Arizona Ghost Trails, by Richard J. Hinton

1 The road runs along the bed of the stream for a part of the way; when the river is high quicksands are troublesome, and the road is sometimes impassable; whenever this is the case, the route is via the Vulture Mine, by which the distance is increased 18 miles.
From Wickenburg to Prescott, via Walnut Grove, the distance, by a very rough trail, is estimated at 55 miles. Ranch at Walnut Grove, half way.
From Wickenburg to Camp McDowell direct, by trail, the distance is estimated at 65 miles.
2 There is a road from this point down the Hassyampa to Burke’s Station on the road between Fort Yuma and Maricopa Wells, with the following Camps:—Gila Bend, 40 miles; Cottonwoods, 25 miles; Camp opposite Oatman’s Flat, 10 miles; Agua Caliente, 16 miles; Burke’s Station (fording Gila River), 5 miles—total, 96 miles. The road is quite good, (though seldom traveled) and water, grass and wood are to be found at all the above Camps.
From Date Creek to Maricopa Wells, the road is taken to Salinas Lower Crossing (78 miles), thence by the Gila Lower Crossing (17 miles) to Maricopa Wells (6 miles)—total, 102 miles. In winter, when the Salinas and Gila are too high to ford, by going about 3 miles further up the Gila to Morgan’s, advantage can be taken of a Ferry without increasing the distance to Maricopa Wells.
From Camp McDowell to Prescott, by a proposed wagon road that is opened from Prescott to Agua Frio, the distances are estimated as follows:—Camp McDowell to Agua Frio, 47½ miles; Dickson’s Ranch, by newly opened road, 23 miles; Agua Frio Ranch, by old road, 18 miles; Prescott, 21 miles—total distance, 110 miles.
The road from Camp McDowell to Camp Reno has the following camping grounds:—Camp Miller, 16 miles; Camp Carroll, 4½ miles; Camp O’Connell, 4 miles; Camp Reno, 8½ miles—distance, 33 miles.
From Camp Reno to Camp Verde, by a newly opened road, it is to Camp in Green Valley, 30 miles; thence to Camp Verde, by trail, 60 miles—total distance, 90 miles.
3 In rainy seasons, when the route by Agua Frio is impassable, it is necessary to take the right fork to Salinas Lower Crossing, (22 miles) thence up the north bank of the Salinas to Phœnix (about 23 miles)—total, 45 miles,—increasing the distance from Camp Date Creek to Camp McDowell about 16 miles.

Camp McDowell to Maricopa Wells, A. T.

To	Miles.	Miles.	Description.
Forks of Road	11	11	Right fork to Phœnix.
Ferry Station	2	13	Left fork to Camp Grant. Water, grass and wood. Crossing of Salinas River.
Desert Station	11	24	Well of water. Hay and grain at Station.
Morgan’s Ferry	17	41	Crossing of Gila River.
Maricopa Wells	3	45	Stores. No grass or wood.

During the winter the Gila is usually and the Salinas occasionally, unfordable.

Camp McDowell to Camp Grant, A. T.

To	Miles.	Miles.	Description.
Forks of Road	11	11	Road excellent. Right fork to Phœnix.
Ferry Station	2	13	Small station; bad ford at high water.
Florence (crossing Gila)	38	52	Good fording; Ranch ½ mile this side.
Ruggles and Ewing	3	56	Last Ranch before leaving river;good stopping place.
Junction with Sacaton R’d	4	60	Desert mesa.
Round Valley	12	73	No water, wood or grass.
Camp near Round Valley	2	75	Water ½ mile to left of road by trail.
Cottonwoods	13	89	Water ½ mile to right of road by trail; grass; wood scarce.
Junction with Tucson R’d	13	103
Camp Grant	3	106	Crossing Rio San Pedro.

At Prescott, clerks receive from $50 to $125 per month, with board often thrown in; carpenters and painters, from $4 to $6 per day; masons, from $6 to $8, and in some cases, when a man is possessed of superior skill, as high as $10 per day; ranch hands, herders, cow-boys, from $25 to $50 per month, and board; common laborers, from $2 to $3 per day; domestic servants, men and women, from $25 to $40 per month; but as yet there is no great demand.

Maricopa Wells to Camp Grant, A. T.

