the last time I saw them. She had grown up rich Packard Convertible. Dad owned a mine down by Twin Buttes. Lost it all in the crash. As I understand it Linda McCartney chose to die out in Reddington Pass bc her neighbors would leave her alone. After she died one of them said he'd once told Paul a Ford Pickup would do better on that gravel road than his Bentley. Thank foe all this,
Great history thank you! Tucson is still different than Phoenix mostly in good ways, but it has definitely gone downhill the past number of years. There is still a lot to like about it, but these days most of that is outside the city limits unfortunately. Downtown is one positive as they have revived that pretty well otherwise not so much. We still have our mountains, weather and proximity to a lot of great stuff. :)
Sad when what little we have here gets burnt. Thanks for the Video
Thank you for watching! It is a bummer how overbuilt Summer Heaven is now. Huge lodge going up now.
Good video with that point of view from your drone's camera. Enjoying nature and driving.
Thank you! Much appreciated.
Nice Vid, thanks for sharing. Nice to meet your wife, great looking couple you two make. My wife and I almost drove down the back way in my Outback last April 2020. Now I really wish I would have.
Thank very much! I am a very luck guy to have her in my life. Definitely a nice trip if you get the chance again...The Outback would have no trouble at all.
I called Jocelyn in, to watch with me and see those cactus and amazing scenery. And, great to see Kari in your video. She needs to be a regular guest.
Thank you Bob. It was a fun day and it was nice having Kari along for a change. It was very mellow so she enjoyed it. One of these days you two will have to come visit and we can see it in person. I'll send you some pics to share with Jocelyn from the backyard of the Saguaro's blooming.
well made video: informative. well-edited, captions add corrections in places, drone used to add perspective, good commentary on fires, good photography of road conditions
Thank you Paul, very kind of you to take the time to comment.
Great video and beautiful countryside even the roasted trees have a beauty all their own. Those weird drone shots are really cool, don’t know how you do that. Anyway, one of the first things I had to add to my Willys was a left foot dead pedal rest for those long rides. Thanks for sharing Rick, nice meeting your wife.
Hi Mick, it is really nice back there for sure! The opening shots are actually shot on a 360 camera and a long monopod. The technology is just crazy. Fun stuff. Interesting about the dead pedal...I'll have to check that out. Have a great week.
Haven't done the backside for years .. time to do it again! Thanks for the review. My Crosstrek get's lifted and the front skidplate put on tomorrow!
Good fun back there! Hey! Congrats on the install tomorrow. Hope it all goes well and let me know what you think.
I always wonder what the cow think when we moo at them! You should pull over at nudie beach sometime if you haven’t, it’s amazing!
:) They probably think we are crazy. LOL I have not heard of Nudie beach? Is that by the falls?
@@AZdroptop yes, it’s the second place up the mountain where people congregate and it’s the high trail. You know you’re on the right path if you see a sign with hand painted warnings on the yellow sign posted. It’s off the road a bit.
Thank you. I'll have to stop by there one of these days. :)
Beautiful drive! As always thanks for taking us along. Nice to see Teri keeping an eye on you...and the drone 😉
Thank you Deb. It was a good day out and about. She has been keeping me inline for almost 27 years now so she is an expert. ha ha. :)
Man that is awesome! Listen I just moved here from Illinois, and I’ve been to Mt. Lemmon, but I’m looking for that same road to take with my Jeep Willy’s wheeler! So does Tanque verde takes you straight trough that road? Great video and drone footage! By the way great looking Willy’s!👌😎👍👋
Thank you. Yep, just take Tanque Verde E and it will turn into Redington. When you get all the way through you can go the route I did here up Mount Lemmon or continue the other way and come out by Benson. Both trips are cool.
@@AZdroptop man that’s so awesome! Thank you so much!🙏✌️I can’t wait to try!👋😎🤟Jeep wave my friend! One more thing! Is there a fee to drive through the trail like some other trails?
There is not a specific fee for any of the trails that I know of, but it is suggested that you buy a State Land permit. I don't think most people do, but it is only $20 bucks for a family. Here is the link if you are interested. I buy one periodically, but not every year and I have never been asked for it by anyone. asld.secure.force.com/recreationalpermit/
@@AZdroptop thank you brother!🙏 I actually drove it today! All the way to route 77 to oracle. I even saw a few Sheriffs and a Border patrol SUV’s pass next to me on the road and they just waved! That was cool!👋😂✌️👌👍👋thanks! Jeep wave!
