The Last Parks on the Colorado River - Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area

[@michaelsimmons261]

Steve; here is a little history from a local...when I moved to Yuma in 94 the areas that the parks are was covered with camps of riffraff -users-robbers-ect from mexico,Calif,AZ and wherever...trash piles.The Big Boys came in with bulldozers and cleared them out!!! Now we have Beautiful Parks THANKS for showing the World !! a Sub that loves your family trips.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks! The parks are great. A lot of cities can learn a lot from what Yuma did.

[@michaeltaylor4984]

Late 70s to early 80s it was nice. Families always gathered there safely.

[@Miridafeo]

I'm so glad I found this channel. Thoroughly enjoying every video and the history along with it. I live in Bullhead City, Az and I am floored by all the history I've never noticed so close to me 😊

[@anubis7173]

I think the quartermaster and the cowboy graveyard are the best. But the West wetlands and their hummingbird Park. Total peace. A nice quiet walk through the green with the sun gleaming through it creating such a comforting shade and you listen to the quiet and you look at the river just me or steps away from me I think we are imagination. What was it like when the Quechán was there? What was it like after the white man came? I know the answers to these questions but it's comforting to know that you can look in an area and all it's modernity close your eyes and then look again and you can forget all. You're back to survival. And you realize I don't have a clue what the hell to do. As Americans we are spoiled rotten and we are damn lucky to live lives we have lived so far but it's time to fight for that. Again.

[@tgrum3316]

I live in Yuma and think this is the best video I've seen about the area. I have caught catfish and bluegill in the pond you showed. Supposed to be trout and bass in there too. Edited to add that the area around Morales dam was called "Somerton Beach" in the early 1980s. The river was so high back then that we would Jetski around the U.S.end of the dam. Morales dam was also the engineering mistake that created the Sultan Sea in California.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Wow, thanks!

[@ctaylor7089]

The Salton sea was formed from a breach in a canal in 1905, morelos dam wasn't built until 1950.

[@mikeb.7381]

The Wetlands restoration project is one of the greatest things Yuma city has done. West wetlands park I believe used to be the city dump back in the day.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

They've done such a great job with it. According to one of the signs it was a landfill. Amazing transformation.

[@DreamcastQ]

very nice area in winter

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Yes, it was still pretty hot when we filmed this, but the advantage was having the parks pretty much to ourselves!

[@robertfritz9916]

We love Yuma. After 40 years in Poway we moved to Idaho and are now snowbirds with a house in the Anza Borrego Desert area. our first night going to Idaho and our last night coming from Idaho are spent in Yuma. We have been to most of the places in this video, some more than once. But one fond memory is when we took my wife's parents to Yuma to see the Padres Spring Training just before they moved to the Phoenix area and before it was a snowbird metropolis.

[@justnerdystuff]

Thanks for showing this. This just really makes me think how sometimes I hear people complaining how the world has gotten worse, when it is just the opposite! I watch video's of people traveling all over the world, and although I can't personally say things have gotten better outside of the USA, definitely places in Arizona where I grew up in the 70's look far nicer now than they did back then. Yuma was an ugly sore spot on the map of Arizona, and look at it now. I'm sure it's got it's bad spots, every city does. But watching your videos really encourages me that most people nowadays are caring about their environment.

[@keithwinters3031]

Haven't caught up in a while. Looks great. So much to do and much history. Hi from the U.K.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thanks for watching. Hope all is well.

[@galardmills5306]

Fun that you visited the source of the Colorado, and now visit the effective end of the river. It’s a long journey between those two points, and the river means a lot to the people of the West. I think visiting Yuma Territorial Prison is the most meaningful in the middle of summer!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I can't even imagine how miserable it would have been to be a prisoner there during the summer.

[@brucebarnes9638]

I have taken many trips over the years to Yuma. The parks and prison show the incredible history this area has. Great video that documents this.

