I-40 MP 253 EASTBOUND

SUNSET CROSSING

THIS CROSSING, FIRST NOTED EARLY IN THE 50'S IN JOURNALS AND MAPS OF EXPLORERS ALONG THE 35TH PARALLEL, IS THE ONLY CONVERGENCE OF MAJOR TRAVEL ROUTES ON THE LITTLE COLORADO RIVER. IT LIES ON THE TRAIL USED BY MORMON IMMIGRANTS JOURNEYING FROM UTAH TO ARIZONA SETTLEMENTS DURING THE 1870'S. A ROCK LEDGE SPANNING THE STREAM FROM BANK TO BANK AT THIS POINT MADE CROSSING BY WAGON POSSIBLE. IT IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN NAMED AFTER SUNSET PASS LOCATED TO THE SOUTHWEST.

NAVAJO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
AND
ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

I-40 MP 266 EASTBOUND

SUNSET CROSSING
ON THE
LITTLE COLORADO RIVER

THIS WAS THE CROSSING FOR BEALE'S CAMEL EXPEDITION IN 1858 ON THE MILITARY ROAD FROM FORT DEFIANCE TO FORT MOHAVE. A ROCKY LEDGE THROUGH A RIVER BED FILLED WITH DANGEROUS QUICKSAND. IT WAS USED BY MILITARY TRAVELERS AND THE MORMON IMMIGRANTS WHO ARRIVED IN NORTHERN ARIZONA IN 1876. MAIN CROSSING OF THE RIVER UNTIL THE RAILROAD WAS BUILT IN 1882.