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Table of Contents
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Off-route distances to off-route towns not included in above
mileages; see "Distance from GET" within heading
info for each town's chapter below. |
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 Travel
to GET west terminus
The
Grand Enchantment Trail begins east of Phoenix at the First Water
Trailhead on the Tonto National Forest. This trailhead is easy
to reach from downtown Phoenix, the Amtrak or Greyhound terminals,
and Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport.
From
Sky Harbor airport, bus station, and train terminal:
Arizona
Value Shuttle 711 South Meridian Road, Apache
Junction, AZ 85220 (480) 982-8551. Located in the
town of Apache Junction, near the GET trailhead. Will pick up
at the airport, bus or train station, and/or area motels &
shuttle to or near GET west (First Water) trailhead. $30-$35.
Call 2-3 days ahead. Also local runs (Apache Junction area
to/from trailhead) with a $15 minimum charge.
Phoenix
area transportation:
Discount
Cab (Total Transit) $2.50 base + $1.65/mi valley-wide (602)
200-2000
Super Shuttle Phoenix (602) 244-9000
Yellow Cab (602) 252-5252
Rental
car facilities:
Sky
Harbor Airport Most major rental car companies located
at the airport's nearby rental car facility, reachable by continuous
free shuttle bus service from the airport baggage claim area.
Enterprise
Rent a Car 1628 E Sky Harbor Circle South, Phoenix (602)
225-0588. Hours: Mo-Su 5am-12am. Allows one-way rental at no extra
charge to Enterprise location in Apache Junction. For one-way
rental from Apache Junction to airport, call ahead. (see next
entry)
Enterprise Rent a Car 3400 S Tomahawk Rd, Apache Junction
(480) 983-2206. Hours: Mo-Fr 8am-6pm, Sa 8am-1pm, closed Sun.
Possible free shuttle from/to Apache Junction office to/from junction
of SR 88 and FR 78, 3 miles from trailhead, but call ahead.
Greyhound
bus location:
In
Phoenix: 2115 E Buckeye Rd, Phoenix,
85034 (602) 389-4200.
In Tempe: 502 S College Ave Tempe
85281 (480) 377-6532
Or (800) 231-2222 for reservations. www.greyhound.com
Amtrak
location:
At
Phoenix Greyhound location:
2115 E Buckeye Rd Phoenix
At Metro Center Transit Station: 9617
North Metro Parkway West North Phoenix
1-800-USA-RAIL www.amtrak.com
Directions
to GET west terminus:
First
Water Trailhead is located about 45 miles east of downtown Phoenix.
From
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, exit onto Washington St eastbound.
Pick up the 202 freeway east to US 60 east to exit 196 / Idaho
Rd. Turn left, following Idaho Rd north through four traffic lights.
Along the way, pass a Super 8 motel, a few convenience stores
(for water, etc.), a Walgreens pharmacy (rubbing alcohol, Bic
lighter, sunscreen, etc.), and several restaurants nearby. At
the 5th light, turn right, northeast, onto Apache Trail / State
Route 88. Pass Goldfield ghost town / tourist attraction, and
then (at around 5 miles from Idaho Rd jct) a signed turnoff to
Lost Dutchman State Park on right. Continue on Apache Trail less
than a half mile farther, then turn right onto graded dirt FR
78 at sign for "First Water Trailhead." Your driver
may opt not to continue farther, although the road is usually
passable for 2WD vehicles except following flash floods. At ~2.3
miles on FR 78, find First Water equestrian parking on the left,
along with a self-service pay station for vehicle parking on the
Tonto National Forest. Here a spur trail heads east, or continue
on the road ~0.6 mile farther to First Water Trailhead hiker parking
and the GET west terminus. Toilet facilities are here, as well
as a hiker register and information kiosk, but no water is available.
(First probable water along the trail is Charlesbois Spring about
9 miles away.)
Land
Management Agency:
Tonto
National Forest Mesa Ranger District 5140 E. Ingram St.
Mesa, AZ (480) 610-3300. For information about conditions along
the GET environment between the west terminus and Rogers Canyon
area including the Superstition Wilderness.
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Updates/Corrections
A
Note About Post Offices
All
US post offices, listed among the town entries below, accept packages
mailed to them via "general delivery" and will hold
them typically up to 30 days. Since these post offices are not
yet very familiar with the GET or its hikers, it may be advisable
to notify them by phone in advance of sending a food or equipment
package.
Use
the following mailing convention when sending maildrops:
Hiker's Name
General Delivery
Town, State Zip Code
The post office's street address can be omitted; these are listed
below only to assist hikers in finding each location.
As
those who've hiked other long trails will attest, it's also a
good idea to include on your package the words "Hold for
Hiker" to the bottom-left of the address, along with an "Estimated
Date of Arrival (EDA)." This helps the postmaster to better
identify your package and to prioritize its manner of storage
until you arrive.
Top
of Page
 Superior
AZ
Trail
miles from Phoenix (west) terminus: 46
Distance from GET: 4 miles E via
US 60
Services
in this scenic, if aging former mining community are spread out
along US 60, with a few additional businesses - post office, library,
Save Money Market, and a couple of eateries- located in the old
downtown (Main Street, shown at right) just to the north, now
bypassed by the highway. The renowned Boyce Thompson Desert Arboretum
is west of town along US 60, 1-2 miles east of the GET/AZT. Superior's
public library
offers internet access; this would be a good opportunity for eastbound
hikers to obtain permits (online or over the phone) to enter Aravaipa
Canyon, about 70 miles away.
Superior
post office | View
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Post
office:
25
N High School Ave
Superior AZ 85273
Hours: M-F 08:30-04:45PM
Phone: (520) 689-5790
Groceries:
Save
Money Market 420 W Main St (520) 689-2265. Long-term resupply,
ATM, some drug store items, including denatured (isopropyl) alcohol.
Farmer's Market 798 W US Highway
60 (520) 689-5845. Small convenience store with some fresh produce.
Also a liquor selection that may include Everclear (for alcohol
stove fuel).
Circle
K convenience store US
Highway 60. Does not sell HEET.
Restaurants:
Buckboard
City 1111 W US Highway 60 Superior, AZ (520) 689-5800.
We-Su 6am-2pm; closed Mo & Tu. Unpretentious western &
Mexican fare. Don't miss "World's Smallest Museum" adjacent
to restaurant.
Los Hermanos 835 W US Highway 60
(520) 689-5465. Family-style Mexican-American
fare, also serves breakfast. Bar room adjacent.
Casa Denogean 635 W US Highway 60
(520) 689-2866. Short-order Mexican fare in former burger stand
- a hip little spot.
Edwardo's Pizzeria 701 S Belmont
Ave (Hwy 60). (520) 689-2628. Closed at 8pm daily. Pizza, subs,
salads. Good value.
Toast Bakery & Bistro 180 Main
Street (520) 689-4522. We-Sa 10-3, closed Sun-Tue. Artisan breads,
sandwiches, toast & pizza.
Cafe Piera Roja 507 W Main St (520)
689-0194. Classy little Mexican cafe. Out of the way (in old downtown)
but reportedly worth the walk. Open for breakfast and lunch.
Felicia's Ice Cream Shop 229 W Main
St (520) 689-2394
Lodging:
Copper
Mountain Motel Old Highway 60 West (520) 689-2886. $60
1 bed, $65 double (includes 10% hiker discount). Under new ownership
(formerly El Portal Motel), with nicely renovated, if basic, rooms.
Fridge/microwaves available. All rooms non-smoking. Pets OK. Use
of laundry facility for guests, and will sometimes shuttle back
to the trail as time allows.
Superior
RV Park 1113 W Us Highway 60 (520) 689-5331 (866) 689-5331.
$23 RV sites, $5 tentsites (on front lawn, next to highway). Restrooms,
coin-op laundry (no soap) & showers available with or without
stay. Camp host Jake "Forest Hamster," AT thru-hiker,
'79, '95. http://www.superiorrvpark.com
Laundromat:
Laundry
available at Copper Mountain Motel
and Superior RV Park.
Library
/ internet:
99
N KELLNER AVE (north off Main St in old downtown) (520) 689-2327
Bank
/ ATM:
Community
First National 351 W Main St
ATM at Save Money Market and
Circle K convenience store
Transportation:
Arizona
Value Shuttle in Apache Junction may (or may not) run to
Superior on advance notice. See Phoenix
area transportation info above.
