State Route 177


Arizona 177 begins at US 60 and Superior, and travels past the mining towns of Kearny and Hayden to end at Arizona 77 in Winkleman.
Arizona 177 was added to the state highway system in 1953, to serve mines along the corridor. Prior to this, the road was a dirt road. The highway was fully paved by 1959.
Arizona 177 was designated the "Copper Country Scenic Route" in 2008.

This is the first shield along eastbound Arizona 177. In the background, a distance sign can be seen for the two control cities, Kearny and Winkleman.
06/17/07
SR 177 winds around the western edge of Apache Leap, so named because when a expedition was sent to round up Apaches in the 1870s, the Apaches decided to leap to their deaths rather than be arrested.
06/17/07
SR 177 was realigned in 1972 to take it further away from Apache Leap, and level the road out significantly.
06/17/07
The first major descent along SR 177 is a doozy, dropping from the headwaters of Arnett Creek down into Walnut Canyon. This is an advance warning of the upcoming 10% grade.
06/17/07
Nothing like cresting a hill! This is a roadcut between Arnett Creek and Walnut Canyon, with Lime Point to the right (southwest) of us.
06/17/07
Distance sign to Kearny (11 miles) and Winkleman (21 miles). In the background are the first signs of the open-pit Ray mine.
06/17/07
SR 177 (before pavement) used to pass through the towns of Sonora and Ray, which catered to mining operations. As part of the expansion of the Asarco Ray mine, both towns were swallowed up by the mine, and a new town of Kearny was established (see next photo).
06/17/07
SR 177 enters the town of Kearny here. Kearny is a small mining town, established in 1958 with the expansion of the Asarco (Kennecott) mine. There is a small commercial strip to serve the local residents.
06/17/07
Kearny is a company town, built by Kennecott to serve miners and their families. The majority of the residents of the town still work for Asarco, who now operates the Ray mining complex. SR 177 never passed through downtown Kearny, but the main street is located parallel to SR 177. Tilbury Drive is the main street through Kearny, leading into the residential streets.
06/17/07
Now past Kearny, SR 177 sticks close to the Gila River and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
06/17/07
This is the final reassurance marker along SR 177. Notice that none of the shield have cardinal direction signs attached to them.
06/17/07
SR 177 enters the town of Hayden here. Hayden is a mining town, named for one of the senior members of the company who founded the town. Today, the mine is owned by Asarco and operated in conjunction with the Ray mine.
06/17/07
The last town SR 177 enters is Winkleman. Winkleman is a town at the junction of the Gila and San Pedro Rivers, named for an early settler.
06/17/07
Photo Credits:
- Kevin Trinkle: 06/17/07
Connect with:
Page Updated Monday June 18, 2007.