[@CactusAtlas]

I feel like I've been seeing so much information about the Colorado River lately but seeing those two photos showing the difference ... man. We enjoyed our time at Yuma Territorial Prison when we went so agree with your recommendation of that one. Tons of history there. We definitely need to explore the Yuma area more. Great video showing options there.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Its crazy when you see old photos with steamboats on the river and stuff. I'm so used to seeing it so small.

[@Harvest01]

I am an Arizona native from Tucson. I haven’t lived in the state since 1993. I thoroughly enjoy your site, because I feel as though for a brief moment, in each video, I get to be home.

[@seanyancy1809]

Interesting as I have been watching the dams upstream going lower and lower. Thank you Steve.

[@johnnyfreedom3437]

I always give your videos a thumbs up because they're always that good! It's great running across the ones I haven't seen yet, cuz I've seen almost all of them! I'll be patiently waiting for your new production, I'm glad you're carrying on with this after the pandemic!!

[@shooter31m]

Yuma is on my bucket list… thanks for another great video! Safe travels.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you, we appreciate it.

[@jz55859]

I was stationed at Yuma M.C.A.S. in 76 and 77. It sure has changed a lot since then. I did visit the prison. At the time it was just open to walk through. It looks pretty cleaned up from when I saw it. I had some good times in Yuma. This video was well done and brought back memories. Thanks.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you, I appreciate it.

[@secretdaisy6484]

Once again you show a place I’ve never heard of! Good job and thanks 🙏. 👍☮️🌞❤️

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you for watching. Always appreciate it.

[@sheikhboyardee556]

I hike the East & West Wetland parks all the time. Excellent hiking & beautiful. The parks were created to return this river area to it's original state by eliminating non-native species of plants. Worth visiting.

[@ScratchGlass9]

Thanks Steve and family ! Another fun trip with great information and history... You get to take us older folk to places we'd likely never see. I sure do APPRECIATE it. 👍 Cheers from North of Detroit 🇺🇲

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sondrajoyce8810]

loVE IT.......VERY INTERESTING.........

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you!.

[@jerroldkazynski5480]

I made a brief stop at the Yuma Prison years ago. Looks like they have made some nice improvements. The view up-river of the desert is beautiful. Nice trip report!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you, appreciate it.

[@seansmith5873]

I live in Yuma, its a cool little town. The prison is cool and theres no snow. Thats why i came here.

[@SpanishEclectic]

Over the years I've only driven past this area, stopping off 16th St. (Yuma) for food and gas. Interesting to see more details, and learn about the work that's been done to beautify the area and encourage wildlife. I've seen the old photos and drawings of the crossing near Ft. Yuma, and it's fun to compare the changes. While reading up on Olive Oatman, it was interesting to read about the excessive drought in the mid-1850s, that made food scarce and wiped out many of Olive's extended Mojave family. It's fascinating to see the changes and cycles of climate here over the last 200 years. You do great work, Steve.

[@rickkaylor8554]

Great video as usual. I was performing at the Prison Hill brewery a few years back and had some time to check out Gateway Park. Cool place.

[@deborahkopkowski9661]

I just found your channel and couldn't stop watching. I LOVE it. Thank you so much for sharing your exploration of our country with us!

[@michaelarballo196]

Great video, shedding some light on little old Yuma, lived there for 7 years. I miss it.

[@daveh4283]

The drone shot of I-8 with pilot knob in the distance was awesome 👍👍

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you!

[@Mikemalone7873]

Adding it to the list... Thanks Steve!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

No problem. I should have mentioned its best when its not 100+ out though!

[@DW-qe7qe]

Have fond memories of crossing the old bridge over the Colorado from San Diego to Phoenix many years ago. Thank you for the video. The drone shots were fantastic.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you. I always love seeing the bridge, especially at night when its lit up.

