That’s right, during two separate occasions, Prescott was the capital of the Arizona Territory, before it move to Phoenix and Arizona became a state, which was on Valentine’s Day 1912. In the heart of Prescott is the former capitol building, well before Arizona was a state in the mid to later 1800s. In the outskirts of Prescott is Goldwater Lake, a nice place for fishing, hiking and relaxing. As you near Prescott, the landscape changes into a forest of ponderosa pine trees. I recommend stopping at Shearer Paradise Coffee Shop and take some photos of the old gas station across the street.Ĭontinuing North on Hwy 89 you’ll go through Peeples Valley, a tranquil area with wide-open cattle ranches and horse stables.Īs you continue north you’ll also get a sense of the increase in elevation. This small town has a couple of antique shops, art galleries and coffee shops. Yarnell itself is a cute and cool respite where a desert breeze meets the mountain air. About halfway up this steep 2700’ mountain grade with hairpin turns, is the Hotshot Memorial State Park, a wonderful hike that celebrates a tragic incident that occurred back in 2013, when 19 hotshot firefighters lost their lives fighting the Yarnell Hill fire. Flying E Dude Ranch – If you have a few days to spare, you may want to stay at the Flying E Dude Ranch for a cowboy experience you won’t soon forget.ĭue north of Wickenburg, along Hwy 89, is Yarnell.There are many trails and great places to enjoy a picnic to experience the diverse vegetation and wildlife. Hassayampa River Preserve is a lush riparian area where the normally underground river rises above ground.Desert Caballeros Western Museum has an impressive collection of Western artifacts and Southwestern art right in the heart of town.Visitors can walk through the old ghost town and see mining remnants, restored buildings and other artifacts. This mine was owned by Henry Wickenburg for which the nearby city is named. For the past few years it has been undergoing an extensive restoration effort. Vulture city was an abandoned gold mine and settlement left over from the mid-1800s. Vulture City – This is a fantastic experience, but is a bit outside of Wickenburg.Next door is an old locomotive and box car to check out. Old Rail Depot – This is home to the Chamber of Commerce, which is located inside the old Santa Fe train depot.Self-walking tour of downtown – Take a stroll and enjoy the various sculptures with audio narration and historic buildings.If you have time in Wickenburg, here are a few things not to miss: The town is full of character, where spirits remain wild and the souls are Western through and through. With fewer and fewer areas to enjoy a true western experience, there is one place that has flourished for well over a century, and that’s Wickenburg, where cowboys roam and artists reign! Wickenburg is a true western town, where the spurs have a job to do, and hats are not accessories. Hwy 74 on the other hand, meanders thorough some subtle mountains, while winding roads and wide open spaces showcase a forest of cacti. US-60 takes you through several cities, from Peoria to Surprise, however there is nothing very exciting to see. Head out Wickenburg Wayįrom Phoenix, take US-60 or Carefree Hwy (74) Northwest toward Wickenburg. Every time I started the truck up, and heard the throaty throttle, I had a grin on my face. Other than that, the Tundra TRD is one the the most exciting trucks I’ve driven in a long while. Thankful gas prices were pretty reasonable during this period. The only downside to the Tundra was the fuel efficiency, which was about 13.1mpg combined for the trip which included a fair amount of highway driving. The Tundra is a wonderfully capable vehicle for exploring off-road, and we certainly took advantage! For example, we explored Oak Creek Canyon along the rugged and scenic Schnebly Hill road. In our previous two Southwest Road Trip stories and videos we explored the region in a Cruise America RV, but on this trip we had the flexibility to go places the RV simply could not. Phoenix to Sedona Road Trip Vehicleįor this road trip, Toyota loaned us a 2020 Tundra TRD 4×4. So, if you have the time, definitely consider this Phoenix to Sedona road trip route. Most people will drive from Phoenix to Sedona straight up (and back) I-17, however in this article I am going to share a much better Sedona road trip option that will highlight many interesting destinations along the way.
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