An Arizona Adventure

The Earp brothers' trail from Prescott to Tombstone is a treasure trove of historic sites.

- PETER CORBETT

Wyatt Earp, his lawmen brothers and Doc Holliday are best known for turbulent times in Tombstone. But we thought it would be fun to follow their path across Arizona from Prescott to Tombstone and across Cochise County north to Willcox. Buckle up for a road trip that's cushy, compared to an 1880 trek.

The Earp clan had a short stay in Prescott in 1879 before moving to Tombstone in late November. But they are well-remembered today for their time in the Arizona Territorial capital.

Doc Holliday was on-and-off in Prescott between November 1879 and September 1880 before leaving to join the Earps in Tombstone.

Wyatt and Doc walked the streets of Prescott, including Whiskey Row, a string of Montezuma Street saloons. Although today's Palace Saloon was built after a 1900 fire, it has its roots in the 1874 Cabinet Saloon, a likely stop for the Prescott newcomers.

Visitors can learn about the Earps in Prescott at the Western Heritage Center and Sharlot Hall Museum.

The migration of the Earps and Holliday from Prescott to Tombstone took them through Phoenix, Tucson, and Benson. Travelers can roughly follow their route across Arizona on today's paved highways. The Earps traveled in three wagons on the stage route out of Prescott and on to Tombstone.

Prescott to Phoenix

The road the Earps traveled cut southeast from Prescott through the nearby mining towns of Dewey, Humboldt, and Mayer. Today, State Route 69 roughly covers the same ground for 50 miles from Prescott to Interstate 17 at Cordes Junction.

The old stage route heads south at Mayer, traveling west ofl-17 to Bumble Bee and Black Canyon City. Adventurous travelers with back road maps can follow this route. It's unpaved, rocky in spots, and not recommended during severe weather-rain, snow, or extreme heat. A high-clearance vehicle is advisable.