Agua Fria National Monument

Agua Fria National Monument, Arizona, is 70,900 acres of high desert grassland bordered by I-17 on the west, the Tonto National Forest on the east, and the Prescott National Forest on the north. The northernmost point is on Dry Creek east of Cordes Junction at the Prescott National Forest boundary (N34ᵒ22’ W112ᵒ4’) and the southernmost point is on the Agua Fria River at Black Canyon City (N34ᵒ5’ W112ᵒ7’). The major topographic features are three high mesas (Black Mesa, Perry Mesa, and Sycamore Mesa). The mesas are split by deep canyons of the Agua Fria (Cold Water) River and its tributary. From Perry Mesa a 4,000-foot-high dormant shield volcano, Joe’s Hill (N34ᵒ11’ W112ᵒ5’), rises above the surrounding terrain. The riparian areas along the Agua Fria River and its tributaries are an Important Bird Area for species such as the yellow-billed cuckoo, Lucy’s warbler, and Bell’s vireo.

The monument was established to protect more than 450 archaeological and historic sites—stone masonry pueblos, cliffs with rock art, and agricultural terraces used as ancient farms. Major visitor areas are at Badger Springs (exit 256 on I-17) and Bloody Basin Road (exit 259 on I-17). At Badger Springs (N34ᵒ14’ W112ᵒ6’), a one-mile trail follows Badger Springs Wash to the Agua Fria River, where riparian vegetation and rock art can be viewed. The Bloody Basin Road (Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Road 9269) descends from I-17 down into the Agua Fria River canyon and ascends the eastern canyon wall as a high clearance route to Perry Mesa and the Tonto National Forest.

At the Agua Fria River crossing on Bloody Basin Road is the 200-acre Horseshoe Ranch (N34ᵒ16’ W112ᵒ3’), owned by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and used for education and research on climate change in riparian ecosystems.

East on Bloody Basin Road on Perry Mesa, two-track BLM Road 9023 leads to Pueblo La Plata (N34ᵒ15’ W112ᵒ2’), the largest stone masonry pueblo in the monument with evidence of 80 to 100 rooms. The site overlooks Silver Creek canyon and can be reached by a one-half mile interpretive trail from the end of the road.

From Cordes Lakes, two historic sites can be accessed.  On the Agua Fria River is an 1891 schoolhouse, and on Big Bug Creek is the Teskey Home Site (both N34ᵒ19’ W112ᵒ4’).

The Agua Fria River within the monument is eligible for the national wild and scenic river system. Supporting the monument are numerous partners including a friends group and the Black Canyon Heritage Park (N34ᵒ4’ W112ᵒ9’), located on Old Black Canyon Highway at the Agua Fria River crossing, which interprets desert riparian ecosystems.

Ecoregions: NA503, Arizona Mountains forests (World Wildlife Fund); 23h: Arizona-New Mexico Mountains, Lower Mogollon Transition (above 3,000 feet); 81k: Sonoran Basin and Range, Arizona Upland/East Sonoran Basins (1,500 to 3,000 feet) (Environmental Protection Agency)

Management: part of National Landscape Conservation System (Bureau of Land Management); Arizona Game and Fish Department (Horseshoe Ranch)

Websites: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/natmon/afria.html; http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/watchableWildlife/horseshoeRanch.shtml; http://blackcanyonheritagepark.org/; http://aguafriafriends.org/; http://aziba.org/?page_id=727.

Visited January 2016