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34-525: Fort Verde was established at its current location in 1871. It is significant as "the best preserved and least altered of any military post associated with General Crook’s 1872-73 campaign against the northern Apaches." Settlers in the mid-19th century near the Verde River grew corn and other crops with the prospect of getting good prices from nearby Prescott , which was the territorial capital, and from nearby miners. The rapid increase in population for

68-558: A reservation by 1872, the army's role changed from protecting the settlers to ensuring that the Indians stayed on the reservation. The last major military engagement with uprising natives took place in 1882 at the Battle of Big Dry Wash . The fort was never enclosed by walls or stockades, and it never saw fighting on site. At its height, it consisted of twenty-two buildings, only four of which survived until 1956, when local citizens created

102-788: A 6-mile (10 km) stretch of the river was identified by the state of Arizona as a critical natural resource. This reach of the Verde River and its associated riparian zone , between the town of Clarkdale (near Tuzigoot National Monument ) and the Bridgeport State Route 89A Bridge, became part of the Arizona State Parks system. The park, called the Verde River Greenway State Natural Area, encompasses 480 acres (190 ha). Dead Horse Ranch State Park , near Cottonwood,

136-710: A divided highway until it reaches Fain Road in Prescott Valley . The route continues beyond this intersection as a two-lane undivided highway. The only at-grade intersection in this stretch is a junction with Great Western Drive, near milepost 321. As SR 89A moves to the northeast, it begins to ascend the Black Hills mountain range. ADOT has designated this section of SR 89A as the Mingus Mountain Scenic Road by ADOT. The roadway follows

170-557: A divided highway until it reaches Sedona, an arts and resort community known for its red sandstone formations. As it enters the city of Sedona, the route is known as the Si Birch Memorial Highway. The route continues east through Sedona, providing access to the Sedona Airport . SR 89A continues toward the east through Sedona to an intersection with SR 179 , which heads south from this intersection through

204-414: A small museum in the administration building. They later donated the buildings and ten acres (40,000 m) as a State Park. Some of the buildings were built with pice , which is large adobe slabs cast within wooden frames, rather than assembled from the more familiar individual adobe bricks. The following structures and markers are pictured: Verde River The Verde River ( Yavapai : Haka'he:la)

238-410: A small section of Fain Road immediately east of the intersection with SR 89A proper. The route was extended over the remainder of Fain Road to SR 69 on August 18, 2011. The road was originally two lanes wide but has since been widened to a four-lane divided highway. Its primary purpose is as an eastern bypass around Prescott. The Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization has planned

272-520: Is Carefree . Below Bartlett Lake, the elevation averages 1,500 feet (460 m) over the next 20 miles (32 km). Species here include largemouth bass, sunfish, channel and flathead catfish, tilapia , carp, crayfish, and bullfrogs. The nearest town with fuel and supplies is Fountain Hills. Arizona State Route 89A State Route 89A ( SR 89A ) is an 83.85-mile (134.94 km) state highway that runs from Prescott north to Flagstaff in

306-452: Is Camp Verde. Species along this stretch include largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, channel and flathead catfish, carp, crayfish, and bullfrogs. The same species that are found between Camp Verde and Horseshoe Lake are also present along a 12-mile (19 km) stretch of the river from Horseshoe Lake to Bartlett Lake. The elevation along this stretch averages 1,800 feet (550 m) above sea level. The nearest town with fuel and supplies

340-461: Is Cottonwood. Fish species frequenting this stretch of the river include largemouth bass , redeye bass , sunfish , channel catfish , flathead catfish, yellow perch , chub, carp, and, in winter, rainbow trout . Crayfish and bullfrogs are also found. From Camp Verde to Horseshoe Lake, about 60 miles (97 km) of fishable waters are at an average elevation of 2,800 feet (850 m). The nearest town with fuel and other supplies and amenities

374-695: Is a major tributary of the Salt River in the U.S. state of Arizona . It is about 170 miles (270 km) long and carries a mean flow of 602 cubic feet per second (17.0 m /s) at its mouth . It is one of the largest perennial streams in Arizona. The river begins below the dam at Sullivan Lake, fed by Big Chino Wash and Williamson Valley Wash in Yavapai County . The Verde flows freely for 125 miles (201 km) through private, state, tribal and United States Forest Service lands, specifically