Land
Management Agency:
Tonto
National Forest Globe Ranger District 7680
S. Six Shooter Canyon Rd. Globe AZ (east of Superior) (928) 402-6200.
Info on Rogers Canyon area east along the GET to Superior.
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Updates/Corrections
 Mammoth
AZ
Trail
miles from west terminus: 112
Distance from GET: 10 miles S via
AZ 77
A
public telephone is no longer available at the Central Arizona
College Aravaipa Campus just off Aravaipa Rd (N of the GET &
0.5 mile E of Hwy 77), although these days it should be possible
to borrow a cell phone there. Call Foster's Lodge for possible
shuttle (for guests) into Mammoth, a small (not extinct!), friendly,
but spread out community along the San Pedro river valley. An
attractive roadside park (shown here) is located along Hwy 77
in town and offers picnic tables and water. Most services are
spread out along the highway, with the post office and laundromat
located along Main Street one block east.
Mammoth
post office | View
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Post
Office:
230
Main St
Mammoth AZ 85618
Hours: MO - FR 08:00-04:30PM
Phone: (520) 487-2861
Groceries:
Corkers One Stop 732 Old Highway
77. (520) 487-2411. Monday-Friday 7:00 am-10:00 pm; Saturday-Sunday
8:00 am-11:00 pm. Short-term resupply, some produce, deli / pizza.
Does not sell HEET, but does have rubbing alcohol. Fee for ATM.
Mammoth Ranch Market 706 N. Highway
77. (near Foster's Lodge). (520) 487-2660. Sunday-Thursday 6:30
am-11:30 pm; Friday-Saturday 6:30 am - 1:00 am. Short-term resupply,
some produce, fresh deli / pizza. Does not sell HEET, but does
have propane and rubbing alcohol. State-to-state money transfer
and ATM (fee is charged).
Circle K 307 Highway 77. (520) 487-2621.
Open 24 hours. Sells single-load laundry detergent. No HEET or
rubbing alcohol. ATM (fee is charged) and cash back available.
Tortillas Mi Pueblito 337 Highway 77. (520) 487-2123. Tuesday-Sunday
4:00 am-2:00 pm. Closed Monday. Fantastic tortillas made on the
premises.
(Short-term
resupply to Klondyke may be possible using both Corkers
One Stop & Mammoth Ranch Market,
although meal selection is very limited. Partial or full PO maildrop
resupply strongly recommended.)
Restaurants:
Las
Michoacanas 337 Highway 77 (520) 487-2380. Mexican-American,
with standard breakfast fare (served until noon), plus L &
D menu. Open daily 7am-8pm, except closed Wednesdays. Formerly
Alicia's Cafe.
La
Casita 400 Highway 77 (520) 487-9980. Family-style Mexican.
Hours: 11am-9pm daily, except closed Tuesdays.
Cassandra's Cafe 739 N. San Pedro
(on Highway 77). (520) 487-2126; cassandrascafe@hotmail.com. Mexican
and American food. Open Tuesday-Sunday 6:00 am-9:00 pm. Closed
Monday.
77 Drive Inn 102 N Highway 77. (520)
487-2783. Hamburger stand--home of the famous Mammoth Burger.
Open 7 days a week 10:30 am-7:00 pm.
Lodging:
Foster's Lodge 712 N Highway 77,
Mammoth, AZ 85618 (520) 487-1904 www.fosterslodge.com Debora@fosterslodge.com
$40 - $60. Basic accommodations, outdoor pool. May shuttle to/from
trail for a small fee. Sometimes fills up on weekends during fall
hunting season.
Stealth
camping may be possible along the (usu. dry) San Pedro River just
east of town along Copper Creek Rd.
Laundromat:
On
Main Street, east of Hwy 77. Sells soap (no attendant, just vending
machine - BYO quarters). No public bathroom available at last
check.
Odds n'
ends:
Thrift
store on Main St. Open Monday-Thursday
and Saturday 9:00 am-1:00 pm. Closed Friday and Sunday. Proceeds
benefit community food bank.
Library:
125
Clark St., in the basement of the town hall. Open Monday 4:00
pm-8:00 pm; Tuesday-Wednesday 2:00 pm-6:00 pm; Thursday and Saturday
9:00 am-1:00 pm. Closed Friday and Sunday. Free Wi-fi, Internet
access, restroom.
Bank
/ ATM:
ATM
at Mammoth Ranch Market, Circle K &
Corkers.
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Updates/Corrections
 Klondyke
AZ
Trail
miles from west terminus: 142
Distance from GET: 2.5 miles SE via
Aravaipa-Klondyke Rd
Founded
in the early 1900's by a pair of nostalgic Yukon gold diggers,
Klondyke (spelled with a 'y' instead of an 'i') holds on as a
tiny outpost of civilization near the east end of Aravaipa Canyon.
Primarily a ranching community these days, along with the occasional
urban refugee, Klondyke had just one storefront before its historic
Klondyke Country Store closed in 2005. Owner Bonnie Garwood has
been attempting to sell the ailing business, strangled for several
years by a lack of visitors to Aravaipa Canyon's east trailhead
due to access issues (since resolved). Nevertheless, Klondyke
remains a possible alternative to resupplying in Mammoth, but
consider calling Bonnie (who lives behind the store, see store's
local ph# below) to confirm current arrangements for shipping
and holding mail parcels.
Maildrop
service:
Klondyke
will continue to serve as a maildrop location this season. Although
the Klondyke Country Store is closed and remains for sale, proprietor
Bonnie Garwood who lives behind the store will continue to accept
mail, including parcels, shipped to:
(hiker's
name)
c/o Klondyke Store / freezer behind store
36951 Klondyke Rd.
Willcox (Klondyke) AZ 85643
(Include
"Please hold for hiker" and an estimated date of arrival)
Ship
via US Postal Service only. Limit one package per person, please,
and no outgoing mail. Ship via Priority Mail (rather than Parcel
Post) so that package can be forwarded or returned if needed at
no additional cost or inconvenience to you or to Bonnie. Pay for
Delivery Confirmation as well so you'll know when your package
has arrived. Postal mail is delivered Mo., We., Th. only. (Tu.
replaces Mo. on holiday weekends.) Ship early enough so it gets
there before you, but not so early that it's languishing (and
wearing out the welcome). Parcels are stored in a large metal
freezer (turned off, unlocked) located on the back porch of the
store, with 24/7 access. According to Bonnie they've never had
any foul play, although she emphasized that it's an honor system
only. Bonnie looks forward to meeting folks as they pass through.
If she isn't out and about, feel free to check at the house. Please
note that the "Freezer" designation in the address is
important, as this will alert the postal carrier to place your
box in the store freezer rather than at Bonnie Garwood's doorstep.
Note
also that the only trash facility in Klondyke (for discarded boxes,
etc.) is a dump station along Fourmile Creek Rd, 0.8 mi west of
Klondyke Store.
Lodging/camping:
Klondyke Country Store
(NOW CLOSED) & Horsehead Lodge
(OPEN)
36951 Klondyke Rd. Klondyke AZ, 85643 Ph 928-828-3335 Fax
1-928-828-3351. ( klondykestore@vtc.net )The Horsehead Lodge,
located behind the closed store, remains open. $95-$275 per night,
rate dependent upon how much of the (large, rustic) lodge is rented.
5 bedrooms available, with room for 13 guests. Individual renters
may share a common area in the middle of the lodge, between the
private rooms, as well as an available full kitchen within the
lodge. A worthwhile stay for hikers who plan to bring the food
for it (no food available anywhere in Klondyke and no meals provided
with stay). Advance reservations recommended for those with a
specific interest in staying over. And try to confirm whether
you're on schedule several days prior to arrival, so that Bonnie
knows when/if to expect you and so she can make arrangements for
a key drop if she'll be out of town when you arrive. Otherwise,
if disinterested in making reservations, you could plan to wing
it when you get there, spending the night instead at the nearby
Fourmile Canyon Campground if need be (see below). The store/lodge
area also has R.V. spaces - 6 hookups with electricity and water.
