Copper Glance Road

Copper Glance Road is a dirt road to the east of the San Pedro River off Hereford Road. When we first moved to Arizona, Kevin would go down that road to a huge dirt mound where people would target shoot, near the wash. Eventually the area was closed off and turned over to the county. Apparently the trash heaps got to be too much as people were leaving everything from washing machines and other large appliances to pressed wood board and glass. There was always lots of brass there as well. I'd sometimes go here years ago with Sara and Sammy just to collect brass and let the dogs run around.

I drove down there in the afternoon with the four dogs but didn't realize that the road was now gated shut. A NO TRESPASSING sign now warns people to stay away. Not wanting to violate the order, I parked the car and let the dogs walk along the road, making it to the BLM boundary and back before I discovered another trail closer to the river that led us partially along the abandoned railroad of the Southwestern Railroad. A BLM sign was next to a Railroad property sign, adding to my confusion as BLM lands here are accessible to the public.

Sammy was going slowly and I went at his pace while the others frolicked in the wash we were walking in. The wash was the only weed-free and cactus-free area to walk in. The rest of the area is uninviting with cholla cactus, prickly pear and other desert flora. Many of the larger trees were burned, too, perhaps from an old brush fire from years ago. This is definitely not a hikeable place in the summer!

The wash then disappeared into a field of weeds before emptying into the river, but I was not about to dredge through high weeds again. Zeke still has burrs in his long fur from last week!

The sky went from blue to overcast in the afternoon, providing some shade that allowed us to stay out as long as we were. This wasn't a long hike, but a hike in an area I never was before. The desert is studded with mesquite and cacti here, and thick weeds closer to the river. This really is a quiet place to take the dogs off leash without bothering others.

I saw two women walking down the abandoned railroad as we were walking in the wash toward the river, but didn't get close to them because of the dogs. They were collecting iron nails from the road. When we got back from our walk toward the river, I noticed a black backpack left behind with two large plastic bottles of ice tea next to the pack. The women had left the area but left the loot behind. That's probably a good idea, as the sign also states NO ARTIFACT COLLECTING