Safford is left behind quickly, but the Gila Valley stays with the route for a while: wide roads, fields, scattered houses, and the Pinaleño Mountains with Mount Graham behind the town. The stage follows US 70 east, initially together with US 191. Solomon and San Jose are the last clear settlements before the quieter part of the day. After that, US 191 splits north while the route stays on US 70. The road does not climb steeply, but it gains height over many kilometres and crosses dry, open hill country toward Greenlee County. The high point sits at around 1,340 metres. From there the route drops toward Duncan. Near town, the Gila River comes closer again, along with the railway and the first houses on Railroad Avenue. A shorter stage, but not an empty one.