To	Miles.	Miles.	Description.
Pima Villages	10	10	Store and mill.
Sweet Water	6	16	Store.
Sacaton	6	22	Store; water; grass scarce; right fork of road direct to Tucson.
Reservation, eastern boundary	7	29
Walker’s Ranch	6	35	Indian village and store.
White’s Ranch	4	39	Gila; wood, hay, grain; little grass.
Junction with Camp McDowell Road	7	46
Camp Grant	46	92	Crossing San Pedro.

The road from Maricopa Wells to Pima Villages is cut up with small gullies, from 1 to 4 feet deep, with steep sides, which, in rainy seasons, are muddy and troublesome.

The left fork leads up the Gila to Adamsville, 2½ miles distant, where are two stores, a mill, etc., and thence to Ruggles and Ewing’s Ranch, (4 miles) where is a store; here the road intersects the road between Camps McDowell and Grant.

Camp Grant to Camp Goodwin.—In very rainy seasons it is necessary to go via Tucson, distance 202 miles. The shorter and better route, except in winter, is up the San Pedro River, 57 miles, to within 8 miles of Tres Alamos, where the left fork leads to Croton Springs, distance 25 miles, and thence to Camp Goodwin, 71 miles—total distance, 153 miles. On this road there are plenty of water, grass and wood, all along the San Pedro River.

Camp Grant to Camp Bowie.—To Croton Spring, distance 82 miles; thence to intersection with road between Tucson and Camp Bowie, distance 16 miles, and thence to Camp Bowie, 37 miles—total distance, 135 miles.

Maricopa Wells.

To	Miles.	Total Miles.
Yuma		191
Tucson, southeast, (overland stage road)		109
Sacaton (en route direct to Tucson)		22
Blue Water ” ”	20	43
Picacho	13	57
Point of Mountains	24	81
Tucson	17	98
Camp Grant		90

This is a stage station, with stores, etc., of importance. It is the point of divergence for branch stages to Phœnix, Camp McDowell, and Camp Verde.

Fuller, in his Treatise on Silver Mines, says: “Wherever, in any part of the world, silver mines have been worked they are worked now, unless closed for war, invasion of Indians, etc. We know of no silver mines in the world that have given out.” In support of this position, he instances the mines of Mexico, the old Spanish mines, (opened before Humboldt’s time) the South American mines, still as productive as they were three centuries ago, mines in Hungary worked before the Christian era, the silver mines of Freiburg, opened in the 11th century, etc., nearly all now worked with unabated productiveness.

Maricopa Wells to Tucson, A. T.

(Going south direct.)

To	Miles.	Miles.	Description.
Sacaton	22	22	Left fork of road to Camp Grant.
Blue Water	20	43	Well; grass and wood plenty; station; hay and grain.
Picacho	13	57	Grass and wood plenty; no water.
Mud Tanks	15	72	Water in wet weather, wood scarce.
Point of Mountain	8	81	Wells; grass plenty, wood scarce;
Nine Mile Water	8	89	station, hay and grain.
Tucson	8	98	Capital of Territory. Road good after passing Pima Villages.

Camp Grant to Tucson, A. T.

To	Miles.	Miles.	Description.
Camp Grant			Crossing of San Pedro
Forks of Road	2	2	Wood scarce; grass Right fork of road to Maricopa Wells.
Cañon del Oro	21	24	Water, grass, and wood plenty.
Water	5	30	Water scarce; grass and wood plenty.
Dry Camp	8	38	Water in wet weather; grass and wood plenty.
Roieta	8	47	Water in wet weather; grass and
Tucson (Camp Lowell)	4	52	wood plenty.

The Rio San Pedro is sometimes impassable in winter on account of high water. The first nine miles of the road is in a cañon, level, and very sandy; the rest of the road to Cañon del Oro is hilly, ascending till near the cañon, when there is a long, steep descent. Three miles beyond Cañon del Oro the road enters the bed of a stream, usually dry; and continues in it to within a half mile of Dry Camp. At the foot of the mountains, opposite Dry Camp, say one and a half miles distant, are the ruins of an old Pueblo, where there is water all the year. The Roieta in winter is a running stream.

