All good things must end, and this really excellent trip ended on a high note in Wickenburg. I had never visited this charming old "cowboy" town, despite the fact that it sits along the most direct route between Las Vegas and Phoenix. Part of the same county as Phoenix, but some 60 miles distant, Wickenburg seems very remote. With a population of roughly 7500, the town doesn't seem a likely tourist destination, but does seem to attract folks interested in authentic cowboy activities.
Wickenburg calls itself the "dude ranch capital" of the West, a label that dates back to the 1950s and 1960s, when there were more than a dozen such resorts. They still have some very popular ranches, some with their own golf courses. The town is also famous for team roping, a popular rodeo event. I happened to stay at one of the several rodeo arenas in town.
Mining is also a big part of the area's history, so prospecting shares the emphasis on cowboy activities. In fact, it was a miner named Henry Wickenburg for whom the town is named.
It wasn't until 1895 that the railroad came to Wickenburg, but it still played a vital role in making the town a transportation hub for the mines and nearby settlements. Passenger service ended many years ago, so today it is only freight trains that roar through without stopping.
For years, locals engaged in fights with the Yavapai Indians, whom they had displaced. Peace treaties meant nothing to the Yavapai who continued raiding until they were moved to the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Still, they recognize Native Americans as part of their history.
An interesting part of Wickenburg's lore is the "Jail Tree", a 200 year old mesquite. Legend says there was no jail in town, so those convicted of a crime were chained to this tree to serve their sentence.
Since I'm always interested in birding, I checked out the Hassayampa River Preserve, started by the Nature Conservancy but now operated by the county.
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Vermilion Flycatcher
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Bell's Vireo
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Red-naped Sapsucker
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Red-naped Sapsucker (Juvenile)
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Black-throated Sparrow
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Gambel's Quail
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Curved-bill Thrasher
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Cactus Wren
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