Richmond Basin sits in the historic mining country south of Globe, Arizona, in an area worked for zinc, silver, lead, and gold since the 1800s. The route runs south to north through Nugget Wash and up into the basin itself, passing the ruins of the Silver Nugget mine, stamp mill foundations, and the old Richmond Basin workings along the way. The wash bottom changes character from year to year depending on rainfall, and the climb out of it onto higher ground is generally the toughest stretch of the drive. Ruts, loose rock, and a few tight, brushy sections keep this one honest for its full distance.
Trail Summary
- Location: Tonto National Forest, south of Globe and Miami, Arizona
- Distance: 20.7 miles
- Difficulty: Level 5 - Best suited for a lightly modified 4x4
- Minimum Elevation: 2,954 ft
- Maximum Elevation: 5,310 ft
- Elevation Gain: 3,319 ft
- Travel Time: 4 to 5 hours
Difficulty
Best suited for a lightly modified 4x4
A small lift and tires larger than stock are a real advantage here, and skid plates or rock sliders are worth having. The road surface is rocky, rutted, and undulating through much of Nugget Wash and the climb into the basin, with obstacles that can approach 2 feet in spots, including ledges and short, steep pitches. Careful tire placement matters on the eroded hill climb and in the deeper ruts near the north end. Expect loose rock, sand, washouts, and the occasional mud hole after rain, with the trail narrowing to one vehicle wide in several sections.
Elevation
The route climbs from about 2,954 feet near the southern end up to 5,310 feet at its high point, for a total gain of roughly 3,319 feet and a total loss of about 3,488 feet along the way. The net change from start to finish is a modest drop of under 200 feet, but the trail spends most of its length working uphill in fits and starts before dropping back down through the basin's north side. Elevation gain isn't steady; it comes in a series of climbs broken up by washes and benches.
Terrain
Expect mountain shelf roads and rocky two-track for most of the drive. The trail spends about a mile and a half in the bottom of Nugget Wash, where the surface shifts between packed sand and loose rock depending on recent weather, before climbing onto a ledge road above the wash and continuing up through rolling, narrow sections toward the basin. Brush closes in tight in a few spots, and the eroded hill climb into Richmond Basin is where most of the technical driving happens.
4WD Experience
Low range gets used regularly on this one. The wash floor and the climb out of it are where tire placement counts most, and deep ruts have formed near the north end where the old road has washed out badly over the years. Some parties have needed to winch or bridge a rut with rocks to keep moving; others have run it without issue depending on conditions since the last significant rain. Lockers are a real help if the vehicle has them. Stay in the wash bottom rather than trying to follow the old road above it, since the original route has washed out in more than one place.
Travel Time
A high-clearance 4WD rig running the technical sections carefully, with stops to look at the mining ruins, should plan on 4 to 5 hours for the full distance. Parties running the trail without stopping have covered the longer 30 mile loop version in about 4 hours, so a full day with time to explore is the safer plan.
Highlights
The Silver Nugget mine ruins near the south end include stamp mill foundations and scattered worked rock. Farther north, Richmond Basin itself holds the remains of the Rifleman Mine mill and a couple of old arrastras, along with mine openings that have been fitted with bat-friendly covers. A short spur off the main route opens up views toward Four Peaks and Roosevelt Lake. The basin itself offers good open views once the climb is behind you.
Trail GPS File
Map