Winslow in Navajo County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Sunset Crossing

Photographed by Thomas Chris English, July 1, 2010

1. Sunset Crossing Marker Inscription

Inscription. This crossing, first noted early in the 1850s in journals and maps of explorers along the 35th parallel, is the only convergence of major travel routes on the Little Colorado River. It lies on the trail used by Mormon immigrants journeying from Utah to Arizona settlements during the 1870's. A rock ledge spanning the stream from bank to bank at this point made crossing by wagon possible. It is said to have been named after Sunset Pass located to the southwest.

Erected by Navajo County Historical Society and Arizona Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Features • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 35° 0.89′ N, 110° 40.743′ W. Marker is in Winslow, Arizona, in Navajo County. It is on East Second Street/Old Route 66 (Arizona Route 66), on the left when traveling east. Traveling westbound into Winslow on Old Route 66/Business 40/AZ 66, Third Street is a one-way street going west. Second Street is one way headed east. There's a rest area at the junction of Second

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and Third Streets on the east end of town. This marker is in the rest area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Winslow AZ 86047, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arizona’s Hopi.

It is also in the American Southwest,

in the Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Winslow Bridge (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Remembrance Garden (about 800 feet away); La Posada Hotel (approx. one mile away); La Posada Hotel, Winslow, Arizona (approx. 1.1 miles away); Historic Wagon Road (approx. 1.1 miles away); The First Peoples of the Southwestern Colorado Plateau (approx. 1.2 miles away); Early Trails Across the Little Colorado River Valley (approx. 1.2 miles away); A City in Motion: Modern Modes (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map

Sunset Crossing Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Thomas Chris English, July 1, 2010

2. Sunset Crossing Marker

of all markers in Winslow.

Regarding Sunset Crossing. Sunset Crossing Historic Site is 1 1/2 miles East of this marker.

Additional keywords. Mormon Immigration

Sunset Crossing Marker, Looking East image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Thomas Chris English, July 1, 2010

3. Sunset Crossing Marker, Looking East

Sunset Crossing Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 20, 2010

4. Sunset Crossing Site

This is the crossing site as described on the marker. Some historians in Winslow believe the crossing site is 1 to 2 miles further north.

The Age-old Importance of Sunset Crossing to Travelers image. Click for full size.

circa 1940

5. The Age-old Importance of Sunset Crossing to Travelers

This map, "Routes of Espejo and Farfan to the mines" depicts Sunset Crossing as a place all early travel routes went. It is from the publication, "Notes upon the Routes of Espejo and Farfan to the Mines in the Sixteenth Century," Katherine Bartlett, New Mexico Historical Review, January 1942. It was found on the web page: http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/moca/chap1.htm

Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2010, by Chris English of Phoenix, Arizona. This page has been viewed 4,225 times since then and 149 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 6, 2010, by Chris English of Phoenix, Arizona. 4. submitted on September 29, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 5. submitted on July 28, 2011, by Chris English of Phoenix, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.