Oh cool! It is pretty green out there these days...really dry when we went through. Glad you had a good drive!
Hi Rick, awesome video! I'm actually planning on taking a trip down there from Phoenix. Would you happen to be able to share your route somehow? So that I can plug it into an app? Thanks!
Hi Alex, thank you very much for watching. Unfortunately Motion x was discontinued in the App Store and that is what I recorded the route on. I can not find it or any of the files on my phone? I will keep looking around and see if I can come up with anything for you. If so I will post back here.
One thing to make sure of is that the gate on the mount Lemmon control road is open! They close it during the winter and it probably will not be open for a couple months.
Those roads look pretty rough, Rick...scary stuff! Not sure my Gladiator Rubicon could handle them -- without a spotter? ;-)
Seriously though, it looks like great Gladiator Mojave country...and were I still living in West Texas (El Paso) with all the desert out there -- and the scenery looking almost identical to what you have there in AZ -- I'd likely have gotten a Mojave vs. a Rubicon...but the Rubicon is more "appropriate" up here in Colorado.
You know, "Rocky Mountain High" as John Denver said. ;-)
Could never GET (over 2 months of waiting for it) my "Plan A" Chevy Colorado ZR2 (as mentioned here back then) due to GM's ongoing/no-end-in-sight computer-chip shortage.
So I gave up on it and went to "Plan B" -- the Gladiator.
Even though I DON'T have a "desert-runner" (aka: "Desert Rated" Mojave) will still take my "Trail Rated" Rubicon out there when I visit ELP occasionally -- like this coming June. I'm sure it can do at least SOME "desert-running" -- but for sure, I won't be 'jumping" it. ;-)
Happy Trails,
-- BR
Awesome Bill! I think you would be able to do thee roads with your eyes closed. :) LOL Hope you are liking that Gladiator! My son and I stayed in Colorado Springs on the 8th after driving from Illinois...beautiful place. I really want to get back to then Silverton area again to do some exploring in the Jeep. You have some amazing country to get out and in enjoy! Great hearing from you Bill!
@@AZdroptop Thanks...
Haven't been to Silverton but do plan to drive some of the many high-altitude mountain passes here, but not the HARD and/or SCARY ones (like Black Bear Pass -- scary). And some of the local (to COS) forest/service roads in the mountains immediately west of COS.
Enjoy cruising the "outback" of AZ,
-- BR
If you ever get back to COS, let me know (billredding2000[at]gmail.com -- given this way to foil Internet spambots? So "fix" it to make it valid)
I don't blame you on Black Bear! If you get the chance check out Bleepin Jeep's black bear video. It's pretty good and when the storm comes in its pretty intense. I will let you know for sure as I definitely want to get back there and do some trails. Amazing scenery everywhere.
@@AZdroptop Yes, "scary" at the very least, worse for some:
ruclips.net/video/2R5cLghSWGQ/видео.html
Sure, some people take their full-size trucks on it -- even Power Wagons (!) -- but for me, I'll just go halfway up, take some pics at the sign (summit), then back down to Ouray...will NOT take the second half of the trail down into Telluride.
We could still do Black Bear -- if you want -- but YOU go first! ;-)
Drive Carefully,
-- BR
Ha ha. No thanks. I'm good just watching the videos myself. We did to a few of them on motorcycles, corkscrew sticks in my head, but Black bear is a skip for me too. :)
Love that drive!
Good times sir...come home. :)
@@AZdroptop 1 more month and we will be back!
Sweet! How are you getting the cars back?
@@AZdroptop We are going to family road trip it.
Perfect.
Rick I thought you were going to barbeque that cow for you and your wife's dinner! Steaks anyone?
ha ha Dave. :)
So what's with the CANYON cap? You should be riding your bike up that road.
I stick to the road. :). My Ultimate would probably do fine on most of the road, but it's better suited for tarmac.
Get a real Willy's. That is a jeep they do not make Willy's anymore
Don't tell me, tell Jeep. LOL
@@AZdroptop considering they stopped making Willy's in 1965 you don't have a Willy's that a jeep.
It's a package. I think it is pretty obvious it isn't an Actual Willys.
Witch makes my original statement true