Sonoran Desert National Monument

Maricopa Road, running between Gila Bend and Maricopa, looked like a shortcut to Phoenix on the map, so we decided to take it. What a surprise! Not only is it paved (it looks like a dirt road on the map), but it goes through Sonoran Desert National Monument, which we had never heard of.

A dirt road then goes north 4 miles to an old trail, established by the Morman Battalion on its trek to California, and later adapted by Butterfield for its stage route.

This was on of the most heavily traveled trails west, as it was open 12 months a year.

Here's Randy on the trail.