[@lgd4247]

Thanks Sidetrack Family. Yet, another great, informative video. I always love how you plug in the wildlife. Say, Steve have you shared with us how you get your ideas? Where will the Sidetrack Family go next? You're preferred mode of travel and why? See everyone next time!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Sometimes we'll be going some place and I'll just look around Google Maps and see what's in the area or on the way. I have a notebook where I have a list of places I want to check out.

[@sondrajoyce8810]

lESLIE dURHAM: Thats a secret................

[@DM-lc2cf]

We lived in Yuma for a short time in the early 1980's, the town has grown and changed a lot since then. All those parks/museums are new except for the Prison. You can watch a lot of trains crossing the old metal bridge from the park below. My one and only attempt to water ski was on the Colorado River...well, the boat ride was fun!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

There's a train crossing in one of our shots but unbelievably I had just put the drone away and of course that's when the train comes by!

[@kevinconrad6156]

Great overview of my hometown and neighborhood parks. Only thing you missed, and most miss because they don't know about it, was the Yuma Siphon. It carries the water for the canals in Yuma under the Colorado River and comes up just to the South of Gateway Park between the Water treatment plant and the Sheraton Hotel. You might have some drone footage.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Oh wow, I wasn't even aware of it. I think I have a drone shot that direction, I'll have to take a look. Thank you.

[@sheikhboyardee556]

There were divers in the siphon some years ago I think for repairs. They reported enormous catfish living in them. Way larger than they should have been.

[@kevinconrad6156]

@@sheikhboyardee556 I think they were just checking it and it was fine. The catfish in the canals around here are huge.

[@sheikhboyardee556]

@@kevinconrad6156 I read that they reported very large catfish. I guess there is a lot to eat down there.

[@leonajameson8902]

That was awesome

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you.

[@michaelangelos5117]

Looks like you're enjoying filming your traveling and going to some cool places. I always wondered what that building was down on the Scripps beach. I thought it was some scientific thing. Now I know that it's the mushroom House. Spent last winter in yuma. It was pretty damn nice.

[@brianmccarthy5557]

Very nice. Thanks!

[@mawi1172]

You're in my town. Hope you liked it. ❤️

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Yuma is great. Will be back pretty soon!

[@tagon]

Another great video, and I truly look forward to each of your postings! Love the research, sharing of history and the onsite visiting. You're really starting covering some distance now and what's really cool to see is your subscriber count is ticking upwards as well! Yea!! Though it's farther out in Arizona, have you looked up Tombstone Az, Bisbee Az, Camp Naco - the Buffalo Soldier outpost, Johnny Ringo's Grave? I have ton of Calif idea as well! There is soooo much to see and do in Calif and the surrounding states.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you. We really appreciate it. We've done one video in the Bisbee area, at Lowell, and I planned on doing a video in that area that had Tombstone in it focusing on Highway 80 earlier this year, but the weather was really gloomy and I just wasn't happy with the footage so I never edited it and posted it. Hoping to redo it this spring.

[@cfinstr]

Well done!

[@jeromegiles15]

Nice video. Thanks for sharing. Keep up the good work 👍

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you, we appreciate it.

[@Corgis175]

Glad at least some wetlands were set up.

[@RukiDance]

Another great video!

[@29madmangaud29]

alright, 'bout time you've come here to Yuma, to show us off some! Welcome.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you! I actually plan on coming back in a few weeks. I planned on doing something else too but the trip to the border wall took much longer than anticipated.

[@r0n5tea1th]

Thanks!

[@r0n5tea1th]

I never would have guessed this amount of interesting things about the Yuma area in general. An area I've spent more than a little time in (although most time was in the earlly 70's)

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate this.

[@jaydub1380]

Great video!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you.

[@evopwrmods]

I thoroughly enjoy all your videos. I think I'm going to winter down in Yuma. Seems like there's alit to explore down there...

[@SidetrackAdventures]

You can go in any direction from there and find something interesting to see or do.

