Kaibab 12A Archery Road Conditions

My son has a 12A Archery tag and I'll be taking him up over labor day with a few extra days added on ahead of the weekend.

I haven't been up on the Kaibab in 20yrs and don't recall what the roads are like during the archery/monsoon season. It seemed like back then just about any road I used was good enough for a car and the bad ones were still doable in a 4x2. Plus I don't recall any AZ pinstriping.

That said, it seems that every where I go nowadays the roads have not been maintained now that everyone has an ATV/UTV. I keep running into narrow high clearance rutted roads with offroading loops around bad parts. It seems I have to take pick, shovel, chainsaw, just about everywhere I go.

So, what's it like on the Kaibab now? Can I get out on any road in my F250 diesel 4x4 or are there areas that will be a problem? Should I take a UTV (long way to tow and I prefer the comfort of my truck)? If truck accessible, will it take me hours to get all the way down a ridge that I can cover in <30m in a UTV? Are there creeks or flooding washes to deal with in heavy rain?

I was considering being a nomad and keeping camp in the back of the truck i.e. just park it wherever I happen to be at the end of the day and sleep on the ground (or in a small tent if its raining). Its something I have always enjoyed doing when I am out on my own which my son has yet to experience. Its not something I have ever done with a UTV.

If it's real muddy the last thing you want to be in is a big heavy diesel. Guaranteed to get stuck. From what I've seen and heard they got pounded by rain up there the last few days so hopefully it dries out some.

LAST EDITED ON Aug-07-16 AT 07:56AM (MST)[p]I don't know of many roads on the Bab' that get 'bad' during wet weather. The soil with rock foundation is excellent for absorbing a lot of water, while maintaining the integrity of the surface. I've been up there when 2" in 4 hours fell.......roads were no problem at all. Remember, the Kaibab was historically a major logging operation.....as such, the roads were built to withstand heavy big rig travel. You won't have any issues, IMO.

BOHNTR )))---------->

You'll be fine on 90% of the roads up top, just bring a chainsaw to make room for your big truck!
There are some deep holes here and there, but I do fine for he most part w my Duramax up there, I prefer the Tacoma for getting in and out of the tight spots but the diesel pulls the trailer and the taco isn't always up there!
The winter range is a different story, but not too many deer down there this time of year

I was just up there for 4 days and was in a Jeep Patriot. I had no issues getting around at all. I did get caught in a 3 hour rain storm where the road had plenty of running water in the middle of the road. I just ended up staying out of the deep canyon roads during the storm.

The issue that you will run into is fallen tree's from the fire on less traveled roads. The forest service hasn't gotten to some of these roads and unless you have a chain saw, you won't be able to pass in any vehicle. A ranger will allow you to access some of the older roads that have overgrowth/fallen tree's, but 90% of the roads were accessible in the vehicle that I had.