Question about Loy Butte Rd. Dispersed Camping (FR-525)

Cberben asked on 11/15/2020

Is 4x4 needed? Thinking of doing this with an escape camper can rental in early December

Answer question
gail
gail
CA
24' Winnebago Itasca Spirit
3 reviews

Answered on 11/15/2020:

Not unless you’re wanting to venture way out in desert. I drove my class C out a bit.
MidLife Journey
MidLife Journey
FL
34' Grand Design Reflection
GMC Denali 3500 DRW
6 reviews

Answered on 11/15/2020:

When we were there, this past April, no 4x4 was needed. Ground was hard packed.
lgehring
lgehring
Overland Park, KS
35' Thor Motor Coach Palazzo
27 reviews

Answered on 2/26/2021:

89A looks a little bit curvy between Flagstaff and Sedona. Would it be better to take the longer route on I-17 and approach the Loy Butte area from the south?
17 reviews

Answered on 11/15/2020:

I am familiar with Loy Butte Road (also known as Forest Road 525) north of Hwy 89A from a couple years ago. As long as the weather has been dry, and you drive reasonably slowly, you will not need a 4x4. The road is a periodically maintained gravel road. There are places where it is bare slick rock, and places where water washes over the road. It is often bumpy and washboard, but passable. If it is wet, the mud becomes very slippery and the washes can be impassible. We boondocked at GPS 34.868109, -111.903752 with a great view of the red rocks.
Cheryl
Cheryl
Riverside, CA
25' Lance
Ford F350
26 reviews

Answered on 11/15/2020:

No but I can be rutted and very muddy if it's rained so watch for any big slick mud patches and pot holes for clearance. It was raining and very wet a year ago when we were there. Did not use our 4x4 and there were plenty of class C, 2wd trucks and vans about. Not sure if you can get info from USFS office in the area now but they were helpful with road condition info.
Laughing Ram
Laughing Ram
Rohnert Park, CA
19' Lance 1985
Toyota Tundra
11 reviews

Answered on 11/15/2020:

We had an F150 and a 19 foot trailer. It wasn’t raining at the time and the road was a little washboard, but good. If it has been raining, then you might have a little bit harder time with the red mud. It might be pretty cold in December.
MarLinda
MarLinda
Cathedral City, CA
42' Grand Design 2017 Solitude 375res
Ford 2019 Ford F350 SRW 4X4
8 reviews

Answered on 11/15/2020:

No, 4x4 is not needed. Road sometimes is washboard but very passable. Beautiful views.