Exploring Arizona's Million Dollar Highway I Abandoned Superior Highway
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- Welcome back to the channel!
On today’s video we explore Arizona’s abandoned highway. The Superior Highway used to be the Jewel of Arizona up until the 1950s when a realignment and new tunnel were opened. This road is considered Arizona’s Million Dollar Highway as the cost to build it was unheard of at the time.
To protect this history the town of Superior has opened and maintained the road as a trail. The Legends of Superior Trail is just shy of 5 miles and just a few hundred feet of elevation gain. Hikers follow the abandoned highway from a parking lot just out of town up to and through the Claypool Tunnel. The gentle sloped road/trail crosses over the old Queen Creek bridge and under the newly constructed bridge that perfectly outlines the gorgeous Arizona mountains. The road follows the Queen Creek which is surprisingly gorgeous and lush. It made it feel so peaceful even with the cars passing over your head.
You truly feel like you are touching history as you walk the old road and this hike surprised me with just how much I enjoyed it. Not only are you surrounded by beauty you have the unique sights of the old and new bridges, mining relics, and even rocks inscribed with the numbers of the convicts whose labor was used to build this highway.
Post hike head downtown and support the little town of Superior by grabbing lunch or a coffee. You won’t regret spending a little extra time in this slice of Arizona history.
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⇢ / micheleshanklin
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I am loving your videos - I am from Nova Scotia , newly retired and plan to head to Arizona, Utah and Colorado late fall - I also just purchased a teardrop trailer and have a Germain Shepherd as my companion! I understand that dogs are not welcome on National Park trails in the US so I am interested in your hikes with Phoenix! will go back and watch them all !
Hello Michele....from the northern end of the million dollar highway of CO! What a neat walk ....thank you so much for sharing it with us. I enjoy those old road bed walks every once in awhile. It can be nice to still be out enjoying the nature while not specifically having to worry about stepping. So much history along those routes too!
I hope you have a fast and complete repair of your trailer! I'm going to pull mine out and head up to the greater Grand Junction CO area in April.
Have a great day!
Hi and thanks for watching again 🧡 I love the old history so it was a fun one for me and made me miss my Colorado Million Dollar Highway! I’ll be there soon!
Have any good recs in Grand Junction! I’m looking at that are for a week or two this summer. I hope you have a great trip!!
@@MicheleShanklin Hi Michele! With regards to the Grand Junction area, if it is boondocking that you are seeking, I have stayed to the west of there, just on the Colorado side of the Utah border in an area they call Rabbit Valley. When I pulled off of I70 (exit 2), I turned south to get on the south side of the interstate. About a 1/4 mile south of the interstate, is a parking lot that has several information boards too. That is where you register (it was free in January 2023). I initially continued south on that entrance dirt road. That ended up being a big error as it was raining when I arrived; and the sun was already down :-( Keep in mind, my truck is 23 feet long, and my trailer is 27 feet. Ha...I made it about 2 miles or so down that southern road, and the road became inundated with flooding water. So, on a dirt road that was just 2 lanes and had dirt berms on the sides from road grating, I needed to turn around. Ha....so, at night, I backed up this rig for a couple of 100 yards, and found a slightly elevated area that I could back my camper onto the side of the road. That turn around action took about 30-45 minutes; and , of course, I really tore up the off trail section there making this turn around. So....I headed back up towards the check in lot. Just south of that check in lot was a dirt road that turned back to the east; basically paralleling the interstate that I drove to that area. There are many prepared dispersed camping spots along that east/west road. Of course, at night, and in the rain, I pulled into a spot nose first......and the slight 2 foot drop that was spread over 80 or 100 feet was enough to ensure I was not moving for days until the area dried hehehehe. I was able to disconnect my trailer; but I was stuck there. About 3 days later, I was able to drive my truck around the pretty big campsite parking area and compress the now partially dried wet clay area. I did that in the morning and evening for 2 more nights. So...to escape, I left at 5a.m. when the ground had partially frozen over night.
Moral of the story....don't go there if it has been raining hehehehe. But, it is an awesome area ! If it is dry, you can, in fact, also head into the area by continuing south and go to what is called the Jouflas Campground. Your vehicle and teardrop would fit there nicely too. Though I was camping about 1/2 mile south of the interstate, me and my german shepherd hiked all around that area, to include walking south to the mesa ledge overlooking the Colorado River.
@@campingalan you are amazing! Thank you for those ideas but also OMG that sounds absolutely wild and I’m sorry but I couldn’t stop laughing thinking of how that all looked. That’s why you always have extra food right?
I will look at that campground. Because I’m not fully contained I’ve found some campgrounds there won’t let me be in there. P
Hi Michele it’s great to see a new video, oh goodness that sucks the ups and downs of teardrop life thanks for bringing us along on this new adventure take care and God bless!❤❤❤❤❤
Hi! Thanks for watching! Yeah it’s part of a new set up but it’s been frustrating trying to troubleshoot where the problem is. Fingers crossed it’s fixed soon!
Since your in or near Superior, you should stop by the Pin Drop trailer factory in Miami. I just discovered your channel and you remind me a lot of the summer in the 80s I spent hiking with a young lady.
Ohh dang it! I need to stop there that sounds fun! Ohhh that was probably a great summer!
Great scenery, loved the history of this area. And I hope your dog turns out well ❤
Thank you! 😊 We really appreciate it!
Been loving watching your videos since I’ve subscribed!❤
You just made my day thank you!
Very interesting video... beauty and history of the area
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!
Well done 👍
Thank you 👍
Great video 😊
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing your life with us, and stay strong in your dogs journey, no matter what transpires, he was lucky to have you in his life.
I appreciate that!
Your trailer weighs 750 lbs, you shouldn't need trailer brakes, it's like having 4 large people in your car, do you need extra brakes for that?
The dry weight of my teardrop is 850. Max towing capacity for my Crosstrek is 1500lbs. Having trailer brakes is a requirement for both my insurance and state as well as recommended for the Crosstrek. I’m not super worried about it here in Arizona where it’s pretty flat but have extensive travel plans for Colorado and into Washington so want them for the mountain passes.