State Route 78 is Scarlett Johansson before Lost in Translation. Or, if you prefer, Ryan Gosling before The Notebook. That tortured metaphor is a roundabout way of saying that SR 78, in Arizona’s far eastern reaches, is the most beautiful road you’ve probably never heard of. This 34.2-mile drive, which extends into New Mexico, features everything from vibrant grasslands to mountain vistas, with a little roadside history along the way.
When I’m looking for routes that are worthy of being featured in Arizona Highways, I spend a lot of time on the internet. Most of the time, what I find there can be trusted. But there’s a reason I actually go out and drive these roads.
There’s a reason they call State Route 87 the Beeline Highway: This well-traveled route is basically a straight shot from the Phoenix area to the Mogollon Rim city of Payson. For those looking for a more roundabout path, there’s Forest Road 414, which traverses gorgeous Tonto National Forest terrain southwest of Payson and offers lovely views of the nearby Mazatzal Mountains. And in good weather, it won’t add much time to your trip.
Maybe this one seems too obvious. Everyone knows about the drive through Salt River Canyon, you might be thinking. But you’d be surprised how many Arizonans have never traveled the steep, winding stretch of U.S. Route 60 between Globe and Show Low. And, unlike many lesser-known drives in the state, this one is fully paved, making it an option in any vehicle.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the only person to have walked on the moon. And then, 19 minutes later, he wasn’t anymore. No disrespect to Buzz Aldrin, but the rare feeling of standing alone can be fleeting. But not when it comes to Diamond Creek Road. This rugged 20-mile route is the only place in the 277-mile Grand Canyon, from its start at Lees Ferry to its end at the Grand Wash Cliffs, where you can reach the Colorado River in a car. And the scenery along the way is just as unique.
Many travelers know Ajo as a rest stop en route to Southern Arizona’s Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, but there’s plenty to see in and around town, too, from a thriving slice of the Sonoran Desert to extensive human history. The Ajo Scenic Loop, a point of pride for the community, offers both of these attractions, and in good weather, you can tackle the 10.7-mile route in just about any vehicle.
There are countless scenic routes in Arizona just waiting to be discovered, but these days, a newly acces-sible drive doesn’t often just materialize on the map. Yet that’s what happened in 2008, when Pinal County finished a multi-year project to pave Park Link Drive, a key connection between Interstate 10 and State Route 79 (the Pinal Pioneer Parkway) northwest of Tucson. It was thought the pavement would spur development along the road, but so far, that hasn’t happened.
Aspens and maples. When it comes to fall color in Arizona, it seems like those two tree species get most of the attention. They put on spectacular autumn displays, but so do oaks, which grow in abundance amid the ponderosa pines atop the Mogollon Rim of Central Arizona. These trees’ yellow and orange leaves make the drive along Dane Ridge a lovely experience in October, but the abundant evergreens make it a pleasant, accessible trek through the woods at other times of year, too.
Johnny Ringo, notorious outlaw and enemy of Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, met his end in the Chiricahua Mountains in July 1882. On this fact, people agree. And while the manner of Ringo’s death is debated even today, there’s no doubt about Ringo’s final resting place: beneath a pile of rocks along Turkey Creek Road, which climbs into the Chiricahuas from the west. Ringo’s grave is a highlight of this 10-mile drive, but the route also offers an easy meander into the varied flora and terrain of this “sky island” range.
What’s the highest mountain in Grand Canyon National Park? Your first guess might be Point Imperial (8,803 feet), but that’s an overlook, not a mountain. The answer is Saddle Mountain (8,419 feet), which forms part of the park boundary in the Marble Canyon section of the gorge. And a forested drive to the overlook named for this peak will give you a look at it — and much more.
