23      SITGREAVES PASS elev. 3600'

            (on old Route 66 west of Kingman, AZ)

            "Trucks over 40' in length prohibited."  It is hard to believe this was once a major highway.  The top of Sitgreaves Pass is about 4 miles east of Oatman.  The westbound descent toward Oatman includes 7-11% grades, extremely narrow road, extremely sharp switchbacks, long steep drop-offs with little shoulder, vertical rocks right at the edge of the road, and rough surface.  The eastbound descent is similar except the grade is 6-8% for about 3 miles.

            As the "highway" passes through Oatman it is very narrow and very congested with tourists, vehicles, burros, etc. so go very slowly.  To avoid Sitgreaves Pass, one can reach Oatman from the west or south.  From the west, Boundary Cone Road (just north of Needles) is a long mild climb to Oatman.  From the south, Old Route 66 is a long mild climb from Topock, AZ.  Earlier versions of this book described this part of Old Route 66 as gravel but it is paved from Topock to Oatman.