Basics
- Location:
- 20 miles northeast of Nogales
- Surface:
- Dirt or Gravel
- Suitable Vehicle:
- Passenger Car
- Length:
- 16 mile semi-loop
- Time:
- 1-2 hours
- Season:
- Drivable year round
Description
A historic mining district that extends along the bottom of a sycamore shaded canyon is the focal point of this short, easy drive. You'll start in the quaint little town of Patagonia, with it's rich mining and ranching heritage, and drive up the meandering course of Harshaw Creek. The canyons carved by that small stream and its tributaries were the center of extensive mining activity from the mid 1800's well into the twentieth century. Even today, mining activity continues in some areas..As you drive along the creek, the rock outcrops yielding the gold and silver that once attracted large numbers of prospectors and hard rock miners to this area are frequently accompanied by evidence of the enterprise of those hardy and persistent souls. In some cases, that evidence may be a shaft or tunnel gaping from the canyon side and made obvious by a telltale pile of mine tailings. In others, the only thing left to catch your eye may be the remains of an old adobe wall or a clump of ornamental trees planted here by the miners. Because the Ailanthus altissima, or "tree of heaven", is fast growing and pollution tolerant, it was frequently planted around mining settlements to provide cool shade and a touch of green after native trees were cut for firewood or mine timbers. The Harshaw Road ends at its junction with FR 61, just west of the old ghost towns of Washington Camp and Duquesne. You might want to take a short detour in their direction before you continue up and over the pass into Nogales.
Details
Location:
20 miles northeast of Nogales
Surface:
Dirt or Gravel
Suitable Vehicle:
Passenger Car
Length:
16 mile semi-loop
Time:
1-2 hours
Main Roads:
Harshaw Rd and Duquesne Rd
Season:
Drivable year round
Additional Details:
Drive south from Patagonia on the Harshaw Road, FR 58. At the junction with FR 49 turn right and drive south to FR 61. You can turn around here and go back the way you came or turn right again heading west on FR 61 and continue into Nogales. This semi-loop is about 16 miles.
Map + Directions
Basic Directions
Drive south from Patagonia on the Harshaw Road, FR 58. At the junction with FR 49 turn right and drive south to FR 61. You can turn around here and go back the way you came or turn right again heading west on FR 61 and continue into Nogales.
