|  The
original "winding ladder" road was constructed
in 1921. This road was bypassed between 1949 and
1952 with construction of the Queen Creek Bridge
and Queen Creek Tunnel. The approximately one mile
abandoned stretch of road has been evaluated for
inclusion in the National Register of historic roads.
Photos taken November 11, 2006.
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| The reconstructed US 60 passes through
numerous roadcuts, cut from the sheer rock faces
above Queen Creek. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| The Queen Creek Bridge was completed
in 1953. This 651 foot long steel arch bridge is
typical of many in Arizona completed during the
1940s and 1950s. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| In 1952, the Queen Creek Tunnel was
completed. This 1280 foot long tunnel was designed
for four traffic lanes, but is currently striped
for three. The maximum clearance in the tunnel is
14 feet. This tunnel replaced the shorter 1921 Claypool
Tunnel. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| US 60 passes under sheer roadcuts
just to the north of the road. Photo taken November
11, 2006.
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| US 60 is the Gila-Pinal Scenic Road
between Miles 214.5 and 240.5. The road is signed
with the Arizona standard scenic road marker, as
seen here. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| Turn right here for the Oak Flat Campground.
The campground is part of the Tonto National Forest.
Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| US 60 meets Magma Mine Road here.
US 60 passes the Magma Copper Mine, which closed
in 1987. There are talks about reopening the mine,
but the plans are controversial as they would require
loss of some recreational areas, such as Oak Flat.
Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| US 60 follows the lay of the land
as it continues north and east to Miami. Photo taken
November 11, 2006.
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| Directional markers are rare along
US 60 between Superior and Miami. Photo taken November
11, 2006.
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| Distance sign to Miami and Globe.
US 60 is travelling through Gila County at this
point. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| US 60 has alternating passing lanes
along the road, as seen here facing eastbound (with
the passing lanes on the westbound side). Photo
taken November 11, 2006.
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This map shows the original 1922 alignment
of U.S. 60, and the 1949 reroute of the road.
Notice the amount of twists and turns that were
eliminated during the reroute. This 1949 route
is being investigated for possible replacement
as it does not meet current ADOT Highway Standards.
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| US 60 crosses Pinto Wash here. The
Pinto Wash arch bridge was completed in 1949, bypassing
the original road which was significantly more windy
and longer than the present alignment. The Pinto
Wash bridge was voted the most beautiful steel bridge
of 1949, as seen by the plaque on the bridge. Photo
taken November 11, 2006.
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| US 60 follows Bloody Tanks Wash to
Miami. Bloody Tanks wash is named for the nearby
Bloody Tanks, which are named after a battle between
white men and the Apaches in 1864. Photo taken November
11, 2006.
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| The canyon that holds Bloody Tanks
Wash gets very deep as it nears Miami. Photo taken
November 11, 2006.
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| US 60 enters Miami here. Miami is
a town that grew up around the copper mines near
town, with the town founded to serve the needs of
the miners. Tailings from the Freeport McMoran (Phelps-Dodge)
mine surround the hills north of town. Photo taken
November 11, 2006. |
| US 60 passes under the stack of the
Miami copper smelter. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
|
| East of Miami, US 60 enters Globe.
Globe is the county seat of Gila county, and was
supposedly named for a silver sphere found that
was approximately 9" of diameter, that resembled
a globe. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| US 60 meets Arizona 188 at this intersection.
Use Arizona 188 to reach Roosevelt Dam and Tonto
National Monument. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| Globe is the home of former Governor
Rose Mofford, Arizona's first female governor. Photo
taken November 11, 2006.
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| This is a typical US 60 reassurance
marker as seen in Globe. Photo taken November 11,
2006.
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| The next road junction US 60 meets
is US 70 and Arizona 77, in 1/2 mile. Photo taken
November 11, 2006.
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| Interestingly, through traffic on
US 60 must turn to stay on US 60, while the main
road becomes US 70. This is a legacy of the original
construction of US 60 between 1929 and 1934, when
US 70 was the only through route at this point.
US 70 was co-signed with US 60 until 1969 on this
road. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| Arizona 77 continues east on US 70,
then branches south to reach Oracle and Tucson.
Traffic on US 60 and Arizona 77 north should use
the left lane. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| Now north of Globe, US 60 and Arizona
77 climb away from the city quite rapidly. Photo
taken November 11, 2006.
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| Distance sign to Show Low and Springerville.
US 60 will cross some rugged terrain between Globe
and Springerville. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| North of Globe, US 60 passes through
additional roadcuts as it climbs in elevation. Photo
taken November 11, 2006.
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| US 60 north of Globe is much less
heavily trafficked then it was between Phoenix and
Globe. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| Scrubby hills are common around Globe.
