Granite Wash Pass is a gap between the Granite Wash Mountains and the Little Harquahala Mountains, in La Paz County, Arizona. Granite Wash Pass is located at the southwest end of the Granite Wash Mountains and the northwest end of the Little Harquahala Mountains. The apex of the pass is at an elevation of 1,834 feet/559 meters.[1]

History

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The Granite Wash Pass has been a route between the Colorado River and the interior of Arizona from November 1863 when teamsters Gird and Sage discovered a route what became the La Paz–Wikenburg Road through Granite Wash Pass. In the early years a waterhole, Granite Water existed within the pass.[2] The maps of the route in later years, Granite Water is no longer mentioned.[3] [4] Perhaps it was insufficient or had dried up. Granite Water might have been a temporary spring or waterhole created for a few years as a result of the extreme rainfall in Arizona by the storms that caused the Great Flood of 1862. Also stations for the stage lines like the one at Desert Station and the original watering place at Flint's had developed wells that provided more water.

Today the pass contains the Arizona and California Railroad line, as well as U.S. Route 60 in Arizona from Hope on the west side of the pass and Harcuvar, Arizona on the east.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Granite Wash Pass
  2. ^ Official Map Of The Territory Of Arizona, With All The Recent Explorations. Compiled by Richard Gird C.E. Commissioner. Approved By John N. Goodwin, Governor. In Accordance With An Act Of The Legislature, Approved Oct. 23d. 1864. We hereby certify that this is the Official Map of the Territory of Arizona, and approve the same. Prescott October 12th 1865. (with signed seal dated 1863). Published By A. Gensoul, Pacific Map Depot. No. 511 Montgomery St. San Francisco. Lith. Britton & Co. San Francisco. From davidrumsey.com, accessed on 6/21/2016
  3. ^ Sheet No. 1 & 3, Department of Arizona. Revised, 1875. Compiled under the authority of Maj. Gen. J.M. Schofield Commanding Mil. Div. of the Pacific by 1st Lieut. J.C. Mallery Corps of Engrs. Published by authority of The Hon. The Secretary of War in the Office of the Chief Of Engineers U.S. Army Washington D.C. 1876. Drawn by J.W. Ward. From davidrumsey.com, accessed on 6/15/2018
  4. ^ Official Map Of The Territory Of Arizona Compiled from Surveys, Reconnaissances and other Sources. By E.A. Eckhoff And P. Riecker, Civil Engineers, 1880. Drawn by Eckhoff & Riecker. The Graphic Co. Photo-Lith. 39 & 41 Park Place, N.Y. Entered ... 1879, by Emil Eckhoff and Paul Riecker ... Washington, D.C., 1880 “Official Map of the Territory of Arizona” showing La Paz – Wikenburg Road and Hardyville – Prescott Road with mileage between locations along the roads, from davidrumsey.com, accessed on 6/21/2016

33°44′53″N 113°40′25″W / 33.74806°N 113.67361°W / 33.74806; -113.67361