Overland Trail Cache
One of a series of caches located
along the north section of the old Perkinsville Highway, now better
known to many as Forest Road 173 (or "South Road" to the locals)
which runs from Williams to Drake and then on to Jerome. This
section of the road between Williams and the drake turn-off is
paved.Caches in this series are designed to be family orientated
being located short distances from a slow paved road with a good
pull-out for low clearance vehicles. This cache is located within
sight of the Overland trail and an information board about it is
located close by.
Cache is a 30cal Ammo Can.
Cache starting contents includes: Log, Info sheet, Glow
bracelet,
Bubbles, Pencils, Play Dough, Bungee Cord, Tissues and Water
Ball.
Overland Road Historic
Trail-
This route was laid out and built in the summer of 1863 by the
Army.
It connected the Beale Road with the growing community of
Prescott,
which experienced a short-lived gold rush. This road left the
Beale
Road near where Flagstaff is today, and continued west
through
Garland Prairie to Lockett Spring. Then, it turned southwest to
cross
Hell Canyon and from there south to Prescott. About 30 miles of
the
route is located on the Kaibab National Forest. The road was used
by
the military, immigrants, and freighters between 1863 and 1882,
when
the railroad was built across northern Arizona. As with the
Beale
Road, much of the Overland Road has been covered over by the
present-day Forest Service road system, but portions are
still
visible.
Traveling from east to west,
one
first encounters the wide grasslands of Garland Prairie. Dotted
with
hard scrabble homesteads, both active and deserted, its vistas
still
inspire visions of hardy pioneers. Farther along, the old road
enters
the trees and passes the remains of an old way-station which
even
boasted its own post office for a time. The foundations of a
few
cabins are still visible here.
The markers that blaze the
trail
then wind on through the forest, past remains of a narrow
gauge
railroad bed and an abandoned logging camp, past scenic Pomeroy
Tanks
and historic Whiting Ranch. Along the way, you'll see evidence of
a
Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps camp and the course of
the
Bear Springs Sheep Driveway that tens of thousands of animals
once
traveled over the edge of the rugged Mogollon Rim.
Mountain biking is good on FR
57
between FR 354 and Bear Springs. Horseback riding is
recommended
anywhere along the trail between FR 141 and FR 139, although it
may
become rocky in the Pomeroy Tanks area.
The Forest Service has
developed
the Overland Road into a recreational trail. The route makes use
of
forest roads and trails which have been marked with rock
cairns,
brass cap markers, tree blazes, and 4" by 4" wood posts. A
tread way has not been cleared on the trail sections, so it can be
a
challenge to follow. Trailheads with interpretive signs are
provided.
The trail sections are open only to hikers and horseback
riders.
Portions of the historic route that are part of the forest
road
system may be accessed by any means, including motor vehicles
and
mountain bicycles.
