Hackberry is a small community, about 100 residents, along Historic Route 66 in northern AZ. Named for an old mine, which was named for a local tree, there is nothing notable about Hackberry, except for its General Store. When I-40 bypassed Hackberry, most of the businesses closed down, nearly leaving it as a ghost town. However, an old grocery and gas station was bought in 1992 and made into a museum of vintage cars and other Route 66 memorabilia, called the Hackberry General Store. It is a delightful stop for those who decide to take the scenic route.
Peach Springs is another town on old Route 66, and is the capital of the Hualapai nation. We stopped there because this is where Diamond Creek Road originates and goes all the way to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, the only way to get there by car. The road, 20+ miles of rough road through the desert, requires a permit ($20 in 2006) from the Hualapai tribe. Given the scenery along the way and the experience of driving right up to the Colorado River, it is definitely worth it. The last mile or so we actually drove in Diamond Creek and could have driven into the river if we weren't watching.
Rafting trips through Grand Canyon are typically either 14 days or 21 days in length. For those who opt for the shorter trip, this is the spot where the trip ends. Those passengers are taken out here and driven to a place where transportation home is available. The drive back to Peach Springs starts in Diamond Creek.
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