“You go camping in Arizona, you don’t expect to see camels walking down the campground road, yet there they were.”
That was one camper’s reaction at Bonito Campground, where the gentle tinkling of bells caused everyone to look up from their campfires. Around the bend came a procession unlike anything you’d expect to find beneath the Ponderosa pines outside Flagstaff—live camels.
For a moment, conversations stopped. Children pointed. Cameras appeared.
It felt like a mirage.
Yet those camels weren’t there simply to entertain campers. They were bringing one of the Southwest’s most fascinating—and surprisingly forgotten—stories back to life.
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Most people have never heard that camels in Arizona were once part of an official U.S. Army experiment. Even fewer realize those camels helped build one of the most important transportation routes in the American West: the Beale Wagon Road.
Today, remnants of that road still cross northern Arizona, and if you know where to look, you’ll discover that Arizona’s camel history is hiding in plain sight.
RELATED: 21 Really Fun Things ToDo in Flagstaff Arizona Now
Why Were Camels in Arizona?
During the 1850s, the American Southwest presented enormous challenges for transportation. Wagons broke down. Horses tired quickly. Water was scarce.
Secretary of War Jefferson Davis approved an ambitious experiment: import camels from the Middle East to determine whether they could haul supplies across the deserts of the Southwest more efficiently than horses or mules.
The animals exceeded expectations.
Camels could carry heavier loads, travel for days without water and navigate rough terrain that exhausted traditional pack animals. Although many soldiers disliked their stubborn personalities, they couldn’t argue with the results.
One officer became especially convinced.
Lieutenant Edward Fitzgerald Beale.
The Beale Wagon Road Changed Arizona Forever
In 1857, Lieutenant Edward Fitzgerald Beale was assigned to survey and construct a wagon road across the 35th parallel. His expedition included roughly 50 men, 100 mules, ten wagons, more than 300 sheep—and 22 camels.
Imagine witnessing that caravan crossing northern Arizona.
The expedition passed through what is now the Flagstaff area, following a route that later became Fort Valley Road.
Long before Route 66. Long before Interstate 40. Even before the Santa Fe Railroad. The Beale Wagon Road carved the first practical transportation corridor across northern Arizona.
So well chosen was Beale’s route that the Santa Fe Railroad, Route 66 and eventually Interstate 40 all followed much of the same 35th-parallel corridor.
Every time you drive west from Flagstaff toward Williams or east toward Winslow, you’re traveling remarkably close to the path pioneered by Lt. Edward Fitzgerald Beale and his camel caravan.
Why Lieutenant Beale Loved His Camels
At first, Beale shared his soldiers’ frustrations.
Camels were loud.
They smelled different.
They frightened horses.
They could also be spectacularly stubborn.
But as the expedition continued, Beale changed his opinion dramatically.
The camels consistently carried enormous loads, required little water and handled difficult terrain with surprising ease. By the end of the expedition, Beale considered the experiment a success and continued using camels during later surveys.
History simply took a different direction.
About the Lt. Beale Program
The Lt. Beale portrayed in these programs is Forest Service volunteer Eric Souders. His presentations are part of the Roving Rangers Interpretive Programs, a volunteer cadre of about a dozen interpreters who serve with the U.S. Forest Service’s Coconino National Forest and the National Park Service’s Flagstaff Area National Monuments.
The partnership has been bringing history and nature to life for more than 30 years through various combinations of Forest Service and National Park Service employees and volunteers. During the summer, the Roving Rangers present interpretive programs at Bonito, Pine Grove, and Dairy Springs campgrounds. They also staff the ranger station atop the Arizona Snowbowl Gondola from Friday through Sunday, beginning Memorial Day weekend through the fall color season in mid-October. In addition, they work closely with campground hosts, Arizona Snowbowl staff, and the Flagstaff Public Library’s “Meet Us at the Trailhead” monthly hiking series.
Roving Rangers program is supported by the non-profit Friends of Northern Arizona Forests.
What Happened to the Camels in Arizona?
The Civil War ended the experiment before it could expand.
Some camels were sold to private owners.
Others worked in mining operations.
Several reportedly hauled salt into Nevada before eventually returning to Arizona to transport ore.
Still others escaped—or were simply turned loose.
For decades afterward, stories circulated of travelers spotting wild camels wandering across the deserts of Arizona, California and Nevada.
Whether every report was accurate hardly matters today.
The stories became part of the mythology of the American West.
Where You Can Follow the Beale Wagon Road Today
One of the things I love most about Arizona is that history isn’t confined to museums. Much of the Beale Wagon Road can still be experienced firsthand.
Pioneer Museum, Flagstaff
Just north of Flagstaff on Highway 180, a roadside marker explains the importance of the Beale Wagon Road and notes that the first settlers later followed this route into the Flagstaff area.
Bonito Campground
Near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Bonito Campground occasionally hosts living-history presentations where historian Eric Souders portrays Lieutenant Edward Fitzgerald Beale. The experience becomes unforgettable when live camels stroll through camp wearing tinkling bells that transport visitors back to 1857.
Laws Spring
North of Parks, adventurous explorers can still locate traces of the old wagon road. This backcountry excursion rewards those who appreciate history mixed with a little adventure.
