2020 Fall Winter Gateway

Gateway To The 

Copper 

Corridor 

Visitors Guide For 

• Safford • Clifton • San Carlos 

• Globe • Miami • Superior 

• Kearny • Tonto Basin • Young 

• Apache Junction 

Fall/Winter 

2020 FREE

2 Gateway to the Copper Corridor 2020

Table of Contents 

Welcome to the Fall/Winter 2020 

Edition of Gateway 

Globe 

Pickle Barrel Trading Post......................................4 

Miami 

Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum..............9 

Globe 

Waggin’ Vineyard..................................................10 

Bloom....................................................................12 

Center for the Arts.................................................13 

Pinal Mountains Range Foliage.............................14 

Roosevelt 

Tonto National Monument Cliff Dwelling............17 

Globe 

Besh-Ba-Gowah.....................................................18 

Map..................................................................20, 21 

San Carlos 

Seneca Falls...........................................................22 

Superior 

Boyce Thompson Arboretum.................................24 

Gila County 

Discover Gila County.............................................26 

Birdwatching..........................................................28 

San Carlos 

Apache history........................................................29 

Safford 

Roper Lake............................................................30 

Dankworth features Indian village........................31 

Clifton 

Clifton welcomes visitors......................................32 

Young 

Forever Young........................................................33 

Apache Junction 

Goldfield Ghost Mine............................................34 

Superior 

Bruzzi Vineyard.....................................................35 

Kearny 

Eco-tourism............................................................36 

Globe 

Treating the body well...........................................38 

Gateway Staff 

To advertise in the Gateway to the Copper Corridor, 

contact: 

Publisher-GM Monica Watson 

at mwatson@silverbelt.com 

Sales Representative Kathy Riley 

at kriley@silverbelt.com 

Composing Eileen Terry 

Editorial Cassie Tafoya, David Sowders and 

Andrea Justice 

Contributors: 

Paul Wolterbeek 

Arizona Silver Belt 

PO Box 31 

298 N. Pine St. 

Copper Country News 

PO Box 1692 

298 N. Pine St. 

Globe, AZ 85502 

Cover photo: 

David Sowders 

Globe, AZ 85502 

928-425-7121 

www.silverbelt.com 

928-425-0355 

www.coppercountrynews.com 

The cover photo was taken by Deborah Yerkovich at 

Ferndell in the Pinal Mountains during October 2020. 

Gateway to the Copper Corridor 2020 

3

Pickle Barrel Trading Post 

is one of Globe’s favorite 

destinations 

The Pickle Barrel 

Trading Post 

opened in the fall 

of 2003 and quickly became 

one of the favorite 

destinations in the area for 

locals and tourists alike. 

Many customers entering 

the 8,000 sq. ft. building 

quickly look around and 

wonder in which direction 

their shopping should begin! 

The shop’s motto, “You 

Won’t Believe What’s Inside!” 

still rings true after all 

these years. 

The “Gallery Room” focuses 

on Native American 

art & craft from various 

Southwestern tribes, Apache 

baskets, Zuni fetishes, Hopi 

kachinas, Navajo pottery, 

original artwork by local 

artists, and a wide variety of 

beautiful turquoise and silver 

jewelry made by some 

of the finest silversmiths 

working today. This room 

also showcases two popular 

South of the Border items - 

Mata Ortiz pottery and the 

colorful Oaxacan animal figurines. 

Both of these items 

are handcrafted by various 

artists, making 

Continued on page 5 


Continued from page 4 

sories, metal wall art, candles, 

unique lighting, and 

a western motif section devoted 

to items like Stetson 

hats, Brazilian steer hide 

rugs, pillows, placemats/ 

coasters, saddle blankets, 

and much more. 

The “Southwest Room” 

continues to carry a large 

selection of purses, mugs, 

towels and blankets from 

Pendleton, as well as souvenir 

t-shirts, Minnetonka 

moccasins, a large variety 

of hats and ball caps, 

a good selection of knives, 

copper bronzes, baskets for 

decor, and more metal art. 

The popular Trading Post 

area provides all the necessary 

product needed for the 

Apache Sunrise Dances, including 

the largest selection 

of buckskin in the entire 

Southwest. 

The “Rock and Mineral 

Room” offers specimens 

from the area like peridot 

and Apache tears, as well 

as others from around the 

world. Here you can also 

find several shelves of 

informational books on 

rocks/minerals. 

The newest edition to the 

shop is the “Pantry Room” 

where you will find popular 

food items like hot sauces, 

dips, specialty popcorns, 

prickly pear jellies and licorice, 

bread mixes, chocolates, 

candies, a wide variety 

of jerky, and of course, 

pickles! They also have 

mesquite cutting boards 

and other kitchen accessory 

items for sale. 

The Moss family is 

proud to be a part of the 

Globe-Miami community 

and they, along with their 

great staff, would like to invite 

you to stop in soon and 

see their incredible selection 

of merchandise. 

each one uniquely original. 

If you are looking for 

something from the Copper 

Corridor, there is plenty 

to choose from as well. 

Copper splash is a local 

favorite as are the copper 

mugs, pitchers, trays and 

vases. Looking for a children’s 

book, a new cookbook, 

history of the area, 

information on Native 

Americans, birds, or rocks 

and minerals, look no further. 

The Pickle Barrel 

always has well stocked 

shelves of books for you to 

enjoy. 

The “Antique Room” 

holds very few antiques or 

collectibles these days. Instead, 

it has been replaced 

with a lovely variety of 

home décor, kitchen acces- 


5



Photo by Deborah Yerkovich 

7


Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum 

By David Sowders 

The Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum in 

Miami houses an impressive array of exhibits, 

artifacts, photographs and memorabilia depicting 

the economic and social life of the early years of Miami, 

Globe and San Carlos. It offers a very intimate window 

into the past of an area marked with the sweat, intense convictions 

and dreams of the people who built it. 

The center itself is housed in what was built in the 1920s 

as a segregated grammar school for educating Mexican 

and Native American children. The school flourished and 

was opened to all children in the 1950s. 

Local artist Patty Sjolin adds some color to a new mural for 

the museum. 

Bullion Plaza azurite: Azurite from the Old Dominion 

Mine in Globe. 

Bullion Plaza showcases the Copper Corridor’s cultural 

and mining history. Permanent exhibits at Bullion Plaza 

include the Mining Heritage Collection, Mexican Cultural 

Exhibit, Governor Rose Mofford Exhibit, McKusick 

Tile Works (displaying the artistic work of Charmion and 

Robert McKusick), Ranching Exhibit, Native American 

Cultural Exhibit, Slavic Cultural Exhibit (spotlighting the 

area’s rich Slavic history), Dignitary Room for Civics and 

Politics, Military Room and the recently refurbished Mineral 

Hallway. The museum’s collection also features native 

birds and wildlife. 

The facility also features lecture halls, performance areas 

and meeting rooms, including the Copper Room and 

Inspiration Room. 

Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum is currently 

open Sunday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 

closed on Saturdays. It is located at 150 N. Plaza Circle in 

Miami, at the west end of town. 

For more information about Bullion Plaza, call 928- 

473-3700, visit www.bullionplazamuseum.org or visit 

their Facebook page. 


9

Waggin’ Vineyard 


Waggin’ Vineyard creates destination 

location in Globe 

By Andrea Justice 

Stepping into the 

backyard of Waggin’ 

Vineyard is like stepping 

into another world. 

Lucious grape vines 

cascading up and down 

the terraced hillside creates 

a true destination 

location just outside of 

Highway 60 in Globe. And 

while the picturesque landscape 

catches the eye, it’s 

the wine that makes visitors 

want to stay. “Our wine will 

make your tail wag” is their 

featured tagline and does 

well in expressing the effects 

of Waggin’s amazing 

wine. 

The story behind the 

vineyard is a classic labor 

of love tale. After visiting a 

family vineyard in France, 

locals Tim Trent and Daisy 

Flores were struck with an 

idea. What if they could 

plant their own vineyard 

in their own backyard taking 

advantage of the high 

desert hills in Globe? As a 

new retiree Trent was determined 

to make this dream a 

delicious reality. That was 

2011, in 2012 the couple 

planted their first 200 vines, 

in 2013 they planted 2,300 

more and in 2015 an extra 

550 were added. In the end 

they had produced grapes 

for a merlot, a cabernet, and 

a chardonnay. All forming 

a base for the four homegrown 

wines available at 

Waggin’ Vineyard. 

