The Silverbell SASCO Loop runs through the Ironwood Forest National Monument northwest of Tucson, linking the old Titan II Missile site, the Silverbell Mine area, a scattered stand of crested saguaros, and the remains of the Sasco smelter town. The route follows graded dirt roads and old railroad grades across open Sonoran desert, with wide two-track most of the way and a few rougher stretches through wash crossings. It works well as a half day loop for stock high-clearance vehicles.
Trail Summary
- Location: Ironwood Forest National Monument, near Red Rock, AZ. Closest major intersection: I-10 and Sasco Road (Exit 226).
- Distance: 17.4 miles
- Difficulty: Level 2 - Typically suitable for high clearance 2WD
- Minimum Elevation: 2,083 ft
- Maximum Elevation: 2,658 ft
- Elevation Gain: 1,453 ft
- Travel Time: Approximately 2 to 2.5 hours driving, longer with stops at the historic sites
Difficulty
Typically suitable for high clearance 2WD
Stock equipment is sufficient, but the terrain will test tire traction and ground clearance in a few spots. Expect dirt and rocky sections with occasional dips and ruts under 9 inches. The road is unmaintained after rain, and there are a few shallow, dried out wash crossings. Most of the route is one to two vehicles wide.
Elevation
The loop climbs from about 2,083 feet at its low point near the start to 2,658 feet at the highest section, for a total gain of roughly 1,453 feet and a total loss of about 1,885 feet over the course of the drive. The elevation changes are gradual and spread across the full distance rather than concentrated in any one climb, which keeps the grades manageable throughout.
Terrain
This is desert and foothill terrain, with limited overall elevation change and a mix of graded dirt road, old railroad grade, and rockier two-track through the wash sections. Ocotillo, palo verde, and dense stands of saguaro line much of the route, with the density of crested and clustered saguaros increasing near the midpoint of the loop.
4WD Experience
A high-clearance 4WD vehicle handles this loop with no trouble in dry conditions. The road surface is mostly firm dirt and gravel with a few loose, rutted stretches near the wash crossings, where deteriorated dips can catch a low front bumper. Four wheel drive is not strictly required in dry weather but helps with traction in the sandier sections and after rain. Watch for cattle on the road through the open range sections.
Travel Time
Covering the 17.4 mile loop at typical high-clearance 4WD pace on this kind of graded desert road works out to roughly 2 to 2.5 hours of driving time. Add time for stops at the Titan Missile Interpretive site, the Silverbell Cemetery, the Sasco ghost town ruins, and the crested saguaro cluster, and a full visit runs closer to 4 to 5 hours.
Highlights
Highlights along the loop include the Titan II Missile Interpretive Site, the Silverbell Mine overburden piles, the Silverbell Cemetery, a cluster of crested and mutant saguaros near the halfway point, and the ruins of the Sasco smelter town including the smokestack foundation and the Rockland Hotel remains. The route passes through some of the densest ironwood stands in the Sonoran Desert within the national monument boundary.
Trail GPS File
Map