White Cliffs Wagon Trail
Outside Kingman, preserved wagon ruts carved into solid rock provide one of the best visual reminders of how heavily the road was traveled.
Beale Street, Kingman
Kingman’s Beale Street honors both Lieutenant Beale and the wagon road that eventually helped shape the transportation corridor later occupied by Route 66.
Hi Jolly Monument
Located in Quartzsite, this unique monument commemorates Arizona’s legendary camel driver and preserves one of the state’s most unusual stories.
Arizona History Museum (Tucson)
If you’re traveling through southern Arizona, stop at the Arizona History Museum in Tucson. Among its exhibits is a detailed diorama of Lt. Edward Fitzgerald Beale’s camel expedition, bringing to life the remarkable story of the Beale Wagon Road and the role of camels in Arizona. It’s one of the best museum exhibits in the state devoted to this little-known chapter of Arizona history.
Arizona State Capitol Museum
Murals inside the Capitol remind visitors that camels once played an unexpected role in opening the American Southwest.
Phoenix Zoo
Not every stop along Arizona’s camel trail is rooted in history. At the Phoenix Zoo, visitors can climb aboard a one-humped dromedary camel for a short ride, offering a glimpse of the remarkable animals that once carried supplies along the Beale Wagon Road. While today’s camels aren’t descendants of the Army’s Camel Corps, the experience helps visitors appreciate why Lieutenant Edward Fitzgerald Beale came to admire these sure-footed, hardworking animals. Camel rides are offered seasonally and are weather dependent, so check availability before your visit.
📌 Recommended: Don’t be disappointed when Phoenix Zoo tickets sell out. Book now before they’re gone.
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Why This Story Still Matters
Most people visit Arizona expecting to find saguaros, red rocks and Route 66. Few arrive looking for camels. Yet once you know the story, you’ll begin spotting reminders everywhere—from wagon ruts outside Kingman and a monument in Quartzsite to murals in Phoenix and living-history programs beneath the pines near Flagstaff.
The next time someone asks, “Were there really camels in Arizona?” you’ll be able to smile and answer, “Not only were there camels—they helped build one of the most important roads in the American Southwest.”
UNSTOPPABLE Stacey Tip
If you have the chance to attend one of Eric Souders’ living-history programs at Bonito Campground, don’t miss it. Watching camels emerge from the pines while hearing the story of the Beale Wagon Road creates one of those unforgettable travel moments that simply can’t be duplicated in a museum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were there camels in Arizona?
The U.S. Army imported camels during the 1850s to test whether they were better suited than horses and mules for transporting supplies across the deserts of the Southwest.
How many camels traveled with Lieutenant Beale?
During his 1857 expedition, Lieutenant Edward Fitzgerald Beale traveled with 22 camels while surveying the Beale Wagon Road.
Can you still see the Beale Wagon Road?
Yes. Portions of the historic route remain visible in northern Arizona, particularly near Kingman and the Flagstaff area, and several interpretive markers explain its significance.
Where can I learn about Arizona’s camel history?
Excellent places include Bonito Campground near Flagstaff, the Pioneer Museum, the Hi Jolly Monument in Quartzsite, White Cliffs Wagon Trail near Kingman and exhibits at the Arizona State Capitol Museum.
Books About Camels in Arizona
In the summer of 1857 May Humphreys Stacey was part of then Secretary of War Jefferson Davis’s camel experiment and kept a journal of his experiences on the march from Camp Verde, Texas to California.
Published in 2019, it is a mythical western set in the 1890s Arizona Territory that weaves together the folklore of the “Red Ghost” camel and the history of the U.S. Army Camel Corps. It was prominently named one of President Obama’s favorite books of that year.
The Trailsman #396: Dead Man’s Journey by Jon Sharpe
A fast-paced, pulp-style western adventure featuring protagonist Skye Fargo, who is hired to help the U.S. Army Camel Corps navigate and secure a supply train route across the hostile Mojave Desert
Traveling soon? Don’t forget to pack these essential items
Here are 4 often-forgotten items you don’t want to leave home without:
- I would have been lost in Europe without this power bank: Anker Nano Power Bank, 10K, 45W, 8.1 oz. Just imagine your phone running out of battery while you’re exploring London.
- And speaking of power, you def don’t want to forget a plug adapter – this is the one I use – I love it because it has 3 USB-C ports!
- You can’t beat this Sea to Summit premium neck pillow in terms of minimum weight and packed size. Who doesn’t want to get some shuteye on those long flights?
- I’m hooked on longer rain jackets that look as good on Paris boulevards as protect you on the trail.
📌 Bonus: Here’s the carry-on I swear by! My travel-tough Samsonite bags have lasted decades.
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Hi, I’m Stacey
UNSTOPPABLE Stacey Travel is a travel blog focused on immersive travel that highlights food, wine and the spirituality of place. You can count on me for accurate reports and insightful analysis as your trusted travel writer since 2008.
As the author of several spiritual and walking guides, I occasionally write about life as a Camino de Santiago pilgrim. See my Amazon author page here. You may review my credentials as a professional travel writer on LinkedIn.
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