Arizona is home to several hiking trails that pass by or near grave sites – yes, like the backyard of Disney’s Haunted Mansion. OK, maybe not quite that spooky. But these trails will take you past some cemeteries and headstones of particular historical significance.
Hiking in Arizona to celebrate Halloween
…Or just rich Arizona history, but how better to experience some chills and thrills on All Hallows’ Eve than with your boots on the trail?!
As always, let friends or family know where and when you are out on the trails. They will surely ask you to, “Hurry baaack, hurry baaaaack…”
Here are a few hiking trails in Arizona where you can come across grave sites and who knows what else…
Hangman Trail, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Recreationists travel about one mile on Hangman Trail, an old two-track road to a historic cemetery. Follow the blue diamonds and keep to your right as other logging roads branch off to the left. A blue diamond with an arrow will indicates the left-hand turn toward the cemetery.
The cemetery contains the grave sites for Jamie Stott, Jim Scott, and Billy Wilson, three men lynched by vigilantes during the Pleasant Valley Feud. The main trail continues up a rocky two-track to FR300 east of the Black Canyon Rim Campground.
Reavis Ranch Trail, Superstition Mountain
This 20-mile out-and-back route is often enjoyed as an overnight backpacking adventure. Adventure added, of course, when you camp near the grave sites along the trail on Halloween night. (Check with local authorities for camp site restrictions!)
While the path diverges on the route to Reavis Falls and Frog Tanks Trail, the ultimate destination along Reavis Ranch Trail is the site of an old ranch, once occupied by farmer, horse packer, and miner, Elisha Reavis himself. This historic location retains vestiges of the Old West, with grave sites, indigenous ruins, and agricultural equipment along the path.
As the story goes, on April 9, 1896, Elisha told a friend he was headed into Mesa for supplies but by May 6, having not seen Elisha in weeks, a group searched and finally found his remains about four miles south of the ranch near the trail. Reavis’ remains had been scattered by wild animals. What could be found was buried nearby under a cairn of rocks, his grave marked with a stone marker.
Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon National Park
While not a traditional hiking trail, Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon is accessible by the Bright Angel Trail or South Kaibab Trail. The area includes a small cemetery with the graves of early settlers and pioneers among others to have researched or otherwise worked in the Grand Canyon.
The area is a popular destination for hikers and mule riders alike. You are welcome to stay overnight here in hiker dormitories and cabins to extend your stay near the old pioneer cemetery. Although, let’s hope your stay at the cemetery doesn’t last for longer than expected…
When planning this trip know that reservations are made via an online lottery, and they can be made up to 15 months in advance. The Grand Canyon National Park’s Backcountry Information Center does not handle reservations for Phantom Ranch lodging or meals, check out Xanterra for that. To note, when you have an advance reservations for Phantom Ranch lodging, you won’t need to get they typical backcountry camping permits.
Oak Creek Trail, Sedona
West Fork in Oak Creek Canyon is familiar to many recreationists across Arizona and the bones of old structures here provide a unique glimpse into the early settlers’ lives in the region. Did you know these homestead ruins also include family graves of those who lived there so long ago?
Nestled deep within Oak Creek Canyon, a trail meanders through the crumbling remnants of stone buildings. These structures once hosted some rather unconventional occupants and visitors.
In the 1870s, Jesse Jefferson “Bear” Howard established the first cabin in this location. Howard, a hunter with a personal vendetta against the local wildlife, moved to the area after a friend fell victim to a bear attack in the canyon. In response, Howard made a solemn vow to eliminate every bear in the region. Howard’s quest to exterminate bears from the local ecosystem did not succeed, but he reportedly continued this occupation until he reached the age of 90.
The subsequent inhabitants of the cabin were the Thomas family, who expanded the cabin, erected additional structures on the property, and planted an apple orchard. During their occupancy, the renowned Western novelist Zane Grey paid a visit and found the area so inspiring that he chose it as the setting for his novel, “The Call of the Canyon.”
Grey’s novel was later adapted into a silent film, which was shot in the vicinity. The film production team enlisted the assistance of local photographer Carl Mayhew, who, captivated by the cabin and its surroundings, decided to purchase the property in 1923. Mayhew, whose name now is most associated with the ruins, renovated and expanded the cabins, ultimately opening the Mayhew Lodge as a bed and breakfast in 1926. The cabin hosted distinguished guests, including former President Herbert Hoover, along with Hollywood luminaries such as Walt Disney, Clark Gable, and Jimmy Stewart.
In 1968, the Mayhew family sold the property, which was subsequently incorporated into the adjacent Coconino National Forest. In 1980, a wildfire inflicted severe damage upon the cabin complex, leaving behind mostly just scattered foundations and walls, a chicken coop, and a recess carved into the canyon cliff, presumably used for food storage, but you be the judge.
Roosevelt Cemetery Trail, Tonto National Forest
Exactly as advertised, this Tonto National Forest trail loops around the historic Roosevelt Cemetery which served as the final resting place for residents and local dam workers from about 1906 through 1915.
A cemetery placard reads, “The construction of the dam was an extremely hazardous undertaking, and while the town offered many conveniences and services, life and work was still rugged and dangerous. As many as 75 people, some of whom died during construction accidents, are buried here.”
The graves you’ll encounter at Roosevelt Cemetery Trail are marked by stone piles, crosses made of wood, and carved stone monuments.
Jerome Cemetery walk in The Wickedest Town in the West
This trail in Jerome, an old mining town, passes by a historic mining cemetery. On private property and only accessible with a proper Ghost Tour company, this is a short out-and-back trail just under a mile in length. The trail offers a unique opportunity to explore the town’s history, including its cemetery.
Fraught with ghost stories, Jerome in consider by many as the most haunted city in Arizona. The trail’s route takes intrepid recreationists and ghostbusters (obviously) to the base of the hill where Jerome sits and offers panoramic views of the city and mining operations. The cemetery is estimated to contain over 400, however only about 40 gravestones are found here. So, maybe watch your step.
Jerome is known as the “wickedest town in the West.” Some of those memorialized here are victims of mining accidents and, as the stories go, it is violence and malice that put many of this cemetery’s other residents here to stay. It’s probably not at all haunted though…maybe.
Respect these resting places when hiking on Halloween
Spooky season or not, when hiking near grave sites, please be respectful and follow any posted rules or regulations. These trails offer a combination of natural beauty and historical interest (perhaps some Halloween goosebumps, too!), making them ideal for hikers interested in both outdoor adventure and local history.
Enjoy with a friend and always prepare yourself before embarking on the trails. And especially when hiking at night this Halloween, don’t forget to take the proper gear – consider wooden stakes, silver bullets, and cloves of garlic.
Happy Halloween and happy trails!
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