Afton Canyon was created about 18,000 years ago by a massive torrent from a now extinct inland lake. It was part of the old Mohave trail that was traveled by Indians for thousands of years, Franciscans in the 1700s, and explored by Jedediah Smith in 1826. John Freemont traveled through it on his way from New Mexico to California during the Mexican-American War. It would later be the site of several Indian war skirmishes through the 1850s and 60s. This is the main trail aka. the "Old Mojave Road" that connected Camp Cady to Fort Mojave 144 miles away on the Colorado River. It is one of my favorite places and is always a great time when going.
I went in there with a group of 16 people with 4-trucks. My friend brought his quads for everyone to ride. After 4-wheeling it back several miles and fording 2-river crossings, we finally broke out the quads to really get into the brush. We finished the day going deep into the caves that have been used by indians and frontiersmen for generations. There were a series of cliffs to climb. My friend Lonny and I free-climbed the main cliff to set up the rappelling lines to help get the kids and other people up-down to the top of the mountain. I thought I'd share some pics with my fellow Western enthusiasts.
-Dave