Hwy 191 --- Clifton - Alpine, AZ

You will want to stop and look at the Copper Mine for sure...hard to realize the size. 191 is a fun drive IF you don't mind LOTS and LOTS of curves in the road. Done it many times...click on last pic for video of drive.

Hannigan Meadow is a great destination we drive our rails up there for lunch couple times each summer gets you out of the heat for the day. If your interested a 40-50 mi. drive 266 to Bonita and south will take you to one of the largest green houses in the US,240+ acres under glass. You can see it from the south side Mt.Graham 366 it will look like a lake off to the SE.

elmorc - that looks like a great idea on my paper map. Then I went to Google Maps!

From Roper Lake SP it is 141 miles to Alpine on the 191 for 3h33m. Coming back on the 180 is 146 miles for 3h6m. That is a day of nearly 300 miles and close to 8 hours without stops.

And, obviously, we would want to stop for photos / coffee / potty, etc.

We may go up the 191 for a while and turn around...maybe Hannigan Meadows. That looks like a total of 235 miles and about 6 hours driving time.

Much more doable.

I have done 191 in a 30'MH with a 16' trailer in tow its a slow drive to Hannigan Meadow but a great drive if your not in a hurry. The tunnel is no problem 20-30 acid tankers go thru it every day. Drive up 191 to Alpine eat lunch come back on 180 thru Glenwood NM its 2 miles longer than 191. When you go past the RR depot in Clifton take a left couple blocks farther on Chase Creek and see the old turn of the century buildings watch close for big horn sheep from Clifton to past the mine 1-2 get hit quite regularly.Your in my back yard and we drive this 4-5 times a year go slow and enjoy.

It's a highway not a dirt track. It is a relatively easy drive if you're not from Kansas or some such. Sure, plenty of curves to keep you awake but nothing that you could not negotiate with a semi much less a pickup truck.

Made reservations at Roper Lake for a few nights. Just gathering input and will see. Have done mountain roads that are single lane rough kinda washed out gravel shelf - not fun but can do it. But, as each year goes by, I find myself less accepting of things that I am not sure I am going to like! :-)

Mt Graham is almost as bad as 191 as far as switchbacks, some roadway w/o guardrails so if you are wary of 191, graham may not be a good choice either. Go down to the south to the chiracaua park. Nice views, easy roads, they also have some camp grounds.

Took my f350 up graham and in some place ya need the whole turn to get up. I have seen small TT and 5ths up at the lake, but I would not recommend trying it. Last time there no water at the lake for use (drinking, the spring had dried up).

Please note - doing with Chebby 3500 Xcab long bed ONLY.

Lived in CO for 8 years and have driven it lots more in the 10 years we have been here. But not so good at shelf roads anymore with unprotected dropoffs.

I drove "Oh My God" road three times in Suburban going down so on the outside. Oh My God! (Look that up on Google sometime!). One time met a road grader coming up....that will REALLY pucker you up!

DW Barbara and I have driven many hundreds of thousands of miles so don't need to stress ourselves.

But this has kinda been on the bucket list and will be in the area so thought I would ask.

It would be different if we had a Jeep or something but a one ton xcab long bed is another consideration.

Maybe the Mt. Graham is going to be the limit. We like FHU's but can do Roper without sewer - looks like water and elec so can do a few days. As long as the H2O is at the side and not carried.

Thanks for input.

For 35 years I have had a second home just out side of Alpine, going out of Alpine south there is a sign sign stating no trucks over 35ft.