Wine lovers can drop 

in for a tasting that features 

both locally harvested 

wines and wines from 

other choice vineyards. 

The menu boosts Globe’s 

Delicate Red (merlot, cabernet, 

and shiraz) from the 

vineyard’s first harvest 

along with a unique dessert 

wine, Sweet Madame (cabernet 

and shiraz). 

Globe’s Gold is 

the vineyard’s distinctive 

chardonnay. 

The tasting 

room is open 

Thursday and Sunday 

from 11 a.m. 

to 5 p.m., and Friday 

and Saturday 

from 11 a.m. to 9 

p.m. The vineyard 

is now welcoming 

guests on Friday 

and Saturday evenings 

for food and music 

on the outdoor patio. As 

the weather changes from 

moderate to chilly, outdoor 

guests can still enjoy the 

vineyard while sitting next 

to infrared heaters on the 

patio. 

Artists, young and 

old, can schedule a spot in 

one of the Van Gogh in the 

Vineyard painting classes 

which are scheduled 

throughout the year. 

Those interested can 

call 928-961-6250 or 928- 

812-1619 for availability. 

Another 

new attraction 

added 

to the 

vineyard is 

the Waggin’ 

Train 

Zoo open 

from Friday 

through 

S u n - 

day from 

11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. 

Tickets are $5 per person 

with area access available 

for $3 per person. Waggin’ 

Vineyard and Estate invites 

the public to stop by and 

visit with the alpacas. 

The vineyard is also 

available for weddings and 

events. 

Visit wagginvineyard. 

com for more information 

or stop by and visit the staff 

for more information on 

making an event memorable 

in the vineyards ideal 

setting. 


11

Bloom offers an array of Asian dishes 

Set among downtown Globe’s shops and historic 

buildings, Bloom–an Asian Concept has been delighting 

diners with its range of Asian cuisine – from 

sushi to fried rice and curry – since opening in 2018. 

Bloom’s owner/chef, John Wong, originally from Toronto, 

Canada, traveled the world to learn the art and techniques 

of cooking. He was working for General Electric when he 

took 18 months off for the journey. “I went all the way from 

Spain to New Zealand, working in different kitchens as a 

volunteer,” Wong said. “That’s where I learned how to cook 

my menu; that was my culinary school.” 

Wong opened his first restaurant, Simply Noodles, in 

Melbourne, Australia with a partner. From there he went to 

Mesa, where he owned SN Asian Kitchen for 15 years before 

making the move to Globe in 2017. 

Featuring dishes from five Asian countries – China, Japan, 

Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore – Bloom’s regular 

menu includes chicken and seafood curries, satay beef with 

peanut sauce and Hong Kong chicken with rice noodles and 

vegetables. 

One of Bloom’s most popular dishes is the ancient house 

fried rice, made with shrimp and chicken – a traditional 

recipe Wong learned 

in China. There’s also 

the drunken shrimp & 

chicken, with yakisoba 

noodles and spicy 

satay peanut sauce; 

Wong said once you 

try it, it will become 

one of your favorite 

dishes. 

Then there’s Bloom’s sushi menu, one thing SN Asian 

Kitchen didn’t offer. Wanting to add that here, Wong taught 

himself sushi making and made it happen. He said the community 

has been very receptive to the addition and to trying 

new things. 

Fresh fish for sushi comes to Bloom three times a week, 

including yellowtail from Japan and salmon from off the 

coast of Ireland. Bloom’s menu features a wide array of sushi 

rolls, as well as salmon, tuna and yellowtail sashimi. 

Bloom, located at 365 N. Broad St. in Globe, is open for 

dine-in and takeout Wednesday through Saturday from 11 

a.m. to 8 p.m. 


Cobre Valley Center 

for the Arts 

presents the 

2020 Festival of Trees 

The Cobre Valley Center for the Arts is planning 

on making this year’s Festival of Trees 

from Nov. 14 through Jan. 2 an event to remember. 

The event is open to anybody that wants 

to create and display a Christmas Tree creation. 

Set up starts Nov. 14 at the center. CVCA is looking 

forward to seeing fantastic creations for 2020. 

The Cobre Valley Center for the Arts is Globe-Miami’s 

hub for fine arts, music, theater arts, quilts and 

more. They have a gift shop featuring the work of local 

artists including jewelry, Apache crafts, books, and 

pottery. The Center for the Arts is a pet-friendly facility. 


13

Pinal Mountains Range Foliage 

No need for a roadtrip north 

to see and photograph vivid 

autumn foliage, our Pinal 

Mountains right here in Globe offer 

camera-ready aspens and maples, 

sumacs and sycamores. Lovely fall 

leaves throughout Gila County also 

beckon hikers and leaf-peepers to 

Payson and Rim Country trails; to 

the Sierra Anchas for autumn splendor 

along Workman Creek, Reynolds 

Creek; to the scenic high desert community 

of Pleasant Valley. Browse 

galleries of Pinal fall foliage photos 

at discovergilacounty.com; see daily 

photos and foliage season updates at 

facebook.com/discovergilacounty. 

Aspens & Maples 

Pinal Mountain fall foliage usually peaks from Oct. 20- 

25, with the best aspen and maple trees found along the top 

quarter-mile of the Ice House Canyon trail. Preview the 

lovely leaves online - a variety of galleries posted by Arizona 

photographers are all linked at discovergilacounty. 

com (see daily photos at discovergilacounty on Facebook, 

too). The Pinal Mountains lure leaf-peepers and photographers 

to Globe-Miami, just 90 minutes drive from most 

Valley communities, making Gila County an excellent fall 

weekend destination. For a truly memorable overnight 

book a room in a unique local bed-and-breakfast. Dream 

Manor Inn offers panoramic 360-degree views of surrounding 

mountains (dreammanorinn.com). 

Directions to Ice House Canyon Trail, Ferndell Spring 

and Signal Peak 

From the East Valley it takes about 2.5 hours driving 

to reach the top of the Pinal 

Mountain range, or about 90 

minutes if you’re driving there 

from the vicinity of Boyce 

Thompson Arboretum in Superior. 

The best color is found 

down the top most half-mile 

of the Ice House Canyon hiking 

trail, also around Ferndell 

Spring and the Six-Shooter 

Trail. Forest Service outhouse 

toilets are at the Sulfide de Rey 

campground and also Ferndell; 

picnic tables and firepits are 

available. Check the Tonto National 

Forest website to verify 

seasonal fire restrictions. 

Getting there from the East Valley: take Highway 60 

east past Superior, through the town of Miami and then 

through the smaller community of Claypool. 

After milepost 247, just past the Walmart plaza, turn 

right (south) at the stoplight where you’ll see a brown sign 

for the Pinal Mountain Recreation Area. 

Drive South down Russell Road; watch for a sharp right 

turn within a quarter mile - and stay on Russell Road. After 

2-3 miles Russell Road becomes Forest Road #55. Continue 

straight on FR55 another few miles as it winds through 

Russell Gulch Canyon, then uphill to the intersection of 

Forest Road 651. 

At that intersection turn right at the sign which reads 

‘Pinal Mountains 11 miles.’ This beautiful, winding mountain 

road ascends through low desert canyon country up 

into chaparral and then ponderosa pine forests. 




You’ll pass the Sulfide del Rey campground - which has 

Forest Service toilets, campsites and fire rings. Another 

minute or two past Sulfide del Rey campground the road 

splits; bear left towards Signal Peak. From here FR651 

winds southeasterly, around the south side of the mountain 

range - with dramatic, sweeping views across the Dripping 

Springs Valley below and rows of mountain ranges 

extending like a choppy sea as you gaze south. Look to the 

east when skies are clear on that far horizon you can see 

the Catalina Mountains looming and shadowy 100 miles 

away. 

