13    SALT RIVER CANYON

            (and US 60 between Show Low and Globe, AZ)

            The northbound trip from Globe to Show Low on US 60 includes several long uphill grades and one long descent.  There are many short hills scattered along the way.

            The long northbound descent is into Salt River Canyon.  It begins at milepost 284 with a sign—"6% grade next 3 miles."  What the sign doesn't tell you is that after a one mile break in the grade there is another sign—"6% grade next 5 miles."  So you have a total of 8 miles of 6% grade going into the canyon.  The grade is steady except for the one mile break and there are 50 mph curves during the first 3 miles and 25 and 35 mph curves during the last 5 miles.

            The southbound trip from Show Low to Globe has four long, steep descents and the long pull out of Salt River Canyon.  About 32 miles south of Globe at milepost 307½ a 7 mile descent begins.  The grade is mostly 5-6% and is not steady.  The grade stair steps down with short flat spots or sections of lesser grade.  You want to avoid overheating your brakes during this section because about 2 miles after it bottoms out the descent into Salt River Canyon begins.

            About milepost 298½ there is a brake check area and the 5½ mile 6% grade into the canyon begins.  It is steady 6% except for a ½ mile section of 3-4% in the middle.  There are many 25, 30, and 35 mph curves.  After you have climbed out of the canyon on the south side there are two more long descents before reaching Globe.  Near milepost 279 there is a sign for southbound traffic—"6% grade next 8 miles."  There are three short sections where the grade eases.  The longest is about a mile of 4-5% in the middle of the grade.

            The last long hill begins about milepost 262 where there is a sign—"6% next 3 miles."  The grade is closer to 5 miles long but is not steady.  The grade stair steps down with 6% alternating with 4%.