Tucson

To		Miles.	To		Miles.
Camp Pinal,	disused	115	Camp Verde		298
Camp Apache		222	Fort Cummings, N. M.		219
Camp Bowie		165	Fort Whipple, (Prescott)		259
Camp Colorado,	disused	349	Fort Yuma, Cal		275
Camp Crittenden,	”	51	Ehrenberg		303
Date Creek,	”	199	Guaymas,	Mexico	351
Camp Goodwin,	”	150	La Libertad	”	225
Camp Grant		52	Maricopa Wells		98
Canip McDowell		143	Lobos, Mexico		214
Camp Mojave		424	San Diego, Cal		467
Camp Reno,	disused	176	Tubac		46
Camp Toll-Gate	”	208

Tucson to Camp Goodwin, A. T.

To	Miles.	Miles.	Description.
Forks of Road	14	14	Right fork to Camps Crittenden and Wallen.
Cienega (begins)	8	23	Water and wood plenty; grass scarce. Picket post.
Mescal Ranch	6	29
Cienega (ends)		30
Water Hole	8	38	Water in winter; grass plenty;wood scarce. Road forks to left to Tres Alamos.
1Crossing San Pedro	12	50	Water and grass; wood scarce. Picket post.
Forks of Road to Dragoon Springs	11	62	Water plenty at spring; grass and wood plenty. Right fork to Dragoon Springs, five miles distant.
Forks of Road to Camp Bowie	3	65	Grass plenty; wood scarce; no water. Right fork to Camp Bowie.
Croton Springs	13	78	Water brackish; grass plenty; wood scarce.
Oak Grove	16	94	Springs: grass and wood plenty.
Kennedy’s Wells	3	97	Water poor; grass and wood plenty.
2Arivapa Creek	15	113	Water, except in very dry season;grass and wood plenty.
Eureka Springs	1	114	Grass; wood scarce.
Spring	8	122
3Cottonwoods	8	131	Stream of water; grass and wood plenty. Road hilly.
Camp Goodwin	9	140	Road sandy and down hill.

1 The road from Tucson is over a level mesa till it descends into a cañon, where the Cienega begins. There are several steep hills in the next few miles.
The banks of the San Pedro are high and steep, and about ten yards apart.
2 In winter it is necessary to take the right fork to avoid Eureka Springs and the Cienega, just beyond it, which are then impassable. This road joins the one by Eureka Springs about a mile beyond the spring.
3 In summer the creek is dry at this point, but water can always be found by descending the creek half a mile.

Tucson to Camp Bowie, A. T.

To	Miles.	Miles.	Description.
Fork to Camp Goodwin	65	65	Left fork to Camp Goodwin.
1Junction of Road from Camp Crittenden	3	68
Sulphur Springs	12	80	Water brackish; grass and wood scarce.
Camp Bowie	24	105

1 Half a mile further the road forks to the left, to Camp Goodwin.

The grasses in Arizona nearly all come up from the root, unlike those of California, which grow from the seed. Therefore, in Arizona, if there should be a year without rain, stock would not die of starvation. The nutritious gramma grass does not appear to run to seed at all.

Tucson to Camp Crittenden, A. T.

To	Miles.	Miles.	Description.
Forks of Road	14	14	Left fork to Camp Bowie.
Davidson’s Spring	12	26
Camp near Davidson’s Spring	1	28
Mescal Ranch	10	39	Left fork to Camp Wallen, (abandoned) distance twenty and a half miles. Fine country, grazing, water, and timber in abundance.
Road to Cienegas	1	40
Junction of road from Wallen	7	48
Camp Crittenden	2	50

Tucson (via Tubac) to Camp Crittenden.

To	Miles.	Miles.	Description.
San Xavier del Bac	8	8	Settlement of Papagos Indians. Old mission church.
La Punta de Agua	2	11	Ranch.
Saurita	9	20	Ranch.
1Canoé	12	32	No water in dry season; grass and wood plenty.
Tubac	13	45	Town. Point of departure for Sopori, Arivaca, Toltec Camps, Aztec District, for Santa Rita Mountains, etc.
Calabasas	12	58	Old Fort Mason.
2Smith’s Ranch	3	61
Sonoita	12	74	Vail’s Ranch.
Old Fort Buchanan	12	86	Water, grass, and wood plenty.
Camp Crittenden	1	87

1 The left fork crosses the Santa Cruz at Canoé, recrossing the river near Tubac; (the measurement was made on this road). The right fork does not cross the river, and is longer.
2 Just beyond Smith’s Ranch, take the left fork to Camp Crittenden. The main road goes into Sonora.
Between Tubac and Smith’s Ranch, there are ranches every few miles, with water, grass, and wood.
Between Sonoita and Camp Crittenden, there are several ranches with water and grass, but little wood.
Road to Tubac very hard and smooth; but very rough from there to Crittenden, through Sonoita Cañon.

