I'm an AZ native, lived in Mesa all my life, when I retired I moved to Vernon. In the year search for my new home i made alot of trips back and forth the same day. I LOVE the SRC, the absolute best memory was one day I was in the canyon, concentrating and hugging curves, I heard a really loud roar, looked to my right and an f16 was banking and I was looking straight at the BOTTOM of the plane!! It was absolutely incredible!!!! I sure wished I had a dash cam to capture this magical event....
My dad and were exploring Death Valley on motorcycles. There is a section where the road narrows and goes up and over a small hill, then down into Death Valley. Suddenly a tremendous roar came from nowhere behind us, and we saw the underside of a fighter jet, flying close to the ground. Awesome.
Going through white pas or chinook pass in the Washington cascades i frequently saw pilots training for missions coming between peaks UPSIDE DOWN while hugging the roadway to negotiate the twists. Seeing the pilots EYES less than 50 ft from you while they are going at transonic speeds is a spine tingler! This was during the Bosnia action.
I love Vernon. I was there a few months ago for the first time and really loved it. I can honestly say it's on my retirement list of towns to settle down in.
I am born and raised in this area. I have seen many serious accidents from when I can remember… first accident I remember was in 1977 when a semi truck went over. It’s an amazing drive. Incidentally, I tried to hit a golf ball over the canyon by the bridge… it’s further than it looks . The store was open when I was a kid and it was open when I was in high school in the mid 80s
@@chadhaire1711 I remember reading that it "belongs to" two different Apache reservations (the federal government trust land for reservation lands for two tribes), the White Mountain Apache going north of the river, and the San Carlos Apache driving south of the river. The San Carlos reservation is home to the Chiricahua Apache of southeast Arizona, who had resided prior to the rez being created, in the region of the "Graham" (properly called the Pinaleno) Mountains (of Mt. Graham fame), the Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise Stronghold, and south to the border and beyond to the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico, and east and west of all those points. The Chiricahua Apache were the ones that gained much renown for their big fight against the US Army and the Buffalo Soldiers in the days of the Old West, Geronimo and Cochise were famous leaders of the Chiricahua Apache. They have been the only Arizona tribe that was wholly displaced from their historic range as a result. The other 20 tribes either are on their historic land or on a portion of it.
75 years in our beautiful state. Plenty of times up and down that road. Best trip so far was watching your drone video. Ive never seen all those beautiful cliffs so well. I was a child with my eyes closed or driving watching the road with both eyes!
Thank you so much for saying that 💗 I appreciate that! and yes! the drone definitely offers a different perspective compared to the one that most people see from the windows of their car. thank you so much for checking out the video and sharing those kind words!
Grew up in Globe. In the late 50's, early 60' my grandfather and I would occasionally take a drive to the canyon just to get a hamburger at Troys. He had a 57 Ford Fairlane that had a Thunderbird engine! Priceless memories.
@@foxiedogitchypaws7141 Given your emojis, you might enjoy my organized Arizona playlists. :) Lifelong Arizonan here. (Respectfully offered in reference to your screen-name, If your dog does have the itchies, that can happen when a dog is fed grain. Feeding grain-free food (and corn and rice are both grains), the itchies can be eliminated, and the hair can stop falling out, and make for a healthier dog. :)
@@cacatr4495 she needs to change her name to Foxiedogtravelingpaws,😁🤗 Thank you for you advice though, she's never been on any dog food other then Honest Kitchen grain free pate. Turkey. One of the best . Headed to Az in March. 🏜️🌵🦊
My parents came through there in 1958 when the were moving from NJ pulling a uhaul. It was a dirt road then. They said that was an experience they would never forget. I remember fishing under that bridge in the 80s.
Grew up in Globe in the early 60's. My dad was a drivers training teacher at Globe High School. The nearby Salt River Canyon was where students were taught mountain driving skills.
Not a bad idea.....if i was 16 and learning to drive there....I would be a little on edge "no pun intended" I grew up in the midwest where its flat and full of cornfields
All people in my family from Tucson would sometimes head up to the area to camp out in a river near a fish hatchery. Once I had to make an emergency repair of a standard shift tranny in a Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. Got tranny swapped and decided to enjoy another week out in the campsite. Great memories. Greasy fingers included . 😂😂😅😊
Having lived in AZ since 1971 specifically, Pinetop-Lakeside I've driven through Salt River Canyon more times than I can remember. Also, we had our High School Senior Ditch Day at Salt River at the falls just east of the bridges. Salt River Canyon is a beautiful area of the reservation and Arizona. Thanks for the video.
I was wondering while we were away if Jessie got his drone back on line. Coming home (Yuma) from Show Low we purposely drove through the Salt River Canyon. No matter how many times we’ve driven it over the years, your drone coverage really made it better! Keep up the good work. Thanks!
1975 White-Freightliner cabover, no front brakes, no Jake brake, hubby driving. Headed empty to Show Low from Phoenix. I literally cried and prayed going down. On the top of the ascend there were 2 semis, each with a side of a double-wide mobile home (big ba**s on those drivers). Upon return to home in Illinois, my husband told his brother Bob about my "first" trip to Salt River Canyon. "No Bob" I told him, "that was my LAST TRIP to Salt River Canyon!"
back in the days my wife and brother was alive we would go out on motor cycle right we made that trip back around 15 years ago when my wife died i miss those days but i keep them in my heart mind and some time my dreams thank you for your video
Awesome video! I discovered this location when I moved to AZ over 15 years ago. During my move I took 60 instead. And stumbled upon the view. I had to stop and take it all in. I haven't been back since and I must head back with my camera now that I've watched your video. I remember it took my breath away driving through it.
same here! the first time i came out here was by complete accident, I had no idea what I was about to see. I try to make it out here once every couple months. It never gets old. Thank you for sharing your story 👍
This is one of my favorite scenic routes in the US. I grew up in Clovis New Mexico and my grandparents, aunts and uncles on my father's side lived in Phoenix. We took this route many times. The earliest I remember was in our new family car, the 1958 Ford Fairlane. I was 6 or 7 years old. I was too afraid to get out of the car when we got to the rest area at the bridge over the river. Thank you for sharing this wonderful video and stirring up some great memories.
Coming home from out East we pulled our RV off on a turnout and spent the night. Awesome to see the sunset and have my coffee at sunrise. A night of camping I will never forget.
I had to stop riding in 2007 (age & arthritis); I moved to Phoenix from "back east" in 1991 and in the first year I rode my Yamaha Venture Royal 15,000 miles to discover the state. I already had about 200K in the seats of that and two other bikes in the other side of the Mississippi and Texas. One of my favorite day trips was a 3 AM start out to Globe for breakfast and then the canyon to Show Low, then 260 Payson and 87 to Phoenix. I did that one or two times a year. The motorcycles changed over the years and I racked up over 250,000 miles on 'em, well over half in AZ. I actually did a drive from Apache Junction to Roosevelt Lake in a rental car, heh, with my dad when he came for a visit. We stopped in Tortilla Flat, of course. Your videos have evoked many happy memories. You should do one on The Devil's Highway, Route 666, a great weekend ride I did about a dozen times. I refuse to refer it to its re-numbering. I once saw a Chupacabra there, feasting on road kill.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Just finished up shooting my next video! That one should be up Sunday! Appreciate you checking out this video and I'm glad you enjoyed it! 🙏
my first trek on this journey was as a 'trainee' OTR driver. Fortunately, I was with a trainer at the time, and he told me I wouldn't want to crawl into the sleeper and nap, because we were about to enter some of the most beautiful 'western' scenery I had ever seen...so, I listened and was mesmerized at the beauty, and maintained a death-grip on the dash in front of me out of sheer terror in places..lol.. As luck would have it, after we got our load and delivered it to somewhere in west Texas, we had to return to the same place and get another load...this time, my trainer said it was my turn! That was one of the most frightening experiences of my life, and was almost enough to cause me to reconsider my choice of careers. All in all, a very good experience, and the sheer American West beauty was incredible, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to see it and experience it
Routed out of Holbrook with my 10' wide load in the late 70's.on the way to Irwindale, CA when Flag was closed. The old bridge was a bit narrow. The AZ scale, was a bit shocked. Good thing Holbrook singed that permit.
My husband, my brother in law and myself take this road at least once every summer for our annual White Mountain fish trip. My husband has no problem with it and is safe but I have to say that I am always very much relieved to get past the canyon heights coming and going!
Drove this two days ago going to Whiteriver for work. This road made me feel old. 20 years ago it would have been exciting. I was terrified I had to pull over to let cars go by I was driving so slow.
This is a great visualization of the actual terrain, and to see the many vehicles and their drivers doing the drive, is really cool. One thing I learned from my 50 years as a Truckerman...the most beautiful scenery/ highways and creatures are the most deadly.
As others have commented your drone footage is amazing and captures the grandeur of this fascinating part of Arizona. Thank you for all the effort you put into this video. For the folks that don't know the Salt River is the lifeblood of the greater Phoenix area and is normally very clear and beautiful. There must have been a violent storm upstream causing the muddy red seen in the video. I lived in Phoenix for forty years and took this drive numerous times. One time while motorcycling home from the Denver area my normal route through Payson was closed for construction. Being late at night nothing was open, so I took a one-hundred-and-fifty-mile detour through Show Low and the Salt River Canyon. Take it from me when one is weary wrestling a motorcycle around those curves in the dark can be challenging. South of Globe but before the town of Superior Highway 60 goes through some of the most spectacular boulder formations I have ever seen. Check it out. Love Arizona.
well thank you so much for those kind words. can't tell you how much I appreciate that! and yes! coming into superior just before the tunnel has some amazing views as well! I just may have to do a video on that stretch of highway as well! thank you for checking out the video!
