26 photos included after text.

After Kingman, AZ you have a choice.  You could either go the faster way along interstate 40 to the next town called Seligman, but you would pass up viewing Crozier Canyon, Peach Springs / Nelson, and Yampi Summit.  To photograph those areas, you would have to travel along the slower Historic Route 66.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Historic Route 66 leaves Kingman, AZ from interstate 40 at exit #53 and travels north.  Crozier Canyon is east of a broad curve as Route 66 climbs a hill at mile marker 88.5 requiring the east bound lanes to have a passing lane.  All along Route 66 from Kingman you will see the tracks to your right as they also climb out of the Kingman valley.  Photos are possible at several locations along this route particularly near the small towns of Hackberry and Valentine, AZ.

Like Kingman Canyon, Crozier Canyon offers many safe, and spectacular photographic locations close to the tracks.  Great photo locations abound on the edge of the many cliffs and rocky formations.  Entry is fairly easy from either the east or the west sides of the canyon.  Be aware though, you will be walking and climbing to get to almost all of these locations with a short portion of the middle of the canyon having no road access.

You are quite a distance from any facilities.  Meaning this is not the place to test your own endurance.  If you have a serious health condition, then you might want to think about not going deep into Crozier Canyon.  You know your own limits, don't try to go beyond them here.  It is a long way to the nearest hospital. 

Although the canyon is only about 3 track miles long, the way the tracks curve through it, make for some outstanding photo opportunities especially when shot from the ledge areas along the canyon walls.  A serious note of caution here.  There are no facilities near by Crozier Canyon so...make sure that you have a full tank of gas before you leave Kingman or Seligman, AZ.  Winter has no real problems to contend with, but make no mistake...summer can be brutal.  Read the "What to expect in the Desert" page and take it seriously, before arriving.

WEST ENTRANCE

Getting into either entrance of the canyon is easy.  For the west entrance, it is clearly visible from Route 66, just after what I call the "Valentine rocks" located on the right side of the road at mile marker 87.5.  This is a great place for photos of west bound trains as they negotiate the last curve out of the canyon.

Just 1/2 mile from the Valentine rocks is a dirt road that goes to the right.  Follow this road as it curves to the right and passes a private ranch.  It will parallel Route 66 a short distance to a railroad bridge.  There will be a gate after the Ranch and before the railroad bridge.  If it is closed, please close again after you go through. 

Continue on toward the bridge and drive under it if you can.  It is pretty low, so if you are in a tall 4x4 with over-the-cab spot lights, you might want to check for clearance.  Just past this bridge to your left, is a dirt road going up the embankment.  Follow this dirt road as it continues to the left and makes its way to the tracks. 

You will travel about .6 miles, and along the way will go around a large rocky hill.  Just after the hill, you should see a gate.  Go through this gate, and walk to the left back to the rocky hill.  Find a way to climb to its top, and sit back and enjoy the parade.  Photos here of west bound trains are great in the mid afternoon in summer, or the late afternoon in winter. 

There is another great area only .1 mile away but on the other side of the tracks.  It is a high rocky platue that the railroad had to cut into to make room for the tracks.  It is just before an open grassy area.  Climb up the rocky side only about 20 feet or so.  From there, you should be in a position to get fantastic, late afternoon summer only, photos of west bound trains. 

Back on the dirt road, drive another .3 mile to where you can not go any further.  Next to you, is another rocky hill you can climb up to get great photos of east bound trains.  The view for west bound trains has been blocked at this location by a tree, that seems to grow bigger every time I go there.  East bound trains are still good in the mid morning of summer, or the early morning of winter.

