Arizona Parkways, Historic and Scenic Roads

Arizona Parkways, Historic and Scenic Roads
Official marker of the program
Scenic Roads highlighted in red Historic Roads highlighted in blue Parkways highlighted in pink
System information
Maintained by ADOT
Formed	1982
Notes	Defined by ARS Title 41
Highway names
Interstates	Interstate nn (I-nn)
US Highways	U.S. Route nn (US nn)
State	State Route nn (SR nn)
County	County Road nn (CR nn)
Navajo	Navajo Route nn (Nnn)
Forest	Forest Service Road nn (FS nn)
System links
Arizona State Highway System Interstate US State Scenic Proposed Former

The Arizona Parkways, Historic and Scenic Roads program is a system of scenic and historic routes within the U.S. state of Arizona. The system is overseen and managed by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).

History

The Arizona Parkways, Historic and Scenic Roads system was established in 1982, after being approved and being passed into law by a session of the Arizona State Legislature. The system is defined by Title 41 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, under sections 41–512 through 41–518. Routes within the scope of the system were later designated as National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads, following the passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.

Designation

The routes designated within the ADOT scenic roads program are divided into three separate designations.

• Scenic Roads make up the majority of routes within the program. Scenic Roads need to be free from visible large-scale human development, and visually display natural scenery and features in a memorable way, using a "harmonious composite of visual patterns".

• Historic Roads display or have a strong relationship to subjects of cultural heritage or historical significance to the surrounding region, to the United States, or to the state of Arizona. These routes must also contribute to historic sites of exploration or settlement within the state, have easy access, and be unique from all other routes.

• Parkways are routes that meet the criteria for both Scenic Roads and Historic Roads, which have interpretive areas and other facilities for the use of travelers. Parkways also need to provide access to developments bordering the route and access roads need to be within a minimum distance of one mile (1.61 kilometres) of another access road.

Any individual or group of interest may nominate a route within Arizona for designation to become a state-designated Scenic Road, Historic Road or Parkway. The nomination needs to be requested to the Parkways, Historic and Scenic Roads Advisory Committee (PHSRAC). The committee has 11 members, six of which are appointed by the governor of Arizona. The remaining five members are representatives of ADOT, the Arizona State Parks Board, the Arizona Historical Society, the Arizona Office of Tourism, and the Tourism Advisory Council. The person or group of interest must file an application that includes the specific sections of road and maps of the nominated route, information on natural, cultural, and/or visual resources relating to the nominated route, as well as other supporting documentation and recommendations on protecting or supporting the route and its related resources. The report is evaluated by the PHSRAC, to see if the nominated route meets the specific criteria for one of the three designations of state-designated scenic roads. Segments of designated routes aren't limited to highways and roads maintained by ADOT. Sections of highways and roads maintained by other local, state, and federal jurisdictions have also been nominated and designated by the state of Arizona. However, the jurisdictions that maintain or own sections of the route need to adhere to specific rules and guidelines, regarding roadway construction, maintenance, interpretive sites, scenic pullouts, vegetation protection, access permits, development, and utilities along the route. Routes within the Parkways, Historic and Scenic Roads program are also designated by various federal agencies as National Scenic Byways, All-American Roads, National Forest Scenic Byways and Bureau of Land Management Back Country Byways.

List

Currently, ADOT recognizes 27 state designated routes under the Parkways, Historic and Scenic Roads Program. Four are Historic Roads, 19 are Scenic Roads and four are Parkways.

