Trip to Devil's Highway - Arizona - 2006
This road was called "Devil's Highway" because it was originally US Highway 666. However, it has recently been renamed "US
Highway 191."
Personally, I think "666" was more appropriate. This is a very dangerous road that leaves little room for error. In many places there is
no shoulder whatsoever, just a steep drop into oblivion.
In addition, it has almost 100 miles of pure twisties, so no one can memorize or learn all of the turns like you can in other smaller more
local rides. Consequently, riders need to use utmost caution on this road. One wrong move and you are going over the edge, and you
are far far far away from help.
This road brings you from Sea Level to almost 9000 feet up. You will experience extreme climate change on this road. I did this trip in
June, it was 110 degrees in Scottsdale when I began. At the top of the Devil's highway, it was HAILING. Yes, HAIL. Dress
accordingly.
This is a long trip. Most people do this trip in 2 days. I did it in one day, traveling a total of over 500 miles in about 16 hours. I also did
this trip 2-up as I do most of my trips. Begin in Phoenix nice and early to beat the heat, travel East on US60 to Globe, continue East to
Safford. Turn left onto US70 and follow signs to "Morenci." Again, if you are doing this trip in the summer make sure you start early.
Temps do not begin to fall until after you hit Morenci. That's about 3-4 hours in, especially if you take a little breakfast stop in Globe
and another little stop in Safford. Fuel up in Morenci before you hit the 191 (666) because there is no other place to get gas for over
50 miles. Make sure you have water and/or snacks because it will probably take 3 hours to get through that 100 miles of twisties.
If you continue you'll hit Eager where you can either turn around and do it again or connect with the 260 into Showlow, then on to
Payson, then down the 87 back to Phoenix. If the weather is very hot, I recommend this way because that way you don't have to ride
through 3 hours of 110 degree weather to get back home.
Highway 191."
Personally, I think "666" was more appropriate. This is a very dangerous road that leaves little room for error. In many places there is
no shoulder whatsoever, just a steep drop into oblivion.
In addition, it has almost 100 miles of pure twisties, so no one can memorize or learn all of the turns like you can in other smaller more
local rides. Consequently, riders need to use utmost caution on this road. One wrong move and you are going over the edge, and you
are far far far away from help.
This road brings you from Sea Level to almost 9000 feet up. You will experience extreme climate change on this road. I did this trip in
June, it was 110 degrees in Scottsdale when I began. At the top of the Devil's highway, it was HAILING. Yes, HAIL. Dress
accordingly.
This is a long trip. Most people do this trip in 2 days. I did it in one day, traveling a total of over 500 miles in about 16 hours. I also did
this trip 2-up as I do most of my trips. Begin in Phoenix nice and early to beat the heat, travel East on US60 to Globe, continue East to
Safford. Turn left onto US70 and follow signs to "Morenci." Again, if you are doing this trip in the summer make sure you start early.
Temps do not begin to fall until after you hit Morenci. That's about 3-4 hours in, especially if you take a little breakfast stop in Globe
and another little stop in Safford. Fuel up in Morenci before you hit the 191 (666) because there is no other place to get gas for over
50 miles. Make sure you have water and/or snacks because it will probably take 3 hours to get through that 100 miles of twisties.
If you continue you'll hit Eager where you can either turn around and do it again or connect with the 260 into Showlow, then on to
Payson, then down the 87 back to Phoenix. If the weather is very hot, I recommend this way because that way you don't have to ride
through 3 hours of 110 degree weather to get back home.
This is a shot of the "Copper Canyon"
along the US 60 near Globe.
Copper mining is a big industry out
here.
along the US 60 near Globe.
Copper mining is a big industry out
here.
Ah, what trip doesn't include a
discussion of good food? One thing I
learned from living near NYC, if you
want to know if a place is good or not
look inside. If it is empty- don't go
there. If it is packed, get in line.
I saw this place was jam-packed so I
needed to find out why. It is
family-owned and operated. The food
is excellent. Standard breakfast and
lunch fair. Pancakes, eggs, toast,
waffles, burgers, and all the standard
Mexican food as well. Everything
including the coffee was absolutely
delicious. And the price was amazing.
Bekah and I ate our fill and the bill was
about $12.
"La Luz Del Dia" means "Light of the
Day." It's located in the "old town"
section of Globe.
discussion of good food? One thing I
learned from living near NYC, if you
want to know if a place is good or not
look inside. If it is empty- don't go
there. If it is packed, get in line.
I saw this place was jam-packed so I
needed to find out why. It is
family-owned and operated. The food
is excellent. Standard breakfast and
lunch fair. Pancakes, eggs, toast,
waffles, burgers, and all the standard
Mexican food as well. Everything
including the coffee was absolutely
delicious. And the price was amazing.
Bekah and I ate our fill and the bill was
about $12.
"La Luz Del Dia" means "Light of the
Day." It's located in the "old town"
section of Globe.
This is the US70, between Safford and
Morenci. Very scenic and peaceful
high speed sweepers.
Morenci. Very scenic and peaceful
high speed sweepers.
This is the Phelps-Dodge
Mine located on US 191. The
views are breathtaking. The
colors are due to the copper
being mined out of the
mountains.
Lots of tight twisties here, but
also lots of dirt and debris in
the road- probably from all
the large mining trucks.
Mine located on US 191. The
views are breathtaking. The
colors are due to the copper
being mined out of the
mountains.