Camping
is available at the BLM's Fourmile Canyon
Campground 0.8 mi. west of the Klondyke Store on Fourmile
Creek Rd. Developed water available year-round. Modern toilet
facility, picnic tables, grills, spigots, car-friendly camping. $5 per
night (self-pay). Generally a quiet spot, likely suitable for
walk-in hikers.
BLM
Klondyke Ranger Station,
next door to the Klondyke Store, is only sporadically staffed.
Last-minute permits for westbounders entering Aravaipa Canyon
may be available from the ranger here, but don't count on it.
No
operational pay phone available in town, (nor is cell service
likely) though you may be able to borrow a ranger's phone when
the BLM Klondyke ranger station is staffed.
Note
that the road leading to the west trailhead for Aravaipa Canyon
is called Aravaipa Road, while the eastern trailhead is accessed
via Aravaipa Canyon Road.
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Updates/Corrections
 Safford
AZ
Trail
miles from west terminus: 218
Distance from GET: on route
A
bustling community at the intersection of two main travel routes,
Safford is the largest town directly along the route of the GET
(save for Phoenix and Albuquerque at the end points). Although
the GET bypasses the town's main services area, this area nonetheless
remains conveniently close by and includes a number of motels,
restaurants, and full-service supermarkets. The
majority of services are located in Safford and the adjacent town
of Thatcher along US 70 (Thatcher Blvd), the main drag. The
BLM has an office in town - the GET runs right by it - where westbound
hikers can try to get a permit to enter Aravaipa Canyon if they
haven't obtained one already. Safford is sorely lacking in public
transportation. No buses or shuttles serve this rather isolated
town in the Gila Valley, although one taxi company in Willcox,
40 miles to the south, may be willing to run out and back to Safford.
(Willcox, along I-10, has Greyhound bus service.) Safford is also
located along the Southern Tier Bicycle Route, with touring cyclists
often spotted along Highway 70, especially in springtime.
Please
note that Thatcher Blvd and US Hwy 70 in Safford are the same
road.
Safford
post office | View
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Post
Offices:
504 S 5th Ave
Safford AZ 85546
Hours: MO-FR 08:30-04:30PM SA 10:00-12:00PM
Phone: (928) 428-0220
The
Safford post office is located in the old downtown, 3 blocks east
of 8th Ave on the south corner of US 70.
__________________
2106
S Bowie Ave
Solomon AZ 85551
Hours:
MO-FR 8:00AM-12:00PM & 1:00pm-4:00pm SA 8:30-9:30AM
Phone: (928) 428-4030
The
Solomon post office is located in the town of Solomon, 5 miles
east of Safford and about 0.6 of a mile south of the GET. Solomon
offers few other services (a small convenience store and a Mexican
restaurant - see below), but its p.o. may be of use to those already
heading into Solomon, such as for water.
Groceries:
Basha's Supermarket
US 70 (long-term resupply)
Safeway Food & Drug US 70 (long-term
resupply, with organic options)
Walmart
20th Ave (long-term resupply). Half
a block south of US 70. (8th St at 20th Ave)
Thriftee Food & Drug - IGA 755 S
Central Ave, at 8th St. (long-term resupply) (928) 428-1844
CD's
Quick Stop 2181 S Bowie Ave Solomon. (928) 428-5585 Convenience
store in Solomon open 7 days, sells water, drinks, snacks, microwave
items, some hiker basics but not acceptable for full resupply.
Hours: M-Th 10am-6:30pm , Fr-Sa 10-7 , Su 10-?. Pay phone out
front.
Restaurants:
The Branding Iron River Rd. near 8th St (928) 428-6252.
Western-style dinners. Closed Mondays.
Los Jilberto's Fast Mexican 215 E
US Highway 70 (928) 428-4887
Taco Bell 2267 W US Highway 70 (928) 428-3330
Pizza Hut 1305 W Thatcher Blvd (928)
428-4320
Subway Sandwiches & Salads 750 S 8th Ave (928) 428-6373
China Taste 1391 W Thatcher Blvd
(928) 348-3336. Buffet-style.
Super Wok 1275 W Thatcher Blvd (928)
348-9452. "Safford style" Chinese with buffet.
Aria's Ristorante Italiano 540 E
Hwy 70 (928) 428-2742
Golden Corral Buffet & Grill 2019
W US Highway 70 (928) 428-4744. AYCE with daily specials.
La Paloma Restaurant 5183 E. Clifton
St. Located in Solomon. (928) 428-2094. Open weekdays 10:30-7
and Sat 10:30-8 (closed Sunday). Nice, authentic little Mexican
restaurant with large menu listing, est. 1975.
... and a number of other restaurants in Safford & Thatcher.
Lodging:
Budget Inn 1215 West Thatcher Boulevard
(928) 428-7850. $40. Clean and basic. Friendly proprietors.
Tour Rest Motel Thatcher Blvd,
Safford (928) 428-3881. $35. Basic. Rooms reportedly nicer than
exterior.
Olney House B & B 1104
South Central, Safford (off US 191 between 8th St and 14th St.)
1 (800) 814-5118 or (928) 428-5118. Historic building with Colonial
Revival architecture & decor. $65 (double occupany) for Main
House (shared bath) / $75-$85 for cottage (kitchenette, private
bath). www.olneyhouse.com
Best Western Desert Inn 1391 W Thatcher Blvd 928-428-0521
$65-$85. Continental breakfast. Guest internet in lobby. Guest
laundry.
Super 8 1578 W Thatcher Blvd (928)
428-5851 $75 and up. At the former Comfort Inn location. Has (or
had) guest internet in lobby and full continental breakfast.
Econo Lodge 225 E US Highway 70 928-348-0011
$45 - $60. Guest laundry. On east end of town between 8th Ave
and 8th St.
Quality Inn & Suites 420 E.
Hwy 70 (928) 428-3200 $100 and up. On east end of town between
8th Ave and 8th St.
Comfort Inn & Suites 450 Entertainment
Ave (just off Thatcher Blvd) (928) 348-9400. $100 and up. New
location with full breakfast and exercise room (for those antsy
"zero" days!)
Laundromat:
The
Washtub 1910 West Thatcher Boulevard. In plaza, north side
of road. Sells soap, makes change, has bathroom for guests. Open
every day except Mondays.
Washer/dryer for guests available at the Best
Western & Econo Lodge motels
Stove
fuel:
Safford
Builders Supl/Ace Hdwr 707 S 6th Ave (928) 428-1033
AutoZone Hwy 70. Sells HEET.
Home Depot 8th St at 20th Ave.
Pharmacy:
Walgreens
1995 W Thatcher Blvd (928) 428-5059
Walmart 8th St at 20th Ave.
Library
/ Internet:
808
S 7TH AVE (928) 348-3202. Along the GET route, two blocks south
of US 70 in old downtown. Computers available with internet access.
Closed Sunday & Monday.
Bank
/ ATM:
Wells
Fargo 426 US-70
Bank One 321 W MAIN ST
ATM at Basha's and Safeway
supermarkets, Walmart.
Outfitter:
Gila
Outdoor
408 W Main St Safford (928) 348-0710. Basic
selection of backpacking equipment and accessories, including
footwear. Hunting/fishing-oriented selection and staff.
Transportation:
Limo
for Hire Taxi (928) 322-1512. Actually just a basic cab
ride (not a limo!) $2-$2.50 per mile. Will run on short notice
within the Safford area, including Cluff Ranch, Thatcher, Pima,
Solomon, and the Safford airport area. Longer runs available with
advance notice, such as to Clifton/Morenci and Willcox. (One way
to or from Willcox a bargain at $40; $75 round trip.) Operated
by friendly Dave, a former local radio personality.
Willcox
Taxi, in the town of Willcox 40 miles south, may pick up
or drop off in Safford with advance notice. Rates ~$65 one-way.
520-253-0702 (Carolyn & Thomas)
Enterprise
Rent-a-Car 1018 West Thatcher Boulevard (928) 428-0955.
Local and one-way car rentals. One-way rentals are not always
available, usually require advance notice, and may require a drop-off
in Tucson in addition to a "drop fee." Ask for Brandt
Taylor, asst. manager, and mention you're a GET hiker.
Land
Management Agency:
BLM
Safford Field Office 711 14th Avenue Safford (928) 348-4400
dave_hall@blm.gov Or call and ask for BLM ranger
Eric, for info on Safford-Morenci Trail and BLM lands north of
Safford. Permits for Aravaipa Canyon issued here as well.