The only problem with 89A across Mingus Mountain is the idiots coming around the curves from the other direction in their little compact cars on the wrong side of the road because they have no concept of spacial awareness and how wide their car is.
I drove this road in a semi in the late 1970s. The old Bridge was there. Seem to remember a sign about only one truck on the bridge at a time we're waiting for oncoming trucks to get across first
@@denyscpoyner Motorcycles drive *_too fast_* on a lot of these types of roads, which is too dangerous for them, scary to watch. They drive like daredevils, tempting their fate. It's not good. I've seen them do it on the road mentioned in another thread on this page, the comment where the guy said that an 18-wheeler jackknifed. They *_fly_* around those curves, and if their parents saw them do it, they'd freak.
Thank you for sharing 🙏 I just did a video out in colorado similar to this one too. It was on the million dollar highway going from Ouray to silverton, but not all the way, just on the scary parts!
I remember on the news sometime in the 90s a propane tanker truck out of New Mexico coming down from Show Low at night losing his brakes and going down the canyon in a huge fireball. Might be the one at Becker lookout. Thanks for the awesome drone footage! I also used to stop at the little convenience store. Sad to see it gone like that. Was a busy place. It's an easy drive in a car but you want to watch your rear mirror for trucks with smoking brakes. You can smell them in the area when you stop at the pull outs.
hey thank you! glad you enjoyed the video! and yes! i've seen many smoking brakes down at the rest stop, sometimes you can smell them the entire drive down....depending on the day......Thank you for sharing!
If you see a semi with smoking brakes coming up behind you on a downgrade, you need to dive off the road immediately! That's an inexperienced driver and he's not going to be able to stop as he's already lost his brakes.
I am also an Arizona native from the Tucson area. I have memories of going through the canyon on the old bridge when the passing lanes didn't exist and some trips were very slow. I do remember the amenities being open for gas and food but long ago. I really enjoyed the drone footage of the highway and for the car wrecks. I remember reading a story of a wreck discovered that was covered with vegetation and the car was there since the 1960's. The original occupants ID was found and they were from back east and had disappeared long, long ago. The background research and information provided was excellent. I make this drive multiple times each year and now will have an entirely new perspective every time I make the journey. Thank you!!!!
Great video. I was driving back to Tucson and stopped for the night in ShowLow. The next morning I drove down the canyon with the road to myself. It was the perfect drive in my two-seater convertible with a manual transmission. So fun!
. . in a convertible with a manual transmission, fun! :) That would be the car for many similar roads, like through Oak Creek Canyon, like the Beeline, like around Prescott, etc.
We move from NYC to southern Scottsdale in early 1968. We (my parents) drove through this canyon at night in a wood grain siding 1968 Ford LTD station wagon pulling a fully loaded 14 foot U-Haul trailer! Very scary for a 10 year old who had never seen switchbacks. I've been there several time since. Still scary!
A friend drove me through there for the first time a couple years back. It was by far one of the most scenic and memorable drives I've been on in all of Arizona! This was a wonderfully done video on it. Thank you!
Drove thru the canyon only once. We were heading down thru the canyon in a Honda Accord with an 18 wheeler hot on our tail, so close I could only see grille. Thankfully, we finally reached a passing lane area and I could pull over and let him fly by. Have not braved it since.
I live in Texas and have family in Arizona. I took this road when my son was 4. He is 29 now. So a long time ago. I have a fear of heights and I had to pull over twice while driving to Globe. Oh my how beautiful it was!
I've driven this canyon twice south to North in my 2010 Toyota sienna van touring my 2011 jayco 16 and 1/2 ft camper trailer. Beautiful drive, and perhaps intimidating for those with limited experience in mountain driving, but I was grooving on it all the way!
I grew up in the little town of Kearny, AZ. One summer when I was young we were heading back east on vacation and we went through the canyon. At one of the pull offs we saw a family waving at us. We waved back and kept going. We heard on the CB radio that the family had pulled off to take pictures and their RV had rolled off the side of the canyon.
oh goodness! can you imagine pulling over, getting some epic photos of the canyon, mean while right behind you , the RV is just rolling off to the side......thousands wasted! thanks for sharing!
Drones; they are pure magic to the unschooled. How you did this, simply is amazing. As child we would watch in awe our families 8mm travel films. Your trip inspires the same awe. Thanks for this trip and memories. Great job . (Subscribed)
Hey no problem! thank you for checking out the video! Love 8mm films, love the vintage stuff. its neat to see how far video has comes....Now we got Drones! thanks for subbing and thank you for checking out the video
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 Great video! As a recreational flyer, would I be able to stop and fly my drone at points along this route? Mine is over the .55 lbs. and registered.
I was with my dad, mom, mom's sister, and their mother(Grannie) in 1959 on our way back from the LA area after visiting my uncles. We were in a '57 Rambler station wagon. At Globe, dad took US60 to go to the Petrified Forrest Natl Park and then we stopped in Slowlow for the night. It was an amazing trip down and through the canyon. It reminded me of the Grand Canyon we visited in 1953.
Took this road on a family vacation over 60 years ago and don’t have many memories of it. But seeing this video makes me want to take it again and drive it myself!
It's much improved from those days. Back in the 1960s, one would see cars pulled off to the side with overheated radiators, much of the time, on any steep mountain road (like those in Colorado or going up Mt. Lemmon north of Tucson.) Better road, better cars.
@@cacatr4495 The occasion was our return from California in August 1859, and a portion of the highway was being widened even then. I remember the construction vehicles and stop-and-go traffic on the north end approaching Show Low, where we stopped for lunch.
Thank you for this video! Years ago and late at night, my wife and I "thought" we had found a shortcut from NM to Phoenix which we thought was a boring US hwy 60. We went through that sucker dead tired, late at night and was never so glad to get off of a darkened hwy. We knew it was significant even in the dark but had no idea what we went through until now! So thank you for showing us what we missed. We used to talk about going back to see what it looked like in daylight, but no, not now. We're good...
lol, thank you for sharing your story! it always hits differently when you drive something in the dark, and then see it during the day. Thank you for checking out the video!
This vid caught my attention for snake River canyon! I am from New Hampshire and in 1999 we took a trip to AZ rented a car and explore parts of the state. Long story short we ventured outside of Phoenix and hit Snake River canyon in the afternoon one day. We drove the windy roads for awhile and decided to turn around when a storm appeared across the valley. It was fast approaching and my hubby decided to do a k- turn to go back to beat the storm. The storm was heavy rain hail and wind. We couldn’t beat it. Our rental was a compact Nissan. The rocks were flying off the hillside right into our path. We didn’t know if we should have turned back or kept going. So we found an open pull off area next to the canyon and sat it out. I was never so scared of a storm. I was a young lass in my 20s and we don’t have storms like that in NH and I had just started traveling the states. I will never forget that road! Have never been back. The Oak Creek Canyon and many roads in Colorado are steep like that. My hubby hates driving those roads. There is nothing like it in New England! Stephanie
It's not frightening at all. Maybe the poster had spent their life in the flatlands of the Midwest, and had never driven on a mountain road before. It's no big deal, only requiring a car/truck in good condition and paying attention to the road, as per normal.
@@Stankrenshaw1682 When I first tackled the canyon, I was driving an 84 caprice 4dr, and for 3 winters I used to slide through the turns over speed on purpose feeling secure in the cinders applied. Hit black ice somewhere near Heber at 3am a short while later, and realized I am lucky not to have lost it in the canyon due to total ignorance. Have respected, feared and avoided it when possible ever since, but in season, low traffic, it is indeed a wonderful drive. 🤠👍🙏🏻🙏🏻
It is a wonderful drive - I for one love it and recommend that everyone should experience it at least once. It is not the easiest route from Show Low (where I live) to Phoenix, but is far and away the most spectacular ! When headed northbound towards Show Low and come around that first horseshoe bend, you must be dead if your eyes don't pop out of your head. By the way, the AZDOT maintained rest area facilities located at the bottom near the river crossing are the cleanest, best maintained I have ever experienced - anywhere!
Thank you for checking out the video, and yes! I agree, everyone should check this out at least once. and they do a great job of maintaining the rest stop. bathrooms were clean!
I remember this part of U.S. 60 very well. We were all in the family car and Dad had a beer in one hand and the steering wheel in the other. Back in those days (1968-69 or so), things like that weren't frowned on as much.
I remember looking forward to riding through Salt River Canyon during the 1950's and 60's on our trips to McNary and the White Mountains. Back then, I stood in the middle of the front seat wide eyed trying not to miss a thing.
thank you! I know its been a while, but I have some great content coming in the future! appreciate you checking out the video........and I hope you get to one day make this drive
I grew up in the Phx area and our family had a cabin in the White Mountains! I can't tell you how many times I have driven through the Salt River Canyon! The first time I personally drove through "The Canyon" myself, I wasn't even 16 years old yet! I was with my mom and had just received my Learner's Permit!🙌 It's a beautiful drive, but you need to pay attention! The scariest part is when people get impatient and pass when they have no business passing! This video brought back a lot of great family memories I had at our cabin! 😊
In the early 90's I made that drive 2 times a week for four months. I was with ADOT and I was with the Photogrammetric and mapping dept. (P&M).. I used to stop at Troy's for a water and a candy bar. Great Drive.
