The Raw Deal (Upper Raw Deal – Lower Raw Deal) is not a trail for those looking for a scenic and adventurous ride through the Sonoran desert. The trail itself consists mostly of decomposing granite and has a tendency to erode after collecting pools of water during rainfall. If your looking for scenic off road exploration, please read the other trail descriptions in the “Trail Section”.
For those who are located close to North Phoenix and are looking for a quick fix for your extreme off road driving addiction then the Raw Deal is your ticket. The trails more extreme sections are rated at 3.5 however all have bypasses that can be handled in most moderately modified 4x4 vehicles. If your 4x4 has no armor, expect some sort of damage either way.
The entire off road portion of the route is about 3 hours at most and the only features are the difficult obstacles themselves. This area is dangerously hot in the summer with very little shade and the entire trail traverses a wash where flash floods are possible. Finding your way to the trailhead and between the Upper and Lower Raw deal can be confusing. As always, I recommend an Off Road GPS and Off Road Trail Guide.
This area of Table Mesa is very popular for target shooters as it is far enough from residential areas and most of the dirt roads can be traveled without four wheel drive. On occasion, at the start of the Raw Deal wash. you will have to drive through a mass of litter which includes broken glass, old appliances and other debit left behind by the few ignorant target shooters with no respect for the environment. The Virtual Jeep Club, AZ Backcountry and other off road clubs have done a great job at trying to keep the area clean. Their relentless efforts and devotion is the only reason why I am not embarrassed to post this trail on my website.
(Click here to see all the photos from the Raw Deal Trail)
Posted
Jun 26 2008, 02:42 AM
by
ryangibson