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408-474: Is about 10 miles long. After SR 89A and Historic US 89A enter the town of Clarkdale , SR 89A turns southeast at a roundabout with Clarkdale Parkway. The route continues toward the southeast through Clarkdale before entering the town of Cottonwood . There, the highway starts heading east at Cottonwood Street before reaching an intersection with Main Street. Historic US 89A, runs through

442-651: Is adjacent to the Greenway. At Drake, Arizona , its canyon is termed "Hell Canyon", and it is spanned by the Hell Canyon Bridge , a road bridge built in 1923, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Plants found in riparian zones along the river include ailanthus , Arizona alder , sycamore , and walnut trees; a variety of willows ; reeds, cattails , box elder , and saltcedar , among others. Aquatic vertebrates along

476-600: Is known for its scenic views as it passes through the Sedona area and Oak Creek Canyon . SR 89A's southern terminus is at a junction with SR 89 north of Prescott near the Antelope Hills Golf Course and Ernest A. Love Field . The road heads east from the junction with SR 89 as the Pioneer Parkway , a four-lane divided highway with diamond interchanges at most intersections. It continues as

510-514: Is now SR 89A became a state highway in the late 1920s as SR 79. The highway was extended and improved several times through 1938. SR 79 was renumbered to U.S. Route 89A (US 89A) in 1941 and then to SR 89A in the early 1990s. SR 89A runs from its southern terminus in Prescott northward through the towns of Jerome , Cottonwood and Sedona to its northern terminus in Flagstaff . The highway

544-742: The Gila River west of Phoenix . In 1984, the United States Congress designated 40.5 miles (65.2 km) of the Verde River as Wild and Scenic through the National Wild and Scenic River program. The Scenic portion begins at Beasley Flats and extends downstream about 19 miles (31 km) to the northern boundary of the Mazatzal Wilderness . The Wild portion extends from there to the mouth of Red Creek, about 22 miles (35 km) further downstream. In 1986,

578-736: The Historic US ;89A designation on the south end of Jerome. Officially named the Jerome-Clarkdale-Cottonwood Historic Road by the Arizona Department of Transportation , Historic US 89A is one of only four state designated historic routes in Arizona, the others being Historic Route 66 , Historic U.S. Route 80 and the Apache Trail Historic Road . The historic route was designated on May 13, 1992 by ADOT and

612-641: The Prescott National Forest , Coconino National Forest and Tonto National Forest , before encountering the first of two dams that make Horseshoe Lake and Bartlett Lake . The cities of Camp Verde , Clarkdale and Cottonwood are the main population centers along the river. The Verde River and the Salt River converge on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community . The Salt River flows into

646-740: The U.S. state of Arizona . The highway begins at SR 89 in Yavapai County and heads northward from Prescott Valley , entering Jerome . From Jerome, the route then heads to Cottonwood and Clarkdale . The road then continues out to Sedona . The highway is notable for its scenic value as it winds over and through Mingus Mountain as well as passing through Sedona and the Oak Creek Canyon . The route then enters Coconino County soon after leaving Sedona. The highway proceeds to Flagstaff , where it crosses Interstate 17 (I-17) and I-40 . The highway ends at I-40 Business in Flagstaff. What

680-872: The Verde River @ Clarkdale, beginning at the Lower TAPCO River Access Point (RAP) and floating to the Tuzigoot RAP in Clarkdale; Skidmore RAP to Black Canyon RAP or Bignotti RAP on the Prescott National Forest between Cottonwood and Camp Verde; and White Bridge RAP to Clear Creek RAP or Beasley Flat RAP on the Prescott National Forest below Camp Verde. The Verde River above Camp Verde has about 70 miles (110 km) of fishable waters at an average elevation of 3,800 feet (1,200 m) above sea level. The nearest town with fuel, restaurants, lodging, groceries, and fishing tackle

714-651: The Verde River by fur trappers led by Ewing Young , and including Kit Carson , dating to 1829. Edgar Alexander Mearns wrote in his 1907 naturalist survey Mammals of the Mexican Boundary of the United States that beaver were present on nearly all streams of the Colorado Basin . Re-introductions of beaver in recent times have transformed even small desert streams into robust riparian habitat, increasing species abundance and diversity. Floating

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748-580: The Verde River in rafts and kayaks is a popular pastime as it runs through scenic valleys and the Mazatzal Wilderness. The facilities described below are maintained by the Tonto National Forest authority. Kayak rentals, shuttles, boating gear and services are available in Clarkdale, Cottonwood and Camp Verde. Several commercial outfitters offer guided trips on the Verde River. Popular stretches for commercial boating include