I was the next to last car in a 15 car pileup on a similar type road leaving Prescott. An 18 wheeler had jackknifed across both lanes of the highway forcing people to slam on their brakes or tumble into the canyon. $5K worth of damage to my car, but at least it could be saved and would not be a salvage vehicle. Respect those switchbacks, people!
We drove our 40 foot fifth wheel camper down that road. Hubs was white knuckled in some spots and said never again. We do have a Silverado 350 with diesel brakes so that was helpful! Love your videos! You put so much time and research into them. It's appreciated!
Thank you for sharing! I know I would be on edge hauling anything up and down that canyon, and theres been many times down at the rest stop I could smell brakes, and see them smoking. Can be an intimidating drive for some, but its so worth it! thank you for checking out the video Colleen!
I grew up in Florence and we regularly took trips to the White Mountains so going through Salt River Canyon was a norm. Never had a problem in all the years we drove it. Moving to New Mexico and then visiting my parents in Florence this again became a norm. Again no problems. If you’re careful, you are good yo go.
Also, you asked about the cars. In 1973, just after high school graduation, one of our star football players drove off the road into the SR Canyon in a MG sports car. So sad. RIP David.
Likely compounding factors there, lack of experience, lacking attention, poor brakes, hands slipping on the steering wheel, falling asleep at the wheel, alcohol, an in-cab distraction, something. One has to be on top of their game when they're driving such roads. All one has to do is stay on the road, but if one doesn't, it can change everything.
First time I drove the Canyon was in 1968. It was just two lanes, no passing lanes or truck lanes then. I live in Michigan, but have relatives in Globe and Coolidge. I’ve driven the Canyon about 20 times over the years, always come in from the north. Twice on my Harley, many different 4-wheel vehicles, but bar none, the best ride was in a Mazda Miata convertible I had 5 years ago. Perfect weather, great ride. Really liked your vid’s perspectives from the drone! Thanks!
I once hauled a load of bulls from there in show low from the reservation back to El Paso Texas and I think the roads are in better shape today than back in the seventies, and it seemed to be steeper back then correct me if I’m wrong. thanks for doing the video great job. god bless
hey thanks! enjoyed reading your story and appreciate you checking out the video. Wish i was able to chime in on if the drive was steeper back then, but unfortunately, I wasnt around quite yet haha, thanks again for checking out the video
Your sense that the roads are better now than they were in the 1970s is correct, they were widened, the curves enlarged, the grades more graduated, better in many ways. It used to be steep and narrow with tight turns, which was made worse in the early decades (1930- 1950s) considering that they didn't have power-steering in those days. Can you imagine? It took muscles for every turn.
Wow! That road looks breathtaking! I live in Tucson, and I drive up to Mt. Lemmon twice a week, the first time was a little nerve wracking! But the more I drove, the more I got used to it. Is a beautiful drive all the way to the top to summer heaven. But I would definitely love to drive that road all the way to the top and enjoy the views! Great video!👌😎👍
Mt. Lemmon!!! I plan on doing a video up there in the future, maybe in the fall or midwinter.....just not when its so hot out. Thank you for checking out the video though, hope you get to do this drive in the future. 👍
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 be aware that in the winter months the road is closed when it’s snowy and snows! Depending on how bad it is, Only opens for residential or people who works on top. But only if it’s snowing! Now they will let you drive up if you have all wheel drive or 4x4 vehicles!
I still remember the first time I took this drive in my V8 charger, what an great drive, definitely was fast but also stopped at every lookout, feels like driving through the grand canyon itselves, and I went there before I visited Grand canyon. Was in awe and shock how beautiful AZ is then I only until I hit Greer the next day. This is my third summer after moving to AZ and this state just can't seem to stop delivering amazing views to my eyes and I am so ever glad that I made the move.
Thank you so much! took me a while to find the right music.....out of all the hours I spend editing, finding the right music is always the most difficult part, mainly because the music selection can either make or break the video. glad you enjoyed the video and thanks again!
First trip through was in a semi. Went back a couple times on motorcycles. That is the best way to view the canyon. You can easily pull over and stop to view. It is worth the trip.
I drove that route last November with my camper. I didn’t know anything about it, but I had to keep pulling over to let the brakes cool down. Great Video 😊
I have driven this Canyon several times to visit friends in Tuscon from my friend's home ib Snowflake, Arizona. One trip on my way back to Snowflake, my sister, friend, and I took a break from the road. We opened the sunroof cover to look at the beautiful night sky!
I grew up in northern New Mexico driving on roads like this in both Rural New Mexico and southern Colorado. My first time down this road was my move from southern Utah to my new home in Safford AZ. Me winding down that road with my kitty cat in my lap and my pickup truck loaded as full as I could get it. I just bought a new car in Showlow the end of December. The first miles I put on my car were winding down that road and then through Globe and home to Safford.
Hey thank you for sharing, sounds like it was a good time going through the canyon! and I bet the cat enjoyed it too! thanks again for checking out the video!
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 The cat not so much. Poor little guy. It was the first time he had ever been on a trip in a vehicle. He left claw marks on the door from when he dared to peak out the window.
Thanks for videoing that! I have always been the one that drives through that area when traveling and finally seeing it from this perspective just made it even more beautiful!
I lived in Lakeside from 1978-1979. Drove this road many times: one time with half of my brakes due to a bubble in the brake line, At midnight, I nearly fell asleep driving the mesmerizing switchbacks, so I pulled over at the old rest stop at the bottom and took an hour nap. The most terrifying drive happened at dusk, when a large logging truck began dropping 2by4s in front of me. I had to dodge them while trying not to go over the edge. I kept honking my horn and high beams on the switchbacks to get the driver’s attention. He finally pulled over and I was able to tell him he’s losing his load and someone may be severely if not fatally injured. Thanks for the cool video down memory lane.
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 Their story is not at all unique of Salt River Canyon, but is reflective on the condition of their vehicle and the logging truck that affected them, together with their fatigue. To conflate those factors as somehow being "dark history" of the road, when big trucks crisscross the state, as do fatigued drivers with vehicle issues, is unwise. It's just a road that they had a series of experiences on. I have traversed that road many times, all enjoyably and in peace. Maybe your experience with mountain roads is limited.
SRC is the most beautiful drive. I have driven it ALOT, its my favorite part of US 60. I have lived in AZ all my life, in the valley and have a summer home in Slow Low. I pray the day I die, the Lord will let me fly through the SRC like the F16 that guy saw!!! 😊
Absolutely stunning drive. Pro tip: The car goes where you look. But we tend to focus on what scares us. So Look through the turn where you want to go, and you'll get there. Don't focus on the guardrail you're afraid of going over, or that's what you'll do.
*_That's VERY good advice._* Never be led by fear, always keep your eyes on where you want to go. Guardrails don't need our attention, the road does! Eyes on the road! Don't be baited by fear, *_wisdom first and always._*
I used to live in Tucson, AZ. and E. MT. Lemmon Hwy going up the canyon has a Deadmans curve right at the switchback ,there's lotsa cars down there, people don't anticipate the curve being so sharp 😔
I remember I was coming out of Phoenix one time and this trucker at the stop was like, "I'm taking 17 to 40". I'm like I'm taking the salt river canyon cause trucks are allowed....I had fun beautiful drive. ❤😂🎉 And I didn't hold nobody up.
I know one truck driver that ran his rig into the mountainside and luckily did not go over. I have also climbed down to wrecks, the climb back was exhausting. Wanted to check out a load left of margarine and such after hearing of the wreck. After three years there, in the sun, exposed, there was a grease stain around the area but the dairy products were intact, no animal, bug or bird seemed interested. I do not eat that brand anymore. Felt a sadness for the driver, what a way to go.
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 he. Phillips mine on the Globe side of the canyon at the top would be a good drone footage place as it was an asbestos mine and I would wear PPE (filter) if going there in person.
Arizona native here 👋 I absolutely hate driving this canyon whether in a car or in an 18 wheeler. I don't do curvey roads or cliffs very well and tend to have bad anxiety going through there. But, the views are gorgeous. The little place at the bottom is a neat little stop. My girls and I went through there a couple years ago and left our names on the wall of the store there. Sad to say it was painted over when my husband and I went through on his last trip, in an 18 wheeler. It is a butt puckering cruise. I tended to slink down in my seat when we would go through there in the big truck. Thanks for the awesome footage! I LOVE your channel! Keep it going!! 😊
hey no prob! enjoyed reading your story.....if the walls of that rest stop could talk!!! could you imagine what they could tell! thank you so much for checking out the video!
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 I would. The vehicle undercarriage looks like it hasn't been there long at all and there's a can of what appears to be tire inflator laying next to the wreckage. The can has no rust. This looks very fresh.
