Project: Abandoned Truck Recovery on Crown King Trail
Location: Arizona
Description: On February 26, 2026, a dedicated recovery effort was completed to remove the infamous “Red Truck” from the Backway to Crown King trail, a well-known 30-mile trail in Arizona that holds the Jeep Badge of Honor designation and attracts thousands of off-road enthusiasts each year.
The abandoned truck had been left on the trail for several years near the waterfall bypass area. Over time, the vehicle became both an environmental concern and a visual blight. It accumulated additional trash and debris while also posing a potential contamination risk as fluids and other pollutants leached into the surrounding soil and nearby flowing creek.
The removal operation required significant time, technical skill, and specialized equipment. A team of three volunteers worked for approximately 13 hours to successfully extract the vehicle from its embedded position in the ground and creek bed. During the process, the recovery wrecker became stuck, requiring additional recovery efforts. Volunteers also installed tires on the rear of the abandoned truck to allow it to be towed out; one of those tires later failed during the extraction. Despite these challenges, the team was able to safely tow the truck along the technical trail and ultimately remove it from the area, hauling it all the way to Crown King.
Recovering a heavy, incapacitated vehicle from a narrow and highly technical trail environment requires a high level of expertise and coordination. Thanks to the generosity and professionalism of the recovery team, this long-standing environmental hazard has now been successfully removed, improving both the ecological health and visual quality of the trail for future visitors.
Wild West Offroad Recovery generously donated their time, service, and specialized equipment to assist Tread Lightly! with the successful completion of this project.
Thank you to the partners who made this possible:
• Wild West Offroad Recovery
• CB Offroad Adventures
• Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
“At CB Offroad Adventures, I make my living behind a camera, but our responsibility to the trails goes beyond the lens. Helping Wild West Offroad Recovery remove a vehicle that has sat on Crown King trail for over three years wasn’t just camera/recovery work; it was stewardship. Partnering with Tread Lightly reflects what we stand for: protecting access, preserving the land, and giving back to the off-road community.”-Chris Walker, CB Offroad Adventures
Want to get involved in your own Tread Lightly! project? Find upcoming activities, events and grant opportunities at treadlightly.org.