[@glennbellman1100]

I used to live in Yuma, left in 1985. My friends and I used to put a boat in the river by Morales dam. We could actually take the boat thru the gate of the dam and go upstream, or downstream. Boat was about 16 feet long. The gate was usually open all the way back then.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Oh wow. Thats pretty cool and not something people will get to experience again for a long time.

[@boomtownrat5106]

Was in Yuma back in January this year. A perfect time of year to visit. Did you happen to go over the river to Fort Yuma on the California side? I hadn’t visit the fort in about a decade and I was taken aback by how rundown the old fort looks. No restoration has been done to the historic buildings built in the 1850s and 60s. I do understand the feelings the native peoples must have towards that fort and what it represents toward their oppression. Maybe they’re not all that keen to want to restore something that is so hurtful to them.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I haven't been to Fort Yuma for a few years, but the last time I was there it was pretty sad to see the state of it. Lots of graffiti. I'm not sure if anything has been done recently, but I'm heading back to the area in a week and maybe I'll stop by and check it out.

[@boomtownrat5106]

@@SidetrackAdventures I’ll be curious about your impressions. The fort has been in the hands of the Quechan tribe for many years and have used it as their headquarters.

[@lovescoffee9780]

Fun spot to visit

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Yeah, I just wish I would have had a tube to float in the river.

[@Idahoguy10157]

Before the Hoover Dam went in steam ships travelled the lower Colorado River carrying frieght. Transport by water was the least expensive way to move freight. Shipping to Arizona by water could be the most economical method

[@anubis7173]

By the way the Lee hotel is haunted. It's up on the second floor. There's a woman who doesn't like other women in certain groups she chases you out. Fully hotel currently is closed. They closed around 2015 or 16. I'm hoping it will open again soon because the lobby is absolutely beautiful. It's very nostalgic

[@sheikhboyardee556]

Years ago I decided to spend a night in the hotel as I heard it was haunted. At least two people, I think both being women died there. I asked for the "most haunted room" just to see what would happen. Nothing happened, I slept like a baby. My wife says I'm insensitive so maybe she is right! The building was bought by Gawin Company & turned into offices.

[@christopherjq7414]

after the territorial prison was closed it became the home of Yuma High School for a few years before a permanent school was built, and because of that the sports teams are called the Yuma High Criminals

[@michaeltaylor4984]

I was a 'Criminal', finished my sentence in 1983. Go Crims!

[@swaffdog6521]

Because of the heat in Yuma, which can reach 110+ degrees each summer (when I lived there, it reached 122 degrees), it is said that when the prisoners died and went to hell, they would come back for their blankets.

[@sercuzu2]

VIVO EN SAN LUIS RIO COLORADO, SONORA, COMO LO DICE EL NOMBRE DE MI CIUDAD RIO COLORADO, PERO YA TIENE COMO 32 ANOS QUE NO PASA AGUA POR EL LECHO DEL RIO COLORADO, YA QUE EN LOS ALGODONES BAJA CALIFORNIA SE DESVIA TODO EL AGUA POR LA PRESA HACIA EL CANAL MORELOS, DONDE SE DA AGUA PARA EL VALLE AGRICOLA DE MEXICALI Y HASTA SE LLEVA AGUA PARA TIJUANA PARA EL CONSUMO HUMANO, QUIZAS EN POCO TIEMPO NO LLEGUE AGUA YA PARA EL LADO MEXICANO

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Hopefully they can figure something out so that doesn't happen

[@MerrillFeiker]

Wow, 3:01 the picture on the wall above the desk is Cave Johnson Couts, a relative of mine.