The real gem of why you are here is the next location.  You can't drive anymore, so walk another .5 mile into the canyon alongside the tracks, and find a good way to again climb up the canyon wall to your right.  You will know you are in the right position because if you are, you will be in a perfect place to photograph west bound trains as they negociate a beautiful "S" curve.  This prized photo is best in the mid afternoon in summer, or the late morning in winter.  (HINT: Do not stand right at the edge of the canyon wall.  Back off about 30 to 40 feet up the slope).  Oh, by the way, as you dazzle at that photo possibility, notice that you can also get great photos of east bound trains by repositioning yourself a little to your left and slightly closer to the edge. 

EAST ENTRANCE

The east entrance to the canyon is better if you have a good enough vehicle to make it along a challenging dirt road.  Get back onto Route 66 and go east up the hill with the passing lane.  Travel exactly .6 miles past mile marker 90 to a unimpossing gate on your right.  The tracks are in the distance about .9 miles south from Route 66.

Go through the gate onto B.L.M. land and please close the gate behind you.  This dirt road is not to bad to drive on so follow it to another gate.   About 1/2 way there, the road will get a little bumpy, but do not worry.  Continue through an "S" curve, and on to where the road goes under the tracks.  Just before the railroad bridge, you will arrive at the second gate.  Go through, and again close it behind you. Depending on the weather, either drive or walk under the railroad bridge.    (HINT: If there is ANY standing water in the road right under the bridge, DO NOT even try to drive through.  Even in a 4x4.  You will be asking for trouble.  The ground is very soft and it is easy to get stuck.) 

After the bridge, the road goes either left or right.  Go to the right, and follow this road about .5 miles through the first three of six dry creek beds.  They might be a little sandy, so get out and take a look before you cross.  If you have any doubt, park and walk. 

Immediately after the third crossing, you should see a large rocky hill that has a gentle slope to the tracks that is very easy to climb.  Climb up this rocky hill to the top.

Great photos are possible here from on top of a couple of the large rocks near the tracks.  If you continue on the dirt road another .7 miles, you will be in the heart of the canyon.  This portion of the road is the challenging part though.  The road will now have more curves, with steep inclines up and down various tall hills.  

At the end of the road will be more photo locations, and from there, you will see the other end from the west entrance into the canyon.  All along the way into the canyon from the east entrance are several good locations for photos. 

One, is another rocky hill you will see to the right, that goes to the tracks.  This hill is after you have crossed the dry wash all six times and just before the road ends at an area with lots of trees.  The tracks will be in a curve almost at your feet when you are at the edge.  This is the top curve of the "S" curve you saw from the end of the west entrance.

Another location that I would like to bring to your attention, is another rocky hill that also has a cliff next to the tracks.  It is on the other side of the tracks and to the left, or more in the middle of the "S" curve.  This location features great photos of east bound trains as they are working their way through Crozier Canyon.  Best in the late afternoon in summer, the scenery makes this particular photo one of the best in the canyon. 

Enjoy exploring Crozier Canyon, but be very alert.  Crozier Canyon is one of the reasons I wrote the "What to Expect in the Desert" site page.

One last thought.  The last time I was in "The Heart" of Crozier Canyon, there were several cows walking around, and a real defensive bull.  This is open grazing land so be aware of that possibility also.

Continuing on east on Route 66, we will go through the small town of Troxton about 4.1 miles after the west entrance for Crozier Canyon.  Another 8.6 miles and you will be in Peach Springs, AZ.

PEACH SPRINGS

Peach Springs is the first town you will reach about 1 minute after you have said, "My God, there is absolutely nothing out here".  Turn right on the only road toward Peach Springs called Diamond Creek Road, and go .1 mile to the tracks.  There is a large signal tower there to the right from the grade crossing and you can drive toward it to get good photos of west bound trains going under it.  That is pretty much it for Peach Springs.

NELSON

Nelson is an unincorporated area a short distance from Peach Springs that has a Lime manufacturing Plant and thats about it.  It is the drive there that is interesting to you.  Get back onto Route 66 and travel east another .1 mile to a road that will turn to your right.  That road is called Indian Route 19.  Follow this road into a small canyon that has very broad curves in it for the railroad.  The road will roughly parallel the tracks the entire way and trains will glide by like Gazelles.  Work your many sun angles throughout the day if you venture here.  The tracks curve so much that there is no real "best" place to be.  Just enjoy.  Do be careful though as LARGE dump trucks for the Lime Plant also use this road.  Although it is somewhat wide, still be alert.

