FR 36 Copper Creek Cabin

The American Southwest is rich in Native American History but very few locations allow off-road enthusiasts the opportunity to drive right up to ruins like you can in the Aqua Fria National Monument. Roughly 40 miles north of Phoenix, this little known area has some of the best preserved Indian and early settler stone ruin sites. The earliest inhabitants were people that lived in the region between 1250 and 1450 A.D. They created an intricate network of over 450 mass dwelling sites that are spread out all over the area. The monument was created to protect the ruins, the beautiful Aqua Fria River and its tributaries. As noted in the presidential proclamation on Jan. 20, 2011 “The monument contains one of the most significant systems of late prehistoric sites in the American Southwest.” FR36 is an old access trail to a now retired Forest Ranger work site for Tonto National Forest. The stone building is beautifully preserved and there are even a couple other hidden structures in the immediate area. The region is large, give yourself the entire day to explore this unique part of the southwest. The numerous side trails offer countless points to walk among the ruins and search the nearby rocks for petroglyphs. There are hundreds of examples of this ancient art work scattered throughout the monument region. Look along cliffs or even on stray rocks in the meadows. Please do not disturb or alter these precious artifacts to ensure they remain for generations to come.