Coronado
National Forest Safford Ranger District
711 14th Ave, Suite D Safford (928) 428-4150 mailroom_r3_coronado@fs.fed.us
Info on Pinalenos, Mt Graham, and Santa Teresa Wilderness.
Veteran ranger Chuck Duncan: (928) 348-1964
Kimball
Hanson: (928) 428-9367 for information regarding new mine construction
in the Gila Mtns north of town. (Public info contact for Freeport
McMoRan / Phelps Dodge)
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Updates/Corrections
 Morenci
/ Clifton AZ
Trail
miles from west terminus: 264 (via
Eagle Creek Bypass) / 278 (via main GET)
Distance from GET: via US 191 at Lower Eagle
Creek Rd: Morenci 5 mi E, Clifton 8 mi E (or via
US 191 at main GET crossing: Morenci
15 mi S, Clifton 18 mi S)
Clifton
and Morenci are sister towns, the former an historic mining town,
the latter a modern, company-built town at the foot of a massive
open-pit copper mine. Each community offers its own distinct cultural
charm and eccentricity, and neither is soon forgotten after visiting.
Hikers following the Eagle Creek Bypass (Segment 14) can opt to
detour 5 miles on foot into Morenci via low-speed Highway 191
(aka the Coronado Trail). Hitchhiking to and from the main route,
10 miles farther up the lightly-travelled highway, is certainly
possible, but don't expect instant gratification. Morenci offers
most hiker services, including a full-size supermarket, but those
who can manage the 3 or 4 miles extra into Clifton will be duly
rewarded for their efforts. Historic Chase Creek Street is here
(photo), as well as Jail Cave, both living relics of Clifton's
erstwhile mining heyday.
Morenci
post office | View
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Post
Offices:
9
Morenci Mall
Morenci AZ 85540
Hours: M-F 08:00-04:30PM
Phone: (928) 865-3312
__________________
494 N Coronado Blvd
Clifton AZ 85533
Hours: M-F 7:45am-3:45pm, Sa 11-12
Phone: (928) 865-3892
To
reach the Clifton post office, follow Chase Creek St to Comb St
and turn east to Hwy 191 right by the PO. This avoids having to
walk the narrow shoulder of Hwy 191 in the upper part of town.
Groceries:
Basha's
Supermarket 172 Plaza, Morenci 928-865-1820. Long-term
resupply with deli.
Circle K N Coronado Blvd, Clifton
(928) 865-3441
Restaurants:
Copper
Room Restaurant & Lounge 261 Burro Ally, Morenci (928)
865-4111. M-F 5am-9pm, Sa-Su 10am-4pm. B / L / D. Lively little
joint located inside the Morenci Motel.
R & R Pizza Express Morenci Plaza,
Morenci (928) 865-2200. AYCE lunch buffet. Delivers to Clifton.
Copper Canyon Cafe Morenci Plaza,
Morenci (928) 865-2213
Golden City Chinese Restaurant Morenci
Plaza, Morenci (928) 865-5941
Dairy Queen 438 Plaza Dr, Morenci
(928) 865-3456
Los Mendoza Taco Shop 355 N Coronado
Blvd, Clifton. 928-865-1010. Far north end of town.
El Corralito 352 North Coronado Boulevard,
Clifton. (928) 865-5291. Open M-F 11am-8pm, closed weekends. Pizza,
Mex/American fare, salad bar. Formerly Marla's Pizzeria.
P J's 307 S Coronado Blvd Clifton
(928) 865-3328. Homestyle B L D. Don't miss breakfast here for
all the juicy mining gossip.
Gold Panner's Grub Chase Creek St,
Clifton.
Gi'Mees' York Valley, Clifton (928)
687-1517
Lodging:
Morenci
Motel Burro Ally, Morenci. (928) 865-4111. $75. Fridge/micro/satellite
TV. Sometimes fills up on week days; reservations recommended.
Copper Room Restaurant located on premises. Mine tours can be
booked via the motel's front desk.
Rode Inn Motel 186 N Coronado Blvd
Clifton. (928) 865-4536. $55 standard rooms, or $45 for smaller
rooms, in back along river. Washer/drier for guests. Friendly
owners. Sometimes fills up on week days; reservations recommended.
Please
note that both motels are sometimes all filled by early afternoon
during week days, due to mining contractors in town. Consider
making reservations ahead of time if possible.
Laundromat:
Sunrise
Laundromat South Coronado Boulevard, Clifton. South of
PJ's restaurant.
Coin-op laundry (no soap or change) also available at apartment
complex behind Morenci Motel.
Also see Rode Inn Motel, above.
Outfitter:
Phelps
Dodge Mercantile 172 Morenci Plaza, Morenci.
(928)
865-4121. Located adjacent to the
Basha's supermarket. An assortment of hardware and "Coleman-variety"
outdoors items, including white gas and some very basic camping
provisions. A Radio Shack "mini-store" is located inside
the Mercantile as well.
Stove
fuel:
Phelps
Dodge Mercantile
(see above).
Conoco US 191 (east of Morenci Plaza,
around the bend) (928) 865-3975 Mini Mart sells HEET but call
to confirm availability.
AutoZone Morenci Mall, Morenci. Once
sold HEET, reportedly no longer.
Library
/ Internet:
Morenci
Public Library Morenci Plaza (928) 865-1981. Located past
Basha's, within Morenci Plaza. Open til 7pm most weekdays.
Clifton Public Library 102 School St (928) 865-2461. Follow
"library" signs east from US 191 / S Coronado Blvd near
PJ's restaurant. Closed weekends.
Bank
/ ATM:
ATM
at National Bank & Basha's
in Morenci, Circle K in Clifton.
Land
Management Agency:
Apache-Sitgreaves
National Forest Clifton Ranger District
HC 1, Box 733 , Duncan, AZ, 85594, Phone: 928-687-1301. (Actually
located in Three Way, near the town of Duncan - not in Clifton!)
Info on GET environment from Painted Bluff Trail @ Eagle Creek
to the AZ / NM state line.
Morenci
also has a movie theatre, (located
near the library) providing occasionally beneficial cinematic
distraction for hikers and miners alike.
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 Glenwood
/ Alma NM
Trail miles
from west terminus: 326
Distance from GET: Alma on route,
Glenwood 4.5 miles S via US 180
Located
along US Hwy 180 just north of the GET crossing, Alma is a tiny
ranching community featuring little more than a small general
store and adjacent diner. A pay phone is here, from which you
may be able to call one of the motels in Glenwood for a shuttle
into this likewise small but charming and friendly community.
(Lariat Motel shown in photo.) Mogollon ghost town is nearby,
as is Cooney Tomb and the beautiful Catwalk Trail along Whitewater
Creek (a side trail olf the GET).
Glenwood
post office | View
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Post
Office:
5109
Highway 180
Glenwood NM 88039
Hours: M-F 08:00-12:30PM 01:00-04:30PM SA 10:00AM-1:00PM
Phone: (575) 539-2131
Groceries:
Alma
Trading Company Alma (575) 539-2640. Open 7 days, 7am-7pm..General
store with picnic-type supplies, microwave foods, snacks, and
ice cream. Passable for short-term resupply. Alma Grill is located
next door. Outside pay phone and water spigot.
Glenwood Trading Post Glenwood (575)
539-2321. Open 7 days, 8am-8pm. A slightly better stocked general
/ convenience store and gas station, with some produce, canned
goods, Lipton dinners, mac & cheese, snacks. Passable for
short-term resupply. Sells HEET. Outside pay phone.
Taken
together, the above two grocery options may offer enough for unparticular
hikers to reach Gila Hot Springs or Morenci.
Restaurants:
Blue
Front Bar & Cafe Glenwood (575) 539-2561. Cafe closed
Mondays & Tuesdays. Serves lunch & dinner. Good Mex/American
food but somewhat pricey for what you get. Bar room tended by
friendly Lori, plus separate restaurant area.
Golden Girls Cafe Glenwood (575)
539-2457. Serves breakfast from 6-10am daily in the kitchen of
owner's home. Excellent food, friendly conversation.
Mario's
Pizza Glenwood. (575) 539-2316. Open Mon & Tue 2-8:30,
Sat 4-8pm. Pizza, calzones, sub sandwiches.
