Four Hills Ranch
"A meeting place for neighbors"
Recognition
ROAD COMMITTEE MEMBERS
THAD JOHNSON: thadj@att.net
"Campfire Neighbors"
We recognize these good folks for helping when help is needed!
Brian Sanders
Thad Johnson
Art, the rancher
Steve Shields
Kirk Klamar
Nancy Coker
Judith Mathis
Lawrence & sons (Tyson & Chase)
Kathy
Jim & Claudia Lippincott
Ernie & Linda Webb
(our Howard Mesa neighbors)
^^^^
*GPS Coordinates*
Espee Road Entrance
Coming from Williams, AZ.
Take Exit 165 off Interstate 40 onto Highway 64 North (heading towards the Grand Canyon). Drive ~7.3 miles, to Mile Marker 193. There is a large reddish McDonalds billboard on the left about 1/4 mile before the intersection of Hoctor and Espee Roads.
Turn left onto Espee Road (over RR tracks) -- pavement ends after 2.5 miles then turns into dirt/gravel surface. [Stay on the main road--avoid detours!] Total driving distance from Espee entrance to Four Hills Ranch sign is ~15.7 miles.
After ~15.7 miles, turn right at the Four Hills Ranch sign. You are now on Mineral Wells Road.
On Mineral Wells Road go ~0.3 tenths of a mile to the first street sign. This is Red Bluff and Mineral Wells (below).
To reach West Bright Sky Trail you will follow Mineral Wells Road.
Go ~ 2.1 miles then make a right hand turn through an opening between the fence posts. (unfortunately there isn't a road sign at this junction - be sure to turn right). There is a ~16 foot clearance between the posts.
After turning right go approximately 0.25 mile to the second cattle guard. Turn left. Continue another 0.75 mile until you come to the intersection of Mineral Wells and High Butte Dr (there is a road sign here) - (picture below shows approach to High Butte Dr from Mineral Wells Rd.)
Cross over two culverts and bear right onto High Butte Dr. [You'll see multiple amber reflectors on one owner's parcel as you start out on High Butte]
Travel one mile to West Bright Sky Trail.
You will know West Bright Sky Trail by the many white rocks just west of the intersection. At this junction you turn right or left depending on the location of your land.
Happy Driving!! 
Howard Mesa Ranch Entrance
Entering onto Big Elk Road off Highway 64 onto Howard Mesa Ranch. One tenth of a mile after the turn you must decide whether to turn right onto South Latigo (the assigned entrance road for 4 Hills landowners) or to continue down Big Elk Road towards the railroad tracks. If you take Big Elk Road it becomes Elk Run Road and merges into South Latigo just before the railroad tracks.
After crossing over the railroad tracks -- West Jackrabbit Trail is immediately to the left, and South Latigo continues ahead veering to the right.
Following South Latigo you will eventually pass these roads: South SmokeTree Road and Peregine Lane, go through the 4 Hills Ranch sign posts (below).
We follow South Latigo to the right towards the old ranch at Cataract Canyon. [We have not travelled to the left, Sharp Knife, yet. We plan to do this in the near future.] According to our neighbor/friend, John Rannochio, Sharp Knife is a dead end.
Here are the roads that diverge off South Latigo heading towards the old ranch:
West Blue Star Trail
Majestic View Trail
When South Latigo meets South Rising Sun continue to the left (gray gravel section is South Rising Sun and bears to the left -- South Latigo bears to the right).
Here are the roads that diverge off South Rising Sun heading towards Cataract Canyon:
Roadrunner Lane
Wind Chime Way
When South Rising Sun comes to Cataract Canyon it continues along the east side of the Canyon. If you take a sharp right turn down into Cataract Canyon by the old ranch you will end up on West Bright Sky Trail on the west side of the canyon. (picture below)
The old derelict chevy pickup marks the entrance to Cataract Canyon and the location where South Rising Sun and West Bright Sky Trail converge.
See the Espee Road Entrance for roads that diverge off West Bright Sky Trail.
Confusing Road Signs
Coming from the Espee entrance -- after you turn right (heading east) off High Butte Dr. onto West Bright Sky Trail, you come to a road sign that reads Log Cabin Trail and West Fire Sky Trail and you wonder where West Bright Sky Trail went? Don't panic, just stay on the straight stretch -- do not veer left.
Continuing down West Bright Sky Trail (eastbound) -- crossing through Cataract Canyon at the old ranch house and up the hill veering left towards Howard Mesa you are now on South Rising Sun. (picture below was taken from the west side of Cataract Canyon on West Bright Sky Trail -- road in far distance is South Rising Sun)
Turn left and travel ~1.7 miles from Cataract Canyon -- you come to what appears as a 3-way junction that has a road sign reading South Latigo Road and South Rising Sun.
Stay to the right to reach Highway 64 at this junction if you are coming from Cataract Canyon.
If you are coming from Howard Mesa entrance stay to the left.
The other confusing sign is South Latigo on the Howard Mesa side, but it's not a big problem because it is obvious which direction you should be traveling.
These are the roads that diverge from the main road after the intersection at South Latigo Rd. and South Rising Sun heading towards Cataract Canyon and ending on the west side of Cataract Canyon on West Bright Sky Trail (referred to as WBS). Distance recorded is between the signs:
South Latigo Rd./South Rising Sun (0.0 mile)
Roadrunner Lane (0.9 mile)
Wind Chime Way (0.1 mile)
South Rising Sun (0.5 mile)
West Firesky Trail/WBS (0.7 mile)
Blanco Trail/WBS (0.1 mile)
West Firesky Trail/WBS (1.2 mile)
Log Cabin Trail/West Fire Sky Trail/WBS (0.1 mile)
High Butte Dr./WBS (0.1 mile)
Identifying these roads and distances has helped us become more familiar with where we are during our trips to the land. And it has helped us map out good directions to our land should we ever need emergency care. Hope it helps you too.
CLARIFICATION OF MAIN ROADS
According to the interactive map on the POA site:
The road on the east side of Cataract Canyon is called South Rising Sun and it continues along the the east side of the canyon. West Bright Sky Trail begins at the old ranch and continues on the west side of Cataract Canyon. West Bright Sky Trail continues to the end of 4 Hills Ranch.
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Hot Spots: http://www.4hillsranchpoa.com/4hills_roadconditions.htm
Road Details: http://www.4hillsranchpoa.com/4hills_roadsbytownsection.pdf
[Thanks to Brian Sanders, Chairman of the Road Committee, for the links]