Sleeping Princess 3.0 - 4.5

A challenging and scenic Jeep trail through the Black Mountains.  Difficulty depends on direction driven and options chosen.

This trail can be driven either way but we recommend starting in Golden Valley then running the main trail from north to south.  This is in the downhill direction so you will not need full lockers, thus it is rated 3.0.  We recommend lockers on both axles if going uphill, so we rate it 3.5 if going south to north.  There are two optional loops rated 4.5.

The real feature of this trail is a major hill that drops 1,000' in elevation with few chances to level out and catch your breath.  There are long stretches with narrow, off camber shelf roads, several loose descents (or climbs), a couple short boulder fields and great scenery you have little time to look at.

There is a GPS - gpx track file at the bottom of the page.

Sign at top of trail

The trail as shown is 29 miles, but do not let that discourage you.  If you begin in Golden Valley the first 5 miles are paved and the next 15 are graded enough to be quite smooth.  This section does not have spectacular scenery but we found it enjoyable.

Well graded road

Less graded road

Shortly after Willow Springs Ranch is Wayfarer's Inn.  According to Offroad Passport this ​is said to have had bars across the opening back in the day and used as some kind of holding cell. The spray-painted writing on the door says "Eschew Against Dupery".

This track shows a right hand spur that will take you to Burns' Spring, the green oasis in this photo.  Another quote from Offroad Passport:  Wayne knew of an old homestead at a spring that's only a couple miles down an offshoot trail and we decided to check it out. The trail gets too narrow when it gets to the spring, so we walked the last part down into a narrow canyon where we found remains of several buildings and the lush, overgrown riverbed from the spring. Among the things growing there were several pear trees, a pomegranate tree, sunflowers, thistles and mint. This would be a great place to visit during pear season, be sure to take some sacks to put the fruit in!

Wayfarer's Inn

Burns' Spring

We had a good day for wildlife along the graded roads.  There were numerous burros and deer, and then a special treat - a bobcat and her kitten!!!  The kitten was camera shy.

Burros

Bobcat

Sleeping Princess begins at the end of the graded road and it is 2 miles along a ridge to the top of the major hill.  Great views of Mohave Lake and Laughlin along the ridge.

​Some sign maker has a great sense of humor.

Along ridgetop

UR Going Where? Top of the hill

The next mile or so is a lot of fun but has a very high pucker factor if you do not like narrow, off camber shelf roads.  If you are in a group, it is a good idea to send someone with a radio ahead to the next wide spot long enough for everyone to pull out for oncoming traffic.  It is frequently a long way and this is no place to be backing up!

Starting down

Slippery slope

At the bottom of the major hill is an optional loop on the left side of the trail called "Hell's Half Mile".  It is really less than a quarter mile.  A bunch of boulders cause this loop to be rated 4.5.  There is an optional climb-over that is not meant for 4-door Jeeps, unless you like to "turtle".  I speak from experience 10 years ago.

Face of climb-over

Climb-over from right side

The next optional loop on the right side of the trail is the 4.0 rated "Bob Miller Extension".  The Extension is the south leg of the loop.  Most will drive the north road first then do the Extension.  There is a nasty drop followed by several ledges and boulder fields.  You can double your fun by doing it in both directions.

Drop on Bob Miller Extension

Climb on Bob Miller Extension

After the extension you can follow the track out to Highway 68.  The heavily mined hill is interesting.

Heading out after the Extension.

Old mine

Page updated 2017.

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sleeping_princess_3.0_-_4.5.gpx
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