This type of brush cover is common in the high desert
mountains. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| Advance signage for Jones Water Campground.
Jones Water Campground is part of the Tonto National
Forest, and is a small, primitive campground (no
water available). Photo taken November 11, 2006.
|
| US 60 has various stretches of passing
lanes through the mountains. Photo taken November
11, 2006.
|
| US 60 and Arizona 77 remain co-signed
north of Globe, as seen on this sign assembly. Photo
taken November 11, 2006.
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| "Don't Drink and Drive"
signs are commonly placed on rural highways in Arizona.
Photo taken November 11, 2006.
|
| Distance sign to Show Low and Springerville.
Photo taken November 11, 2006.
|
| Advance signage for a Safety Pullout.
Arizona places Safety Pullouts before long downhill
grades. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
|
| US 60 meets the ghost town of Seneca
here. Seneca was a town established to support the
nearby mines, but it has all but been abandoned.
Photo taken November 11, 2006.
|
| Distance sign to the aformented safety
pullout, 1/2 mile. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
|
| This advisory sign advises trucks
and vehicles pulling trailers to check their brakes
before heading down into the Salt River Canyon.
Photo taken November 11, 2006.
|
| After the pullout, this sign advises
motorists to use lower gears if they are a truck
or pulling a trailer. It's a wild ride ahead, and
a long way down to the bottom. Photo taken November
11, 2006.
|
| US 60 enters the Salt River Canyon
here. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
|
| This photo is rather deceptive, as
US 60 will have a 6% grade for the next five miles.
However, all motorists see right now are mountains
on the horizon, not knowing about the canyon between
here and the other side. Photo taken November 11,
2006.
|
| US 60 travels through a number of
roadcuts ahead, as warned by this sign (advising
to watch for rocks). Photo taken November 11, 2006.
|
| In the 1990s, a runaway truck ramp
was added. This sign advises motorists of the runaway
truck ramp ahead. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
|
| Unfortunately, if stuck behind a truck,
it will make your ride a lot longer to the canyon
bottom. The two trucks seen here were travelling
approximately 20 MPH. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| 
| These photos were taken
from an abandoned rest area on an old alignment
of US 60, and have an excellent view of the grade
and the twin Salt River bridges at the bottom of
the canyon. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
|
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| These photos were taken
of the runaway truck ramp, as approaching it northbound.
Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| The descent into the Salt River Canyon
is a wild ride, and photos do not do it justice.
Photos taken November 11, 2006.
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| The Salt River Bridge was built in
1933-34, with the paralell replacement bridge (red)
built in 1994. These photos were taken from the
rest area at the bottom of the canyon. Photo taken
November 11, 2006.
|
| After crossing the new bridge, US
60 turns to follow the base of a small (relatively
speaking) cliff. The old gas station and mini-mart
located here is now closed. Photo taken November
11, 2006.
|
| Distance sign to Show Low and Springerville,
the next two cities along US 60. Photo taken November
11, 2006.
|
| US 60 gains a climbing lane as it
climbs along the north side of the Salt River Canyon.
Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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|  |
US 60 climbs quickly along
the north canyon wall, as seen here. Photos taken
November 11, 2006.
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|  |
| Climbing up toward Becker Lookout,
the road pulls back and passes through some roadcuts,
similar to this one. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| Becker Lookout was named for Walter
Becker, described as the father of US 60. Becker
was one of the pioneers who lived in this area in
the 1920s, and his work led to the designation of
US 60 as a transcontinental highway. His work communicating
road surfaces and traffic counts led to the establishment
of US 60, and this lookout is dedicated to his memory,
along with that of his son. Photo taken November
11, 2006.
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| At the top of the canyon, the scenery
changes dramatically. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
|
| US 60 continues to twist and turn
as it makes the final climb out of the Salt River
Canyon, into high mountainous terrain. Photo taken
November 11, 2006.
|
| US 60 remains co-signed with Arizona
77 as it reaches the top of the Mogollon Rim. Photo
taken November 11, 2006.
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| Distance sign to Show Low and Springerville.
Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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| US 60 continues through the scrub-covered
lands of northeastern Arizona. Photo taken November
11, 2006.
|
| Advance signage for Arizona 73. Photo
taken November 11, 2006.
|
| Arizona 73 is the original road up
through the Fort Apache Indian Nation, with the
majority replaced by US 60. The present-day road
begins here and travels through Fort Apache, Hon
Dah and White River to Arizona 260. Photo taken
November 11, 2006.
|
| Arizona 73 departs here from US 60.
Arizona 77 and US 60 continue north to Show Low
from this point. Photo taken November 11, 2006.
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Page Updated June 30, 2008.
