Apache Death Cave - Route 66 – The Restless Viking

*The Apache Death Cave has an eerie legend.*

Just off of Highway 40, Exit 230, 30 miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona is the ghost town of Two Guns. Here lies curious layers of history. Today, we’ll take you below the surface of this settlement into the Apache Death Cave.

*The sunbeam marked the opening of the cave.*

Our Arizona adventure had taken us into a habitat I’d never known; the desert. Once we had left the highway, the paved road ended immediately. Sand and rock crunched under the Jeep’s tires as we wound our way to a smattering of rock foundations, Two Guns. These ruins have been undisturbed for decades.

We scouted these remnants looking for The Apache Death Cave entrance. The wind felt like sandpaper brushing over my face.

There had been evidence of life found in this cave dating between 1050 and 1600 AD. Navajo and Apache tribes had lived in the area for centuries. It was known that the two clans did not get along.

Ed Randolf started the first trading post called, “Canyon Lodge” in the mid 1800’s. He built a good relationship with the local Navajo. However, in 1864 the US Calvary started arresting and detaining the natives at Ft. Sumner, New Mexico. After four years the captives were released. Anger was brewing against the white man as well as their rival, the Apache.

*The sunbeam directed us to the cave’s opening.*

As the legend states in 1878 a group of Apache warriors raided a Navajo village. The Apache destroyed the Navajo’s hogans (homes) and killed all the residents except three young girls who were kidnapped.

*The dark hole seemed to lead to a small space, however it marked the beginning of a subterranean labyrinth.* *After carefully climbing down the ramp, the sandy wind was no longer an issue.*

Neighboring Navajo searched for these Apache in hopes of rescuing the three captives and gaining revenge on the malicious murderers. The forty-two Apache men hid inside this cave.

*As we forged forward, the temperature decreased rapidly as we entered the cave.*

*Once inside, I turned around to capture the sunlit opening* *and ponder the Apache’s last moments.*

*After taking many crouched steps, I once again turned to see the path to the entrance. I shuddered. Was it from a feeling or from the cold?*

The Navajo had difficulty locating the Apache until they saw some smoke coming up from the ground.

*Throughout the maze there were random openings to the surface.*

Carefully listening, the Navajo could hear the Apache talking from their underground hiding space. The Navajo decided to light fires at the entrance of the cave and sealed the openings in the ground, preventing the Apache’s escape.

*This is another photo of the entrance to the cave.*

The Navajo lit a brush fire at the opening of the cave which trapped the forty-two Apache.

*With flashlights placed to provide a view, we explored the largest chamber* *which is further inside the maze of tunnels.*

The Apache tried to put the fires out. As the legend goes, the Apache sacrificed their own horses and used their blood to attempt to douse the flames. As the smoke filled the cave, the Apache sat and chanted an eerie song until they could no longer breathe. . .

The next article about Two Guns will cover the above ground happenings of this area. White men started as a trading post, where a tenant, “Injun Miller” (Harry) gathered and sold the Apache’s bones from this cave. A Wild West Theme Park, complete with a zoo and campground, was built at this site. As I mentioned, there are layers of history here. Driving by, one wouldn’t realize the stories this land holds. Stay tuned!

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Enjoy our video of the road trip along Route 66! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBUu-NWZZf8