An Arizona scenic road marker in use on Route 66

Key

†	Also designated as a National Scenic Byway
‡	Also designated as an All-American Road
§	Also designated as a National Forest Scenic Byway

List of Arizona Parkways, Historic and Scenic Roads

Name	Routes	Length (mi)	Length (km)	Southern or western terminus	Northern or eastern terminus	Designated	Description
Apache Trail Historic Road §	SR 88	40	64	SR 88 near Lost Dutchman State Park	SR 188	September 20, 1986	The route follows most of SR 88, starting at milepost 201 near Lost Dutchman State Park and ending at SR 188 next to the Theodore Roosevelt Dam. The section through the Tonto National Forest is designated a National Forest Scenic Byway.
Copper Corridor Scenic Road (SR 77)	SR 77	35	56	SR 77 near Dudleyvile	SR 77 near Globe	October 17, 2008	Also known as Copper Corridor Scenic Road East. The route begins at SR 77 milepost 124 in a small community called Aravaipa, south of Dudleyvile. The route follows SR 77 north, passing the ghost town of Christmas and the defunct Christmas Mine. After entering the Tonto National Forest, the scenic route ends at SR 77 milepost 162, south of Globe.
Copper Corridor Scenic Road (SR 177)	SR 177	20	32	SR 177 near Kearny	SR 177 near Superior	October 17, 2008	Also known as Copper Corridor Scenic Road West. The scenic route begins at SR 77 milepost 149 near the mining community of Kearny. THe route continues north along SR 177 passing the Ray Mine and the White Canyon Wilderness. The route ends at SR 177 milepost 164 south of Superior.
Coronado Trail Scenic Road †	US 191, US 180	103	166	US 191 near Morenci	US 191/US 180 near Eagar	January 16, 1989	Also known as the Coronado Trail National Scenic Byway. The route starts at the northern edge of the Morenci mine and travels north along US 191 through the Apache–Sitgreaves National Forests. The scenic route is also concurrent with US 180, starting in Alpine. The scenic route ends along US 191 and US 180 near Eagar.
Desert to Tall Pines Scenic Road	SR 288, FS 512	74	119	SR 188 near Globe	SR 260 near Heber	July 13, 2001	The scenic route starts at the southern terminus of SR 288 and follows the state route through Young to its northern terminus within the Tonto National Forest. The scenic route follows FS 512 for the remainder of its length to SR 260 near Heber.
Diné Tah "Among The People" Scenic Road	SR 264, N12, N64	100	160	I-40 in Lupton	US 191 in Chinle	June 15, 2001	The route begins at I-40 exit 357 in Lupton and follows N12 and a small section of SR 264 north through Window Rock to the New Mexico state line. The ADOT designated scenic route temporarily ends here, then picks up again further north once N12 crosses the state line back into Arizona immediately southeast of Wheatfield Lake. At Tsaile , the scenic route follows N64 west, passing Canyon de Chelly National Monument, and ending at US 191 in Chinle. The route is also designated part of a Navajo Scenic Byway of the same name by the Navajo Nation, which also includes all of N12 within New Mexico.
Dry Creek Scenic Road	SR 89A	100	160	SR 89A Milepost 363.5	SR 89A in Sedona	January 15, 1993	The scenic route begins at milepost 363.5 on SR 89A, northeast of Cottonwood and travels northeast along SR 89A to milepost 370 where the route ends inside the city of Sedona.
Fredonia–Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Road	US 89A	82	132	US 89A near Bitter Springs	US 89A near Fredonia	June 28, 1996	The scenic route begins at US 89A milepost 525 near Bitter Springs and follows US 89A north, crossing over the Colorado River and Grand Canyon over the Navajo Bridge, passing the Vermilion Cliffs and ending at milepost 607 of US 89A northeast of Fredonia.
Gila–Pinal Scenic Road	US 60	35	56	US 60 in Florence Junction	US  near Miami	June 20, 1986	The scenic route begins on US 60, at milepost 214.5, just east of the interchange with SR 79. It follows US 60 east through Superior, Top-of-the-World and the Tonto National Forest, ending just outside the Miami Mining Complex just outside of Miami at milepost 240.5.
