Cottonwood Canyon Road access into the Florence Junction area may not be the primary entry point for everyone here, because entry via Price Rd. is so convenient to run Elvis or Box, and the north entry off of 60 is probably the second choice entry/exit. However you should probably know about this issue, because the Cottonwood entrance is also an exit, and if you have to leave the region due to an unplanned event, this could be your closest track to the pavement from a variety of locations.
If you know this entry, the road comes in off of 79, traverses flat open land heading east to the hills, and then as it rolls over the first rise, it drops into a wash as it passes some ranch structures which are across the wash on the north side.
This ranch changed ownership in February.
The ranch land crosses the wash and continues a substantial distance to the south. The portion of the access road that follows that wash is actually within the boundaries of the property.
The new owner has closed off access across the property, and it would appear that no formal easement for crossing this property has ever been established. Although the new owner has been approached by BLM, Fish and Game, and Parks, there has been no resolution to this as of yet.
There is an alternate access that veers south and then back east prior to the property line, and avoids the property entirely. I am seeing second hand reports of consideration of this alternate access for improvements, and that NEPA compliance is being evaluated by the BLM Tucson Field Office..
Finding this access on the way in isn't particularly complicated, but if you're looking to get out in a hurry and you don't know how to find this alternate route, you could head out all the way to the private property line, only to be thwarted by a gate, and then have to backtrack.
I have some concern about people who rely on guidebooks to get around in there, especially out-of-towners. This radical route change may get some folks lost who are just trying to exit safely.
Of note, Jeff Prince has been doing a solid job of participating and reporting back on the VJC board regarding this issue. If you want to read through a thread on the topic, then here:
www.virtualjeepclub.co...locked-off
Here's a map that shows the section of road that's been closed off, and the alternate route that is currently in effect.
Stay safe.
www.virtualjeepclub.co...1396044569