Beautifully produced video. Years back as a small boy traveling cross country with my family multiple times over the years, I well remember the “jail” structure. I also remember my dad pointing out the unfortunate wrecked cars that were visible from the highway. We traveled a couple times in VW Beetles (no AC kiddies). *I fly a Mini 4 Pro too excellent drone all the way around. 👍
I drive this road twice a week for work it’s a wonderful drive with spectacular views I just hate getting stuck behind the people only go 10 through the whole thing
Driven this road several time. Absolutely love the view despite a fear of heights. You forgot to mention watching out for falling rocks, especially after a rain, hail, rain and snow storm hitting the area. One time I came around a curve only to have a boulder the size of a semi-tractor truck blocking my lane. Extremely dangerous to get around!
As a kid in the 60s and 70s this was the route my father chose to take from the valley to the White mountains where all my grandparents and other family lived. It scared the crap out of me because back then all the wrecked cars stood out, you could see them across the canyon while driving and I was always afraid of crashing. Then, when it was time fur me to learn to drive my father thought it would be a great idea for me to drive the whole trip home... At night... Back when you switch from Bright to regular lights with a foot pedal. I was scared as hell and my mother spent the whole part of the canyon screaming from the back seat till I pulled over at a rest stop and yelled at her to knock out off. I think that was my first taste of PTSD.
Sheesh! That's not the way or the place to learn to drive, and screaming is not okay. I'm surprised you waited until you pulled over to put a stop to that. That would not fly. I'm surprised your other parent didn't put a stop to that. SMH.
Back before they "fixed" that road (it was a narrow, two-lane blactop), my Dad went down in a 1973 Travelall with bad brakes and one headlight, pulling a 30 travel trailer! This was in 1978, and he thought the road would eliminate a bunch of miles, on the way to Yuma, where they wintered. It took them almost 4 hours to creep down, and climb back up, a hair-raising trip every inch of the way!
Living in the french Alps, This road does not scare me even a little. And I happen to drive an Chevy SUV from the early '2000. I just downgrade it to 3, or 2 on my gearbox and it goes down smoothly without overheating the brakes.
That is wisdom that few seem to understand anymore. I can only guess that their parents didn't teach them to shift down on steep descents, and to only tap their brakes, not to ride them, which overheats them.
Cool video Jessie. I live in the White Mountains and have gone to the canyon a few times to look at wrecks with binoculars. You showed some that I hadn't seen. There's even a tanker truck near the bottom of a rock slide. You definitely should watch "Midnight run" in the future. It's a great movie that was made before Robert Diniro had his meltdown. The bridge scene was filmed here but that scene with the guys in the water was actually filmed elsewhere due to this water being too cold if I remember correctly.
Thank you! glad you enjoyed it! the funny thing about these car wrecks, at first I only spotted the one, but as i started to fly my drone further up the canyon, one by one they started to appear. I plan on going back again in the future to see if I can find mor. didn't know that about midnight run though, thank you for sharing 👍
I lived in Arizona for over 20 years. We used to go to globe as a kid camping. I used to work for penske in 2000 to 2005 delivering cabinets and appliances to the hardware store in globe twice a week. Now that we are all grown up with kids of our own. We drive though there all the time when we travel from texas to mesa.
I've driven the road many times. It's beautiful, but dangerous. My uncle drove a horse trailer with three horses though there once. He was warned not to do it, but he didn't listen. He got through safely but regretted he didn't listen.
Great video! I ran that road towards Phoenix and went through Globe a few years ago for a company that I was driving for at the time. I was telling my driver friends about it but I couldn't remember the highway or the towns I went through other than Globe. I just sent this video to one of my trucker buddies. I'm retired now living in the Philippines..
I went over the edge and rolled 8 times in a Ford Courier with a roll bar back in About on Memorial Day1979. Where the driver was about to get airborne when I screamed. This stretch was leaving Canyon Lake. Where we finally went over it was smooth white rock paved from heaven. We both climbed to the road in one piece. Many cars stopped after seeing us go over The gun rack made my back bleed the Lord and the roll bar saved us. Still the Apache Trail.
If you go down from show low side about half way down there’s a pull out over looking canyon on the other side the cliff has a small hole crawl inside it and it opens to big cavern long crawl bring lights and watch for scorpions
GREAT video. I've been in Tucson 5 years - this time - and grew up at the end of Rt 60, in Virginia Beach 2 blocks West of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel's landfall. I've tubed the Salt River and watching your video has convinced me I've GOTTA make this drive!
Thank you so much for saying that!!! I hope one day you get to drive this road....its such a beautiful drive, and if you do...take hundreds of pictures and stop at every viewing point....Thank you for checking out the video!
In 1961 my mother, my sister and I crossed the Salt River Canyon and I have always wanted to return. I would caution about several things: First, be sure your vehicle is in good shape. Jalopies won't survive this beautiful landscape. Second, make sure YOU are in good shape. Any physical infirmities will be magnified. Third, if you are scared of heights, avoid this place at all costs.
I'm an AZ native, lived in Mesa all my life, when I retired I moved to Vernon. In the year search for my new home i made alot of trips back and forth the same day.
I LOVE the SRC, the absolute best memory was one day I was in the canyon, concentrating and hugging curves, I heard a really loud roar, looked to my right and an f16 was banking and I was looking straight at the BOTTOM of the plane!! It was absolutely incredible!!!! I sure wished I had a dash cam to capture this magical event....
Dang!!! what memory! that would have been cool to capture on a dashcam. Thank you for sharing!
It reminds me of a railroad line.
My dad and were exploring Death Valley on motorcycles. There is a section where the road narrows and goes up and over a small hill, then down into Death Valley. Suddenly a tremendous roar came from nowhere behind us, and we saw the underside of a fighter jet, flying close to the ground. Awesome.
Going through white pas or chinook pass in the Washington cascades i frequently saw pilots training for missions coming between peaks UPSIDE DOWN while hugging the roadway to negotiate the twists.
Seeing the pilots EYES less than 50 ft from you while they are going at transonic speeds is a spine tingler!
This was during the Bosnia action.
I love Vernon. I was there a few months ago for the first time and really loved it. I can honestly say it's on my retirement list of towns to settle down in.
I am born and raised in this area. I have seen many serious accidents from when I can remember… first accident I remember was in 1977 when a semi truck went over. It’s an amazing drive. Incidentally, I tried to hit a golf ball over the canyon by the bridge… it’s further than it looks . The store was open when I was a kid and it was open when I was in high school in the mid 80s
Thank you for sharing 🙏
wonder who owns the property
@@chadhaire1711tribe owns the property
@@chadhaire1711
I remember reading that it "belongs to" two different Apache reservations (the federal government trust land for reservation lands for two tribes), the White Mountain Apache going north of the river, and the San Carlos Apache driving south of the river. The San Carlos reservation is home to the Chiricahua Apache of southeast Arizona, who had resided prior to the rez being created, in the region of the "Graham" (properly called the Pinaleno) Mountains (of Mt. Graham fame), the Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise Stronghold, and south to the border and beyond to the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico, and east and west of all those points. The Chiricahua Apache were the ones that gained much renown for their big fight against the US Army and the Buffalo Soldiers in the days of the Old West, Geronimo and Cochise were famous leaders of the Chiricahua Apache. They have been the only Arizona tribe that was wholly displaced from their historic range as a result. The other 20 tribes either are on their historic land or on a portion of it.
75 years in our beautiful state. Plenty of times up and down that road. Best trip so far was watching your drone video. Ive never seen all those beautiful cliffs so well. I was a child with my eyes closed or driving watching the road with both eyes!
Thank you so much for saying that 💗 I appreciate that! and yes! the drone definitely offers a different perspective compared to the one that most people see from the windows of their car. thank you so much for checking out the video and sharing those kind words!
Grew up in Globe. In the late 50's, early 60' my grandfather and I would occasionally take a drive to the canyon just to get a hamburger at Troys. He had a 57 Ford Fairlane that had a Thunderbird engine! Priceless memories.
Thank you for sharing 👍
🏜️🌵🤗
@@foxiedogitchypaws7141
Given your emojis, you might enjoy my organized Arizona playlists. :) Lifelong Arizonan here.
(Respectfully offered in reference to your screen-name, If your dog does have the itchies, that can happen when a dog is fed grain. Feeding grain-free food (and corn and rice are both grains), the itchies can be eliminated, and the hair can stop falling out, and make for a healthier dog. :)
@@cacatr4495 she needs to change her name to Foxiedogtravelingpaws,😁🤗 Thank you for you advice though, she's never been on any dog food other then Honest Kitchen grain free pate. Turkey. One of the best . Headed to Az in March. 🏜️🌵🦊
My parents came through there in 1958 when the were moving from NJ pulling a uhaul. It was a dirt road then. They said that was an experience they would never forget.
I remember fishing under that bridge in the 80s.
Grew up in Globe in the early 60's. My dad was a drivers training teacher at Globe High School. The nearby Salt River Canyon was where students were taught mountain driving skills.
Not a bad idea.....if i was 16 and learning to drive there....I would be a little on edge "no pun intended" I grew up in the midwest where its flat and full of cornfields
Ever go to school with any bustamante’s??
I'm from superior, I would rather drive salt river canyon pulling my trailer than drive b line highway any day.
My father-in-law is from Hayden. He told me he used to cruise and party in Globe (back in the good old days).