Historic Route 66 ‡	US 89, US 180, I-40 Bus., SR 66, Local roads	204	328	I-40 in Topock	I-40 Holbrook	December 20, 1987	The route is comprised entirely by sections of former US 66. Part of the route between Topock and Kingman is also designated a Back Country Byway by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The designation is discontinuous and connected together by sections of I-40 that have replaced US 66.
Historic U.S. Route 80	BL 8, SR 85, US 60, SR 79, SR 79 Bus., SR 77, BL 10, SR 80, Local roads	398	641	California state line in Yuma	NM 80 near Apache	September 21, 2018	This historic route is comprised entirely from sections of former US 80. It is a mixture of state and locally maintained roads. Historic US 80 begins at the California state line in Yuma and ends at the New Mexico state line near the locality of Apache. The route is discontinous and is connected together by segments of I-8 and I-10 which were built on top of former US 80.
Jerome–Clarkdale–Cottonwood Historic Road	SR 89A, Local roads	10	16	SR 89A in Jerome	SR 89A in Cottonwood	January 15, 1993	Also known as and signed as Historic US 89A. The route starts at SR 89A milepost 343.5, which also serves as the northern end of the Mingus Mountain Scenic Road. The historic route follows SR 89A to a roundabout outside of Clarkdale. The route continues along Clarkdale Parkway, Main Street and Broadway through Clarkdale, then along Main Street through Cottonwood before terminating at SR 89A.
Joshua Forest Scenic Road	US 93	54	87	US 93 near Wikieup	US 93 near Congress	January 15, 1993	The scenic route begins at US 93 milepost 180 near Congress Junction north of the interchange with SR 71. It follows US 93 north passing the Tres Alamos Wilderness and the Arrastra Mountain Wilderness. The scenic road ends just south of Wikieup at milepost 126.5.
Kaibab Plateau–North Rim Parkway †	SR 67	30	48	SR 67 at the Grand Canyon National Park boundary	SR 67 near Jacob Lake	September 20, 1985	The scenic route begins at the park boundary for Grand Canyon National Park near the Grand Canyon's northern rim. The route follows SR 67 north and ends at SR 67 milepost 580, just south of the intersection with US 89A at Jacob Lake.
Kayenta–Monument Valley Scenic Road †	US 163	28	45	US 160 in Kayenta	US 163 at the Utah state line	June 28, 1996	The scenic route starts at southern terminus of US 163 at US 160 in Kayenta within the Navajo Nation. From Kayenta, the route follows US 163 north through Monument Valley, before ending at the Utah state line, where US 163 continues north into Utah.
Mingus Mountain Scenic Road	SR 89A	12	19	SR 89A near Prescott	SR 89A in Jerome	January 15, 1993	The route begins at SR 89A milepost 332, northeast of Prescott and follows SR 89A northeast to Jerome, ending at milepost 343.5, which also serves as the southern end of the Jerome–Clarkdale–Cottonwood Historic Road (Historic US 89A).
Naat'tis'aan "Navajo Mountain" Scenic Road	SR 98	66	106	SR 98 near Page	SR 98 milepost 360	January 21, 2005	The scenic route begins in the Navajo Nation at SR 98 milepost 302, close to the defunct Navajo Generating Station, just east of Page. It then follows SR 98 southeast to milepost 360, where the scenic route ends, shortly before SR 98 terminates at US 160.
Organ Pipe Cactus Parkway	SR 85	25	40	SR 85 near Lukeville	SR 85 near Why	December 19, 2008	The route starts at SR 85 mileopost 78, north of Lukeville, and follows SR 85 north through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument towards Ajo. The route ends at SR 85 milepost 57 just south of Why.
Patagonia–Sonoita Scenic Road	SR 82, SR 83	57	92	SR 82 near Nogales	SR 83 near Vail	September 20, 1985	The route starts northeast of Nogales at SR 82 milepost 4.50. It travels eastbound on SR 82 to Sonoita, where the route turns north, following SR 83 towards Vail. The scenic route ends at SR 83 milepost 58, just south of I-10 exit 281 near Vail.
Red Rock Scenic Road ‡	SR 179	8	13	SR 179 Milepost 302	SR 179 in Sedona	February 20, 1987	The scenic route starts at Milepost 302 on SR 179 near I-17 and travels through the Prescott National Forest and Sitgreaves National Forest, north along SR 179 until reaching the southern end of Sedona, where the route ends.
