The best answer is that will be between you, the property owner and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff department.

 According to the USDA Forest service website:

Obtain a map of the area you wish to explore and determine which areas are open for use.

So I would say yes, according to the forest service, a private property owner can block access even on a forest road.

 I know of a road in Tucson city limits that is state trust land. The lease owner has padlocked the road and even the state trust trespassing officers do not have a key, they find another way into the area.

 North of Tucson are BLM and State Trust roads that have fences and locks on them to block access.

 Long and short again would be... Do you feel it is worth your time in court if the Sheriff is brought into this and just think of the excitement it could be for your European friends :)

On Nov 14, 2007 11:02 AM, Andrew Ayre <andy@britishideas.com> wrote:
Thanks for the reply.

I hate to sound like a nutcase... ;) but if the road is public then we
have a right to drive on it, despite what the current owners would like.
The public who pay for the road shouldn't be scared off by a few people
who bought the town. So the issue is: do we have a right to drive
through there?

I know there are many cases in southern Arizona where a public road
crosses private property. Is this one of those cases?

If a forest road is numbered, does that mean it is public?

Andy