Approximate location — plotted from published sources, not a site visit, and not a guarantee of access.
An 18-mile historic backcountry route, the Safford-Morenci Trail crosses the Gila Mountains and Turtle Mountain between the Safford valley and the Morenci area. Elevations run from about 3,700 to 6,200 feet through desert and riparian corridors on Bureau of Land Management land. The trail follows an old pack route and is non-motorized; the west trailhead near Bear Springs is reached by dirt roads northeast of Safford.
Cultural sites and artifacts are protected by federal law (ARPA/NHPA) — stay on established routes, touch and remove nothing, and follow the managing agency's and the affiliated tribe's guidance on access.