San Francisco Peaks Scenic Road	US 180	31	50	US 180 in Fort Valley	US 180 near Valle	March 16, 1990	The scenic route begins on US 180 at milepost 255, southeast of Valle near the Kaibab National Forest boundary. The route continues southeast along US 180 through the national forest, surrounded by various cinder cones of the San Francisco Volcanic Field. The scenic route ends at milepost 224 in the community of Fort Valley, northwest of Flagstaff.
Sedona–Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road	SR 89A	8	13	SR 89A in Sedona	SR 89A at Oak Creek Vista	August 24, 1984	The scenic route begins on SR 89A in Sedona and travels north out of town. The route meanders along through the Oak Creek Canyon alongside Oak Creek, which lies within the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness. The scenic route ends at the turn off for the Oak Creek Vista.
Sky Island Parkway †	FS 39, Local roads	27	43	Catalina Highway near Tucson	Dead end near Summerhaven	August 17, 2001	Also known as Catalina Highway. The route starts on the edge of the Coronado National Forest near Tucson. The route ascends Mount Lemmon and terminates at a end end south of Summerhaven.
Swift Trail Parkway	SR 366	25	40	Swift Trail on Mount Graham	SR 366 near Swift Trail Junction	January 15, 1993	The scenic route starts at the western terminus of SR 366 on Mount Graham in a locality called Old Columbine. The route follows SR 366 east down the side of Mount Graham to the desert valley at the foot of the mountain. The route ends at SR 366 milepost 116, southwest of Swift Trail Junction.
Tse’nikani “Flat Mesa Rock” Scenic Road	US 191	45	72	US 191/N8085 near Many Farms	US 180/US 191 near Mexican Water	January 21, 2005	The northern terminus of the scenic route is at the junction of N8085 and US 191 near Many Farms within the Navajo Nation. The route proceeds north along US 191 through Round Rock and Rock Point before ending at the junction of US 160 and US 191 south of Mexican Water.
White Mountain Scenic Road	SR 260, SR 261, SR 273	67	108	SR 260 in McNary SR 260	SR 273/SR 260 milepost 377.46	January 15, 1993	The scenic route begins on SR 260 in McNary, then heads east through the Fort Apache Indian Reservation and Apache–Sitgreaves National Forest. In Eagar, the route heads south along SR 261 back into the forest, to a junction with SR 273. The route follows SR 273, passing Mount Baldy, then ends at SR 260, the route having looped back on itself.
White River Scenic Road	SR 73	11	18	SR 73 milepost 346.85	SR 260 in Indian Pine	January 15, 1993	Beginning at SR 73 milepost 346.85 north of Whiteriver, the scenic route heads north along SR 73, paralleling the North Fork White River through the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, ending at SR 260 in Indian Pine, near the Mogollon Rim.

Gallery

• 

  Coronado Trail Scenic Road in the White Mountains

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  Historic Route 66 in Williams

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  Historic U.S. Route 80 in Bisbee

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  Kaibab Plateau–North Rim Parkway

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  Sky Island Parkway on Mount Lemmon

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  Kayenta–Monument Valley Scenic Road in Monument Valley

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  Organ Pipe Cactus Parkway through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

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  Joshua Forest Scenic Road

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  Apache Trail Historic Road at Fish Creek Hill

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  Sedona–Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road

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  Red Rock Scenic Road near Oak Creek Village

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  Fredonia–Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Road

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  Gila–Pinal Scenic Road at the Queen Creek Tunnel

External links

• Information regarding Historic and Scenic Roads - Arizona Department of Transportation
• America's Byways - Arizona - Federal Highway Administration
• Byways - Bureau of Land Management
• America's Scenic Byways