SALT RIVER CANYON

A tour of the Salt River Canyon, the mini-Grand Canyon, with its many unusual side trips, is an exciting adventure exposing evidence of a time lapse of over 500 million years. Here you can see and study pre-Cambrian rocks dating back to the beginning of earth's development and, in the same day, see chrysotile asbestos being mined that will be used to filter life-saving vaccines and rocket fuels. Through eons of time the Salt River has cut through the many layers of earth, exposing more age horizons than can be seen in the Grand Canyon.Cibecue creek, which serves to substantiate the first theory. Early Indian religious beliefs centered around these salt caves. Basic religious ceremonies and ancient cures for ailments were said to have been given the Apaches hundreds of years ago at the salt banks and they still play a significant role in the life of the present day Apaches so, while you are visiting the Canyon, please remember that you are their guests and this is their home and you will be rewarded with the greeting Hon Dah!! (“Be my guest”).

The Salt River has its start at an elevation of 12,000 feet, in the form of many cold mountain-trout streams, and becomes a river at 4,000 feet a point 20 miles west of Fort Apache. After tumbling and winding its way for almost 200 miles, it becomes the life-giving irrigation water of Phoenix and the Salt River Valley.

The Salt River is a boundary line between the White Mountain and San Carlos Apache reservations. The San Carlos Apaches have just recently entered into a development program that will bring thousands of acres of hunting and fishing lands, which are second to none, into use by the general public. A good example of this development is Seneca Lake, about 4 miles south of the Salt River at the top of the canyon rim. This well-stocked fishing lake is just off U.S. Highway 60, and is providing fishing thrills to hundreds of anglers each year.

Each year for the last 4 years, more than 584,000 cars containing more than 15,284,000 people, have made trips through this deep canyon with little thought to its beauty and to the adventure it promises. Until some two years ago, little effort had been made to inform these visitors of the beautiful and challenging country that could be enjoyed with no great expense other than a little of their time. Now, through the combined efforts of the Fort Apache and San Carlos Indian tribes and the progressive merchants of Gila County, this scenic wonderland is being opened to the traveler. The Apache Indians are building new camp grounds and the Globe and Miami and White Mountain businessmen are encouraging all visitors to stay a while and really see their country, particularly the Salt River Canyon. Excellent motels and restaurants are numerous in both the Globe and Miami areas and the White Mountain communities.

At the same point, on U.S. 60, is the turn-off to the Phillips & Regal asbestos Mines. Here is the only place in the world where chrysotile, a virtually iron-free fiber, is found. This rare form of asbestos has hollow fibers and has more tensile strength than the steel of piano wire. These fibers are used for filtering vaccines, fuels, wines, soft drinks, perfumes, and many other products. Gallo Wines, Coca-Cola, Spreckles Sugar Co. and the Brewing Industry are some of the companies that use asbestos from this field.

The first outsider, or visitor, to record viewing the Salt River and its beautiful canyon was Fr. Kino in 1698. Fr. Kino named it the salado (“salt”). There are two theories as to why it received this name. Some say that it is because its waters, particularly when the stream is low, have a salty taste, and others point out that it gets its name from the salt cedar that line its banks. The leaves of the salt cedar definitely have a salty taste when placed on your tongue. There are large salt caves and salt banks just below the confluence of the Salt and When it comes to fishing, the variety is tremendous. In the Salt River, its headwaters - White River and Black River and in the many small lakes which both tribes are constantly building, are rainbow and German brown trout, small and large-mouthed bass, pike, stripies, Verde Trout, and some of the largest blue gill anywhere in the U.S.

For the rock hounds there are many varieties of semi-precious stones and fossils. For the camera bug, the possibilities are endless. There is something for everyone.

Don't just drive through this magnificent canyon. Stay on an extra day or two and explore its many wonders, use the beautiful picnic facilities, fish its prolific waters, study the ages of time portrayed in its colorful canyon walls. The Apache Indians and the progressive businessmen of this country invite you to stick around for a few days and enjoy this really fantastic land of adventure.