Part 2, From Chiricahua National Monument along the Pinery Canyon Trail to Paradise and beyond.

For me, it was an epic trip crossing the Chiricahua Mountain Range along the Pinery Canyon Trail and over the Onion Peak Pass. So to speak the icing on the cake in excitement and views for a while for sure.

Coming out of the Chiricahua National Monument on the paved road and making a left turn into the sandy Pinery Canyon Road, also named Forest Rd 42, you are back in ranch country with cattle guard and herds of cattle. You have to slow down to 15 to 25 mile speed, otherwise your truck chocks will not like the punishment.

We were passing 2 ranches and after about 3 miles the scenery changed into forest. Almost unnoticed the first couple of deers came into view and a flock of wild turkeys a bit later. This area is as well boondocking material and poking through the trees we spotted RV Trailers, Truck Campers and pitched tents with hammocks strung between the trees. Even the Forest Management had a good looking pad with a Camping Trailer set up. 

Driving along we passed a guy in crocs and swim trunks with a towel slung over his shoulder. We speculated where he was coming from or going to and found it odd. I looked at the wash beside the trail and it was dry. Well, a couple hundred yards further we came across a few cattle under the trees grouping around a water trough and I think we had our answer, although of course, who knows, but it made us laugh.

Along this trail through the mountains I just had to get out of the truck lots of times and take photos which never really capture what my eyes see, but I tried anyway. I can understand that people like to dry camp in this area and just enjoy nature. It was a beautiful day and we had a blast taking the many twists and turns, up and down the trail. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. So I will post photos that might capture what I saw.

We chose the Forest Road 42 over the 42D, because Benno wanted to see the little town of Paradise which turned out to be just a cluster of houses and a cemetery. Kelly and Al Bossence from “Travel with the Bayfield Bunch” were here 15 years ago and had done the same trip. You should read their blog entry of that day HERE. It was Kelly, who triggered our curiosity to do this trip. Thank you Kelly!

Next to the truck the road has cracked up and is falling into the canyon

Also back home I found on the Internet some description of this trail we had just taken and that gives you a good idea what we experienced. That link is HERE.

Paradise Cemetery

From Paradise we turned right into a road that lead to Portal after talking to a Forest Ranger for direction. In Portal the sandy trail changed into a paved road. It was getting late and we had another point of interest in town of Rodeo on our plate, so we could not explore Portal and put the pedal down and chased the Portal Road East, crossing the state border Arizona-New Mexico. At the intersection to Hwy 80 was the Chiricahua Desert Museum, but to our dismay it was almost closing time, so we only took some photos on the outside.

Although disappointed, we then decided to have a peek and drive by John McAfee’s former Ultralight Aircraft place that was just a few miles further. Most of you know McAfee Security Program for computers or Antivirus Protection. That guy was a flamboyant person, two-time presidential candidate, playboy and who knows what. This business adventure in Rodeo with ultralight airplanes came to an end when one of his clients smacked the ultralight aircraft he was flying into a canyon wall that he did not survive. A blog post from Bloggers Odel and Laurie about McAfee is HERE.

Previous McAfee complex with greenhouse

Now called Sky Gypsy Cafe

The white buildings are two of four hangars with landing strip in rear

We then headed home via Hwy 80 and I-10 after a long day. I hope you enjoyed this trip with me.

Thanks for dropping by.