It takes about 10 miles of graded dirt road after you turn 

onto FR651, before you’ll reach the Ice House Canyon 

trailhead. Watch for this at left, with a sign announcing 

trail #198. Park nearby and hike down the first half-mile 

of that trail, then back up again. Ice House Canyon holds 

the largest stand of aspen trees in the Pinals, and the steep 

trail winds through the heart of this forest and down in the 

drainage below. As you drive towards the trailhead that 

last quarter-mile of FR651 gives one particularly choice 

viewpoint where you’ll see golden aspen color cascading 

down into Ice House Canyon. Be aware that this is a steep 

trail; trekking poles and sturdy hiking boots are definitely 

advised. 

After hiking the Ice House Canyon Trail drive another 

mile east along the Pinal ridgetop, watching for signs for 

Ferndell, followed by 13 private cabins, then signs for Signal 

Peak and the Upper Recreation Site. Drive over to Signal 

Peak and also drive through Ferndell before you head 

back down to Globe. Both are quite scenic, and the Six 

Shooter Trail downhill below Ferndell is less steep than 

Ice House Canyon. 

Photographers take note: aspen groves and maples occur 

on the cooler north-facing canyons near the top 1,000 

feet of the Pinal Mountain range, so consider sunlight and 

back-lighting when planning your trip. October middays 

from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. are best for photos on the Ice House 

Canyon trail. Arrive much later and you’ll find the sun 

has dipped low in the canyon and trees are too backlit for 

colorful photography. Maps and hiking trails of the Pinal 

Mountain Range can be obtained from the Tonto National 

Forest Service Globe Ranger District office, for details call 

928-425-7189, or fs.fed.us/r3/tonto. 



15


Directions to Pioneer Pass 

For a different experience of the Pinals, drive the Forest 

Service road that ascends the northeast side of the mountains 

to Pioneer Pass. Directions and road conditions are similar; 

and drive Hwy 60 east to Globe, once you reach town watch 

for the railroad overpass at the Broad Street signal light. Turn 

left on Broad Street, drive through downtown Globe, and follow 

signs to the Besh Ba Gowah archaeological park (or just 

set your GPS for Besh Ba Gowah). After the Besh turnoff (at 

right), turn right onto Kellner Canyon Road. Proceed a few 

miles to the Ice House Canyon Road intersection, then bear 

left (though, technically, it’s straight rather than a left turn) 

where Kellner makes a sharp right turn. Ice House Canyon 

Road takes you all the way up through Pioneer Pass. Pavement 

road turns to graded dirt after a few miles, near the DC 

Cattle ranch. Continue on Pioneer Pass - a winding dirt road 

that ascends up and over the east side of the Pinals, complete 

with Forest Service outhouse toilets, campsites and fire rings. 

Suggested Hike: Six-Shooter Canyon trail (about two 

miles past the Ice House CCC campground). 

Six-Shooter Canyon trail climbs alongside a sycamore-lined 

creek drainage, 

the trail crossing the 

creekbed four times within 

1.5 miles. How to find 

it? The trailhead is above 

‘the Iron Bridge,’ there’s 

no sign announcing this 

bridge by that name - but 

you’ll know it when you 

see it. Park just below the 

iron bridge, then continue 

walking uphill on the 

Debbie Yerkovich 

road another 100 yards, 

Fall foliage. 

watching on the right for 

the trailhead, which makes 

a hairpin turn uphill and back up the drainage. Six-Shooter 

Canyon Trail is a favorite; hikers appreciate the canyon funneling 

cooler air from the mountaintop - and during late October 

the vivid red leaves of maples can be seen in the creek 

within 10 minutes walk uphill of the Iron Bridge (a surprisingly 

low elevation to find maples). 


Tonto National Monument to 

increase access to Lower Cliff 

Dwelling 

With increased precipitation, lower temperatures, 

decreased fire risk, and after extensive 

consultation with health and safety experts, 

Tonto National Monument will increase access 

to the Lower Cliff Dwelling and trail starting Nov. 

11, 2020. The Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail will now 

be open to uphill travel from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, 

except for Dec. 25 or when staff determine conditions 

are unsafe. 

Beginning Nov. 11, 2020, Tonto National Monument 

will increase access to: 

· Lower Cliff Dwelling and Trail 

The following facilities remain closed: 

· Visitor Center restrooms 

· Upper Cliff Dwelling and trail 

· Cactus Patch Trail 

The National Park Service (NPS) is working service 

wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities 

to closely monitor the Covid-19 pandemic and using 

a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park 

basis. Considering the continuing pandemic and increases 

in confirmed cases in Arizona, Tonto National Monument 

will be implementing guidelines for the health and safety 

of staff and visitors. 

The following guidelines are in place for the Lower 

Cliff Dwelling and Trail: 

· Limited to 10 people every 20 minutes 

· Face coverings, which cover nose and mouth, are 

encouraged when social distancing is not possible 

· Hand sanitizer station available at Visitor Center 

entrance 

We ask the public to be our partner in adopting social 

distancing practices when visiting parks. To maintain 

proper distancing please follow posted signs and instructions. 


17

Walking through history at Besh-Ba-Gowah 

A 

mile southwest of Globe, an ancient ruin 

unlike any other sits atop a broad ridge 

overlooking Pinal Creek. 

Named Besh-Ba-Gowah, which roughly means 

“place of metal” in Apache, this 200-room Salado 

masonry pueblo invites visitors to walk around its 

rooms and see utensils, pottery and furnishings from 

pre-Columbian times. 

Besh-Ba-Gowah was occupied by the Salado 

people, who lived in the Globe/Miami and Tonto 

Basin areas, between the years 1225 and 1400. Visitors 

enter the pueblo the same way as its original 

residents; through the narrow central corridor. The 

corridor was originally covered. It’s not known why 

the passage was built that way. Some say it was for 

defense; others believe it channeled people into the 

central plaza, the nearly 800-year-old pueblo’s center of 

activity. The plaza was the community’s focal point and 

center of commerce, where public ceremonies were held 

and many of the dead were buried. Excavations of the plaza 

found jewelry made with shells from the Gulf of Mexico, 

the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean – evidence 

of widespread commerce and trading between the Salado 

and other peoples. 

The pueblo consists of multi-story masonry room block 

clusters connected by long, narrow corridors or elongated 

plazas, arranged around a large communal plaza measuring 

12 meters by 27 meters. Besh-Ba-Gowah is considered 

a Salado culture “type site,” or model example of Salado 

pueblos. 

Several of its rooms have been almost completely restored; 

they contain the types of tools and pottery excavated 

at the site. One room contains material used to make 

shell jewelry, while another holds weaving material and 

examples of Salado baskets. Many ground-floor rooms 

were added as living areas. A ladder protruding through 

the roof hatch let the original inhabitants get to the roof, 

where the Salado people spent most of their time. In the 

typical pueblo, rooftops were the center of community 

traffic flow. 

Visitors can also the biggest room discovered at Besh- 

Ba-Gowah, the ceremonial chamber. Little is known 

about how this room was used, but its construction and 

the artifacts found there lead some archaeologists to believe 

it may have been used something like the kivas of 

the ancient Anasazi and other native peoples to the north. 

Visitors strolling through the site will see that parts of 

Besh-Ba-Gowah are untouched, waiting for excavation, 

while others have been stabilized and some completely reconstructed. 

This allows the study of Salado construction 

techniques. 

Enjoy the self-guided tour of the village, where visitors 

can experience the mysteries of the people who came before. 

The site, operated by the City of Globe as Besh-Ba- 

Gowah Archaeological Park and Museum, is located at 

1324 S. Jesse Hayes Rd. in Globe and is pet-friendly. The 

grounds are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except for 

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Besh-Ba- 

Gowah also closes on Mondays and Tuesdays from July 

through September. The adjacent museum contains items 

excavated from the site including pottery and woven artifacts, 

and a seasonal ethnobotanical garden showcases 

plants used by the people who made this desert landscape 

their home. 

For more information, call 928-425-0320. 