All people in my family from Tucson would sometimes head up to the area to camp out in a river near a fish hatchery. Once I had to make an emergency repair of a standard shift tranny in a Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. Got tranny swapped and decided to enjoy another week out in the campsite. Great memories. Greasy fingers included . 😂😂😅😊
Having lived in AZ since 1971 specifically, Pinetop-Lakeside I've driven through Salt River Canyon more times than I can remember. Also, we had our High School Senior Ditch Day at Salt River at the falls just east of the bridges.
Salt River Canyon is a beautiful area of the reservation and Arizona.
Thanks for the video.
No problem 👍 thank you for checking out the video and thank you for sharing your story!
I was wondering while we were away if Jessie got his drone back on line. Coming home (Yuma) from Show Low we purposely drove through the Salt River Canyon. No matter how many times we’ve driven it over the years, your drone coverage really made it better! Keep up the good work. Thanks!
1975 White-Freightliner cabover, no front brakes, no Jake brake, hubby driving. Headed empty to Show Low from Phoenix. I literally cried and prayed going down. On the top of the ascend there were 2 semis, each with a side of a double-wide mobile home (big ba**s on those drivers). Upon return to home in Illinois, my husband told his brother Bob about my "first" trip to Salt River Canyon. "No Bob" I told him, "that was my LAST TRIP to Salt River Canyon!"
Lol. Can't say I blame ya!
thank you for sharing!
I have driven that one several times with a load.
It is not so bad.
Old US 666 over by the New Mexico line was pretty inneresting.
I lived in Socorro,NM my parents lived in LA. Drove the canyon 4 times a year for 9 years back in the 70s and 80s. I would do it again in a heartbeat
back in the days my wife and brother was alive we would go out on motor cycle right we made that trip back around 15 years ago when my wife died i miss those days but i keep them in my heart mind and some time my dreams
thank you for your video
hey no problem!....Thank you for sharing your story! 🙏
Awesome video! I discovered this location when I moved to AZ over 15 years ago. During my move I took 60 instead. And stumbled upon the view. I had to stop and take it all in. I haven't been back since and I must head back with my camera now that I've watched your video. I remember it took my breath away driving through it.
same here! the first time i came out here was by complete accident, I had no idea what I was about to see. I try to make it out here once every couple months. It never gets old. Thank you for sharing your story 👍
Rolled thru the canyon east to west in a 18 wheeler
Loved it
Can't wait to see it again someday
Awesome
I have numerous organized Arizona playlists you might enjoy, including the night sky.
This is one of my favorite scenic routes in the US. I grew up in Clovis New Mexico and my grandparents, aunts and uncles on my father's side lived in Phoenix. We took this route many times. The earliest I remember was in our new family car, the 1958 Ford Fairlane. I was 6 or 7 years old. I was too afraid to get out of the car when we got to the rest area at the bridge over the river. Thank you for sharing this wonderful video and stirring up some great memories.
Hey no problem! thank you for sharing your story 🙏
Coming home from out East we pulled our RV off on a turnout and spent the night. Awesome to see the sunset and have my coffee at sunrise. A night of camping I will never forget.
Sounds like an amazing time....good old fashion fun!
That's awesome. I'm the driver of the semi with the RV on the trailer in the opening scene.
What!?!?! No kidding? Tell us your story, if you wouldn't mind. Where were you headed and where were you coming from?
WOW!
I had to stop riding in 2007 (age & arthritis); I moved to Phoenix from "back east" in 1991 and in the first year I rode my Yamaha Venture Royal 15,000 miles to discover the state. I already had about 200K in the seats of that and two other bikes in the other side of the Mississippi and Texas.
One of my favorite day trips was a 3 AM start out to Globe for breakfast and then the canyon to Show Low, then 260 Payson and 87 to Phoenix.
I did that one or two times a year. The motorcycles changed over the years and I racked up over 250,000 miles on 'em, well over half in AZ.
I actually did a drive from Apache Junction to Roosevelt Lake in a rental car, heh, with my dad when he came for a visit. We stopped in Tortilla Flat, of course.
Your videos have evoked many happy memories.
You should do one on The Devil's Highway, Route 666, a great weekend ride I did about a dozen times. I refuse to refer it to its re-numbering. I once saw a Chupacabra there, feasting on road kill.
Thank you for sharing!
Another great video! Love this trip and the way you produced the video. Can't wait for the next one.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Just finished up shooting my next video! That one should be up Sunday! Appreciate you checking out this video and I'm glad you enjoyed it! 🙏
my first trek on this journey was as a 'trainee' OTR driver. Fortunately, I was with a trainer at the time, and he told me I wouldn't want to crawl into the sleeper and nap, because we were about to enter some of the most beautiful 'western' scenery I had ever seen...so, I listened and was mesmerized at the beauty, and maintained a death-grip on the dash in front of me out of sheer terror in places..lol.. As luck would have it, after we got our load and delivered it to somewhere in west Texas, we had to return to the same place and get another load...this time, my trainer said it was my turn! That was one of the most frightening experiences of my life, and was almost enough to cause me to reconsider my choice of careers. All in all, a very good experience, and the sheer American West beauty was incredible, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to see it and experience it
Amazing! thank you for sharing 🙏
Routed out of Holbrook with my 10' wide load in the late 70's.on the way to Irwindale, CA when Flag was closed. The old bridge was a bit narrow. The AZ scale, was a bit shocked. Good thing Holbrook singed that permit.
My husband, my brother in law and myself take this road at least once every summer for our annual White Mountain fish trip. My husband has no problem with it and is safe but I have to say that I am always very much relieved to get past the canyon heights coming and going!
Drove this two days ago going to Whiteriver for work. This road made me feel old. 20 years ago it would have been exciting. I was terrified I had to pull over to let cars go by I was driving so slow.
sometimes you gotta do that
Was this your first time driving a mountain road?
It's sad how age makes you fear things. I'm like you and hate these kind of roads now.
@@lindabradford9591
For peace, remember that all you have to do is stay *on the road. That's all. No fear.
This is a great visualization of the actual terrain, and to see the many vehicles and their drivers doing the drive, is really cool.
One thing I learned from my 50 years as a Truckerman...the most beautiful scenery/ highways and creatures are the most deadly.
I would definitely agree with that statement! appreciate you checking out the video!
As others have commented your drone footage is amazing and captures the grandeur of this fascinating part of Arizona. Thank you for all the effort you put into this video. For the folks that don't know the Salt River is the lifeblood of the greater Phoenix area and is normally very clear and beautiful. There must have been a violent storm upstream causing the muddy red seen in the video. I lived in Phoenix for forty years and took this drive numerous times. One time while motorcycling home from the Denver area my normal route through Payson was closed for construction. Being late at night nothing was open, so I took a one-hundred-and-fifty-mile detour through Show Low and the Salt River Canyon. Take it from me when one is weary wrestling a motorcycle around those curves in the dark can be challenging. South of Globe but before the town of Superior Highway 60 goes through some of the most spectacular boulder formations I have ever seen. Check it out. Love Arizona.
well thank you so much for those kind words. can't tell you how much I appreciate that! and yes! coming into superior just before the tunnel has some amazing views as well! I just may have to do a video on that stretch of highway as well! thank you for checking out the video!
How about the drive from Jerome to Prescott Valley? Talking about winding road 89A.
That drive is on the list 👍
The only problem with 89A across Mingus Mountain is the idiots coming around the curves from the other direction in their little compact cars on the wrong side of the road because they have no concept of spacial awareness and how wide their car is.
I drove this road in a semi in the late 1970s. The old Bridge was there. Seem to remember a sign about only one truck on the bridge at a time we're waiting for oncoming trucks to get across first
89 A is a fun one on a motorcycle.
@@denyscpoyner
Motorcycles drive *_too fast_* on a lot of these types of roads, which is too dangerous for them, scary to watch. They drive like daredevils, tempting their fate. It's not good. I've seen them do it on the road mentioned in another thread on this page, the comment where the guy said that an 18-wheeler jackknifed. They *_fly_* around those curves, and if their parents saw them do it, they'd freak.
My wife and I just drove this recently on our way to New Mexico and Colorado. This was a great route to drive - love it.
Thank you for sharing 🙏 I just did a video out in colorado similar to this one too. It was on the million dollar highway going from Ouray to silverton, but not all the way, just on the scary parts!
I remember on the news sometime in the 90s a propane tanker truck out of New Mexico coming down from Show Low at night losing his brakes and going down the canyon in a huge fireball. Might be the one at Becker lookout. Thanks for the awesome drone footage! I also used to stop at the little convenience store. Sad to see it gone like that. Was a busy place. It's an easy drive in a car but you want to watch your rear mirror for trucks with smoking brakes. You can smell them in the area when you stop at the pull outs.
hey thank you! glad you enjoyed the video! and yes! i've seen many smoking brakes down at the rest stop, sometimes you can smell them the entire drive down....depending on the day......Thank you for sharing!
If you see a semi with smoking brakes coming up behind you on a downgrade, you need to dive off the road immediately! That's an inexperienced driver and he's not going to be able to stop as he's already lost his brakes.
I remember that. I live near show low and the local newspaper did a decent write up iirc
I worked for that company in the safety dept. We lost a good man that day. He had 10 kids.
@@jameswellborn7242 So sorry for his family. People need to be more respectful to truckers. Without them nothing would get done in this country.