Camp Crittenden to Camp Bowie, A. T.

To	Miles.	Miles.	Description.
Forks of Road	1	1	Left fork to Tucson.
Forks of Road	13	14	Right fork to Santa Cruz.
Camp Wallen(abandoned)	5	20	On Babacomori Creek.
1San Pedro Crossing	18	38	Station.
Dragoon Springs	18	56	Water, grass, and wood.
2Junction with Road	3	60	Road from Tucson.
Sulphur Springs	12	72	Water brackish; grass and wood scarce.
Camp Bowie	25	98

1 Left fork leads down the right bank to the middle crossing of the San Pedro River, distance 13.32 miles, thence to Camp Bowie or Tucson.
2 From this point to Camp Goodwin.

Camp Bowie to Camp Goodwin, A. T.

To	Miles.	Miles.	Description.
1Forks of Road	6	6	Water usually: good grass. Left fork to Tank, half mile distant.
Water Holes	30	36	Water usually; good grass, near forks, on right side of road.
First Camp on Gila River.	27	63	Water; grass scarce.
Second Camp on Gila River	11	74	Water; grass scarce.
Camp Goodwin	14	88

1 The Tank always contains water. The road from the Tank to the Gila is over a grassy plain with no water in dry season, excepting at Water Holes, near the Junction with the old road along the Rio de Sauz. There water is usually found on the right-hand side of the road.
There is another road to Camp Goodwin, via San Simon, (seventeen and a half miles) and thence down the Rio de Sauz, joining the above road at Water Holes, (thirty-one miles) making the distance about eleven miles longer.

Tucson, A. T., to Guaymas, Mexico.

[ESTIMATED.]

To	Miles.	Miles.	Description.
Smith’s Ranch	61	61
Los Nogales	5	66	Water and grass; mesquite wood.
Agua Zarca	15	81
La Casita	14	96
Los Alisos	8	104
Imuris	11	115
La Magdalena	11	127
Santa Ana	12	139
Bajorito	16	155	Wells and grass; mesquite wood.
Rancho Querobabi	23	178	Tanks and grass; mesquite wood.
Rancho Tabique	28	206	Tanks and grass; mesquite wood.
Hacienda de Torreon	26	232	Water; grass scarce; mesquite wood.
Hacienda de La Labor	2	234	Water; grass scarce; mesquite wood.
Hacienda del Alamito	9	243	Water; grass plenty; mesquite wood.
Hermosillo	12	255	Water; no grass; mesquite wood.
Rancho de la Parza	16	271	Water; no grass; mesquite wood.
Rancho de la Palma	16	288	Tank; grass scarce; mesquite wood.
Rancho del Posito	8	296
Rancho de lo Cienequito	15	312
Rancho de la Mucho Buéno	19	331	No water; grass plenty; mesquite wood.
Rancho de la Caballo	9	340	Tank; grass plenty; mesquite wood.
Guaymas	11	351

The road from Tucson to Guaymas, except 15 miles south of Calabasas, where it is heavy in wet weather, is one of the finest on the Pacific coast.

Tucson, A. T., to Port La Libertad, Mexico.