19

1 

2 

3 

4 

Queen Valley Golf 

Course 

queenvalleygolfcourse.com 

(520) 463-2214 

Bullion Plaza 

Museum 

21 Plaza Circle, Miami, AZ 

(928) 473-3700 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Boyce Thompson 

Arboretum 

arboretum.ag.arizona.edu/ 

Superior Chamber 

of Commerce 

superiorazchamber.net 

Globe-Miami 

Chamber of Commerce 

globemiamichamber.com 

Gila County 

Historical Museum 

globeaz.gov 

Cobre Valley Center 

for the Arts 

cvarts.org 

Besh-Ba-Gowah 

Archeological Park 

globeaz.gov 

Round Mountain 

Hiking Park 

globeaz.gov 

Old Dominion Park 

globeaz.gov 

To East Valley 

Gateway to the Copper Corridor 

12 

Apache 

Junction 

60 

Jake’s Corner 

Superstition Mountain 

Dolly Steamboat 

88 

87 

Tonto 

National 

Forest 

188 

Tonto Basin 

1 

Punkin Center 

Apache, Canyon & Saguaro 

Lakes 

Superstition 

Mountain 

Museum 

Gold 

Canyon 

13 

14 Tortilla Flat 

Queen Valley 

79 

2 

Butcher 

Hook 

Apache Trail 

88 

Superior 

3 

To Payson, 

Pine-Strawberry 

Miami’s Bullion Plaza 

Top of the 

World 

177 

4 

11 

60 

Miami 

Antique Dist. 

Roosevelt Lake 

Young 

288 

188 

White Mountains 

5 

6 

10 

Besh Ba Gowah Archaelogical Park 

8 

7 

9 

60 

Globe 

Antique Dist. 

15 

77 

Salt River Canyon 

San Carlos 

16 

To Tucson 

Gila River 

70 

Show Low, 

Pinetop 

18 

To Clifton, 

Morenci 

17 

191 

11 

12 

13 

15 

16 

17 

18 

Roosevelt Lake 

& Visitor Center 

www.fs.usda.gov/tonto 

www.fs.fed.us 

Superstition 

Mountain Museum 

superstitionmountainmuseum.org 

14 

19 

Dolly Steamboat 

dollysteamboat.com 

Tortilla Flat 

tortillaflataz.com 

Apache Gold 

Casino and Resort 

apachegoldcasinoresort.com 

San Carlos 

Rec. & Wildlife 

scatrwd.com 

Discovery Park 

Graham Observatory 

visitgrahamcounty.com 

Graham County 

Chamber 

graham-chamber.com 

Clifton County 

Chamber 

visitgreenleecounty.com 

To Safford 

Florence 

Kearny, Hayden & 

Winkelman 

Roper Lake

Beautiful views at Seneca Falls 

When driving the winding, 

looping roads of 

the majestic Salt River 

Canyon, it’s hard to know where to 

pull over for the best view. Around 

every turn, the view seems increasingly 

breathtaking. Located just outside 

the entrance to the canyon, Seneca 

Falls on the San Carlos Apache 

Reservation offers its own spectacular 

view of the nearly vertical basalt 

rock face and the neighboring canyon. 

Simply driving through doesn’t 

require a permit, but for any recreational 

use, you’ll need one. 

About 35 miles north of Globe, 

look for the sign that says “Seneca.” 

Just past mile marker 287, follow the 

paved road to the left of the structure 

past Seneca Lake and through the 

campground, until it dead ends. Park 

here and take a short walk, about a 

Pictures don’t do justice to the 250-foot rock face of Seneca Lake Falls. 

hundred yards, on the wide dirt path 

to view this hidden gem. Views of 

this caliber often involve a hike of 

many miles, so the fact that 

this one is so accessible really 

makes it special. 

Although once an active 

falls, after the river was 

dammed in the area to form 

the nearby Seneca Lake there 

isn’t often flowing water on 

the rock face. However, after 

a good summer rain, it’s still 

possible to see torrents of water 

streaming over the incredible 

250-foot rock face. You 

can walk around both sides of 

the falls to enjoy a wide range 

of views and look down at the 

valley floor below, if you’re 

feeling brave. 

Seneca Lake is known for 

largemouth bass, catfish, and 

trout fishing. There are also 

covered picnic tables around 

the lake to enjoy a meal before 

continuing your trip through the 

Salt River Canyon. 

The Salt River Canyon Wilderness 

Area is 32,100 acres with the 

Salt River Canyon as its focal point. 

Although the area lacks maintained 

trails, the drive on Highway 60--full 

of switchbacks and hairpin turns- 

-through the canyon is a great way 

to experience it, short of whitewater 

rafting, which is incredibly popular 

in the area in the spring. 

Often called the “Mini Grand 

Canyon,” the drive through the Salt 

River Canyon takes you down one 

side and up the other of its towering 

2,000 foot walls. Be sure to stop at 

the bridge at the bottom for scenic 

views and restrooms and take advantage 

of one of the many scenic 

pull-outs. 

The drive from Globe to Show 

Low is less than 100 miles, but the 

scenery it has to offer in this relatively 

short distance is unparalleled. 



23

Events at Boyce Thompson Arboretum 

Boyce Thompson 

Arboretum is a 

scenic 20-minute 

drive due west of 

Globe-Miami on Highway 

60. 

All tours and programs 

require pre-registration. 

There is no advance registration 

required to explore 

the Arboretum on your 

own. All walks except the 

General Tour require a fee 

of $5 per person or $3 for 

members. These modest 

fees support BTA and allow 

visitors to reserve their 

spot, which is necessary 

because capacity is limited 

due to public health 

and safety guidelines. All 

participants must wear a 

mask on guided walks and 

tours. Registration does not 

include admission into the 

arboretum. 

• General Tour 

What is an "arboretum" 

and how did one end up in 

the Sonoran Desert? These 

are just two of the questions 

you'll get answers to while 

on our general tour. Arboretum 

volunteers will narrate 

the history of Arizona's 

oldest and largest botanical 

garden, and highlight what 

makes the Sonoran Desert 

the most biodiverse desert 

in the world. In addition 

to a basic overview of desert 

ecology, audiences will 

hear what wildlife has been 

seen lately, and where to 

enjoy the most sweeping, 

panoramic views of the 

Queen Creek riparian area. 

Guided walks along the 

1.5-mile main trail include 

fun facts about the Arboretum's 

living plant collections 

while learning more 

about its resident critters. 

• Wallace Desert Garden 

Tour 

Join a volunteer guide 

for a stroll through the new 

Wallace Desert Garden. 

See this relocated collection 

on a 1-hour walk over 

approximately half a mile 

of trail. Learn about the 

history of its acquisition, 

its acclaimed and accredited 

ephedra collection, 

and many other impressive 

specimens. 

• Bird Walk 

Boyce Thompson Arboretum 

invites all who love 

birds to take part birding 

around the main trail. Arboretum 

guided bird walks 

are an ideal way to get into 

birding and to sharpen your 

skills. Beginners are welcome. 

No binoculars? No 

problem! Ask in our gift 

shop when you pay admission; 

loaner binoculars are 

available. 

• Edible & Medicinal 

Plants Tour 

On this exploration of the 

Sonoran Desert, you'll see 

jojoba, creosote, and other 

plants while learning of 

their medicinal and edible 

uses. Join us to learn how 

prickly-pear cacti, ratany, 

agaves, jojoba and other native 

plants have fed, healed 

and clothed Sonoran Desert 

peoples for more than 

1,000 years. Please note: 

this guided tour explores 

the Curandero Trail, which 

has steep sections that are 

not suitable for visitors who 

use wheelchairs, walkers or 

strollers. 

• Geology Walk 

Learn about rocks and 

volcanic formations along 

our main trail on a tour with 

professional geologists 

Rich Leveile and Phil St. 

George as your guides for 

a lively tour that compresses 

almost two billion years 

of geologic history into just 

over one educational hour. 

• Beyond Turf Grass: Using 

Ornamental Grasses in 

the Home Landscape 

Come to learn about 

ways to use ornamental 

grasses in your garden to 

create a dramatic, beautiful, 

and water-wise landscape. 

Learn what native or 

native-adapted grasses are 

available and ways to use 

them to soften the rougher 

edges of your desert garden. 

Use them to add color, 

form, texture, and sound to 

your yard. In addition, learn 

to recognize some invasive 

grasses that are creating serious 

problems for our desert 

environment. 

• Yoga - Fall Session 

Join this all-levels yoga 

practice in our natural garden 

setting led by certified 

instructor Deb McClarnon. 

Deb specializes in yoga 

therapy and believes yoga 

is not about perfect postures, 

it is about discovering 

what’s already inside 

you. Please come prepared 

with your own mat (perhaps 

a towel or blanket 

too, for extra padding) and 

weather-appropriate clothing, 

as these classes will be 

outside. 

