Desert Adventures on the Harquahala Mountain Back Country Byway

Sign for the Harquahala Mountain Back Country Byway (AZ) [1]

A scenic ride 15-mile drive to the summit of southwestern Arizona’s Harquahala Mountains, the Harquahala Mountain Back Country Byway offers dramatic views and a challenging four-wheel-drive adventure. Those who love narrow, winding, and extremely steep roads with cliffs would find this road an adventure. Once you commit to the drive, there are few places to pull over or turn around, so prepare yourself for a ride worthy of your four-wheel-drive. Rocks and dirt debris often litter the road, and heavy thunderstorms may wash the road out completely, so inexperienced visitors may wish to enjoy the beautiful Sonoran Desert at the lower elevations.

The drive begins as you pull off the asphalt of the Eagle Eye Road, where you will notice a large Back Country Byway sign from the Bureau of Land Management. Continue on a few hundred yards and you will reach the parking lot, which features a vaulted toilet, a shaded area with information displays about the byway, and several picnic tables and campfire rings.

Yellow Brittlebush and Cacti (AZ) [2]

Begin your adventure by winding your way through Sonoran Desert vegetation which features the majestic Saguaro cactus characteristic of the southwestern landscape. Other common plant species include: fish-hook barrel cactus, hedgehog cactus, teddy bear cholla, foothill paloverde, ironwood, catclaw acacia, jojoba, ocotillo, creosote bush, and brittlebush.

The Harquahala Mountains long have been the focus of intermittent, small-scale mining activities, with gold, silver, and copper the predominant ores found. Other uses include grazing by cattle and sheep, with the remains of these mining and livestock operations found throughout the viewscape.

Dramatic views of the Little Harquahala Mountains, Eagletail Mountains, New Water Mountains, Kofa Mountains, and Castle Dome Mountains are featured. In these rugged and isolated mountain ranges, including this byway, small populations of desert bighorn sheep may be spied grazing or hoofing up the mountain.

Observatory at the Summit of Harquahala Mountain (AZ) [3]

Because of the great elevation, a noticeable change in vegetation occurs on the upper slopes of Harquahala Mountains. Notice that the saguaro do not occur near the top of the mountain. Winter temperatures are too cold to allow saguaros to thrive.

The byway ends near the historic Smithsonian Solar Observatory, which was built in 1920. Several interpretive displays about the observatory exist outside the fenced structure of the observatory. The observatory is fenced to protect it from vandalism. Several picnic tables are perched nearby. Fierce winds and cold temperatures dominate as the sun sets. For safety reasons, it is recommended to leave the summit in plenty of time before the sun sets.

For others to enjoy and appreciate the history on the summit and elsewhere on this byway, please Leave No Trace of your visit, except to sign in at the visitor register box. Help all of us protect the past by adhering to the LNT principle, leave what you find (intact) for all historic structures.