Arizona has very few rivers. One of its major rivers is the Hassayampa, which flows through Wickenburg. For most of its course (and most of the time) the Hassayampa is underground. Southeast of Wickenburg the river flows above ground for a few miles; the Hassayampa River Preserve (owned by the Nature Conservancy) preserves most of the precious riparian environment of this short stretch of river.

Because the Hassayampa flows underground, the legend grew up (attributed to Native Americans) that the river flows “upside down”. And, because it flows upside down, another legend says that anyone who drinks the water of the river will never again be able to speak the truth.

You can read much more about the Hassayampa (which once flowed mainly above ground) at The Hassayampa Well, by John Aabbott. For more on Wickenburg and its area, see Out Wickenburg Way. Our founding President, Pat Gould has written The Irish Lord, a book about the life and misdeeds of Charles P. Stanton, a very genuine and very bad Old West Outlaw, famous in these parts.