BTA is also hosting a 

virtual lecture series called 

Wild About Wildlife! Virtual 

Lecture Series. 




Join Jeff Meyers and Cheyenne Dubiach, of the Arizona 

Game and Fish Department staff, for a virtual lecture series 

to learn more about the critters who live in and around 

Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Jeff Meyers is a wildlife 

biologist for the AZGFD, managing the Watchable Wildlife 

program. He has spent his entire adult life studying 

mammalian carnivores and enjoys the opportunity to educate 

others about all of the fascinating wildlife species we 

have here in Arizona. Cheyenne Dubiach is the Watchable 

Wildlife Program Coordinator for AZGFD. Her educational 

background is in Forestry and Wildlife Biology. She 

is an Arizona native who enjoys any opportunity to share 

her enthusiasm for wildlife with others. 

• Javelinas Nov. 21, 11 a.m. to noon 

Who are you calling a pig? Javelina, also known as collared 

peccaries, are actually not pigs, even though they have a common 

reputation of being such. Join us and learn more about 

these highly sociable, widely distributed, and oft seen animals 

here in Arizona! We will talk about their history, behavior, adaptations, 

and much more! 

• Squirrels & Chipmunks Dec. 19, 11 a.m. - noon 

Desert Squirrels and Chipmunks! Tune in for an in-depth 

look at these fascinating rodents known for their charismatic 

acrobatics and adorable antics. 

We will dive into the natural 

history, modern distribution, 

and special adaptation of these 

small mammal desert dwellers. 

From the rare and endangered 

to the more common and wellloved, 

these critters never fail to capture everyone’s attention. 

• Desert Mammals Jan. 16, 11a.m. - noon 

Diverse Desert Mammals! The ecology of Arizona is the 

by-product of physio-geographical phenomena with both 

tropical and boreal influences. These phenomena impact all 

aspects of the state’s natural history and give Arizona its unbelievable 

diversity of plants and animals. Arizona has one of 

the most diverse mammalian faunal assemblages in the nation, 

with 134 native mammal species! Tune in to learn about 

these different species that call Arizona home. 

• Packrats Feb 20, 11 a.m. - noon 

“I’m not a packrat! I just like nice things...” Also known 

as woodrats, packrats are renowned for their hoarder-style 

method of home improvement. In truth, this is just one of the 

many adaptations these mammals use to survive and thrive in 

the Sonoran Desert. In this lecture we’ll take a deeper look at 

these creatures, their adaptations and their complex houses. 

• Wildcats! March 20, 11 a.m. - noon 

Arizona’s Wildcats! Arizona is home to four different species 

of wildcats, including the third-largest felid in the world. 

Wildcats of all species are capable of taking prey much larger 

than themselves, and seemingly impossible feats of athleticism. 

Feared, vilified, and worshiped, wildcats have had a 

varied relationship with humans from the beginning of time. 

From jaguars to bobcats, learn about these misunderstood 

predators, their current ecology and biology. 

Confirm event times at https://www.btarboretum.org. 


25

‘Explore the Wild’ at discovergilacounty.com 

Gateway magazine 

is your quarterly 

update and invite 

to visit Gila County and explore 

scenic spots along the 

Copper Corridor. 

For the most up-to-date 

details about where to 

stay and what to do while 

you’re here, bookmark 

discovergilacounty.com 

as a browser favorite, and 

connect on the comprehensive 

website’s companion 

Facebook and Instagram 

pages to see enticing photos 

of cobalt-blue lakes, 

tree-lined hiking paths and 

mouth-watering local food. 

Launched by Gila County’s 

Board of Supervisors 

two years ago, the stylish 

new website’s a thorough 

portal to outdoor adventure 

ranging from the tall, cool 

pines of the Rim Country 

towns of Payson and 

Star Valley down through 

our Copper Corridor heritage 

here in Globe and 

Miami – including travel 

and tourism information 

about all three 

Apache Nations (San 

Carlos, Tonto, White 

Mountain); wilderness 

areas, hiking trails, 

unique local restaurants 

and event calendars. 

Centrally-located Gila 

County is truly the heart 

of Arizona, with 53,500 

residents and 4,796 

square miles of desert, 

canyonlands and lakes. 

At discovergilacounty. 

com you’ll find planned 

itineraries for three-dayweekend 

trips that hit the 

highlights for shopping, relaxed 

hikes, Native American 

culture and history 

– and outdoor adventure. 

Gila County has seven wilderness 

areas: Hell’s Gate 

and the Mazatzal canyons 

and forests offer scenery 

that’s approachable, yet 

remote enough for peace, 

quiet and solitude. Arizona’s 

majestic saguaro cacti? 

See and photograph these 

desert icons at our lowest 

elevations. Gila County 

includes Sonoran Desert at 

2,000 feet above sea level, 

proceeding up to stately 

ponderosa pine forest - the 

largest stand of ponderosa 

pines on the planet! Gila 

County lures outdoor enthusiasts 

choosing a place 

to live, work and enjoy the 

best mix of Arizona’s desert, 

mountains and lakes. 

Where to Stay? 

discovergilacounty. 

com lists our biggest hotels, 

of course – but gives 

equal space to singular 

bed-and-breakfast lodging 

in Pine-Strawberry, 

Payson, Globe and Young. 

Where to eat while 

you’re here? 

Restaurants are all listed, 

too: from family-owned 

Mexican restaurants of 

Globe-Miami, to unique 

eateries in Hayden and Star 

Valley a popular brewery in 

Pine and a vineyard-winery 

in Young. 

Etymologists tell us 

the word ‘Gila’ originates 

from a Spanish contraction 

of Hah-quah-sa-eel, a 

Yuma word meaning “running 

water which is salty.” 

Gila County includes the 

towns of Payson, Star Valley, 

Christopher Creek, 

Strawberry and Pine. Mining, 

ranching and old west 

traditions still thrive here, 

Payson takes pride in being 

the birthplace of rodeo 

- and San Carlos Apaches 

still practice their ancient 

tradition of Sunrise Dances 

during the spring, summer 

and fall. 

Looking for a half-day 

hike, or a 2-3 day backpacking 

adventure? Explore 

the Mogollon Rim - a 

topographic and geological 

wonder that extends about 

200 miles across central 

Arizona. It forms the southern 

edge of the Colorado 

Plateau in Arizona - providing 

outdoor adventure 

to campers, hikers, mountain 

bikers, photographers, 

bird-watchers and hunters. 

discovergilacounty.com 

is your guide to hiking 

trails and nearby lodging. 

Located on the northeastern 

edge of the Sonoran 

Desert, Gila County covers 

a wide variety of life 

zones - from iconic saguaro 

cacti in the low desert to 

pinyon-juniper grasslands, 

chaparral, and montane 

forests of pine, fir and aspen. 




Tonto Natural Bridge State Park 

Roosevelt Lake is one 

of Arizona’s most popular 

for fishing, boating and 

recreation – and wholly 

within Gila County. Tonto 

National Monument, Fossil 

Creek, the Salt River, 

Tonto Natural Bridge 

State Park, designated 

Wilderness Areas and 

popular camping areas 

within the Tonto National 

Forest are also among 

Gila County’s bragging 

rights. 

Marcus Tafoya 

Don’t miss Tonto Natural 

Bridge, between the 

towns of Payson and Pine, 

which became an Arizona 

State Park in 1990. Now 

thousands of visitors marvel 

each year at the largest 

travertine bridge in the 

world, and the beauty of 

Pine Creek Canyon. 

The high desert community 

of Pleasant Valley 

is a serene scene of 

peace and quiet today 

– but in the 1880s it was 

the origin of a range war 

that’s among the most famous 

(and deadly) feuds 

in American history. The 

Pleasant Valley War, also 

called the Tonto Basin 

Feud or the Tonto Basin 

War, matched the 

cattle-herding Grahams 

against the sheep-herding 

Tewksburys. 