I am also an Arizona native from the Tucson area. I have memories of going through the canyon on the old bridge when the passing lanes didn't exist and some trips were very slow. I do remember the amenities being open for gas and food but long ago. I really enjoyed the drone footage of the highway and for the car wrecks. I remember reading a story of a wreck discovered that was covered with vegetation and the car was there since the 1960's. The original occupants ID was found and they were from back east and had disappeared long, long ago. The background research and information provided was excellent. I make this drive multiple times each year and now will have an entirely new perspective every time I make the journey. Thank you!!!!
hey no problem! thank you for sharing, and thank you for checking out the video!
Great video. I was driving back to Tucson and stopped for the night in ShowLow. The next morning I drove down the canyon with the road to myself. It was the perfect drive in my two-seater convertible with a manual transmission. So fun!
sounds like a pretty good time, especially in a convertible!
. . in a convertible with a manual transmission, fun! :) That would be the car for many similar roads, like through Oak Creek Canyon, like the Beeline, like around Prescott, etc.
We move from NYC to southern Scottsdale in early 1968. We (my parents) drove through this canyon at night in a wood grain siding 1968 Ford LTD station wagon pulling a fully loaded 14 foot U-Haul trailer! Very scary for a 10 year old who had never seen switchbacks. I've been there several time since. Still scary!
Wow! What a story haha, thank you for sharing! 🙏 I'd be scared as well, not because of the heights....but because of my parents driving 😅
I thought my story was worse!
Excited
A friend drove me through there for the first time a couple years back. It was by far one of the most scenic and memorable drives I've been on in all of Arizona! This was a wonderfully done video on it. Thank you!
hey thank you so much! appreciate yo checking out the video!
Drove thru the canyon only once. We were heading down thru the canyon in a Honda Accord with an 18 wheeler hot on our tail, so close I could only see grille. Thankfully, we finally reached a passing lane area and I could pull over and let him fly by. Have not braved it since.
thank god for those passing lanes!
I live in Texas and have family in Arizona. I took this road when my son was 4. He is 29 now. So a long time ago. I have a fear of heights and I had to pull over twice while driving to Globe. Oh my how beautiful it was!
thank you for sharing!
I've driven this canyon twice south to North in my 2010 Toyota sienna van touring my 2011 jayco 16 and 1/2 ft camper trailer. Beautiful drive, and perhaps intimidating for those with limited experience in mountain driving, but I was grooving on it all the way!
I grew up in the little town of Kearny, AZ. One summer when I was young we were heading back east on vacation and we went through the canyon. At one of the pull offs we saw a family waving at us. We waved back and kept going. We heard on the CB radio that the family had pulled off to take pictures and their RV had rolled off the side of the canyon.
oh goodness! can you imagine pulling over, getting some epic photos of the canyon, mean while right behind you , the RV is just rolling off to the side......thousands wasted! thanks for sharing!
I have done it twice on motorcycle, first by day, 2nd by night, and last time by car. Awesome drive
Thank you for sharing! and yes, its an awesome drive
A group of us rode our Harleys down to the bridge and rest area. Wow what a Beautiful ride. The Little Grad Canyon
Very cool!
Drones; they are pure magic to the unschooled. How you did this, simply is amazing. As child we would watch in awe our families 8mm travel films. Your trip inspires the same awe. Thanks for this trip and memories. Great job . (Subscribed)
Hey no problem! thank you for checking out the video! Love 8mm films, love the vintage stuff. its neat to see how far video has comes....Now we got Drones! thanks for subbing and thank you for checking out the video
You'd likely enjoy my organized Arizona playlists. There are many road vids as well as drone vids, all scenic.
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 Great video! As a recreational flyer, would I be able to stop and fly my drone at points along this route? Mine is over the .55 lbs. and registered.
I was with my dad, mom, mom's sister, and their mother(Grannie) in 1959 on our way back from the LA area after visiting my uncles. We were in a '57 Rambler station wagon. At Globe, dad took US60 to go to the Petrified Forrest Natl Park and then we stopped in Slowlow for the night. It was an amazing trip down and through the canyon. It reminded me of the Grand Canyon we visited in 1953.
Thank you for sharing! I havent been to petrified forest national park yet.........but its on my bucket list. thanks again for sharing your story
Took this road on a family vacation over 60 years ago and don’t have many memories of it. But seeing this video makes me want to take it again and drive it myself!
Neat! Hope you can drive it again!
It's much improved from those days. Back in the 1960s, one would see cars pulled off to the side with overheated radiators, much of the time, on any steep mountain road (like those in Colorado or going up Mt. Lemmon north of Tucson.) Better road, better cars.
@@cacatr4495 The occasion was our return from California in August 1859, and a portion of the highway was being widened even then. I remember the construction vehicles and stop-and-go traffic on the north end approaching Show Low, where we stopped for lunch.
@@michaelmcmurtrey8543
1859? 😅
Thank you for this video! Years ago and late at night, my wife and I "thought" we had found a shortcut from NM to Phoenix which we thought was a boring US hwy 60. We went through that sucker dead tired, late at night and was never so glad to get off of a darkened hwy. We knew it was significant even in the dark but had no idea what we went through until now! So thank you for showing us what we missed. We used to talk about going back to see what it looked like in daylight, but no, not now. We're good...
lol, thank you for sharing your story! it always hits differently when you drive something in the dark, and then see it during the day. Thank you for checking out the video!
This vid caught my attention for snake River canyon! I am from New Hampshire and in 1999 we took a trip to AZ rented a car and explore parts of the state. Long story short we ventured outside of Phoenix and hit Snake River canyon in the afternoon one day. We drove the windy roads for awhile and decided to turn around when a storm appeared across the valley. It was fast approaching and my hubby decided to do a k- turn to go back to beat the storm. The storm was heavy rain hail and wind. We couldn’t beat it. Our rental was a compact Nissan. The rocks were flying off the hillside right into our path. We didn’t know if we should have turned back or kept going. So we found an open pull off area next to the canyon and sat it out. I was never so scared of a storm. I was a young lass in my 20s and we don’t have storms like that in NH and I had just started traveling the states. I will never forget that road! Have never been back. The Oak Creek Canyon and many roads in Colorado are steep like that. My hubby hates driving those roads. There is nothing like it in New England! Stephanie
Thank you for sharing you story 🙏
It is beautiful and I'm very familiar with it. A few times I drove a fully loaded 18-wheeler through there at night.
Thank you for sharing 👍
Probably one of the most amazing drives I’ve ever been on, it’s not as frightening as this video is making it out to be
i think it really depends on what type of vehicle you are driving through here haha, thank you for checking out the video!
It's not frightening at all. Maybe the poster had spent their life in the flatlands of the Midwest, and had never driven on a mountain road before. It's no big deal, only requiring a car/truck in good condition and paying attention to the road, as per normal.
I love going up and down that drive. Sunsets and sunrise's. Amazing pictures as the sun can hit several shades on the mountains
@@cacatr4495With all the really stupid and ignorant people out there today, everything in the outside world bothers them!
@@Stankrenshaw1682 When I first tackled the canyon, I was driving an 84 caprice 4dr, and for 3 winters I used to slide through the turns over speed on purpose feeling secure in the cinders applied. Hit black ice somewhere near Heber at 3am a short while later, and realized I am lucky not to have lost it in the canyon due to total ignorance. Have respected, feared and avoided it when possible ever since, but in season, low traffic, it is indeed a wonderful drive. 🤠👍🙏🏻🙏🏻
It is a wonderful drive - I for one love it and recommend that everyone should experience it at least once. It is not the easiest route from Show Low (where I live) to Phoenix, but is far and away the most spectacular ! When headed northbound towards Show Low and come around that first horseshoe bend, you must be dead if your eyes don't pop out of your head. By the way, the AZDOT maintained rest area facilities located at the bottom near the river crossing are the cleanest, best maintained I have ever experienced - anywhere!
Thank you for checking out the video, and yes! I agree, everyone should check this out at least once. and they do a great job of maintaining the rest stop. bathrooms were clean!
I remember this part of U.S. 60 very well. We were all in the family car and Dad had a beer in one hand and the steering wheel in the other. Back in those days (1968-69 or so), things like that weren't frowned on as much.
the good old days!
So many great memories driving the Canyon and stopping at the bottom to enjoy the river.
I'm surprised it is just called "Salt River" and not "Rio Salado" or something.
This is the coolest video. Thanks for sharing. I am a former resident of AZ and I have driven this portion of 60 several times. A beautiful drive.
Thank you so much! and yes, a beautiful drive!
I remember looking forward to riding through Salt River Canyon during the 1950's and 60's on our trips to McNary and the White Mountains. Back then, I stood in the middle of the front seat wide eyed trying not to miss a thing.
I know exactly what you mean! Thank you for sharing 👍
Great seeing a new video from you. Im now interested in driving this area.
thank you! I know its been a while, but I have some great content coming in the future! appreciate you checking out the video........and I hope you get to one day make this drive
I grew up in the Phx area and our family had a cabin in the White Mountains! I can't tell you how many times I have driven through the Salt River Canyon! The first time I personally drove through "The Canyon" myself, I wasn't even 16 years old yet! I was with my mom and had just received my Learner's Permit!🙌 It's a beautiful drive, but you need to pay attention! The scariest part is when people get impatient and pass when they have no business passing! This video brought back a lot of great family memories I had at our cabin! 😊
Thank you so much for sharing!
