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The History of the Coronado Trail, Highway 191 new article content ... The History of the Coronado Trail, Highway 191

The legend of the Seven Cities of Gold (Cibola) existed long before Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. Mapmakers had actually been including their idea of where this area was for several hundred years before the Coronado expedition in 1540. The mystic was enough to excite and challenge explorers to competitively seek out these mystical Seven Cities in the New World. After Columbus’ voyage in 1492, explorers soon settled in islands around what is now Florida, preparing for their journeys. As it happened, the Mayans and Aztecs of now Mexico ,proved to have great wealth and the Spanish found much to convince them that they were on the right track. Coronado, funded in part by his family and part by Spain, set out on his journey to claim his riches in 1540-1542. It was a journey that would take him into what is now Arizona and New Mexico. In part, Coronado releyed on information from a fellow Spaniard, Fray Marcos, who claimed to have seen for himself the golden cities when he made the trek as far north as the Zuni villages near today’s Arizona-New Mexico border in 1538. With a force of 300 Spaniards and 800 Indians, Coronado traveled northward from Mexico, crossing into Arizona at what is now the town of Lochiel, Az. It is written that he travelled to some ruins in SE Arizona (no longer in existence), where he turned northward, crossing the Gila river somewhere near Safford, between the modern towns of Duncan and Bylas. (Here, although we’d like to think Coronado traveled north through Arizona’s White Mountains to what is now Springerville, it may be more likely that he followed the road system that early native inhabitants of the area had developed, taking him on a parallel, but somewhat “easier” course to what is now given the name of Coronado Scenic Highway. )  It is claimed that Coronado’s expedition traveled as far north in Arizona as the town of St. Johns, before turning toward their destination of  Cibola, or, what is known today as Zuni, New Mexico. Instead of the great city that Fray Marcus had reported, Cibola turned out a poor village of not more than 200 inhabitants. As they would be satisfied only with immediate gold and riches, they did not recognize the potential in the fertile valleys through which they passed, nor could they see the value deep in the hills; the copper, silver, gold that they so desired. Thus, the expedition was deemed a failure. Fast forward to 1926, when the US Highway 666 ( now Hwy 191), between Springerville and Morenci was completed, this route was designated a Nation Scenic Byway, one of 30 in the Nation. At the dedication, the then Gov. W.P. Hunt referred to the highway as the Coronado Scenic Byway, as it approximated the path taken by Coronado not quite 400 years earlier.

About the Coronado Scenic Byway No matter which direction you travel along this Scenic Byway, you will find beauty and history, wildlife and varied vegitation, including upper Sonoran desert changing to pine covered National Forests, back to the high country meadows in the north. The highway itself can be a very dangerous mountain road, with many sharp curves and steep cliff, with little or no shoulders, living up to its nickname, “Devil’s Highway”. This has not damped the enthusiasm of motorcycle riders, classic car clubs, or adventurous drivers. Originally numbered US Hwy 666, this was changed to US191, due to superstition. Being the least traveled highway in the United States is not a surprise when you consider the over 400 hairpin turns in the approximately 120 miles between Clifton and Alpine alone! Equally amazing is the nearly 5,000 ft ascent in elevation in only 60 miles from Clifton and Morenci heading north! Traveling the Byway will literally give you the experience of what you would see on a road trip from Mexico to Canada, taking hours instead of days. Although its 120 miles sounds short, be sure to gas up before leaving, as you won’t be finding a gas station mid-way! While the Coronado Trail National Scenic Byway is considered to span from Clifton and Morenci at the south, to Round Valley at the north, you may want to consider continuing northward to St Johns, Az. and then to Zuni, NM, in order to complete the trail that Coronado himself traveled over 450 years ago. With so much to do and see along the way, and with the diversity of the trip, you will understand why we call it "White Mountain Attitude"] - it's how you feel about the beauty and experience - you won’t be disappointed.