Copper’s lustre still 

shines in Gila County - an 

industry employing 3,000 

people. Mineral deposits 

brought miners back 

in 1874 when silver was 

discovered in Globe – 

eclipsed within a decade 

by our vast deposits of 

copper. Dig into online 

databases listing Arizona 

mines and you’ll find 

an impressive 641 mines 

across Gila County, from 

A-to-Z -- that is, from the 

Abbie & Ross mine (copper, 

gold, lead, silver) to 

the Zulu Mine 

near Rye. 641 

mines! And 30 

ranches continue 

to manage 

some 15,000 

cattle spread 

out across 

Gila County 

rangeland. 

City of Globe 

Globe is currently 

the Gila 

County seat. 

The city’s history 

laced with 

historic Wild 

West events 

from murders 

and stagecoach robberies 

to outlaws, hanging 

and Apache raids. Local 

historians guide seasonal 

walking tours that narrate 

the connection to famous 

residents and itinerants 

from Ike Clanton (one of 

the gunfighters from the 

OK Corral) to Geronimo, 

Apache Kid, Big-Nose 

Kate and more. 

Globe is about 87 

miles east of Phoenix 

and at the crossroads of 

highways 60, 70 and 77. 

Payson is a scenic and 

convenient 90-minute 

drive from Phoenix on the 

recently-expanded fourlane 

‘Beeline Highway.’ 

Read more at discovergilacounty.com, 

see daily 

photos and join an online 

community of thousands 

who love Gila County at 

facebook.com/discovergilacounty. 


27

Gila County’s Ten Top Spots for Birdwatching 

Is Gila County a great place to strap birding time to 

on the binoculars and see birds? Gila County . . . it 

Ask ‘Tommy D’ Debardeleben, was a fun ride.” 

author of a popular website frequently 

updated with his adventures seeking 

Nature-lovers 

seeking narrative 

rare birds around the Grand Canyon descriptions can 

State. Most of his days-off work during 

2017 were spent birding Gila County 

- starting the year with 137 species he 

had found on prior visits, and doubling 

spend hours reading 

Tommy D’s 

blog posts and be 

familiar with most 

that already-impressive tally to 275 of the 10 spots in 

before New Year’s Eve. Search posts 

at tommysbirdingexpeditions for anecdotes 

from across Gila County, from 

a Rufous-winged Sparrow singing at 

the Southern tip of the county, just off 

Highway 77 near Winkelman and the 

Gila River (where Black Vulture and 

this list of great 

places to see and 

photograph birds. 

You’ll also want to 

bookmark ebird. 

org as a browser 

favorite, and also Olive Warbler. 

Mississippi Kite are also possible), to explore this exhaustive 

‘chases’ northwards hoping for Shorttailed 

Hawk in the Pinal Mountains – to 

San Carlos Lake for Hooded Merganser, 

Bonaparte’s Gull, and Franklin’s 

Gull – and to Green Valley Park in 

Payson for Northern Parula and Rufous-backed 

Robin. 

“I fell in love with the county,” he 

writes, “I saw how diverse it was, and 

how much potential it had for personal 

discovery. Before I knew it, I had spent 

a huge chunk of the year devoting my 

website – 

where easy-t0-navigate maps pinpoint 

‘hotspots’ where birders have collectively 

reported: 

Winkelman Flats park – 158 species 

San Carlos Lake - 207 

Russell Gulch below the Pinal Mountains 

- 177 

Pinal Peak – 152 

Jones Water campground north of 

Globe - 120 

Roosevelt Lake - 203 

Tonto Creek Fish 

Hatchery - 115 

Green Valley Park 

in Payson - 174 

Pine Creek Canyon 

- 121 

Parker Creek in the 

Sierra Anchas - 109 

Want a few more 

numbers? Consider 

these recent trip lists 

from Sulfide de Rey 

campground -- just 

one of several ‘Hot 

Red Breasted Nuthatch. 

Muriel Neddermeyer Spots’ in the Pinals 

where sightings are 

Muriel Neddermeyer 

posted on Ebird. Last month Jay Taylor 

found Acorn Woodpecker, Western 

Wood-Pewee, Pacific-slope/Cordilleran 

Flycatcher (Western Flycatcher); 

Hutton’s Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch, 

House Wren 

Yellow-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee, 

Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson’s 

Warbler, and Mourning Dove. A 

few weeks prior to that Dave Pearson 

reported Anna’s Hummingbird, Broadtailed 

Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, 

Turkey Vulture, Zone-tailed 

Hawk, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Cassin’s 

Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, Common 

Raven, Bridled Titmouse, Bushtit, 

Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, 

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Bewick’s 

Wren, Hermit Thrush, Phainopepla, Olive 

Warbler, Lesser Goldfinch, Grace’s 

Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, 

Painted Redstart, Western Tanager and 

Black-headed Grosbeak 

. See photos and read more at ebird. 

org; connect with the author and signup 

for updates about Tommy’s treks at 

tommysbirdingexpeditions.blogspot. 

com. 


Apache history and culture off Highway 70 

On Highway 70 

where it passes 

over the San 

Carlos River in the Peridot 

District of the San Carlos 

Apache Nation is a little 

gem of a museum not to 

be missed. The San Carlos 

Apache Culture Center is 

now open from 8 a.m. to 

4:30 p.m. Monday through 

Friday and often on Saturdays. 

An open, surprisingly 

spacious facility features 

exhibits on all aspects of 

Apache history and culture. 

A gift shop features an 

array of Apache fine arts 

and crafts including jewelry 

made from the mineral peridot, 

for which the Peridot 

Mesa is named. The volcano 

and the mesa it created, 

which can be seen to the 

northwest of the Apache 

Burger parking lot, is one of 

the few places in the world 

where peridot is mined. 

Paintings and statues of 

Gan Dancers, who are a 

vibrant and important element 

of living Apache culture 

are provided. Apache 

camp dresses of all sizes 

fill a rack, like a bouquet of 

wearable flowers. And, of 

course, there are many lovingly 

beaded items for sale. 

Curator Marlowe Cassadore, 

his staff and visiting 

curators are not just booklearned 

in Apache Culture. 

They are living it and are 

willing and able fonts of 

local information about ancient 

and modern Apache 

life. 


29

Enjoy a relaxing day at Roper Lake 

Roper Lake State 

Park, located just 

outside of Safford, 

offers visitors a little bit of 

everything. 

For the fisherman (and 

fisherwoman), there is an 

accessible fishing dock and 

the 30-acre Roper Lake is 

stocked with largemouth 

bass and rainbow trout. The 

lake is a perfect place for 

a child to catch his or her 

first fish. For the camper, 

the park has campgrounds 

with all the requisite hookups, 

and there are also eight 

camping cabins that are accessible 

by car or RV. The 

cabins have electricity, including 

air conditioning 

and heat. Picnic tables and 

charcoal grills are immediately 

outside the cabins, 

while restrooms and showers 

are within walking distance. 

Campsite reservations 

must be made in advance. 

For the boater, the park 

provides ideal conditions 

for a sail board, kayak or 

canoe, as boats are limited 

to small electric motors. 

For the bird watcher, 

Gambel’s quail and heron 

regularly make visits to the 

park, as do migratory birds. 

For those who like to 

run around and work up a 

sweat, the park has a day 

use island with a large 

chunk of flat, green grass, 

perfect for throwing around 

the frisbee or for a game of 

touch football. 

The park also features 

five miles of hiking trails, 

and two-mile Heart Healthy 

walks are offered daily. 

For after working up that 

sweat (and after a shower, 

of course) there is a natural 

stone hot tub. 

Finally, for the person 

who likes to kick back and 

take in some unique natural 

scenery, Roper Lake State 

Park is the place to go. No 

matter where you go in the 

park, the majestic Mount 

Graham, which reaches 

10,720 feet and is the tallest 

mountain in Graham County, 

watches over you and 

provides stunning views. 

Mount Graham’s foothills 

and the sometimes harsh 

yet beautiful desert vegetation 

also give visitors pleasant 

scenery to take in. 

Roper Lake State Park 

is situated off of US Route 

191, six miles south of Safford, 

at 101 E. Roper Lake 

Road. The park is open 

year-round and quiet hours 

are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The 

park closes at 10 p.m. For 

more information on Roper 

Lake State Park, you 

can call (877) MY-PARKS 

or visit www.azstateparks. 

com. 


