Sonoran Desert National Monument – Kingsnake's Home Den

Butterfield Stage Trail: The first Boy Scout skull pole in five miles, at the Happy Camp / Fortymile Desert Tank cistern.

Butterfield Stage: Estrella Rd. to Gap Well

2026-02-10 Bike Riding 0

What is now known as the Butterfield Stage Trail was in use at least as early as Juan Bautista de Anza’s expedition from Culiacan to […]

The Mormon Battalion preceded the Butterfield Stage by twelve years. The route was also known as the Southern Emigrant Trail, Kearny Trail, or Gila Trail.

Butterfield Stage: Xmas Camp-Estrella Rd.

2025-12-31 Bike Riding 0

The Butterfield Stage was only in operation from 1858-1861, but the Southern Emigrant Trail across the desert Southwest was in use from Juan Bautista de Anza […]

Butterfield Stage Trail: The only "climb" beween Enid and Christmas Camp is 35 ft. at 6.8%, in the first mile, around Hill 1535. If you feel motivated, you can always ride over it. (GoPro screen cap)

Butterfield Stage: Enid to Xmas Camp

2025-12-02 Bike Riding 0

Any given Old West trail, rather than being a singular track — like, say, Interstate 40 — was a web of routes heading in the […]

Estrella BM 2766

2014-11-25 Hiking 0

I had noticed this mountain while researching my Mormon Battalion Trail hike, and just coincidentally at the same time mazatzal did it. He didn’t post […]

Mormon Battalion Trail

2014-11-21 Hiking 0

Christmas Camp to Fortymile Desert Tank BLM 8003, from AZ 238, near the Estrella Siding, to Christmas Camp at North Tank, was very smooth, though […]