Alma
Grill Next door to the Alma Trading Company in Alma. 6am
- 3 pm, 7 days. Serving breakfast all day, lunch from 11am. Best
food in Alma! (Burgers, veggie melts, Mexican dishes) Popular
gossip spot for area ranchers.
Lodging:
Lariat
Motel Glenwood (575) 539-2361. All rooms about $60/single.
Larger, upstairs rooms best value. Showers available without stay
($5). Motel is conveniently located behind Glenwood Trading Post,
which has pay phones. (No phones in room.)
Whitewater Motel PO Box 158 Glenwood,
NM 88039 (575) 539-2581 whitewater@gilanet.com $40-$50. Located
next to the post office on the opposite end of town (0.2 miles
away!)
Crab Apple Cabins PO Box 86 Glenwood,
NM 88039 (575) 539-2400. Reasonable rates. Hiker-friendly proprietors.
Open seasonally.
Double TT Homestead NM 174. Cabins,
RV spaces. Located on eastern edge of town en route to the Catwalk
trailhead.
Doc's Place (575) 539-2711 Bed &
breakfast.
Silver Creek Inn (B&B) HC 61 Box
306 Mogollon, NM 88039 1-866-276-4882.
Camping:
USFS
Bighorn Campground 5 drive-in campsites,
with picnic tables, grills, and juniper shade. Toilet facilities.
No water. This free public campground is a convenient 0.1 mile
north of Glenwood along US 180, not in the ideal setting but FREE.
Stove
fuel:
Glenwood
Trading Post
(see above) Sometimes sells HEET (located on shelf beside entrance,
near floor).
Library
/ Internet:
Glenwood
Public Library
Menges Lane (575) 539-2277 Hours: Mon 10-2, Tue-Sat 10-3, except
Wed closed. Located at south end of town, past post office, on
side road to the right off of US 180.
Bank
/ ATM:
ATM
at Glenwood Trading Post
Transportation:
Glenwood
Trading Post (see listing above) May offer shuttle to/from
Silver City (70 mi) with advance (2-3 wk) notice. Ask for Lester
or Wendy.
Out N' Back Trails Unlimited 575-590-7795
Located in Silver City. Proprietor Bryan McDonald will shuttle
to/from Glenwood area for $1.70/mi (~$135 one way).
Land
Management Agency:
Gila
National Forest Glenwood Ranger District
Hwy 180, Glenwood (575) 539-2481. Ranger David Polpeka (dpolpeka@fs.fed.us)
(or info specialist Beth O'Donnell: bodonnell@fs.fed.us) Info
on Gila National Forest from the crest of the Mogollon Mountains
westward.
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 Gila
Hot Springs NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 382
Distance from GET: 3 miles S via
Hwy 15
Doc
Campbell's Post is the center of life in this small unincorporated
village, surrounded on all sides by the vast Gila National Forest.
True to its name, hot springs abound here, and have attracted
an eclectic, free-spirited band of homeowners and homegrown, tourist-friendly
businesses to the area. Gila Hot Springs lies about 3 miles south
of the GET along NM Hwy 15.
Maildrop service:
(Hiker's Name)
c/o Doc Campbell's Post
HC 68 Box 80
Silver City NM 88061
Mail
food parcels c/o this address via Postal Service or UPS. Include
your name in the address, and "hold for hiker" in the
corner of the box, along with your estimated date of arrival.
You can mail your package a couple of weeks early as necessary,
in order to accommodate UPS ground service, etc. Store is NOT
capable of handling outgoing parcels. Outgoing letter mail (store
sells stamps) may be placed in a small mailbox out front.
Store
hours:
8am-4pm, 7 days. Summer hours: 8am-5:30pm, 7 days.
Phone: (575) 536-9551 daytime or
(575) 536-9314 evenings
Email: pyluecke@gilanet.com
From
their website: "Here you will find a special country store
with groceries, a snack bar, homemade ice cream, ice, gas, fishing
and hunting licenses, fishing supplies, a real southwest gift
shop, books, postcards, T-shirts with Wilderness and local designs.
Also laundromat and hot showers."
Groceries:
Doc
Campbell's Post.
A very limited selection of groceries, incl. a few types of freeze-dried
meals, mac & cheese, snacks, peanut butter, tortillas, canned
goods, microwave burritos & sandwiches, plus home-made ice
cream. Probably unacceptable for resupply to Monticello (eastbound),
but possibly passable to Glenwood (westbound). Certainly acceptable
for augmenting a maildrop, however. Store has other basics, like
sunscreen, bug repellent, and usually sells HEET and white gas
fuel. Pay phone out front. Run by Paul & Ysabel Luecke.
Restaurants:
None.
Sandwiches & microwave items are available at Doc
Campbell's.
The Wilderness Lodge serves breakfast for guests.
Lodging:
The
Wilderness Lodge Jackass
Lane, Gila Hot Springs NM (575) 536-9749. wildernesslodge@gilahot.com
$68 for 1 or $78 per couple with shared bath (one bed), $105 for
2 with private bath (two bedroom suite). Bed & breakfast in
a nice, secluded area with friendly hosts. Follow NM 15 south
from Doc Campbell's to Access Rd, turn left, then left again onto
Jackass Lane.
Gila
Hot Springs Ranch (575) 536-9551 daytime or (575) 536-9314
evenings. Affiliated with Doc Campbell's Post. Lodge-style suite
with kitchenette for $50-$75 for 2 ($7 each extra person). www.gilahotspringsranch.com
gilahotspringsranch@gilanet.com
Camping:
Gila
Hot Springs RV Park
Across from Doc Campbell's on Hwy 15. Grassy tent site with "RV
ambience" for $12. Showers for guests only.
River
Campground Located on banks of the
W Fork Gila River. Dusty car camping area with public hot spring.
Tenting allowed. $3 day use, $4 overnight. Drinking water &
toilets available. To reach the campground, follow Access Rd (off
NM 15) to end and turn left.
Forest Service Campgrounds Two
campgrounds, each located just off Hwy 15 near confluence
of West & East forks of the Gila. User fee. This may be the
best bet for semi- quiet camping in the area, apart from stealth
camping on the national forest.
Laundromat:
Laundry
& pay showers at Doc Campbell's Post.
Stove
fuel:
White
gas & HEET at Doc Campbell's Post.
Land
Management Agency:
Gila
National Forest Wilderness Ranger District
HC 68 Box 50, Mimbres, New Mexico, 88049. (575) 536-2250. District
ranger Annette Chavez (email info specialist Annette Gomez: aggomez@fs.fed.us).
Info on Gila National Forest east of Mogollon crest, west of Black
Range crest.
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Thru-hikers
Caution
The next on (or near) route resupply is at Magdalena, 175 trail
miles from Gila Hot Springs. Although it is possible to hike this
entire stretch without a resupply, it can't be recommended due
to the remote and rough nature of this terrain. Hikers who run
low on food will find it difficult to obtain more without having
a pre-arranged maildrop along the way. Consider using one of the
following two off-route resupply options instead of pushing straight
through. (Westbounders can use Trail's
End Market in Magdalena to facilitate a maildrop, shipping
via Priority Mail to Monticello or Winston.)
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 Winston
NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 428 (via
Chloride Creek) / 471 (via Hwy 52)
Distance from GET: 15 miles E (hike)
/ 22 miles S (road)
Winston
is a near ghost of a former silver mining boomtown, located in
the shadow of the remote Black Range of the Gila National Forest.
The town is difficult to reach from any direction, and you won't
find much once you get here. However it's a link to the outside
world in this lonely corner of New Mexico, and a possible resupply
point for hikers who would prefer a sketchy hitchhike (via Hwy
52) to the off-trail hiking often required to reach Monticello
(see next entry).
From
the GET / CDT crossing of FR 226 in the Black Range, Winston is
a ~15 mile walk east on a 4WD road which receives no regular vehicle
use, and with several thousand feet of elevation loss. Chloride,
reached 2 miles before Winston, offers cabins for rent but no
other useful services for hikers.
From
the GET crossing of dirt, 2WD NM Hwy 52 near Dusty (no services),
Winston is a ~22 mile hitchhike south. Traffic is very light,
though ranchers in the area do head into Winston to pick up mail.
