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Tracing history by Randal_Schulhauser Note: A guest writes... Just tried going to this trail today 1/25/09 and learned that it has been closed to all motor vehicles by the state land bureau for plant and animal preservation. Only hiking and horseback riding is allowed now. Please advise the author or site admin if you notice this changes. The Butterfield Pass Trail is at the cross roads of Arizona history. Several historic trails converge and overlap at this North Maricopa Mountain pass located within one of America's newest national monuments - The Sonoran Desert NM. This is a popular 4WD trail appearing in many guides, but there are hiking opportunities within the wash that parallels the 4WD trail. This section of trail is maintained by the Boy Scouts of America as a community project. With spring break in full swing and our house full of "city" visitors from Canada, a combination of Arizona adventure, scenery (including spring desert flowers), history, and exercise is in order. A mix of 4WD off-roading and desert hiking will score high on all 4 criteria. I would classify this combination as a "gentle introduction" to both Arizona past-times - a good mix for "city folk" visitors not necessarily familiar with the "great outdoors"! When you turn off at the primitive dirt road near the large wooden sign indicating the Sonoran Desert National Monument, you may want to take a moment to observe the many trains pushing through the Maricopa Mountain Pass along the Union Pacific Rail Road main line. Note that this section of the Hwy 238 (aka Maricopa Road) is sponsored by "Arizona Rail Fans" - a testament to this being a primo trainspotting location! If you're wondering why the paved road veers suddenly away from the rail line, there are remains from a "Y" switch used by steam "pusher" locomotives to turnaround and assist trains up and over the Maricopa Mountain Pass. Continue along the primitive dirt road heading north following the trail markers. About 4.4 miles north from Hwy 238 you will reach the Butterfield Pass Trail junction. There are maps and brochures in the BLM trail box and a bulletin board that outlines some of the local history. The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (aka Anza Trail) passes along this route. In October 1775, Juan Bautista de Anza led a colonizing expedition of nearly 240 settlers departing from Tubac (near present day Tucson) to establish a new mission at the Spanish port of San Francisco. Anza's journal indicates they camped near this spot in mid-November 1775. Gila Pioneer Trail appears in many history books as an implied single route, but is in fact a collection of trails loosely following the Gila River "valley". One of these trails follows the path through the Butterfield Pass. The Mormon Battalion Trail also follows the path through the Butterfield Pass. 360 soldiers from the battalion camped near here on Christmas day in 1846 on route to San Diego during the Mexican-American War. A roster of the soldiers who marched with the battalion is posted at the kiosk. John Butterfield won a government contract for $600,000 per year for 6 years to carry mail between St.Louis and San Francisco twice a week. On September 15, 1858, the first Butterfield stage left San Francisco. 23 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes later this stage arrived at St. Louis. $200 would buy you a passenger ticket from St.Louis to San Francisco on the Butterfield Overland Stage Route. The stage traveled 24 hours a day with only stops long enough to change horses. Outbreak of the civil war in 1861 interrupted travel on this stage route. Armed with all this history, I'm sure you are ready to step back in time and hike the Butterfield Pass Trail. I'll describe a recent east to west hike: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() In my opinion, this area contains the best examples of signature saguaro forests close to Phoenix's southern city limits. The Sonoran Desert National Monument was declared during the last stages of Clinton's presidency in 2001 (January 17th, 2001 to be exact). I applaud this act of preservation to counterbalance the fate of other saguaro forests consumed by Phoenix's urban sprawl! This trail offers multiple recreational possibilities and I try to take advantage as often as possible. Enjoy! Check out the Triplogs. Gate Policy: If a gate is closed upon arrival, leave it closed after you go through. If it is open, leave it open. Leaving a closed gate open may put cattle in danger. Closing an open gate may cut them off from water. Please be respectful, leave gates as found. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
One-Way Notice This hike is listed as One-Way. When hiking several trails on a single "hike", log it with a generic name that describes the hike. Then link the trails traveled, check out the example. |