Under the direction of General George Crook, this trail was built in the early 1870's. Starting at Fort Whipple, it winds down to Fort Verde, then eastward across the Mogollon Rim to Fort Apache, covering 200 miles. It was used as a supply route by wagons and pack animals and as a tactical road by the cavalry during the Apache Indian Campaign. A few old trees and rocks can still be seen with original blazes marking the mileage from various forts. Many landmark names come from the mileage, such as Thirteen Mile Rock and Twentynine Mile Lake.