[@anubis7173]

I hate to tell you this but the Westland Park, east and west still have hobos. They just tend to wander before sunrise and settle in after sunset. When most normal people are home

[@r0n5tea1th]

A couple of suggestions for videos would be Isham Spring, close to Jamacha (State Rte 54) & Sweetwater Springs Blvd. Another thing would be about the Sweetwater Dam failure. I've lived in this area since 1956 (age 3) & am a life member of the Spring Valley Historical Society.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

My dad is a member of the Spring Valley Historical Society too! He's actually something of an expert on Isham, so I'd have to see if I could get him in a video to cover that.

[@shadowtruck5991]

At 0:31, where & which way of Yuma where you able to get close to Border Wall. I wanted to experience and see it upclose like you did ?? I went Colorado River State Historic Park as you recommended too. Thank You ! I Subscribed 07/23/2023.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

South of Yuma near the dam you can get close to the wall. A little further south and there is no wall at all because the reservation wouldn't allow it.

[@shadowtruck5991]

@@SidetrackAdventures ill try to find a way to get there. Im visiting my Son in Yuma who just moved here too. Thank you for quick reply !

[@Kahless_the_Unforgettable]

The prison was "Closed for overcrowding". What a strange reaction to overcrowding. "We have too many inmates! Let's close a prison!" ~Arizona

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I think they just built a bigger prison in Florence. Oddly enough the high school moved in when the prison closed haha

[@Kahless_the_Unforgettable]

@@SidetrackAdventures , I figured. It just seems like you'd keep the old one open as well. I don't know. I'm not a prison planner or anything. 🤣. I'm sure it makes more sense to close the old one.

[@michaeltaylor4984]

​@@SidetrackAdventuresUs YUHS alumni are affectionately known as Criminals or Crims

[@danielevans4884]

Hey Steve why don't you do a video on Lakeside Historical Society they have all kinds of stuff there I now live in Texas but my family was a part of that back in the old days and I just kind of like to see what happening in Lakeside California

[@SidetrackAdventures]

To be honest I don't know much about the Lakeside Historical Society. I'll look into it!

[@faryldaryl3975]

As a movie buff I can't say I'm not disappointed that the segment on the prison wasn't at, oh, say, 3:10?

[@SidetrackAdventures]

A missed opportunity for sure.

[@Freya-bs5tx]

Grew up on the river in Parker, wish no outsiders had ever found us, between visitors and California's moving here its destroyed our beautiful area. They leave thier trash and bring thier drugs

[@derek20la]

8:25 What rail line runs along the old Ocean To Ocean Bridge?

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I'm not sure who runs the freight but Amtrak's Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle go through there.

[@swaffdog6521]

The tracks are owned by Union Pacific.

[@shereerockdaschel9301]

And what a nice wall it is. and we need more of it all the way across no anywhere to enter .Let them come legally.

[@trwent]

At 3:31, you referred to the “United States Geological Society”. That would actually be the United States Geological SURVEY (USGS).

[@trevertravis8963]

Stewart Vincwnt Wolfe was my uncle's brother.

[@codybalke1238]

Come back to Phoenix, it's raining rn

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I have to get back there soon. Missing Chino Bandido haha

[@frankchafe9465]

At 7:20 it looks like there's some kind of a lizard or something in the water🦎🦎

[@orteez288]

Yuma High School started in that prison, hence the High School's mascot, The Criminal. Did you get a chance to eat at Mr. G's?

[@SidetrackAdventures]

No, we ate at Cracker Barrel on this visit. I've eaten at Mr. Gs in the past though.

[@Me97202]

I doubt that border wall is very effective, since you can just want right around it. 2:04

[@SidetrackAdventures]

It basically just directs people to one spot.

[@alisterfolson]

"Stop showing interesting aspects of Yuma; The Great Migration keep moving here." :)

[@mikeb.7381]

I think the summer heat keeps a lot of people out.

[@alisterfolson]

@@mikeb.7381 Let's hope so

[@sheikhboyardee556]

We moved to Yuma in 1954 & I grew up with no air conditioning. Not easy, played outside a lot.

[@dan-fr9dn]

bullet hole in sign at 4:40