Hualapai Mountain Road

The next time you're on your way to Las Vegas, you might want to stop for a breath of fresh air in the mountains near Kingman. That's not a slam against Sin City; it's just a suggestion, especially if you're planning to spend more than a few hours in front of a one-armed bandit. The Hualapai Mountains, southeast of Kingman, are a great place to stretch your legs and fill your lungs with a big gulp of mountain air. It's also a perfect place to fill your eyes with a healthy helping of gorgeous scenery. Named for its former inhabitants, the Hualapai ("Pine Tree Folk") tribe, the Hualapai range varies in elevation from just shy of 5,000 feet to roughly 8,400 feet. The peaks and valleys are just part of what makes this scenic drive so unexpectedly spectacular.

Tour Guide

Length: 17 miles one way (paved and rustic)
Directions: Begin at Exit 51 on Interstate 40 in Kingman. Head south on Stockton Hill Road, which become Hualapai Mountain Road. Continue for 11 miles to the ranger station. Leaving the ranger station, drive uphill (technically south) on Hualapai Mountain Road for approximately 1 mile to the turnoff for Flag Mine Road. Follow Flag Mine Road to the right for approximately 5 miles toward Wild Cow Springs.
Vehicle Requirements: A high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
Warning: Back-road travel can be hazardous, so be aware of weather and road conditions. Carry plenty of water. Don’t travel alone, and let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.
Additional Information: Hualapai Mountain Park, 928-681-5700 or www.mcparks.com

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Route 66

Known as the “Main Street of America,” Route 66 conjures up images of mom-and-pop filling stations, diners where the waitress calls you “hon” and motel rooms shaped like tee-pees. While all that and more can still be found along Historic Route 66 in Arizona, there’s one section that invokes less nostalgia and more of a heady mix of soul-squeezing scenery and heart-leaping terror. West of Kingman, Route 66 climbs from the desert floor through the torturous Black Mountains in a twisted spiral of brake-searing curves with views that roll all the way across state lines.

Tour Guide

Length: 28 miles, one way, from Kingman to Oatman
Directions: Begin the drive at the visitors center in Kingman, which is housed in the old Powerhouse at 120 W. Route 66, also known as Andy Devine Avenue.
Vehicle Requirements: None; accessible by all. Trailers over 40 feet long are not permitted.
Warning: Back-road travel can be hazardous, so be aware of weather and road conditions. Carry plenty of water. Don’t travel alone, and let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.
Additional Information: Powerhouse Visitor Center, 866-427-7866; or Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, 928-753-5001, www.azrt66.com.

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