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nm/winston.html
Post
Office:
381
Republic Rd
Winston NM 87943
Hours: M-F 07:30AM-04:00PM SA 09:00-11:00AM
Phone: (575) 743-0157
Groceries:
Winston
General Store Highway 52. (575) 743-6915. Snacks, some
canned and packaged foods, microwave items, sandwiches. Pay phone
out front. Unacceptable for resupply, although the Winston General
Store Official Merchandise (ball caps, t-shirts) might just improve
the hitchhiking prospects after resupplying via the post office.
Restaurant
/ Lodging:
Winston
Bed & Breakfast / Cafe 202
Broadway (575) 743-0208. Now closed.
Cabins available for rent in Chloride (2 mi west). For details,
contact proprietor: dedmund (at) windstream.net
Winston
also has a bar / saloon. Perhaps one could win a drinking bet
to get back to the trail from here.
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 Monticello
NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 479
Distance from GET: 10.5 miles S via
Monticello Canyon (4WD)
Like
Winston, Monticello is a tiny, remote community located a fair
distance off-route. It, too, offers only the barest of services
- namely, a post office and, as of recent, lodging. But unlike
Winston, Monticello is reached by way of a pleasant walk on a
nearly level dirt road. A few residents live along this scenic
road on sprawling ranch/farm acreage in a dramatic canyon setting.
Anyone heading your way may be willing to offer a ride to or from
town.
Farming
and ranching along perennial Alamosa Creek has long been the way
of life in and around Monticello, and although the area has seen
a decline in population in recent decades, a new lifeblood is
slowly returning in the form of a few organic farms, and a revitalization
of the old town square is in the works. Still, the community is
very small, eclectic, and close-knit, and feels a world apart
from the rush of modern life.
Post
Office:
355
Calle Del Norte Rd
Monticello NM 87939
Hours: M-Sa 08:00AM-12:00PM
Phone: (575) 743-0076
Lodging:
Recently
opened, lodging is now available in Monticello and may be an attractive
option for hikers, due to the absence of public land for camping
immediately surrounding town.
Two
one-bedroom casitas
with fully-equipped kitchens are available for rent, one of which
sleeps 2 (single queen bed), while the other sleeps 4 (additional
sleeper-sofa in living room). Both rent for $85 per night - rate
& terms available to walk-in GET hikers only, otherwise 2
night minimum stay required. Reservations recommended, and plan
to bring all of your own food. Guest laundry facilities available
(for clothing only please). Call (575) 743-0200 or email: jane.darland@gmail.com
Camping:
Although
day use of the old town square -
a small, shady area with picnic tables - is an option, overnight
use is probably unacceptable and also impractical, due to a lack
of public restrooms or water fountain / spigot in town. Otherwise,
the road in Monticello Canyon (public right-of-way among private
land) passes through or near a few state and BLM sections where
stealth camping should be acceptable away from the road. To locate
these parcels, refer to the GET Topo Map Set and/or Forest Service
maps of the area.
Please
note that Monticello has no public rest rooms or pay phone, and
cell phone reception is unlikely. HIkers paying for lodging may
be able to use the proprietors' phone (no phones in rooms) for
a brief call. Otherwise, consider explaining the situation tactfully
to a resident in town. (The post office phone is unavailable for
public use.)
Truth
or Consequences, offering most services including Greyhound
bus and taxi, is a 25 mile hitchhike SE of Monticello; all traffic
- what little there is - will probably be heading all or most
of the way there, though getting back to Monticello can be more
difficult and may recommend use of a taxi - see next entry. (The
village of Placita, just south of Monticello and en route to T
or C, has no services.)
Transportation:
Hot
Spring Taxi Truth or Consequences 575-894-1145 Taxi company
in T or C. Closed Sundays. Will only run TO Monticello from T
or C (plan to hitchhike into T or C - usually not problematic).
$2 / mile = $50 (approximate). Give one day advance notice and
plan to be flexible with pick-up time.
Land
Management Agency:
Gila
National Forest Black Range Ranger District
1804 North Date Street, Truth or Consequences, NM (575) 894-6677.
District ranger Andrea Sepulveda: asepulveda@fs.fed.us Info
on Black Range Crest / CDT / GET.
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 Magdalena
NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 557
Distance from GET: on route
A
former railroad town, Magdalena was once the end of the line for
the Great Western Stock Driveway. Here, cattle were unloaded and
herded west toward interior Catron County and on to Arizona. The
town took its name from biblical Mary Magdalene, whose likeness
is said to grace a nearby mountain. In terms of appearances and
services Magdalena remains something of an anachronism, but nonetheless
offers enough of the basics to make this a welcome, and refreshing,
stop along the trail. Several reasonably priced motels are here,
as is a good-sized market, a few colorful eateries, and a Cibola
National Forest district office. The ghost town of Kelly lies
just south of town along the route of the GET. Except for its
historic white adobe church, you'll need a permit before visiting
Kelly, available at a roadside rock shop along Kelly Road in Magdalena.
www.magdalena-nm.com
First
Street and US 60 are the same road, Magdalena's main drag, where
almost all services are found.
Magdalena
post office | View
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Post
Office:
101
East First St
Magdalena NM 87825
Hours: M-F 08:00-12:30PM 01:30-04:30PM Sat 10:00-12:00PM
Phone: (575) 854-2231
Postmaster Libby Bodio, husband of a well-known local travelbook
author, is a friend of hikers.
Groceries:
Trails
End Market 1003 W 1st St. (575) 854-2205. Mo- Sa 8am-8pm.
CLOSED SUNDAYS. Good for long-term resupply, although choice of
brands is somewhat limited. Has good produce selection. Also has
small "drug store" aisle with all the basics.
Conoco Gas/Food
Mart 705 1st St. (575) 854-3680. Sells water, snacks, microwave
foods, pizza, and usually has HEET. Public restrooms. Pay phone.
ATM.
Restaurants:
Evett's
Cafe Highway 60. (575) 854-2449. Old-fashioned ice cream
fountain (see photo above) with decent food menu as well. Mex/American
staples, simply prepared. The "social aorta" of town,
in the words of one guidebook to the area.
Magdalena Cafe 109 Main St.
(1/2 block S of US 60) (575) 854-2696. Open for breakfast and
lunch M-F 7am-1:30pm, Sat 7am-12:30pm. Also serves dinner Th and
Sat evenings, 5-7. The local favorite breakfast spot.
Ponderosa Restaurant US 60. (575)
854-9916. Mex/American. 3pm-7pm daily. B L D menu available.
Conoco Gas/Food
Mart 705 1st St. (575) 854-3680. Fresh-baked whole pizzas
available to order after 5pm or so.
Big Bear Cafe W US 60 (575) 854-3184
Bear Mountain Coffee House 902 W
1st St (US 60) (575) 854-3310. WiFi hotspot.
Golden Spur Saloon US
60. (575) 854-2554. Expect a rowdy
good ol' boy crowd here.
Lodging:
High
Country Lodge 303 E 1st St. (575) 854-2062. $35 - $45.
Small, clean, and basic rooms. Fridge/microwaves in rooms. Home-made
continental breakfast items for sale in lobby. Computer with high-speed
internet access in lobby available free with stay.
Western B&B Motel & RV Park 404 1st
St. (575) 854-2417 westernmotel@gilanet.com $46-$66 rooms, each
with a unique theme. All rooms have fridge/micro and incl. continental
brkfst or full breakfast for higher rate. Hot tub on premises
for guests. RV park in rear.
Eagle's Nest RV & Motel 1405 W First
St. (US 60 & NM 107) (575) 854-3651. Located
about a mile west of the above motels.
Stove
fuel:
Conoco Gas/Food mart Sells HEET
Trail's
End Market Should have rubbing alcohol
Library
/ Internet:
Magdalena
Public Library
108 N. Main St. (575) 854-2261. HOURS: Mo, Tu, Fr 11am-4pm; We,
Th 11am-9pm; Sat 9am-2pm. Internet access. Library housed inside
the the town's historic railroad depot along the GET route just
north of US 60.
High Country Lodge High-speed internet
access available free with stay.
Bank
/ ATM:
Wells Fargo 1st & Main St
Conoco Gas/Food Mart 705 1st St
Permits:
Tony's Rock Shop Located on Kelly
Rd (GET) about a mile south of US 60 in Magdalena. Sells permits
for visiting the nearby mining ghost town of Kelly. (Kelly's historic
adobe church
is the only structure in town not requiring a permit to visit.)
