Control Road (FR 38) in AZ -- Camping Rules & Access
Control Road (FR 38) in AZ
Road corridorCoronado NF, Santa Catalina Ranger District
9.3 mi from San Manuel
19 mi off I-10 (straight line)
Maps 4,858 ft
Camping permission not confirmed
Miles 0.4–1.1, 1.7–2.1, 3.6–5.3 and 12.8–20.2 cross land the Forest Service doesn't manage; camping there needs the landowner's permission.
Motor-vehicle season 3/1–12/14
VerizonWEAK
AT&TNONE
T-MobileWEAK
StarlinkEXCELLENT
Road Access
Difficult
- 1.5 of this road’s 20.3 miles are maintained for high-clearance vehicles, mostly graded dirt with 5.6 miles of dirt.
- Near Peppersauce Cave.
- Estimated climb: 4,500 ft over 20.3 miles through 50 switchbacks, with sustained grades near 12% and pitches to 22%.
- Terrain estimates show roadside drops of up to ~150 ft on the downhill side.
- Dead-end road; turnaround space is not mapped.
- Cattle guards 9.7, 12.8 and 13.7 miles along the road.
- A gate 9.9 miles along the road.
Setting
Limited privacy
- Limited separation from through roads or other sites here, with the nearest through road 0.0 miles off.
- Marble Peak stands 2,767 ft above the map pin, 2.4 miles southwest.
- Doctor Spring lies 0.4 mi off.
Rules
- There is a 14-day stay limit per 60-day period. No camping within 1 mile of a developed campground or administrative site unless posted otherwise. No camping within 200 feet of a water source, including water tanks. If roadside camping, vehicles must remain within 300 feet from the centerline of the road. No camping anywhere designated as 'DAY USE ONLY' or with a 'NO CAMPING' sign.
- Camping rules
Climate averages
October normals 51–78°F, 1.0″ precipitation. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.