Bradshaw Mountains Loop Drive

From Prescott, Explore Gold-mining Sites in the Bradshaw Mountains

BEGINNING AND ENDING IN Prescott, this leisurely three-hour drive through the Bradshaw Mountains offers an up-close look at some of central Arizona's mining history.

The graniteand quartz-laden Bradshaws have yielded almost $400 million in mineral wealth since gold was discovered in the southwestern foothills in 1863. Within a year, more than 1,600 miners were scouring the creekbeds and crevices for gold.

Nuggets of Bradshaw Mountains gold helped convince President Abraham Lincoln that Arizona should be a territory separate from New Mexico. Gold from the Arizona Territory helped finance the northern cause in the Civil War.

While the fever of those early years has subsided, gold can still be found in these mountains, so when you prepare for this trip, make sure everybody packs a pie pan. You might strike it rich.

The Bradshaw Mountains cover almost 150 square miles. The highest elevation is Mount Union, just under 8,000 feet. The countless creeks and springs gurgling from the granite heart of the range contribute to the watersheds that feed the Agua Fria River to the east and the Hassayampa River to the west.

If you can't hike them, the automobile offers a great way to see the Bradshaws. This trip, based loosely on a pamphlet published in 1990 by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce and the Forest Service, leaves the pavement for much of the time, and requires a high-clearance vehicle for peace of mind. The play of sunlight and shadow along the route will soothe your troubled spirits, particularly if you take the trip during the week when there are fewer campers and less traffic.

William Bradshaw, with his brother Isaac, operated a ferry across the Colorado River above Yuma. It's not hard to imagine that the climate along the river in 1863 induced William to try his hand at a little prospecting in higher elevations. He and his companions probably followed the Gila River eastward, then turned north and followed the Hassayampa River to the site of present-day Wickenburg. There they found enough gold flakes in the eddies and river bends of the Hassayampa to entice them farther upstream, looking for the rocks that yielded them. Bradshaw found more gold in the mountains that eventually bore his name.

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William to try his hand at a little prospecting in higher elevations. He and his companions probably followed the Gila River eastward, then turned north and followed the Hassayampa River to the site of present-day Wickenburg. There they found enough gold flakes in the eddies and river bends of the Hassayampa to entice them farther upstream, looking for the rocks that yielded them. Bradshaw found more gold in the mountains that eventually bore his name.

Begin the drive at the Sharlott Hall Museum at 415 W. Gurley St. Be careful. You could while away the entire day wandering through the exhibits and smelling the fragrances of more than 260 rose bushes in the Territorial Women's Memorial Garden, and never get on with this trip.

From the museum, head east on Gurley to Mount Vernon Avenue. Turn right and drive south on Mount Vernon past the restored Victorian homes. The story goes that President Lincoln wanted to offset any Confederate influence in the southern part of the Territory by encouraging a "Midwestern" look to the then-Territorial capital.

Mount Vernon Avenue becomes the Senator Highway. Built in 1866-67, the Senator Highway linked mining camps along the spine of the Bradshaws. Drive south approximately 5 miles and turn left into the parking area of the Groom Creek Schoolhouse Day-Use Recreation Area. The $2 fee applies to all day-use areas in the Prescott National Forest. Keep the windshield stub because you'll need it again later in the day.

The Groom Creek School was built about 1894. This is an ideal spot for a picnic. A nature trail for the visually impaired, with embossed silhouettes of squirrels and birds, encourages the sighted visitor to experience the serenity of the trail with eyes closed.

[OPPOSITE PAGE] The Forest Service permits the use of electric-powered motorboats, as well as rowboats, canoes and paddleboats, on 55-acre Lynx Lake.

One mile farther on the Senator Highway, the pavement surrenders to a narrow dirt road. Typical of the early roads, it snakes along the steep slopes, never straying far from water and forage. Originally called the Prescott and Lynx Toll Road - costing 25 cents for a man on horseback, a buck and a quarter for a wagon the name changed to the Senator Highway when it was extended in 1875 to the mill at the Senator Mine.

If you're not careful, you'll miss the ruins of the Senator Mine and mill. Approximately 3.1 miles after you leave the pavement, the steel rafters of the mill are visible to the right and below the roadbed. There's a small pullout where you can park. Follow the trail down to the mill site, maybe 100 yards, and you can walk carefully among the ruins of the mill. As you descend, Walker Road crosses Lynx Creek countless times. The road and mining boom town of Walker are named after Joseph Walker, who also led a party of placer miners into the area in 1863. Lynx Creek still ranks as one of the most productive gold-bearing streams in Arizona.

From the Senator Mine, continue south about half a mile, and you'll come to an intersection. Take the Walker Road to your left. This almost 180-degree turn toward the north will take you up to Hassayampa Lake. The dam was built in 1936 by laborers with the Works Progress Administration to provide water to Prescott. At the top of the grade, you cross the divide of the Bradshaws, and Lynx Creek flows east.

About 5 miles north of Walker, watch for signs on the right for Lynx Lake and Lynx Creek Ruin. (For more on Lynx Lake, see the “Hike of the Month” on page 48.) Your Groom Creek Schoolhouse pass is valid at Lynx Creek Ruin, also a day-use area. Instead of parking at the trailhead, take the road to the right of the lot and drive down to the Gold Pan Day-Use Area.

Break out the pie pans and go for the gold. You can keep what you find. Just leave the area as you found it.

When it's time to go home, head back to Walker Road and turn right. About 2 miles later, you'll reach State Route 69. Turn left and you'll soon be back on Gurley Street.

WARNING: Back road travel can be hazardous if you are not prepared for the unexpected. Whether traveling in the desert or in the high country, be aware of weather and road conditions, and make sure you and your vehicle are in top shape. Carry plenty of water. Don't travel alone, and let someone at home know where you're going and when you plan to return. Odometer readings in the story may vary by vehicle. TRAVEL ADVISORY: Forest and back country maps are available at the Public Lands Information Center in Phoenix, (602) 417-9300. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Sharlott Hall Museum, (928) 445-3122 or www.sharlott.org; Prescott National Forest, Bradshaw Ranger District, (928) 443-8000.