To	Miles.	Miles.	Description.
San Xavier del Bac	8	8	Settlement of Papago Indians.
La Punta de Agua	2	11	Ranch.
Sahuarito, (Columbus)	8	19	Water, grass and wood. Good road.
Roade’s Ranch	8	28
Los Taraises	2	31
Reventon, (Kitchen’s Ranch)	2	34
Soporio Rancho	5	39
Mina Colorado	11	51
Arivaca	7	58
Los Alamos (Old Arivaca)	1	59
Covodepe Cuesta (Mexico)	6	65
Spring in bed of Arroyo	5	70	Water scarce; wood. Good road.
Z’Azabe	8	79	Water, grass and wood. Good road.
Charco de los Mesquites	6	86	No water.
Tecalote Trail		86
Charco	4	90	Water, grass and wood.
Rancheria	2	92	Good grass.
Forks of Road	1	93
Forks of Road		93
Ascent to Mesa	1	94
Tinaja, (Charco)	6	101	Water, grass and wood.
Los Paredones	15	116	Water, grass and wood. Good road.
Jesus Maria	14	130	Water and wood; grass scarce. Good road.
Altar	8	139	Water and wood; grass scarce. Good road.
Dry Arroyo	4	143	Good road.
Road to Zepedas Ranch	6	149	Good road.
Foot of Hill	2	151	Good hard road.
Summit of Hill	1	152
Pitiquito	1	153	Water, grass and wood. Good hard road.
Cienega and Caborca Road	7	161	Good hard road.
Laguna Mosca	5	166	No water in dry season; good grass, good hard road.
Bajia de Aquituna	6	172	Wood and grass; no water. Good level road.
El Zanjon (dry arroyo)	2	175	Wood and grass. Good road.
Tinaje del Viejo	7	182	Water.
Angostura Pass	7	190	Water, grass and wood. Good hard road.
Picu	11	201	Water, grass and wood. Good hard road.
Pozo de los Cristolas		201
Charco de los Papagos	1	202
Tinaja del Tule	4	206	Very little water or grass.
Derisadero Prieto	4	211	Wood; no grass. Good hard road.
Point where Gulf is first seen	1	212
Port of la Libertad	13	226	Bad road.

Heavy blankets are a necessity in Arizona; the nights are always cool, even in the height of the “heated term.” Woolen undergarments are desirable at all times.

Fort Wingate, N. M., to Prescott, A. T., via Camp Verde, A. T.

