PHOTOS: Exploring El Camino del Diablo in southern Arizona
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Morgan Loew
CBS 5 Investigative Reporter
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CBS 5 Investigates' Morgan Loew and his crew went to explore one of Arizona's last wild places. They drove El Camino del Diablo, the Devil's Highway, which is under siege, according to environmentalists and adventure-seekers.
El Camino de Diablo is a roughly 140 mile long dirt road from Ajo to Yuma. It winds through some of the most scenic desert vistas in the southwest.
The terrain along the Camino is rugged. Four-while drive is recommended. All-terrain tires and high clearance are required.
It is recommended to drive the Camino during fall and winter months, as this part of the desert is arid and dangerously hot in the summer.
El Camino del Diablo runs through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range. Visitors are required to obtain permits and sign a release, stating that they understand the dangers involved in the trip.
One of the first points of interest along the Camino is Bates Well Ranch.
The ranch was abandoned in 1976, when the last member of the ranching family died.
The original well that supplied water for the ranching operation was thought to have been dug in 1870.
Many of the remaining buildings are just shells, with little more than posts, sides and a roof.
Some of the buildings at Bates Well have crumbled over the years.
The corrals and the cattle chute remain, relatively intact at Bates Well Ranch.
The sunsets you will see along El Camino del Diablo are awe-inspiring. You can camp anywhere along the road, so long as you stay within 50 feet of the roadway.
One of the major draws to the Camino is the nearly complete lack of light pollution. The dark skies produce incredible star-gazing opportunities.
The mountain peaks, which rise from the desert floor, offer views that illustrate how remote this area really is. Author Charles Bowden considered this the last wild place in Arizona.
Graves along the side of the road are reminders that this path has been used for hundreds of years. Many travelers have died along the way, including the man buried here. It is believed to be Dave O’Neill, a prospector who died here in 1916.
Dave O’Neill’s grave is on the side of the road, and contains no identifying markers. Travelers leave trinkets on the grave for luck.
The road, itself, is not a technical route. Deep sand and deep ruts require all-terrain tires and high clearance vehicles. This is called the Pinta Sands, which can become impassible after a rain storm.
The Pinta Sands turn to sharp rocks without much notice. Driving slowly is the best way to avoid a flat. There is no cell service for most of the 140 or so miles along the Camino.
As the Camino winds through the Pinta Sands, the road cuts deep into the desert floor. It is an example of the centuries this road has been in use.
The dusty solar panels and gear boxes on top of this reporter’s vehicle show how much dust gets kicked up as travelers traverse the Camino.
The Pinacate Lava Flow is at the center of the Pinta Sands. The flow contains sharp lava rocks, which can puncture tires and stand out against the sandy backdrop.
Tule Well along El Camino del Diablo is one of the few spots where established camp sites exist.
Tule Well is the roughly halfway point between Ajo and Yuma and makes a good location for a layover.
The cabin at Tule Well may look historic, but it was built in 1989. It replaced an older structure, which was built in 1949.
When the last of the sun sets over Tule Well, get your camera ready, because the colors are amazing.
The camp sites at Tule Well are primitive, but make a great spot to camp for the night.
Nature provided the scenery on El Camino del Diablo. Visitors must provide the entertainment.
Just west of Tule Well, the US Department of Homeland Security has widened and flattened El Camino del Diablo, to the disappointment of environmentalists, overlanders and adventure-seekers.
Big rigs carrying supplies for the border wall project drive this stretch of the Camino day and night.
The U.S. Border Patrol says better roads allow them to patrol the area more effectively.
Members of the overlanding community say the improved roads have taken away some of the adventure and challenge that driving El Camino del Diablo used to bring.
The Tinajas Altas Mountains rise up from the desert in one of the most arid parts of the Camino.
The path of El Camino del Diablo has moved north and south. But this pass through the Tinajas Altas Mountains is believed to be the same pass that every traveler has used since the Conquistadors in the 1500s.
The barren beauty of the Tinajas Altas Mountains provide a stark backdrop against the colorful sunsets.
Part of El Camino del Diablo takes visitors through active bombing ranges for the Air Force and Marines. Signs warn of unexploded ordnance in the desert.
It is always a good idea to travel the Camino with more than one vehicle, and to take lots of photo breaks.
Morgan Loew
CBS 5 Investigative Reporter
Morgan Loew is an investigative reporter at CBS 5 News. Read more about Morgan.
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There once was a two-track jeep trail that attracted overlanders and naturalists from around the world. There is now a 30 foot wide graded road.