WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE

THE ROADS

There are many scenic back roads in the White Mountains. One of our favorites is Forest Road 116, which winds along the West Fork of the Black River and up toward Big Lake. It's not the only road, though. There's an entire network in the woods that leads to some of the most beautiful places in Arizona.A PORTFOLIO EDITED BY JEFF KIDA AND KEITH WHITNEY PRECEDING PANEL: Forest Road 116 meanders past evergreens and lichen-covered boulders as monsoon storm clouds gather over the White Mountains of Eastern Arizona. FR 116, which is just west of Big Lake and suitable for most vehicles in good weather, can be accessed via State Route 273, which runs southeast from State Route 260.

LEFT: A thunderstorm forms near Big Lake, one of the largest reservoirs in the White Mountains, at sunset. A popular boating and fishing destination, Big Lake is just south of the intersection of state routes 261 and 273. LAURENCE PARENT

JOEL HAZELTON CANON EOS 6D, 1/15 SEC, F/10, ISO 400, 118 MM LENS Lush vegetation, including tall ponderosa pines, thrives along the Black River in morning light. The Black River eventually merges with the White River to form the Salt River, which supplies a significant portion of the Phoenix area's water. JOEL HAZELTON Lee Valley Lake mirrors aquatic grasses and a nearby dense forest of evergreens and aspens. At 9,423 feet, this 35-acre lake is Arizona's highest-elevation reservoir. It's just off SR 273 northwest of Crescent Lake.