Backroads of Arizona - Second Edition by Jim Hinckley

Author:Jim Hinckley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MBI
Published: 2016-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

A sign on the Perkinsville Road south of Williams doubles as a target for vandals.

A quintessential Arizona scene: a lone cowboy framed by towering saguaros against a colorful sunset.

A trail ride is the best way to enjoy the raw beauty and solitude of the Gila Mountains north of Safford.

While the main route for the remainder of this drive, US Highway 60, is quite scenic as it passes through the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, travelers searching for authentic Arizona history should consider a short detour to Fort Apache on Indian Highway 73. This well-preserved outpost is a symbol of frontier Arizona. From 1870 to 1922, the fort served US government troops as a base for the campaign against Geronimo and Cochise and later as a site for keeping the peace.

A recent addition to Fort Apache Historic Park is the Apache Cultural Center. The highly detailed exhibits profile the evolution of the Apache culture and people, providing contrast as well as balance to understanding the history of the area.

On the border between the Fort Apache Indian Reservation and the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation is a delightful picnic area and scenic overlook. The attractions here are striking views of the rocky chasm known as the Salt River Canyon.

From this point, the combined Highway 77 and 60 begins a series of twists and turns as it descends from the Natanes Plateau to the desert. The reward for some white-knuckle mountain driving is impressive views of the rugged escarpment that serves as a buttress for the Salt River Canyon Wilderness or views of the desert valley below.

This journey ends in the historic mining community of Globe, which was once a roaring mining camp but is now well on its way to becoming an arts-and-crafts community. The historic district is composed of a little more than two-dozen buildings that date from just before the turn of the twentieth century up until the mid-1920s. Many buildings are being reborn as antique stores.

Located in the former rescue station for the Old Dominion Mine, built in 1920, is the Gila County Historical Museum, where, in addition to discovering the rich history of the area, you can obtain information and directions to Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaeological Park—an excavated, reconstructed pueblo house. Besh-Ba-Gowah is a very rare remnant of the Salado people, who occupied the area around AD 1225. A self-guided tour allows for exploration on the same trails used by the original settlers, and a rough-hewn ladder provides access to the house’s first floor, giving you a feel for what life must have been like so long ago. An onsite museum features the largest collection of Salado pottery in the world.

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