Transportation:
Socorro
Taxi 606
N. California St. Socorro NM. 575-835-4276. jess@socorrotaxi.com
Will shuttle between Magdalena & full-service town of Socorro,
27 miles east on US 60. Taxi runs until 5pm daily, and no longer
on weekends, except possibly by advancedreservation.
Land
Management Agency:
Cibola
National Forest Magdalena Ranger District
1st St & Kelly Rd. Magdalena. (575) 854-2281. District ranger
Dennis Aldridge: daldridge@fs.fed.us Info on
Magdalena & San Mateo Mountains incl. Apache Kid & Withington
Wildernesses.
While
in Magdalena, well-cultured hikers may be able to take in a play,
compliments of the unlikely-named London
Frontier Theatre Company. www.londonfrontiertheatre.com
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 Polvadera
NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 584
Distance from GET: 1.1 mi S & E (via
frontage rd) / 0.9 mi S & W (via Canal Rd)
The
Spanish word Polvadera means "dusty," and although the
interstate corridor that butts up against this otherwise peaceful
hamlet sometimes appears situated in a giant dust bowl, the nearby
Rio Grande is actually surrounded by stately cottonwoods and is
surprisingly lush. Polvadera lies at the edge of the bosque, another
Spanish word, meaning "riverside woods." Agriculture
and ranching, permitted by an elaborate network of drainage canals,
are the primary ways of life here; the interstate and its culture
actually bypasses the community itself. Polvadera offers little
more than a post office, (see photo) and no public telephone,
although the village of Lemitar, 5 miles south via a frontage
road, has a full-service truck stop and several cafes. Five miles
farther lies the larger town of Socorro (Spanish for "help"),
reachable by taxi and offering most services but no longer a Greyhound
bus stop.
Socorro
post office | View
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Post
Offices:
15
Correo St
Polvadera NM 87828
Hours: M-F 07:30AM-11:30AM & 12PM-4PM, Sa 7:30-11AM
Phone: (575) 835-9707
World's
tiniest post office has drinking water and rest room (as a courtesy
to hikers) when open. Shade available by the front entrance, but
watch out for the occasional postal customer. Also a pair of quiet,
secluded picnic areas, with tables and tall shade trees (but no
drinking water) are available in the vicinity; one lies along
the main GET route, 2.5 miles away, the other along the alternate
GET highwater bypass route, both located in the Rio Grande bosque.
__________________
5 Chambon Rd
Lemitar NM 87823
Hours: M-F 07:30AM-11:30PM & 12PM-4PM, Sa 8:15AM-10:45AM
Phone: (575) 838-0973|
__________________
124 Plaza St
Socorro NM 87801
Hours:
M-F 08:30AM-05:00PM, Sa 9-12
Phone: (575) 835-0542
Groceries:
Road
Runner Travel Ctr I-25 Exit 156 Lemitar, NM (575) 838-1400.
Truck stop and convenience store with possible short-term resupply
potential. ~5 miles south of Polvadera. Mac n cheese, Ramen, tuna
(in a can) and spam, (no Liptons), and sandwich fixings. Sells
HEET.
Several
long-term resupply grocery options exist in Socorro,
~10 miles south of Polvadera.
Restaurants:
Escondida Grill 153
NM 408 Escondida (quarter mile west of Pueblito Bridge over the
Rio Grande) (575) 838-2423. Tu-Th 9am-7pm, Fr-Su 9am-9pm, closed
Monday. Mexican/American + ice cream, some picnic supplies for
sale, including sunscreen & bug repellent.
Tina's Restaurant 33 W Frontage Rd Lemitar (575) 835-3340
Crane Cafe I-25 exit 156 Lemitar
(575) 838-1200
Good variety of restaurants in Socorro.
Lodging
/ camping:
Several
inexpensive options in Socorro (Econo
Lodge a good value - has internet in lobby)
Escondida
Lake Park Escondida, NM 575.835.2041.
Self-pay tent camping in grassy field of RV Park with nearby oxbow
lake. Water available from RV site spigots, of questionable purity
(strong mineral taste). Park located along Staton Rd by Pueblito
bridge, 6.9 miles south of GET or directly along alternate high-water
GET route.
Showers
available at Road Runner Travel Ctr in
Lemitar.
Laundromat:
Road
Runner Travel Ctr in Lemitar. Laundromat also available
in Socorro.
Stove
fuel:
HEET
available at Road Runner Travel Ctr
in Lemitar, and at auto parts stores in Socorro.
Bank
/ ATM:
ATM
at Road Runner Travel Ctr in Lemitar
Transportation:
Socorro
Taxi 606
N. California St. Socorro NM. 575-835-4276. jess@socorrotaxi.com
Will shuttle between Polvadera, Lemitar & full-service town
of Socorro, 10 miles south via Lemitar frontage road.
Taxi runs until 5pm daily, and no longer on weekends, except possibly
by advancedreservation.
Land
Management Agency:
BLM
Socorro Field Office 901 S. Highway
85, Socorro NM 87801 (575) 835-0412. Info on GET environment from
Magdalena to US 60 near Abo Canyon. Ask for BLM recreation planner
Mike Bilbo.
Socorro
also has numerous restaurants, a public library with internet
access, and a Walmart.
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Mountainair
NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 629
Distance from GET: 18 miles E
via US 60
Hikers
looking to roughly halve the 115 mile distance between on-route
resupplies at Polvadera and Tijeras might consider detouring to
the small town of Mountainair, an 18 mile hitchhike east from
the GET crossing of US 60 west of Abo Canyon. (The place names
of Scholle and Abo, as shown on maps, offer no services, nor is
tiny Bernardo worthy of a westward detour.) Mountainair is a small
ranching-oriented town offering a modest array of services, and
is also home to the headquarters for Salinas Pueblos National
Monument. Organized into districts, each at a different site,
this monument showcases some of the most well-preserved ancient
pueblo dwellings in the Southwest. The Abo district lies 9 miles
east of the GET crossing at US 60, and is a worthwhile detour
if you have time.
Mountainair
post office | View
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View How-to
Post
Office:
221
W Broadway
Mountainair NM 87036
Hours:
M-F 08:00-11:30AM 12:15-04:45PM
Phone: (505) 847-2206
Groceries:
Mountainair
Grocery 204 W Broadway (505) 847-2223. Not
much variety, but may be ok for long-term resupply.
Town and Country Butcher shop with
a few grocery items.
Restaurants:
Ancient
Cities Cafe 511 W Highway 60 (505) 847-2368. Mex/American.
Pop's Shaffer Cafe 103 W Main (505)
847-0228. Located at the Shaffer Hotel.
Granny's Sweet Shop 400 W Broadway
(505) 847-1850. Sweet treats, plus limited food menu.
Alpine
Alley
210 Summit Ave (505) 847-2478. Serving breakfast and lunch (incl.
omelettes, sub sandwiches, baked goods).
Lodging:
Turner
Inn & RV Park 303 E Highway 60 888-847-0170 / (505)
847-0248. turnerinn@uphi.net (formerly Tillie's Inn) Half
a mile east of town center. $55 single, $65 two beds, $80 cabins.
Microwave/fridge
in rooms. Internet
access. Guest laundry. Also $10 tent
sites with shower included. Hiker's best bet.
The Rock Motel 901 US Highway 60 (505) 847-2577 or 847-0082.
therockmotel@wildblue.net. (formerly El Rancho Motel) $60-$70
(winter rate). Fridge/micro included.
Shaffer Hotel 103 W Main 888-595-2888
/ (505) 847-2888 shafferhotel@aol.com Historic inn recently remodeled.
Rates from $80. Restaurant on premises.
Laundromat:
Mountainair
Laundromat
(505) 847-2374. You know it's a small world when: Googling "Mountainair
Laundromat" in researching info for this page gives this
page as the only result!
Hardware
store / Stove fuel:
Gustin
Hardware 117 W Broadway (505) 847-2261. HEET/denatured
alcohol available.
Library
/ Internet:
Mountainair
Public Library 109 N. Roosevelt (505)
847-9676
Public internet access reportedly also available at an internet
service provider storefront in town.
Bank /
ATM:
My
Bank One block west of the post office.