	Miles	Yards	Miles	Yards	Description.
Ft. Wingate, Spring Cr’k Crossing	2	1010	2	1010	Crossed by bridge, water plenty, wood on hills.
Spring	7	738	9	1748	Spring close to road on south side, at base rocky bluff, water bad, wood plenty, and good grazing, road sandy for short distance.
Bridge over Defiance road	3	496	13	484	Bridge across Rio Puerco of the West; water good and grass plenty.
Camp on Rio Puerco	3	525	16	1009	Water muddy, plenty wood, good grass.
Quirina Cañon	19	323	35	1332	Rio Puerco almost washing away the road.Bluffs on left bank very steep and abrupt.
Camp on Rio Puerco	5	442	41	14	Camp a short distance off road.
Crossing of Rio Puerco	12	659	53	673	Half a mile east of the crossing, a road leads off to the left, bed of river, quicksand, crossing fair, road good.
2d Crossing of Rio Puerco	1	540	54	1213	Here we were unable to effect a crossing,owing to recent freshet washing away the banks, leaving them 20 feet high and abrupt; left road and crossed country keeping from one to two miles from right bank of river. Road between crossings is sandy. The route on north side of Puerco is shortest. Distance to Carrizo Creek about 11 miles. Water in Rio Puerco, between those points, not permanent.
Camp on Rio Puerco	7	1345	62	798	Heavy traveling, water muddy, grass ordinarily good, greasewood abundant.
Road	13	834	75	1632	Traveling a little heavy; crossed some sandy Arroyos before getting on road,water in Rio Puerco.
Camp on Carrizo Creek	5	31	80	1663	Water obtained by digging, wood scarce,road and grass good.
Lithodendron Creek	13	1666	94	1569	A wide sandy bed, no water, crossing in dry weather good, but very difficult when there is water, quicksands, road good, a steep hill on east side. South of the crossing, the Rio Puerco becomes a wide, dry, sandy bed.
Camp on Little Colorado River	16	1216	111	1025	Water and grass abundant and good, plenty of wood, road good. About five miles up the Puerco, water was found in holes.
Camp on Little Colorado River	19	1020	131	285	Half a mile from road to river, plenty wood and water, grass good, road good.
Camp at Sunset Crossing Little Colorado River	14	493	145	778	Plenty wood and water, no grass near crossing, road good to Cottonwood Fork,which empties into the Little Colorado. near Sunset Crossing. Cottonwood> Fork has a delta, and in time of freshet overflows the valley for several miles, rendering it impassable. Sunset Crossing is not passable in time of melting snows without the aid of a raft.
Camp at Sunset Pass, on Big Dry Fork	18	669	163	1447	Road gradually up grade, but good traveling, permanent water in tanks in bed of creek for about four miles, in cañon plenty wood, water, and grass.
Camp on a lake of snow water	21	42	184	1489	Four miles from Camp on Big Dry Fork, the road runs through thick cedar to Jarvis Pass, which is 14 miles from Sunset Pass. Road good to Jarvis Pass, thence stony; plenty of cedar on lake.
Simpkins’ Spring	7	1681	192	411	Spring 100 yards north of road, (trees blazed) good water, grass ordinarily good, thick heavy pine, road stony and up grade.
Stoneman’s Lake	10	859	203	510	Is about 4½ miles in circumference, circular, an abundance of permanent water. Lake inclosed by bluffs about 400 feet high, thick heavy pine, good grass, very difficult to get water. The road leads through the Mogollon Mountains from Simpkins’ Spring to Stoneman’s Lake. In the spring of the year, the road through the mountains is perfectly saturated with water, very miry, and impassable for heavy-loaded wagons. Pine timber is thick and heavy on mountains.
Bartlet’s Tank	7	666	210	1173	Tank 400 yards north of road. Four miles from Stoneman’s Lake, the road leads through thick cedar, and becomes very rocky. Two and a half miles southwest of lake are two small creeks with wood and grass, but no permanent water.
Beaver Creek Crossing	11	272	221	1445	The descent to the creek is very steep and abrupt. At base of hill, a trail leads southward to Camp Verde, which cuts off about 9 miles. Road up to this point leads through thick cedar, and is very rocky, thence good. Beaver Creek is a large stream of permanent water, rocky bed, banks low, crossing good, grass fair, plenty wood.
Rio Verde.	12	1121	234	806	Road good for 10 miles, thence hilly to crossing. Rio Verde 80 feet wide, gravel bed, good water, banks low, crossing good, scattered cottonwood on banks. A road leads up the left bank to the Indian Reservation. On right bank, a right-hand road direct to Prescott.
Camp Verde	6	1673	241	719	Road good.
Wild Cherry Creek	12	1412	254	371	Returned on road 4 miles, thence over foothills of Verde Mountains for 5 miles, thence ascend and descend mountains to Wild Cherry Creek. The ascent is very steep, but gradual; the descent is more abrupt; road in good order. Wild Cherry Creek is a running stream of permanent water. Timber and grass abundant.
Gayetty’s Ranch	3		257	371	Ranch and station on left of road.
Ash Creek	6	233	263	604	Permanent water in holes south of crossing, banks low, rocky bed, crossing good, plenty wood and grass, road a little hilly. Three miles east is the junction of Grief Hill Road.
1st Crossing of Lynx Creek	7	1345	271	189	Ranch at crossing, creek dry, water in well, good grass, wood at ranch.
2d Crossing of Lynx Creek	8	1002	279	1191	Permanent water, ranch on west bank, scattered cottonwood, good grass, low banks, rocky bed, good crossing. Steep hill on either side.
Ft. Whipple	6	155	285	1346	On right bank of Granite Creek, road hilly.

Roads and Distances from the Colorado River (en route from Utah) South to Prescott.

No. 1. From Colorado Crossing, via Truxton Springs.

To	Miles.	Total Miles.	Altitude.	Description.
Tinnahkah Springs	21	21	4080.0	Small springs; bunch-grass; wood.
Attoovah (or Cañon) Springs	14	35		Spring in cañon; bunch-grass; cedar trees.
New Creek of Ives, or Pahroach Springs	14	49		Good camping-grounds; plenty wood, water and grass.
Truxton Springs	16	65	3885.5	Bunch-grass through sagebrush; water and wood.
Old Camp Willow Grove	25	90		Wood, water and grass;
Fort Rock	15	105		Good water; no grass; little wood.
Oaks and Willows	27	132		Water, wood and grass.
Old Camp Hualapais	9	141	5321.9	Good water and grass; plenty wood.
Toll-gate in Williamson’s Valley	16	157		Water and wood; little grass.
Prescott	23	180	5318.0	Water and grass.