Estrella Mountains

A friend and I are entertaining the idea of a camping trip to the Estrella Mountains. The mountain range, also called Sierra Estrella, is located southwest of Phoenix, Arizona. Much of the range falls within the Gila River Indian Reservation, but 11,400 acres of Bureau of Land Management land is protected as the Sierra Estrella Wilderness.

Here is a little history on the range:
Originally the Sierra Estrellas were a part of New Spain. Occasionally Spanish explorers, most notably Father Kino, would venture near the range to document the area and make contact with the local Pima Indians. Petroglyphs can still be found throughout the Southern portion of the range.

In 1853 the United States acquired the Estrellas as part of the Gadsden purchase. It soon became a bustling trade route known as the Butterfield Overland stage. People and equipment could be moved across the state much quicker. The route was massively successful it's time, moving millions of dollars in supplies. However it was short lived. Steam locomotives soon replaced stage coaches across the country, and the Butterfield Stage Route was no longer utilized. In 1857 the Battle of Pima Butte was fought within the mountains and was an important engagement of the American Indian Wars.

My friend and I are avid exploreres. We like to see all that Arizona has to offer.

Nick