Lots of tight twisties here, but
also lots of dirt and debris in
the road- probably from all
the large mining trucks.
O.k., this is what I'm talking about when
I say this road is extremely dangerous.
Look how much "shoulder" you have?
About 1 foot maybe. Not a lot of room
for error.
And if you crash, can you see how
steep this mountain is? In some spots
it's straight down.
Also notice no fence or guardrail.
You're on your own.
Also notice the blind corners, no way
to see what the road will do on the
other side. Will it "S" to the left, or
make a U-turn? Find out when you
come around! Hint: it sometimes does
both!
No wonder it's called "Devil's Highway."
I say this road is extremely dangerous.
Look how much "shoulder" you have?
About 1 foot maybe. Not a lot of room
for error.
And if you crash, can you see how
steep this mountain is? In some spots
it's straight down.
Also notice no fence or guardrail.
You're on your own.
Also notice the blind corners, no way
to see what the road will do on the
other side. Will it "S" to the left, or
make a U-turn? Find out when you
come around! Hint: it sometimes does
both!
No wonder it's called "Devil's Highway."
Dangerous and beautiful-
No cell phone service out here.
This is the extreme wilderness
of North Eastern Arizona.
This particular section is about
20 miles north of the
Phelps-Dodge mine.
No cell phone service out here.
This is the extreme wilderness
of North Eastern Arizona.
This particular section is about
20 miles north of the
Phelps-Dodge mine.
About 50 miles North of the mine,
or 1/2 way through the Devil's
Highway.
or 1/2 way through the Devil's
Highway.
Yes, that's HAIL on the
ground. At 9000 feet, it was
Hailing.
Hard to believe my day
started at 110 degree F,
and now it's HAILING.
We also had some serious
rain and lightening to
contend with. The lightning
especially was very scary. I
felt like I was running on a
beach or a golf course in a
lightning storm- no where to
hide.
Too far in to turn back, we
just had to go through.
I'm not sure how much of
this was "fun" and how much
was "adventure." At this
point, speeds were slow and
dangerous and weather was
wet and cold with lightning.
It was definitely more
"adventure" than "fun."
ground. At 9000 feet, it was
Hailing.
Hard to believe my day
started at 110 degree F,
and now it's HAILING.
We also had some serious
rain and lightening to
contend with. The lightning
especially was very scary. I
felt like I was running on a
beach or a golf course in a
lightning storm- no where to
hide.
Too far in to turn back, we
just had to go through.
I'm not sure how much of
this was "fun" and how much
was "adventure." At this
point, speeds were slow and
dangerous and weather was
wet and cold with lightning.
It was definitely more
"adventure" than "fun."
| The Pic That Got Away: Sadly, the best pic of the trip was never taken. Shortly after leaving a mountain lodge rest-stop high in the mountains of the US191, (Called Hannigans Meadow) I came to a clearing. Bekah tapped my arm and I turned my head to see 3 GIANT ELK feeding in a clearing by the side of the road. One of them was as big as a horse, but with giant antlers. The other 2 did not have antlers, so they were probably female. I hit the brakes, made a u-turn. The elk were still there but now staring at me. They were maybe 40 yards away, maybe 50. It felt CLOSE. I opened the tank bag to get the camera and that's when the 2 does bolted into the forest. The male stared a little longer. I got the camera out of it's holder, turned on the power....and the male bolted. No shot. But what a memory. |
Ah, civilization at last. I used my
trusty NYC technique to find this
excellent eatery in Springerville
called "Booga Reds." A warm juicy
burger and fries and some much
needed hot coffee really hit the spot.
My legs were cold to the bone.
[note to self: next time you ride in
the snow bring warm pants....]
At this point it was about 4:00pm,
and I had been riding since 7:00am,
about 9 hours, through all kinds of
heat, twisties, and rain, hail, and
cold.
Was already getting tired, but still so
far from home. Springerville is East
of ShowLow.
Cute elk, btw. The little framed
picture to the right is the hunter and
the elk shortly after this great
creature's demise...
trusty NYC technique to find this
excellent eatery in Springerville
called "Booga Reds." A warm juicy
burger and fries and some much
needed hot coffee really hit the spot.
My legs were cold to the bone.
[note to self: next time you ride in
the snow bring warm pants....]
At this point it was about 4:00pm,
and I had been riding since 7:00am,
about 9 hours, through all kinds of
heat, twisties, and rain, hail, and
cold.
Was already getting tired, but still so
far from home. Springerville is East
of ShowLow.
Cute elk, btw. The little framed
picture to the right is the hunter and
the elk shortly after this great
creature's demise...
Most of us know the US260,
but not many have seen it this
far East.
This is the US260 between
Springerville and Showlow,
about 50 miles East of
Showlow.
Nothing but peaceful road
and road-side views.
After Showlow it started
getting dark. I road the
remainder of the trip through
Cristopher Creek, into
Payson, then down back to
Fountain Hills, then across
Shea to Scottsdale. I arrived
home around 11:30pm;
almost 17 hours after the
start.
I slept good that night...
but not many have seen it this
far East.
This is the US260 between
Springerville and Showlow,
about 50 miles East of
Showlow.
Nothing but peaceful road
and road-side views.
After Showlow it started
getting dark. I road the
remainder of the trip through
Cristopher Creek, into
Payson, then down back to
Fountain Hills, then across
Shea to Scottsdale. I arrived
home around 11:30pm;
almost 17 hours after the
start.
I slept good that night...
