The Million Dollar Highway
If you like hiking and history, then the Legends of the Superior Trail (aka Million Dollar Highway) is a good fit for you! This segment is located on the edge of the historic district of Superior, Arizona. At first it’s a level, smooth path that winds along Queen Creek with its brilliant deciduous trees. Then the flat surface starts to climb upwards with a series of steep switchbacks. The views of the rolling desert hills, beautiful geological formations, and Queen Creek make up for the huffing and puffing up a few steep hills. The end of the 2.3- mile trail is the Claypool Tunnel, named after state senator W.D. Claypool. The 300-foot tunnel was blasted and drilled out of solid rock, known as an “engineering marvel,” in 1926.
The Miami-Superior Highway was created in the 1920’s to connect the two mining towns, which have mountainous terrain between them and could only be accessed by horse, stage, or railroad. The 21 miles of roadwork were completed by prisoners from a neighboring prison, and it took over an hour to travel, due to the winding, narrow switchbacks. It was replaced with Highway 60 in 1952.
A bridge of the Million Dollar Highway that crossed over Queen Creek.
Pinto Wash Bridge
Views from the old highway- “Apache Leap Cliffs”- historical references state the Apaches would chose to leap to their death rather than surrender to the U.S. Army.
You can see the deciduous trees along Queen Creek from the higher elevation as you climb up the switchbacks.
Phenomenal views!
Claypool Tunnel