Dankworth unit features Indian 

village, artifacts and adventure 

The Dankworth Unit, comprised 

of 160 acres of land surrounding 

a 10-acre body of water, is 

located a short distance south of Roper 

Lake. It provides day-use facilities 

for family outings, fishing and nature 

trail hiking and a 95-degree artesian 

natural hot spring. The pond has catfish, 

bass, bluegill, sunfish and crappie. 

The area is shaded and restroom facilities 

adjoin a parking area. It also has 

picnic ramadas and a playground. A large 

sign along the water’s edge highlights the 

complex aquatic ecosystem of the pond. 

There is a $5 day-use fee, which is also 

valid at Roper Lake State Park. 

A network of trails provides opportunities 

for short walks and longer hikes. 

Benches provide a place to relax and listen 

to the birds along the way. The Dos 

Arroyos Trail starts at the far end of the 

lake. Part of this scenic 3/4-mile trail 

takes you along a meandering stream 

covered with towering cottonwoods, 

seep willows and mesquite trees. This riparian 

area is a rare and fragile oasis in 

the desert. Rabbits, quail and songbirds 

are abundant in the area. 

A spur off the Dos Arroyos Trail leads 

uphill to the Dankworth Village, which 

features a series of replica Native American 

buildings representing various periods 

in the cultural history of the Gila Valley. 

A trail through the Village includes 

stops to see replicas of grinding stones, 

stone tools, petroglyphs, roasting pits, 

pithouses, and wickiups. A trail brochure 

is available at the entrance of the village 

and an Activity Guide is available to 

teachers and home-school parents from 

the BLM Safford Field Office. 


31

Clifton welcomes visitors like family 

Where in the 

beautiful state 

of Arizona 

can you start your day 

sitting at a family owned 

restaurant, eating the 

most yummy homemade 

breakfast fit for a king, 

enjoying all the coffee 

you like surrounded by 

the most friendly people 

you didn’t know 30 

minutes ago, but feel like 

family now? 

The staff at PJ’s suggest 

that your next stop be to 

visit Leslie and her staff 

at Clifton AVIC visitors 

center where you can get 

all the info on where to go 

and what to see, and lots of 

brochures and info to enjoy 

your day. Down the road 

you see the beautiful historic 

train depot that houses 

the visitors center. When 

entering you are greeted 

by a very friendly, helpful 

volunteer ready to help you 

plan your day. 

As you talk, you see two 

trains clacking by right 

outside the window, delivering 

acid up to the largest 

open pit copper mine in 

North America, Freeport 

McMoRan. You are given 

brochures, magazines and a 

map showing where to stop 

and see the mine overlook 

where you can actually see 

the operation of copper 

mining for miles. One of 

our favorite features is the 

birding trails with maps and 

cards showing the different 

kinds of rare birds you 

might see. As you leave 

the center you are given a 

small bag with little pieces 

of copper samples from the 

mine. 

Coming back down Hwy. 

191 where the lookout is, 

you find historic Chase 

Creek. Moseying down the 

street, you can stop and see 

some amazing antiques, 

one-of-a-kind toys and 

books, an apothecary, hundreds 

of displays of history 

in the historic museum, the 

old union hall where there 

is the famous full-sized 

mural of the copper strike 

and the effects on the town 

— quite impressive. Several 

more shops to see, then 

probably time to stop and 

enjoy a cold beverage at the 

Clifton Hotel, newly renovated 

and offering yummy 

treats. Relaxing in a group 

of friendly, family-type 

people you realize you have 

discovered a secret that 

needs to be shared. Clifton, 

Arizona is not only a very 

great place to visit with lots 

to do; most important, it has 

the friendliest people you 

will ever meet. 


Forever Young, always rural 

While it was 

known as 

Pleasant Valley 

because of its beauty, 

there were times past that 

were not exactly pleasant. 

In the 1880s, it was the 

scene of “The Pleasant 

Valley War,” and Arizona 

legend has it that many a 

Zane Grey novel was based 

on stories from the deadly 

feud. 

Given Pleasant Valley’s 

abundant grassland, word 

quickly spread that it was 

the perfect place to raise 

cattle and, though it was 

not easy to get to, cattlemen 

began to homestead there. 

By the mid-1880s, several 

ranches had already been 

established and a feud began 

between two ranching 

families that had previously 

been in business together. 

The story goes that all of 

Pleasant Valley was divided 

between the two factions. 

The “War” finally ended 

when the last man on one of 

the sides was killed in the 

early 1890s. 

A family by the name of 

Young bought the man’s 

ranch, and one of its daughters 

became the postmistress. 

When applying for 

a post office, the woman 

used the name “Young,” as 

the name “Pleasant Valley” 

was already being used in 

another part of the state. 

Today, many ranching 

families still remain in 


Young, which maintains its 

rural lifestyle completely 

surrounded by the Tonto 

National Forest. 

It is not, however, the 

area’s only forest. North of 

Young, along the Mogollon 

Rim, lies the Apache- 

Sitgreaves National Forest, 

offering its “high elevation, 

abundant wildlife and cool 

summer temperatures.” 

While visiting, keep a 

sharp eye out for the Mogollon 

Monster, the stuff 

of local legends about a 

Bigfoot-like creature that 

roams the forest. Whether 

fact or fiction, there is only 

one way to find out: go see 

for yourself. 

At the base of the Rim 

lies the Hellsgate Wilderness, 

known for its very remote 

setting that offers hiking, 

camping, and seasonal 

fishing. 

South of Young is the 

Sierra Ancha Wilderness, 

which is known for its 

rugged beauty as well as 

its pre-Colombian Native 

American ruins. 

Located at the headwaters 

of Canyon Creek is a 

fish hatchery owned by the 

U.S. Forest Service. A visitor’s 

center is open daily 

from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

For more information, call 

928-535-5475. 

In addition to Cherry 

Creek that runs through 

Young, Haigler Creek is located 

about 12 miles west 

of Young on the Chamberlain 

Trail, offering fishing 

and camping opportunities 

in a “lush riparian environment.” 

If you’re looking for the 

standard lodging and eating 

chains, you will not find 

them in Young. What you 

will find is refuge from the 

traffic and stress of life in 

the big city. 

As for places to stay, 

Young offers lodging with 

colorful names, such as the 

Dead Broke Inn, the Pleasant 

Valley Inn and Waite’s 

Country Home Mobile 

Home Park, all located 

along Highway 288. There 

is also the Cherry Creek 

Lodge, the Sherrill Ranch 

Cabin, Grandpa’s Cabin, 

Cherry Creek Cabins, Valley 

View Cabins and the Q 

Ranch. 

Food and beverage 

awaits you at Antler’s Café 

and Bar, Purple Sage Farm, 

the Bruzzi Vineyard and 

Merle and Kathy’s Valley 

Bar, all located on Highway 

288. 

Open many weekends 

throughout the year, the 

Pleasant Valley Historical 

Society Museum is a must 

for visiting to learn about 

the area’s incredible history. 

Editor’s note: Some information 

in this article was 

obtained from the website 

“Visit Young,” at https:// 

youngaz.org/visit-young. 

33

Goldfield Ghost Town is your ticket to the Old West 

Come and visit 

Goldfield Ghost 

Town today! 

Walk down Main Street, 

explore the many shops 

and historic buildings. 

Tour the historic Mammoth 

Gold Mine and visit 

the Goldfield Museum. 

Pan for gold, then take 

a ride on Arizona’s only 

narrow gauge train. The 

Superstition Scenic Narrow 

Gauge Railroad’s 

36″ gauge train consists 

of a Plymouth diesel pulling 

a passenger car and 

a caboose. A mile and a 

half of track circles the 

town, and the narrated 

journey lasts 20 minutes. 

The engineer tells of the 

history of Goldfield, the 

Superstition Mountains, 

and the desert southwest 

in general. The train departs 

every 35 minutes 

it’s a 20-minute journey. 

You’ll also get to witness 

an Old West gunfight 

performed by the famous 

Goldfield Gunfighters. 

These gunfighters are the 

toughest bunch of scoundrels 

that ever walked 

the streets of Goldfield! 

They’re the reason why 

Goldfield is truly a town 

too tough to die! Witness 

the gunfights and all the 

daring antics of the cowboy 

and cowgirl characters as a 

bunch of town folks try to 

steal the Wells Fargo strong 

box. Get your best friend 

arrested and thrown in Jail! 