In the early 90's I made that drive 2 times a week for four months. I was with ADOT and I was with the Photogrammetric and mapping dept. (P&M).. I used to stop at Troy's for a water and a candy bar. Great Drive.
oh neat! Thank you for sharing!
I was the next to last car in a 15 car pileup on a similar type road leaving Prescott. An 18 wheeler had jackknifed across both lanes of the highway forcing people to slam on their brakes or tumble into the canyon. $5K worth of damage to my car, but at least it could be saved and would not be a salvage vehicle. Respect those switchbacks, people!
Yes! respect the switchbacks! thank you for checking out the video and thank you for sharing your story
Pile ups happen because idiots are speeding and riding others asses.
I can guess which road that was.
White Spar?
I broke my back on my motorcycle when I was 18 down The Spars. Still ride today when I visit Prescott.
Apache Trail, downstream a ways dwarfs this with narrow dirt roads and minimal guards. But this was always a moment for me as a 4 - 10 year old.
Oh yeah the Apache trail from canyon lake to Apache lake is scary as hell. One lane cliff road with people towing boats.
We drove our 40 foot fifth wheel camper down that road. Hubs was white knuckled in some spots and said never again. We do have a Silverado 350 with diesel brakes so that was helpful! Love your videos! You put so much time and research into them. It's appreciated!
Thank you for sharing! I know I would be on edge hauling anything up and down that canyon, and theres been many times down at the rest stop I could smell brakes, and see them smoking. Can be an intimidating drive for some, but its so worth it! thank you for checking out the video Colleen!
Love this drive, been many times, thanks for the new perspective
Hey no problemo! its an amazing drive....Thanks for checking out the video!
I grew up in Florence and we regularly took trips to the White Mountains so going through Salt River Canyon was a norm. Never had a problem in all the years we drove it. Moving to New Mexico and then visiting my parents in Florence this again became a norm. Again no problems. If you’re careful, you are good yo go.
Also, you asked about the cars. In 1973, just after high school graduation, one of our star football players drove off the road into the SR Canyon in a MG sports car. So sad. RIP David.
sad to hear that
Likely compounding factors there, lack of experience, lacking attention, poor brakes, hands slipping on the steering wheel, falling asleep at the wheel, alcohol, an in-cab distraction, something. One has to be on top of their game when they're driving such roads. All one has to do is stay on the road, but if one doesn't, it can change everything.
I remember seeing a small convertible on the side of an embankment. I didn't see it in this video. I wonder if it was retrieved?
First time I drove the Canyon was in 1968. It was just two lanes, no passing lanes or truck lanes then. I live in Michigan, but have relatives in Globe and Coolidge. I’ve driven the Canyon about 20 times over the years, always come in from the north. Twice on my Harley, many different 4-wheel vehicles, but bar none, the best ride was in a Mazda Miata convertible I had 5 years ago. Perfect weather, great ride. Really liked your vid’s perspectives from the drone! Thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing! hoping I can one day take a bike through here.....thanks again for checking out the video!
I once hauled a load of bulls from there in show low from the reservation back to El Paso Texas and I think the roads are in better shape today than back in the seventies, and it seemed to be steeper back then correct me if I’m wrong. thanks for doing the video great job. god bless
hey thanks! enjoyed reading your story and appreciate you checking out the video. Wish i was able to chime in on if the drive was steeper back then, but unfortunately, I wasnt around quite yet haha, thanks again for checking out the video
Your sense that the roads are better now than they were in the 1970s is correct, they were widened, the curves enlarged, the grades more graduated, better in many ways. It used to be steep and narrow with tight turns, which was made worse in the early decades (1930- 1950s) considering that they didn't have power-steering in those days. Can you imagine? It took muscles for every turn.
Wow! That road looks breathtaking! I live in Tucson, and I drive up to Mt. Lemmon twice a week, the first time was a little nerve wracking! But the more I drove, the more I got used to it. Is a beautiful drive all the way to the top to summer heaven. But I would definitely love to drive that road all the way to the top and enjoy the views! Great video!👌😎👍
Mt. Lemmon!!! I plan on doing a video up there in the future, maybe in the fall or midwinter.....just not when its so hot out. Thank you for checking out the video though, hope you get to do this drive in the future. 👍
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 be aware that in the winter months the road is closed when it’s snowy and snows! Depending on how bad it is, Only opens for residential or people who works on top. But only if it’s snowing! Now they will let you drive up if you have all wheel drive or 4x4 vehicles!
I remember going across that old bridge when that store used to be open
Thank you for sharing 🙏
Great video. You are a master using your drone.
Thank you so much! many years of practice, Trial and Error
I still remember the first time I took this drive in my V8 charger, what an great drive, definitely was fast but also stopped at every lookout, feels like driving through the grand canyon itselves, and I went there before I visited Grand canyon. Was in awe and shock how beautiful AZ is then I only until I hit Greer the next day. This is my third summer after moving to AZ and this state just can't seem to stop delivering amazing views to my eyes and I am so ever glad that I made the move.
right! AZ has so many amazing places. thank you for sharing!
Hi Jessie, amazing footage, and the music was perfect. I can't imagine anyone surviving in those crumpled wrecks. 😢
Thanks dawn! glad you enjoyed the video......The sheer terror going over the edge and the hard slam down into the rocks below gives me the chills 😨
@jessiesdroneadventures7464 That would be so terrifying. Most seemed to be upside down, I noticed.
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464
You don't have to think about that, or imagine it, you simply need to stay *on the road.
I live in Texas, but my grandparents lived in Scottsdale. I have gone that way several times and just loved it for the scenery.
Thank you for sharing!
Absolutely superb choice of background music! Very professional!
Thank you so much! took me a while to find the right music.....out of all the hours I spend editing, finding the right music is always the most difficult part, mainly because the music selection can either make or break the video. glad you enjoyed the video and thanks again!
First trip through was in a semi. Went back a couple times on motorcycles. That is the best way to view the canyon. You can easily pull over and stop to view. It is worth the trip.
Thank you for sharing!!!
I drove that route last November with my camper. I didn’t know anything about it, but I had to keep pulling over to let the brakes cool down. Great Video 😊
haha, I've seen that happen many times on that road, thank you for sharing 👍
Driven this section many times and it is beautiful. Awesome to see it from a birds eye
Glad you enjoyed it
The wife & I have made the trip twice before both times pulling a trailer and both times we enjoyed the drive to our home in southwest Arizona.
Thank you for sharing!
I have driven this Canyon several times to visit friends in Tuscon from my friend's home ib Snowflake, Arizona. One trip on my way back to Snowflake, my sister, friend, and I took a break from the road. We opened the sunroof cover to look at the beautiful night sky!
thank you for sharing!
I grew up in northern New Mexico driving on roads like this in both Rural New Mexico and southern Colorado. My first time down this road was my move from southern Utah to my new home in Safford AZ. Me winding down that road with my kitty cat in my lap and my pickup truck loaded as full as I could get it. I just bought a new car in Showlow the end of December. The first miles I put on my car were winding down that road and then through Globe and home to Safford.
Hey thank you for sharing, sounds like it was a good time going through the canyon! and I bet the cat enjoyed it too! thanks again for checking out the video!
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 The cat not so much. Poor little guy. It was the first time he had ever been on a trip in a vehicle. He left claw marks on the door from when he dared to peak out the window.
Thanks for videoing that! I have always been the one that drives through that area when traveling and finally seeing it from this perspective just made it even more beautiful!
Hey no problem! glad you liked it!
I lived in Lakeside from 1978-1979. Drove this road many times: one time with half of my brakes due to a bubble in the brake line, At midnight, I nearly fell asleep driving the mesmerizing switchbacks, so I pulled over at the old rest stop at the bottom and took an hour nap.
The most terrifying drive happened at dusk, when a large logging truck began dropping 2by4s in front of me. I had to dodge them while trying not to go over the edge. I kept honking my horn and high beams on the switchbacks to get the driver’s attention. He finally pulled over and I was able to tell him he’s losing his load and someone may be severely if not fatally injured.
Thanks for the cool video down memory lane.
Yikes! as beautiful as this area is....it does have some dark history....thank you checking out the video....glad you liked it
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464
Their story is not at all unique of Salt River Canyon, but is reflective on the condition of their vehicle and the logging truck that affected them, together with their fatigue. To conflate those factors as somehow being "dark history" of the road, when big trucks crisscross the state, as do fatigued drivers with vehicle issues, is unwise. It's just a road that they had a series of experiences on. I have traversed that road many times, all enjoyably and in peace. Maybe your experience with mountain roads is limited.
Toonces the cat used to drive the canyon. He wasn't scared but his passengers were... SNL
SRC is the most beautiful drive. I have driven it ALOT, its my favorite part of US 60. I have lived in AZ all my life, in the valley and have a summer home in Slow Low.
I pray the day I die, the Lord will let me fly through the SRC like the F16 that guy saw!!! 😊
Thank you for checking out the video!
Absolutely stunning drive. Pro tip: The car goes where you look. But we tend to focus on what scares us. So Look through the turn where you want to go, and you'll get there. Don't focus on the guardrail you're afraid of going over, or that's what you'll do.
Thank you.😃 Will remember.
this is good advice, Thank you for sharing
*_That's VERY good advice._* Never be led by fear, always keep your eyes on where you want to go. Guardrails don't need our attention, the road does! Eyes on the road! Don't be baited by fear, *_wisdom first and always._*
The first time, for a "regular driver" (me), was a bit intimidating. Second time - just beautiful. Thanks for your awesome video.
