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Beale Wagon Road Historic Trail Guided Trip
May 20, 2023 @ 12:00 PM - May 21, 2023 @ 10:00 AM
$275 – $325
On this two-day fundraising trip for Willow Bend Environmental Education Center, volunteer board members Eric Souders and Neil Weintraub (former South Kaibab Zone archaeologist) will lead 12 participants and two camels to retrace the 1857-1859 footsteps of Lieutenant Edward Beale, his crews and camels who built the first federally constructed wagon road in the United States in 1857. This is a unique living history program that will interpret the history of the Beale Wagon Road across the Williams Ranger District and connect ongoing forest restoration projects to the human history of the forest.
Trip Itinerary
Saturday May 20th, 12 PM to 4 PM: We will begin our tour meeting on the Beale Wagon Road, meeting point discloused after registration. Please note, a high clearance vehicle is recommended, and we will try to coordinate carpooling. From here, we will guide participants and two camels across one of the best-preserved sections of the wagon road across Northern Arizona. This is a 4-mile total roundtrip hike. We will offer participants opportunities to ride camels during this stretch. Once we are done, we will caravan to a quick interpretive stop at Elk Springs to discuss the significance of recent forest restoration projects. Afterwards, we will drive to Laws Spring where we will car camp.
Saturday May 20th 5:30 to 7:30 PM: Dutch Oven Dinner and presentation on the history of the Beale Wagon Road by Neil and Eric. Dinner is provided.
Sunday May 21st 7 AM to 10 AM: Breakfast (provided by us!) and hike to Laws Spring with camels.
Sunday May 21st, 10 AM: return to Flagstaff.
Cost: $275 members, $325 non-members. Payment is not yet colleced when you register, as we will not charge your credit card until the trip reaches at least eight participants. This is a first come first serve trip.
To register for the event, please press HERE.
* Event pending permission by the Kaibab National Forest. Registration will save your spot, and payment will be collected once the permit is approved.*