Burro Creek – Hwy 93

I had thought I was well set up.  The tanks that were supposed to be empty were, and the tanks that were supposed to be full, were full.  The fridge was full; the garbage was empty.  The truck had full fuel and tires, and the batteries were full.

But today alas, I discovered a shortage!  What might you ask could be missing from this perfect scenario?  Well, superlatives, that’s what!  (I think those are big words to describe great scenery!)

What a great spot I discovered.  The night before, I had camped out on the DW Ranch road, to the south-east of Kingman.  That scenery needed a few superlatives of it’s own.  But the camp spot left a little to be desired.  The spot was small and hard to get the rig into and level, it was high elevation and ‘cold’ at night(it’s all relative down here ;-), and unfortunately also served as a garbage and yard waste disposal area for residents (and visitors?).  And the spot was close to a fairly well used road, which means a bit of traffic noise as well.

So from there I headed south again on Highway 93 – the same one that originates in Jasper, Alberta, well over 2500km to the north.  I had followed it years and years ago, and thought that it had ended in Kingman, but I have since learned that it only joins I-40 for a few miles east, then takes it’s own identity back as it heads further south, where it really does seem to end in Wickenburg?  The first few miles of 93 south of I-40 seemed to have lots of good camping possibilities, but it was early in the day.  I did drop the rig on a little side road just south of Wikeup and toured around a bit, but no place I could find had the ‘it’ factor – a term I use acknowledging Howard of RV-Dreams Journal!

So I saddled up again and continued on south, only pulling the occasional unconventional U-turn to check out promising side roads.  I knew I was getting close to Burro Creek Rec area when I spotted a lone rig in the desert way down below the highway.  The road was pretty rough and full of holes, but passable at marginal speed.  Much to my surprise it continued on down to a still-maintained bridge, and joined up with the Burro Creek access road.  I suspect the whole ‘loop’ was once a part of the original Highway 93.

After another U-turn, I was back up on the hill overlooking the campground, in a small, level and extremely scenic and private spot.

It looks like a very nice campground, (I think it is $10), with nice washrooms, water, a sani-dump, a little nature-park, and all on the side of Burro Creek.  But like most campgrounds, it comes with playing children, barking dogs, generators, and noisy diesel engines, so I was much happier up on the hill, even though short of superlatives!  Cliffs drop straight into waters of the creek, vultures circle in the thermals high above, and stately saguaro cactuses cling to the rocky cliffs and rolling hills. Song birds sing their hearts out, sitting on cholla cactuses, which are now in full leaf, after a recent rain, no doubt.

In the morning, I get to sit out on top of the cliff with my coffee, watching the campground below come to life as the morning sun hits it. (Another advantage of being up high –earlier sunrises and later sunsets).

As usual, a great variety of campers were in residence.  Some were there when I arrived, and may have been here for a week or more.

Some just arrive late, and are gone early.  Then there are the families with kids and dogs playing on the campground roads.  There are a couple of dirt bikes and ATV’s, but not the noisy variety.

Some intrepid cyclists that I had seen on the road earlier in the day arrived and set up camp, knowing they would face a mile and a half uphill getting back to the highway first thing in the morning.

The views are amazing in all directions; the green and gray, and brown shades of the desert covered here and there with Palo Verde trees (with the green bark), the saguaros, the cholla, and the sweet smelling creosote bushes.  And only one power line to spoil the view!       

Remember, any spare superlatives – send them my way.  I’ll be needing them.