Seeking Historic Fort Grant

Monday, February 24

Scarlett and I rode along AZ Hwy 266 towards what Google Maps called Fort Grant AZ State Prison and the village of Bonita.

The road is paved and as one approaches and cuts through a low range of rocky hills.  Nice rock piles to be seen which remind one of minor versions of the large rock piles at the Indian Bread BLM Recreation Area.

I'd hopes there'd be a section at the state prison set aside to showcase the historic beginnings of Fort Grant.  I found nothing of the sort, though I didn't venture too far past the visitor parking lot either.

At the isolated remnants of the village of Bonita, the only "historic" thing I found and it probably not that old, was the old general store:

Do you see Scarlett's reflection?

Retracing my route, I paused to take pictures towards the prison itself.  A large, square and white object atop the mountain had drawn my eye:

Ft Grant AZ State Prison

Riding along Highway 266, there's several spots that are apparently AZ Trust State Lands, some accessible for camping rigs.

I explored one such area, drawn by the remnants of a wind operated water well:

I got back to camp with no issues under sunny skies and warm temperatures.  You do feel a slight chill while riding at speed but it was not bad at all.

Sunset was not bad: