Stories From the Past with Marshall Trimble: The Old Black Canyon Highway

This article is part of our ongoing series, Stories From the Past with Marshall Trimble, where we share firsthand accounts and historical reflections that help preserve Ash Fork and Arizona’s rich history. We’re grateful to Marshall Trimble — Arizona historian and Ash Fork native — for continuing to share these invaluable stories with us.

Long before Interstate 17 connected northern and central Arizona, the journey between Phoenix and Ash Fork was an adventure all its own. In this personal reflection, Marshall Trimble takes us back to 1947, when he was just eight years old and his family traveled the rugged Black Canyon Highway—a road that was as challenging as it was memorable.

Marshall begins his story in Ash Fork, where his family had recently moved after his father accepted a job with the Santa Fe Railroad. At the time, Ash Fork was one of the few places where housing was available, making it an important stop along historic Route 66.

Their journey south started in a 1936 Ford, towing a homemade trailer as they traveled from Ash Fork toward Phoenix. Before Interstate 17 existed, U.S. 89 wound through Wickenburg and Prescott before climbing into the mountains. The route eventually joined the old Black Canyon Highway—a narrow dirt road that followed portions of an even older stagecoach trail dating back to the late 1800s.

Traveling wasn't easy. The family stopped in Rock Springs for water and supplies before continuing across the Agua Fria and up steep grades toward Sunset Point. Along the way, they encountered one of the highway's biggest obstacles: Bumble Bee Hill. The climb was so steep that many vehicles couldn't make it without assistance. Drivers often had to back down the hill and make another attempt, while the nearby town of Bumble Bee became known for helping stranded travelers and repairing overheated vehicles.

Marshall also remembers life in Ash Fork during those years. His father worked at Hilding's Garage on 27th Avenue, where the family became part of a close-knit community. Saturday nights often brought neighbors together at the local gas station, café, barber shop, and grocery store—a reminder of the small-town spirit that has long defined Ash Fork.

Eventually, the family reached Phoenix, but the memories of that difficult drive—and the beauty of the Black Canyon country—have remained with Marshall for decades. While today's travelers speed along Interstate 17 in comfort, it's worth remembering that generations before them navigated winding dirt roads, steep mountain grades, and remote desert landscapes to make the very same journey.

Today, the old Black Canyon Highway stands as a reminder of Arizona's transportation history and the determination of the families who traveled it. Through stories like Marshall Trimble's, we gain a deeper appreciation for the roads that connected our communities long before the modern interstate system.

We hope you'll continue following our Stories From the Past with Marshall Trimble series as we preserve and share the people, places, and memories that shaped Ash Fork and Arizona.