The newest attraction at 

Goldfield Ghost Town is 

the Superstition Zipline. 

Prepare to see the town 

and the surrounding area 

like you never have, from 

above. 

Goldfield Ghost Town’s 

Walking Ghost Tour 

Take a walk with host 

Matt Mason through the 

historic mining town at 

night, to learn about the 

legends, spirits, and curses 

that share the town with its 

residents to this very day. 

This spooky tour will last 

approximately one hour. 

For reservations, please 

visit https://fearfrontier. 

net/. 

Spend a fun-filled day, 

rich in Wild West history. 

Back in the 1890′s Goldfield 

boasted three saloons, 

a boarding house, general 

store, blacksmith shop, 

brewery, meat market and 

school house. Just when it 

looked like the town would 

outgrow Mesa, the vein 

faulted, the grade of ore 

dropped and the town died 

a slow painful death. 

After several unsuccessful 

attempts to reopen the 

mines, the town did come 

to life again from 1910 on 

and off until 1926. After 

more than 115 years, travelers 

from all over the world 

still visit this gold mining 

town located on the historic 

Apache Trail and enjoy the 

excitement and grandeur of 

Arizona’s wild west. 


Bruzzi Vineyard now in Superior 

Bruzzi Vineyard 

has made it easier 

to enjoy a bottle of 

their expertly crafted wine, 

from free shipping with any 

purchase and now a new location 

to taste. 

They have opened a tasting 

room in downtown Superior 

featuring an intimate 

boutique that complements 

La Paloma Fine Art gallery 

to make your visit a memorable 

one. Bruzzi Vineyard’s 

newest location is 

now open at 20 N Magma 

Ave. in Superior, Arizona. 

Hours will be Thursday, 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday 

from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Seating is limited to four 

guests at a time and reservations 

are strongly recommended! 

The vineyard, located in 

scenic and historic Young, 

Arizona is still open and 

providing their fine wines. 

They were the first vineyard 


in Gila County 

and their wine 

grapes are expertly 

crafted 

into some of the 

finest wines in 

the state. Their 

Vidal Blanc is 

their craft, but 

others are always 

available. 

James Bruzzi, 

the owner 

of Bruzzi Vineyard, 

has owned 

several businesses 

but his 

passion is for agriculture. 

Llamas Veronica, Karen 

and Gretchen have been 

added to the existing duo 

Amber and Abigail who 

have been on the staff for 

a few years. These ladies 

help trim the vines and are 

also available for a meet 

and greet. 

You can still shop exceptional 

wines and fine farm 

products at 

the Young 

tasting room. 

T h e y 

continue to 

have their 

weekend 

“Day or Dinner” 

menus 

available on 

their Facebook 

page at 

https://www. 

facebook. 

com/BruzziVineyard/ 

Or make 

a reservation 

for the upcoming Winter 

Solictice Wine Dinner on 

Dec. 16. The courses will 

be paired with a handpicked 

selection from the 

Bruzzi Vineyard cellars. 

The Christmas Eve Feast 

is set for Thursday, Dec. 24 

at 6 p.m. and reservations 

are required. 

Make your reservations 

at www.bruzzivineyard.com 

or by emailing 

bruzzivineyard@aol.com 

or calling 928-462-3314. 

Reservations for the Superior 

location can be made 

at https://bruzzivineyard. 

com/superior 

35

Visit the rich eco-tourism of Kearny 

In the late 1800s, 

Gen. Stephen W. 

Kearny set up camp 

near the Gila River, 

at the base of the Pinal 

Mountains. Kearny 

called the area hostile 

and uninhabitable. That 

"uninhabitable area" became 

quite the opposite 

as the location provides 

prime opportunities for 

some of the best outdoor 

recreation in the 

state. Kearny has even 

developed an ATV, hiking, horseback, 

and picnic trail to help facilitate 

safe outdoor recreation, also 

known as "eco-tourism." 

The Gila River is one of the longest 

rivers in the west, a 649-mile 

tributary of the Colorado River. It is 

joined by the San Carlos River from 

the north in San Carlos Lake. At Winkelman, 

Arizona it picks up the San 

Pedro River and then is joined by 

the Santa Cruz River south of Casa 

Grande. The Salt River, its main tributary, 

joins in the Phoenix metro area, 

and further west the Gila receives its 

last two major tributaries, the Agua 

Fria and Hassayampa Rivers, from 

the north. 

Some of the common fish found in 

the Gila River are largemouth bass, 

sunfishes, channel catfish, flathead 

catfish and Gila trout. 

The Gila River is home to what 

now is the protected Gila trout. They 

look similar to an Apache trout with 

smaller spots and a more brown than 

yellow base color. 

Bring your tent or RV and fishing 

pole and come explore one of Arizona's 

remote destinations. 



37

Treating the body the way it was meant to be treated 

Podiatrist Glen Robison, DPM, 

PLC, of AZ Foot and Ankle, is 

committed to providing quality 

and comprehensive foot and ankle 

care in central Arizona, with offices in 

Globe and Mesa. 

“I’ve been in Globe for over 20 

years and have treated patients from 

1-day newborns to 108 years old over 

the course of the years,” he said. “I 

practice medicine from the knees 

down, from fractures to foreign 

bodies,” or you could say from A to 

Z—”AZ foot and ankle.” 

Not only is Dr. Robison a licensed 

Podiatrist, he is also something of a 

Renaissance man - a painter by hobby, 

whose artwork is displayed in 

his Mesa office, and now an author. 

“It helps to ground me,” Dr. Robison 

said of his return to his artful 

pursuits. 

When he wasn’t working with patients 

or dabbling in oils, the doctor 

was busy writing his book “Healthy 

Dad Sick Dad,” which should be released 

in 2021. We focus so much on 

retiring wealthy or just with our benefit 

package. But what good is retirement 

if you’re dependent on an oxygen 

tank or hooked up to a dialysis 

machine? Life was meant to enjoy, or 

to have joy after putting in all those 

years working. 

But it’s his holistic approach to 

his calling as a podiatric specialist 

where Dr. Robison’s artistic approach 

really shines through. 

Dr. Robison integrates “Myopractics” 

as an important diagnostic 

factor of the human frame and treats 

the musculature as the prime mover 

of the skeletal system in the lower 

extremities. 

“I look at the whole body,” Dr. Robison 

said. “What really sets me aside in 

my practice is my focus on alignment 

of the lower extremities: It’s important 

to look at the body as a whole.” 

Regardless of the foot or ankle condition, 

Dr. Robison is dedicated to 

providing his patients with a podiatric 

examination that offers the energy 

and expertise they seek. Both he and 

his staff work to ensure short waiting 

times and prompt service. 

“We can get people 

back to work,” Dr. Robison 

said. 

On one particular day 

he had six patients come 

into the office wanting 

surgery for their painful 

bunions. All six patients 

left the exam room pain 

free and only one went 

on to have surgery. And 

that was over six years 

ago. “This is a daily occurrence,” 

Dr. Robison 

said. “I see patients come in with pain 

and leave pain free. If patients come 

to me for the sole reason to get out of 

pain I can offer a solution to their pain 

without surgery. 

“Several years ago I was developing 

a bunion and I did not want surgery, 

the main reason being I did not 

want to take two months off work. 

Through trial and error on myself I 

developed a technique to reduce the 

pain and even the bunion. Now I 

share it with my patients. I have literally 

seen those who needed bunion 

surgery walk out of my office pain 

free, and they’re still very active today.” 

Despite his training as a surgeon, 

his approach to surgery is only to do it 

when it is absolutely necessary. Hence 

his motto “treat the body the way it 

was intended to be treated.” Dr. Robison 

finds surgery may not always be 

the first answer. 

“Since treating my first patient with 

prolotherapy back in 2008 I have stabilized 

hundreds of acute and chronic 

ankles,” Dr. Robison said. “I have also 

repaired torn ligaments, tendons, and 

even painful nerve endings of the feet. 

In addition to the help he gives his 

patients, Dr. Robison lectures on lower 

extremity health at senior centers 

and community groups and advocates 

for healthy eating as a way to overall 

health, particularly with his diabetic 

patients. Visit his web site at www. 

naturalfootcures.com. 



39

2020 Fall Winter Gateway

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