b'CLIFTONTHREE HOURS FROM TUCSON AND FOURThe San Francisco River Eagle Creek and The Grand Enchantment TrailHOURS FROM PHOENIX, CLIFTON is a greatThe 160-mile long San Francisco River rises high inThe Grand Enchantment Trail is a 770+ mile wilderness destination for an unforgettable weekend getaway. FromArizona\'s White Mountains and flows east into Newroute that travels from Phoenix to Albuquerque. Tucson, take I-10 through scenic Texas Canyon and thenMexico, passing through dense pine forests beforeSegment 14 of the trail passes very close to Clifton, just east of Willcox youll turn north on US 191. Fromdropping into the high desert near Reserve. Just southfollowing Eagle Creek north to the San Carlos Indian Phoenix, it\'s US 60 through the Superstition Mountainsof the San Francisco Hot Springs, the river makes aReservation. Clifton is an important resupply point, and then pick up US 70 just east of Globe. In the spring,right-angle turn and flows back into Arizona, whereand local trail angels provide assistance to hikers this stretch of road is known for the best display ofit combines with the Blue River, Chase Creek, andand cyclists, including transportation to and from wildflowers anywhere in Arizona.Eagle Creek before pouring intothe trail, hot showers, and free or very inexpensive the Gila River. For much of itsaccommodations. HISTORY length, the San Francisco is nearly Cliff dwellings alonginaccessible, meandering pastEagle Creek is also a great destination for day hikes or the San Franciscorugged mountains and throughmulti-day backpacking trips. The creek flows year \'round, and Gila Riverssteep-walled canyons. A shortbut its water is borrowed from another watershed far point to an advancedhike is possible along the riverto the north. Water from the Black River in northern civilization thatnear Clifton, via an abandonedArizona is pumped up 700 feet to the rim of the Black existed long beforeroad and with a very sturdyCanyon, gravity-fed 6 miles into Willow Creek and Caesar ruled Rome.high-clearance 4WD vehicle, youthen transported 21 miles to Eagle Creek, where it flows Pottery and stonecan access a particularly scenicdownstream 30 miles to a pumping station that supplies implements are stillsection via Mule Creek Pass andwater to the mines. Access to the creek requires a sturdy to be found in theseMartinez Road. 4WD high clearance vehicle.ancient dwelling places. In the mid- Black HillsThe Blue River1500s, both FrayBackcountry Byway The Blue River is a 50-mile-long permanent stream Marcos de Niza andThis 21-mile drive, built bythat runs along the eastern border of Arizona through Francisco Vasquez deprison laborers between 1914the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. It Coronado passed through the area, following the Sanand 1920, was once the onlyrises near Alpine, Arizona, and flows south into the San Pedro north to the Gila River. Geronimo was born inroad between Safford andFrancisco River just upstream from Clifton. Located 1829 near the confluence of Eagle Creek and the SanClifton. It begins 20 miles eastfar from any urban areas, the Blue is among the most Francisco and Gila Rivers. of Safford on US 191. It\'s a goodpollution-free streams in the Southwest. It\'s also virtually all-season gravel road, but you\'llinaccessible for much of its length.In 1856, the rst mineral discoveries of theneed a 4WD to explore any of area were found by California volunteersthe side roads along the way. At pursuing Apaches. Mining for gold and silvermile three, keep an eye out for began in 1864, followed by copper in 1872.the Black Hills Rockhound Area. Clifton\'s population ballooned from 600 inThis is a great place to look for re agate1880 to 5000 by 1910, and it quickly earned itsand chalcedony.reputation as the wildest of the "Wild West" boomtowns. Clifton has been preserved and today Chase Creek StreetOne of those side roads leads to Gillard Hot Springs, is still graced with lovely Victorian-era buildings. the hottest natural spring in Arizona, where water flows out of the ground at 180. The condition of the hot In 1983, Clifton survived two nearly fatal blows, rst asprings varies greatly. To reach it you\'ll need to hike nearly three-year-long strike that began on June 30th anddownhill aboutmile past where the old bridge has then on October 2nd Tropical Storm Octave sent 90,900washed away.cubic feet of water per second into the San Francisco River, which burst its banks, destroying 700 homes andAbout midway on the route just past a bridge over heavily damaging 86 of the town\'s 126 businesses. the Gila is the Owl Creek Campground, part of the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area. TheEnjoy a street party with music, food The proud history of Clifton is centered on mining. campground offers 7 campsites available for $5 per Copper is the lifeblood of the town and the incrediblynight. Near the bridge is a popular launch site forand vendors every Second Saturday on rich ore body is still flourishing, even after 140 plus yearsrafting the Gila River. Chase Creek Street from 11 am to 6 pm!of nearly continuous operation.28 September 2019'