Hackberry Heaven

This Arizona creek trail is rugged fun.

- Jay Kopycinski

JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE TOWN OF SUPERIOR, Arizona, is a high-desert landscape that has seen habitation by Native Americans, explorers, settlers, prospectors, and miners. It was here that many sought to scratch out an existence in the rugged terrain. We, however, traveled to the area for a fun weekend of four wheeling and a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Superior developed as a mining community about 1875 when claims here were filed on a mine that would later be known as the Silver Queen Mine and eventually the Superior Magma Mine. A 400-foot vertical shaft was dug chasing a silver vein, but much of the mining for this precious metal was complete by 1893. The next great hope for the mine came about 1910, which was of pulling copper from the workings. As the mine was deepened, rich copper veins were encountered.