Bellemont: Route 66, Railroad History, and Camp Navajo

Bellemont combines traces of Historic Route 66, railroad history, and unique insights into the context of Camp Navajo. When choosing accommodation, it is therefore worth considering first which aspect of the town should shape your trip: historic roadside culture, distinctive railroad landmarks, or the special conditions surrounding Camp Navajo.

Route 66 and Memories of Bellemont

Historic Route 66 can be reached near Bellemont via I-40, Exit 185, and Transwestern Road. This means that getting your bearings begins not only with a road connection, but also with an important part of the town’s history. The Pine Breeze Inn is a preserved Historic Route 66 heritage site in South Bellemont. A section of the film Easy Rider was also filmed at the Pine Breeze Inn.

The Pine Breeze Inn property at 1947 Route 66 includes an office, a gas station, and cabins. These preserved features make the site interesting for travelers who want to experience Route 66 history not merely as a name, but through specific buildings and facilities. Another distinctive landmark is Bellemont’s rustic railroad water tower, which has stood near the tracks since 1908.

Railroad history also remains visible in the townscape: A red railroad caboose is displayed in front of Grand Canyon Harley-Davidson. Grand Canyon H-D is located along the original Route 66 and offers motorcycle sales as well as service and parts departments. This brings historic memorabilia together in one place with a business that remains connected to Route 66 to this day.

Camp Navajo: Consider the Requirements When Planning Your Trip

Anyone interested in hunting at Camp Navajo should include the applicable requirements in their planning. All hunters and hunting assistants must complete the Camp Navajo hunter safety course. Hunting permits are allocated by lottery through the Arizona Game and Fish Department, or AZGFD for short. It is no longer possible to hunt there without such a permit obtained through open sale.

In addition, approved hunting areas may be unavailable because of military training or other mission requirements. Hunting areas may be closed at short notice to support military operations. These conditions clearly distinguish this type of visit and travel purpose from a freely plannable exploration of Route 66.

The historical surroundings of Camp Navajo also include the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Camp Navajo. A Navajo Code Talker was the first person interred there. For visitors interested in history, remembrance culture, and the region’s different chapters, Bellemont therefore offers several points of interest that are not limited to the famous roadway.

Which Accommodation Location Fits Your Travel Plans?

When looking for a vacation rental or vacation home in Bellemont, you can use your desired experiences as a starting point. If Route 66 and local cultural history are the focus, the Pine Breeze Inn, the water tower, and the caboose are important reference points for planning your personal day trips. If, on the other hand, you are interested in Camp Navajo and hunting, you should take the permit regulations, safety course, and possible short-notice closures into account.

Adjacent U.S. Forest Service land bordering the residential development in North Bellemont offers recreational opportunities. This adds a nature-focused aspect to the historic sites in South Bellemont and along the original Route 66. Which accommodation makes sense for you therefore depends primarily on whether you want to focus on cultural history, railroads, motorcycle and roadside culture, or the special conditions of Camp Navajo.

For further trip planning, you can also explore Tusayan, Williams, Page, Tuba City, Flagstaff, Sedona, and Grand Canyon Village.

For the overarching travel overview: Coconino.