After 6.5 miles, you will reach the Plant and continuing farther will put you on their Private Property.  You should have noticed that just less than 1 mile ago the two mains have split apart to about .1 mile apart.  You could walk on several of the dirt paths around here to get photos if you wished, but do keep away from the plant which is on the north side of main 1 anyway.   

An interesting point: After the tracks come back together, another .8 miles east, is the short Nelson Tunnel.  I have not gone exploring in any part of Nelson "Canyon", or the tunnel yet but will the next time I get there.  Look for updates.  I do know that photos of west bounds as they exit the west portal are best in the late afternoons of summer more than winter because of the small hills that can be in the way.  Also the photos of east bound trains as they exit the east portal are best in the early mornings of either summer or winter.  Be on the north side of the tracks in the summer, and the south side in the winter.

YAMPI SUMMIT

This is another area that I have no photos of and I plan on going there on my next visit into Arizona.  I have been told that you can travel on a short cut using that Indian Road 19 north from the Lime Plant and reach Route 66 about 3 miles later.  I looked for that, and the last time I was there there was a large iron gate across the road.  Oh well.  From Peach Springs, travel another 13.4 miles on Route 66 to Hyde Park Road.  It will be the dirt road that is 1.6 miles from the Grand Canyon Caverns and is next to the mile marker 117.

Turn right on this road and travel south for about 2 miles to the tracks.  After .1 mile there will be a fork in the road and you will need to turn left.  Just .2 mile later is another fork that you will need to turn right on.  At both of these forks turn on the road used more often.  When you get to the grade crossing for the tracks, turn left on the first dirt road after the tracks.  Travel down this road only about .2 mile to where you can see the tracks in a great "S" curve.  Wait for a west bound, and capture it as it roars out of the valley behind it.  This is a late afternoon photo in the summer or winter, with summer being best.

SELIGMAN

Seligman is our next stop and that town is only a "short" 23 miles away from Hyde Park Road.  The tracks will be away from the road for most of this portion but at times will be close.  About 1/2 mile outside of town is a good place to get photos of west bound trains as they climb the grade out of town.

Seligman itself is a small town that had its heyday back in the days before the interstate 40 arrived.  It used to be a crew change point but no more.  There is a small yard that now is used more for storage or staging rather than anything more.  There is now gas, food or hotels available with the gas being a little on the expensive side.

There is a Subway sandwich shop, and a couple Cafe's with various Route 66 memoribilia, but for a good hamburger, I truely recomend the Sno Cap Drive In located on the east side of town on the main drag next to Lamport Street.  The burgers and fries are great and the people that run the place have a sence of humor that I have never seen anywhere else.  I always go there.

CROOKTON

Our last stop on the Crozier Area is the place called Crookton.  This is where the ATSF in 1960 rerouted the mainlines from their old alignment, to a new alignment that is farther north and longer to Williams, AZ but is a lot easier for the trains.  This new alignment is called the Crookton Cutoff.

The easiest and shortest way to get to Crookton is to be on Route 66, so after you leave Seligman on Route 66, travel east and when you pass under the business 40 overpass, continue for 7 more miles to the Route 66 bridge over the tracks at Crookton.  Route 66 parallels the tracks most of the way, with a couple of interesting photo opportunities.  When the tracks do go away from the road, they will return shortly.

When you reach the overpass, you will see a great photo for trains in either direction and you can use the new and old overpasses for Route 66 for your positioning.  Photos here are great of west bounds in the late afternoons of summer or winter with winter being the best, and photos of east bound trains are real nice of east bound trains in the early mornings of summer or winter, again with winter being better.