| The highest road in Arizona cuts 200 miles across the | | | | makes an excellent spot to stop and have a picnic |
| middle of the state at an amazing 7,000-foot elevation. | | | | lunch. |
| Traveling roughly from Sedona to the New Mexico | | | | Opposite the turnoff to the cabin is the Tunnel Hiking |
| border, this road hugs the edge of the Mogollon Rim. A | | | | Trailhead. Hike down to see the once ambitious |
| dizzying drop from rim to the canyon floor is 2,000 | | | | project: a tunnel that was to burrow through 3,100 feet |
| feet in places. | | | | of the rock of the Mogollon Rim to connect Flagstaff |
| This amazing geological phenomenon that creates a | | | | to the rich mines of Globe by rail. The tunnel was to be |
| "backbone of Arizona" separates the low southern | | | | a spur of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad, which ran |
| scorching desert from the higher elevation cooler, | | | | from Albuquerque through Flagstaff en route to the |
| temperate ponderosa pine and cedar forest of | | | | west coast. |
| northern Arizona. The Mogollon Rim Road (Mogollon is | | | | The proposed 160-mile Mineral Belt Railroad was |
| pronounced "muggy-own") provides a cool, serene | | | | funded and construction began over incredibly rough |
| perch to see forever over southern Arizona deserts. | | | | terrain. Funding for the project soon dried up after the |
| Today the road follows sections of an original military | | | | construction of only 40 miles of rail and blasting only 70 |
| supply route constructed in 1872 by General George | | | | feet into the rock of the rim. The incomplete tunnel is |
| Crook. The wagon road connected Fort Whipple in | | | | located in General Springs Canyon, a low point in the |
| Prescott to Fort Apache and Camp Verde. The | | | | rim. |
| military established the forts to protect early settlers | | | | Most of the narrow graded gravel and dirt road runs |
| from the frequent attacks of the Apache Indians, | | | | through a cool ponderosa pine forest. Many places |
| rebelling against the takeover of their land and | | | | along the road run right along the rim with amazing |
| relocation to reservations. | | | | vistas over the canyons and good angles to see |
| General Crook took command of Arizona Territory's | | | | rugged rim itself. Take care walking to the edge of the |
| military in 1871. Amazingly, his original journey from Fort | | | | rim, especially in wet conditions. Some trees at the |
| Apache to Fort Whipple formed the basis of the route. | | | | edge hold memorial plaques to those who have |
| During construction, Crook's men measured the wagon | | | | accidentally fallen. |
| road's mileage with a cloth fastened the wheel of a | | | | The road is uneven in places, but overall the main trail |
| wagon. A certain number of the cloth's revolutions | | | | is not a technical challenge. Many smaller more |
| equaled a mile. Soldiers then carved a smooth patch | | | | challenging trails leave the main road. To the south |
| out of nearby trees and rocks and then burned on the | | | | trails lead to more secluded viewpoints and campsites |
| mileage. Blazes generally included a letter. For example, | | | | on the rim, and to the north, 4WD tracks lead to |
| 13 miles from Fort Verde would be marked with "V13." | | | | spectacular overlooks. |
| Today a few old trees and rocks still bear Crook's | | | | The area is heaven for campers. Backcountry |
| original blaze marks. Many landmarks along the trail are | | | | campsites abound, but one of the best is at Hi-View |
| named according to the mileage of the old route, such | | | | Point, an exceptionally beautiful scenic overlook set |
| as Thirteen Mile Rock and Twentynine Mile Lake. | | | | right on the rim. There are also developed national |
| Approximately 15 miles from the western end and a | | | | forest campgrounds at Kehl Spring, just off the trail at |
| short distance to the north of the main trail is the site | | | | Knoll Lake, Bear Canyon Lake, and several sites at |
| of General Springs Cabin. Louis Fisher built the small | | | | Woods Canyon Lake among others. |
| wooden structure in 1914 or 1915, and it was used as a | | | | The eastern end of the trail within the |
| guard station for many years. The cabin sits beside | | | | Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest runs within the |
| springs used for water by General Crook and was | | | | popular Rim Lakes Recreation Area. Be aware that |
| reputedly the spot from which he narrowly escaped | | | | motorized travel is permitted on numbered roads only, |
| death during a surprise Apache attack. Camping | | | | ATVs are not permitted, and there are restrictions on |
| around the historic cabin is prohibited but the area | | | | camping in this area. |