782-406: The Verde River include North American beaver , belted kingfishers , great blue herons , otters , Chiricahua leopard frogs , Sonoran mud turtles , and others. Among the 27 species of fish found in the river are carp , flathead catfish , roundtail chub , Gila chub , bass , desert sucker , mosquitofish , red shiner , and Sonora sucker . Beaver were trapped "with considerable success" on

816-484: The bypass route now intersects Main Street. Following the intersection with Cottonwood Street, the road follows Main Street to an intersection with SR 260 , which heads to the south toward Camp Verde and I-17 . SR 89A then moves northeastward towards Sedona . As the highway leaves Cottonwood, it again becomes a divided highway north of Rocking Chair Road, heading into desert. Before reaching Sedona, SR 89A provides access to Red Rock State Park . The route remains

850-499: The granite dells near Watson Lake, but due to an aging Granite Creek bridge and increased traffic, Yavapai County acquired the necessary land to realign SR 89A away from the dells and near the airport. State Route 89A Spur ( SR 89A Spur or SS 89A ) is a 7.22-mile-long (11.62 km) unsigned highway routed along Fain Road in Prescott Valley. SR 89A Spur was originally established on July 16, 2004, over

884-653: The highway. The roadway leaves the creek as it begins to ascend through the canyon. At the edge of the canyon, the Scenic Road designation ends. Upon ascending, the road goes through a series of hairpin turns (no trucks over 50 ft.) toward the Mogollon Rim . The roadway continues northward away from the canyon towards Flagstaff . It curves northeastward as it passes to the west of the Forest Highlands Golf Club. The route continues to

918-579: The mining economy disrupted the hunting and gathering environments of the local Native American tribes, the Dilzhe'e Apache and Yavapai . In turn, they raided the farmers' crops for food. The farmers requested military protection from the United States Army and, in 1865, although Arizona was still only a territory, the infantry arrived. They set up several posts over the next few years: After approximately 1,500 local natives were placed on

952-408: The northeast towards I-17 near Flagstaff Pulliam Airport . SR 89A begins to run concurrently with I-17 as a freeway northward. The two highways continue north to an interchange with I-40 , where I-17 terminates. The route continues north along Milton Road, to the west of Northern Arizona University before reaching its northern terminus at I-40 Business in Flagstaff. The routing of SR 89A

986-515: The old downtown areas of both Clarkdale and Cottonwood. From the present day traffic circle between SR 89A and Clarkdale Parkway, Historic 89A continues north along Clarkdale Parkway, turning right at Main Street in Clarkdale, and then right again at Broadway. It continues past Tuzigoot National Monument , becoming Main Street in Cottonwood, and providing access to Dead Horse Ranch State Park . The route intersects Cottonwood Street, where

1020-401: The section between Sedona and Flagstaff had been improved to a gravel road by 1934, with the northern half under construction. The next year, the construction on the northern section near Flagstaff was complete. The southern end of the highway near Prescott and the section between Jerome and Cottonwood had been paved by this time. By 1938, the entire route had been paved. By 1941, the highway

1054-402: The southern part of Sedona to provide access to I-17 . Upon leaving Sedona, SR 89A becomes the state designated Sedona–Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road . The highway heads northeast into a wooded area from Sedona and follows Oak Creek as it enters Oak Creek Canyon. SR 89A then curves to the north as it follows the creek and provides access to Slide Rock State Park along this portion of

Fort Verde State Historic Park - Misplaced Pages Continue

1088-529: The terrain through a series of hairpin turns as it climbs in elevation. Once SR 89A reaches passes over the mountains, it begins its descent into the Verde Valley . During its descent, SR 89A enters the town of Jerome . In Jerome, the highway provides access to the nearby Jerome State Historic Park . Upon exiting Jerome, SR 89A heads northeast through the Verde Valley. The highway also picks up

1122-446: Was first defined as a state highway in 1927 as SR 79 by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). At the time, only the portion from Prescott to Clarkdale was built, but the remaining portion to Flagstaff had been planned. By 1929, the highway had been extended north to Sedona, although the entire highway was not paved at this time. A graded dirt road was built the following year between Flagstaff and Sedona. The southern half of

1156-401: Was redesignated from SR 79 to US 89A. Before the establishment of the route for I-17 , the only route to Flagstaff was through Prescott. There were two routes available: US 89A through Jerome, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon or north through Chino Valley via US 89 to US 66. The route was redesignated from US 89A to SR 89A in 1993. Before 2001, SR 89A had veered south into

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