Sheep Bridge, spanning the blue-green Verde River in Arizona's high desert, is a place not reached by many. The rugged hour and a half long trek from I-17 feels much like airplane turbulence as the road makes its rust colored, winding descent to the valley floor. Dipping through shady washes, it passes impressive cottonwoods (yellow in fall), and crests foothills dotted with cool green prickly pear and imposing saguaro. Blind curves occasionally give way to an oncoming side by side or other high clearance vehicle. Until you see one, you simply hog the road. The current Sheep Bridge is a replica suspension bridge constructed by the Forest Service in 1989. The original bridge, constructed in 1943 by the Flagstaff Sheep Company, protected sheep from the drive across the river to different grazing ranges and climate zones. The bridge was used for sheep drives until 1978 and demolished ten years later in 1988. Natural hot springs in the area are still used by some. Though remote, th