Wells Fargo 111 US-60
Land
Management Agency:
Cibola
National Forest Mountainair Ranger District
#40 Ranger Station Road Mountainair, New Mexico (505) 847-2990.
District ranger Vicky Estrada: vestrada@fs.fed.us Info
on the Manzano Mountains & surrounding areas. Located about
a mile from downtown.
Allen
Stibora, long-time CDT supporter, lives in Mountainair and is
a friend of GET hikers too.
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 Tijeras
NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 700
Distance from GET: on route
Twenty-three
miles before reaching its eastern terminus at Albuquerque, the
GET passes through Tijeras (teh herr' es), a bedroom community
to the big ABQ, yet one which actually feels quite distinct from
its giant neighbor, and keeps a small-town "Route 66"
profile despite its location along the busy Interstate 40 corridor.
Tijeras itself offers just a few services for hikers, although
more is available 4 miles off-route in Cedar Crest. Fourteen miles
north of Tijeras along the GET (milepoint
718) lies the Sandia Peak tram summit station and High
Finance restaurant; combined with the other eateries along this
corridor, ABQ-bound hikers should be able to forego a maildrop
at Tijeras in favor of big meals and take-out food. (Photo:
Smoky the pyrophobic bear greets GET hikers south of town. The
Sandia Ranger Distict of the USFS has its headquarters here in
Tijeras, right along the route.)
Tijeras Post Office | View
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| Street
View How-to
Post
Office:
499
State Highway 333
Tijeras NM 87059
Hours:
M-F 07:00AM-04:30PM Sat 08:00-11:00AM
Phone: (505) 281-5656
Groceries:
Morning
Star Grocery 4 Kuhn Dr Ponderosa Pine (505) 281-5151 Hours:
7am-9pm every day. Located just off NM 337, 2.5 miles east of
the GET route, 12 trail miles south of Tijeras, this small convenience
store is okay for short-term resupply to Tijeras and ABQ. Some
drug store-type items available, including TP. Does not sell HEET
or other stove fuels. Deli serves breakfast items, sandwiches
and gigantic pizza. Outside pay phone and picnic table.
Tri-Angle Grocery 12165 Highway 14
N Cedar Crest (505) 281-3030. A few miles off-route. Short-term
resupply.
Restaurants:
Trail
Rider Pizza 544 Highway 66 E Tijeras (505) 281-6068. Take-out
stand with pizza, steak bombs, and good-sized salads. Molly's
bar room next door has a dining area (bring your pizza over),
bathrooms and a few snacks, but no food of its own. Located 0.3
mile east of NM 337 / Rt 66 intersection (GET).
Subway Highway 66 Tijeras. Sandwiches,
salads, personal-sized pizzas. Located on the corner of Hwy 66
and 337 (along the GET).
The Village Coffee House Highway
66 Tijeras. Across from the public library.
Chameleon Cafe Kuhn Dr Ponderosa
Pine. Cafe with "fine coffees and teas." Across the
road from Morning Star Grocery.
Burger Boy 12023 State Highway 14
N Cedar Crest (505) 281-3949. A few miles north of the GET.
North 14 Diner 12128 State Highway
14 N Cedar Crest (505) 286-2355
Cedar Point Grille 12124 Hwy 14 N
Cedar Crest (505) 281-2534
Lodging:
Elaine's
Bed & Breakfast 72 Snowline Rd Cedar
Crest (505) 281-2467
Gas
station / Convenience:
Chevron
Redi-Mart 12011 State Highway 14 N Cedar Crest (505) 281-8859
Library
/ Internet:
Tijeras
/ East Mountain Public Library 1 Tijeras Ave (Rt 66) Tijeras
(505) 281-8508. Hours: Tue-Sat 10AM-6PM, except Thu 11AM-7PM.
(Closed Sun & Mon) Internet access available with registration
(forms!) and a provided inter-library access card.
Bank
/ ATM:
Wells
Fargo 503 Rt 66 E Tijeras
Transportation:
Albuquerque
cab companies will run to/from Tijeras & Cedar Crest. See
Albuquerque entry below.
Land
Management Agency:
Cibola
National Forest Sandia Ranger District
11776 Highway 337 Tijeras NM (505) 281-3304. District ranger Jackie
Andrew: jcandrew@fs.fed.us Info on the Sandia Crest
and Cedro-Otero area.
Be
sure to check out Tijeras Pueblo, an archeological site with interpretive
trail located directly behind the forest service office along
Hwy 337 / GET south of town.
Please
note that Highway 377 and 14, south of Tijeras and through Ponderosa
Pine, refer to the same road.
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 Sandia
Peak Aerial Tram
Quite
possibly the world's longest aerial tramway, the Sandia Peak Aerial
Tram offers a fast, thrilling, and incredibly scenic trip between
the Albuquerque city edge and Sandia Crest, a 10,000+ foot elevation
fault-block upthrust which the GET follows on its own more terrestrial
journey toward the city. The GET is very scenic as well as it
descends over 4000 vertical feet in 9 miles toward the base of
the tramway. Yet the tram is certainly an option for those not
interested in such a climb or descent, particularly for day hikers
beginning from Albuquerque.
In
essence, the tram connects the end of the GET at its eastern terminus
with the GET 9 miles away from this point. One-way tickets can
be purchased from either the summit or base station for $9 (adults).
Tram cars run regularly throughout the day.
Tram hours
of operation:
Labor
Day - Memorial Day: 9am - 8pm daily, except Tues 5pm - 8pm only
Memorial Day - Labor Day: 9am - 9pm daily
505-856-7325
Restaurants:
High
Finance Restaurant & Tavern
505-243-9742. Lunch and dinner menu. Steaks, seafood, burgers,
nachos, etc. Located next door to the tram summit station, this
casual fine dining establishment can be true to its name: expensive
(but might be hard to resist after a 700 mile walk!)
Sandiago's Mexican Grill 505-856-6692.
Muy bueno Mexican restaurant and bar located inside the tram base
station at the GET eastern terminus.
A short-order grill is located 2 miles east of the tram station
inside the Sandia Crest summit gift shop. A Forest
Service information desk is here as well, and another inside
the tram station.
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 Albuquerque
NM / GET east terminus
Trail
miles from west terminus: 723
Directions
from GET east terminus to Albuquerque airport:
The
Grand Enchantment Trail's eastern terminus lies at the start of
the Tramway Trail, a locally popular connector trail between the
Sandia Peak Aerial Tram and La Luz Trail. This trailhead is well-marked
and easy to identify at the edge of the Sandia Tram parking lot.
Pay phones, water, vending machines, and rest rooms are located
in the nearby Tram Station building, which also hosts an excellent
Mexican restaurant & bar (see previous entry), and a gift
shop. City taxi companies will pick you up here or drop you off.
Rates to/from the airport run about $45.
To
reach the airport from here, head west 1 mile on Tramway Rd. Turn
south on Tramway Blvd and continue ~9 miles to Central Ave at
I-40 interchange. Here are franchise motels and restaurants, 2
full-service grocery stores, laundromat, and a movie theatre.
Take I-40 west to I-25 south and follow signs to Albuquerque International
Sunport.
Taxi
services:
Albuquerque
Cab Company Inc 3223 Los Arboles Avenue Northeast, Albuquerque,
NM 87107 (505) 883-4888
Yellow Cab PO Box 25123, Albuquerque, NM 87125 (505) 247-4000
Post
office:
Foothills
Station
13101 Lomas Blvd NE
Albuquerque NM 87123
Hours:
M-F 8AM-5PM Sa 9AM-3PM
Phone: (505) 346-1822
Nearest post office to GET terminus. Half a mile west of Tramway
Blvd (2 miles north of I-40 & Central Ave)
PLEASE
NOTE: General Delivery mail may be held at the Albuquerque
main post office, located downtown. Specify "Foothills Station"
and street address on mailing label and call before arriving to
confirm.
Library
/ internet:
Lomas-Tramway
Public Library 908 Eastridge Drive
(just south of Lomas Blvd east of the PO) Phone: (505) 291-6295.
Internet access available with registration (forms!) and a provided
inter-library access card.
Grocery / Restaurants / Lodging / Laundromat / ATM:
Available
along route to / from the airport, particularly convenient at
the intersection of Central Ave. and Tramway Blvd. See "directions"
above.
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