Hey no problemo! glad you enjoyed the video!
I used to live in Tucson, AZ. and E. MT. Lemmon Hwy going up the canyon has a Deadmans curve right at the switchback ,there's lotsa cars down there, people don't anticipate the curve being so sharp 😔
It's true that people don't anticipate the curve being so sharp. They underestimate those. They need to slow down.
I remember I was coming out of Phoenix one time and this trucker at the stop was like, "I'm taking 17 to 40".
I'm like I'm taking the salt river canyon cause trucks are allowed....I had fun beautiful drive.
❤😂🎉
And I didn't hold nobody up.
lol, thank you for sharing your story!
I know one truck driver that ran his rig into the mountainside and luckily did not go over. I have also climbed down to wrecks, the climb back was exhausting. Wanted to check out a load left of margarine and such after hearing of the wreck. After three years there, in the sun, exposed, there was a grease stain around the area but the dairy products were intact, no animal, bug or bird seemed interested. I do not eat that brand anymore. Felt a sadness for the driver, what a way to go.
Thank you for sharing 🙏
@@cacatr4495 there was butter there too along with some other products. Jus did not go into too much detail I guess.
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 he. Phillips mine on the Globe side of the canyon at the top would be a good drone footage place as it was an asbestos mine and I would wear PPE (filter) if going there in person.
@@billfreeland5489
I see. Thanks.
Arizona native here 👋 I absolutely hate driving this canyon whether in a car or in an 18 wheeler. I don't do curvey roads or cliffs very well and tend to have bad anxiety going through there. But, the views are gorgeous. The little place at the bottom is a neat little stop. My girls and I went through there a couple years ago and left our names on the wall of the store there. Sad to say it was painted over when my husband and I went through on his last trip, in an 18 wheeler. It is a butt puckering cruise. I tended to slink down in my seat when we would go through there in the big truck.
Thanks for the awesome footage! I LOVE your channel! Keep it going!! 😊
hey no prob! enjoyed reading your story.....if the walls of that rest stop could talk!!! could you imagine what they could tell! thank you so much for checking out the video!
Kind of troubled by the one at 13:20 the doors were closed and typically after rescue the doors would have been pried or cut open.
might send a photo of that on into local PD just to be on the safe side
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 I would. The vehicle undercarriage looks like it hasn't been there long at all and there's a can of what appears to be tire inflator laying next to the wreckage. The can has no rust. This looks very fresh.
I contacted them.
And the catalytic converter is still there
@@JustMyTwoScents The wheel is the original wheel for a 2014-2018 Mazda 3. Any word back on whether it was a wreck they already knew about?
Beautifully produced video. Years back as a small boy traveling cross country with my family multiple times over the years, I well remember the “jail” structure. I also remember my dad pointing out the unfortunate wrecked cars that were visible from the highway. We traveled a couple times in VW Beetles (no AC kiddies). *I fly a Mini 4 Pro too excellent drone all the way around. 👍
Thank you so much! and yes! the mini 4 pro is an amazing drone. Its packs a good punch for how small it is....Love night mode on it as well
1964 we did Apache Land and up to Roosevelt dam . I was 8 ...I cried . It scared me ... Wow ...scary road
but at least you got to do it!
The Apache Trail, at that time, from west to east, would have been rougher in those days. Now it's closed, I believe.
Can never go wrong viewing Arizona, one of the most breathtaking unique states , Arizona never disappoints ❤
Heck yea! never gets old!
I drive this road twice a week for work it’s a wonderful drive with spectacular views I just hate getting stuck behind the people only go 10 through the whole thing
I know what you mean. that happened to me while I was making this video, I was like " really guy!' speed up or pull to the side!'
Driven this road several time. Absolutely love the view despite a fear of heights. You forgot to mention watching out for falling rocks, especially after a rain, hail, rain and snow storm hitting the area. One time I came around a curve only to have a boulder the size of a semi-tractor truck blocking my lane. Extremely dangerous to get around!
i forgot...oopsy, but yes! ive seen many large rocks just laying in the road
As a kid in the 60s and 70s this was the route my father chose to take from the valley to the White mountains where all my grandparents and other family lived.
It scared the crap out of me because back then all the wrecked cars stood out, you could see them across the canyon while driving and I was always afraid of crashing.
Then, when it was time fur me to learn to drive my father thought it would be a great idea for me to drive the whole trip home... At night... Back when you switch from Bright to regular lights with a foot pedal.
I was scared as hell and my mother spent the whole part of the canyon screaming from the back seat till I pulled over at a rest stop and yelled at her to knock out off.
I think that was my first taste of PTSD.
goodness gracious! I appreciate you sharing your story. What a way to learn how to drive
Sheesh! That's not the way or the place to learn to drive, and screaming is not okay. I'm surprised you waited until you pulled over to put a stop to that. That would not fly. I'm surprised your other parent didn't put a stop to that. SMH.
Oh man!! Great, great story!! I love it! Thank you so much for sharing it! Good times, good times. 😝
Back before they "fixed" that road (it was a narrow, two-lane blactop), my Dad went down in a 1973 Travelall with bad brakes and one headlight, pulling a 30 travel trailer! This was in 1978, and he thought the road would eliminate a bunch of miles, on the way to Yuma, where they wintered. It took them almost 4 hours to creep down, and climb back up, a hair-raising trip every inch of the way!
I have drove this several times in a semi, all seasons, never had any problems, just take your time
Living in the french Alps, This road does not scare me even a little. And I happen to drive an Chevy SUV from the early '2000. I just downgrade it to 3, or 2 on my gearbox and it goes down smoothly without overheating the brakes.
That is wisdom that few seem to understand anymore. I can only guess that their parents didn't teach them to shift down on steep descents, and to only tap their brakes, not to ride them, which overheats them.
Cool video Jessie. I live in the White Mountains and have gone to the canyon a few times to look at wrecks with binoculars. You showed some that I hadn't seen. There's even a tanker truck near the bottom of a rock slide. You definitely should watch "Midnight run" in the future. It's a great movie that was made before Robert Diniro had his meltdown. The bridge scene was filmed here but that scene with the guys in the water was actually filmed elsewhere due to this water being too cold if I remember correctly.
Midnight Run is a classic. I watch it every few years.
Thank you! glad you enjoyed it! the funny thing about these car wrecks, at first I only spotted the one, but as i started to fly my drone further up the canyon, one by one they started to appear. I plan on going back again in the future to see if I can find mor. didn't know that about midnight run though, thank you for sharing 👍
Just bought it online! Will be watching it tomorrow!
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 Cool man. You won't regret it.
What meltdown?
I lived in Arizona for over 20 years. We used to go to globe as a kid camping. I used to work for penske in 2000 to 2005 delivering cabinets and appliances to the hardware store in globe twice a week. Now that we are all grown up with kids of our own. We drive though there all the time when we travel from texas to mesa.
Thank you for sharing!
I've driven the road many times. It's beautiful, but dangerous. My uncle drove a horse trailer with three horses though there once. He was warned not to do it, but he didn't listen. He got through safely but regretted he didn't listen.
Yikes!.....thank you for sharing 🙏
Great video! I ran that road towards Phoenix and went through Globe a few years ago for a company that I was driving for at the time. I was telling my driver friends about it but I couldn't remember the highway or the towns I went through other than Globe. I just sent this video to one of my trucker buddies. I'm retired now living in the Philippines..
oh neat! well hey, thank you for sharing the video and thank you for checking it out. Hoping to do a video on downtown globe in the future!
Love the views!!!
Right! such a spectacular place!
I went over the edge and rolled 8 times in a Ford Courier with a roll bar back in About on Memorial Day1979. Where the driver was about to get airborne when I screamed. This stretch was leaving Canyon Lake. Where we finally went over it was smooth white rock paved from heaven. We both climbed to the road in one piece. Many cars stopped after seeing us go over The gun rack made my back bleed the Lord and the roll bar saved us. Still the Apache Trail.
oh wow! what a story....glad you were able make it out! thank you for sharing
If you go down from show low side about half way down there’s a pull out over looking canyon on the other side the cliff has a small hole crawl inside it and it opens to big cavern long crawl bring lights and watch for scorpions
Interesting!
GREAT video. I've been in Tucson 5 years - this time - and grew up at the end of Rt 60, in Virginia Beach 2 blocks West of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel's landfall.
I've tubed the Salt River and watching your video has convinced me I've GOTTA make this drive!
Hey thank you for sharing! and yes! definitely take the drive....You are going to love it!
Lord what beautiful views, Thanks for getting me out of the house.
hey no problem! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
You might enjoy my organized Arizona playlists.
One of the best videos I have seen. As an Australian I would love to drive this road. Thank you.
Thank you so much for saying that!!! I hope one day you get to drive this road....its such a beautiful drive, and if you do...take hundreds of pictures and stop at every viewing point....Thank you for checking out the video!
In 1961 my mother, my sister and I crossed the Salt River Canyon and I have always wanted to return. I would caution about several things: First, be sure your vehicle is in good shape. Jalopies won't survive this beautiful landscape. Second, make sure YOU are in good shape. Any physical infirmities will be magnified. Third, if you are scared of heights, avoid this place at all costs.
Thank you for sharing 🙏