Cordes Lakes is one of those communities that seemingly gets passed by on the Interstate highway, and to the casual visitor appears to be little more than some fast food, some lodging and a place to gas up. The community sits at the intersection of Interstate 17 and State Route 69. I-17 is the major north-south route between Flagstaff to the north and Phoenix to the south. State Route 69 starts at Cortes Lakes and goes Northwest to Dewey, Humboldt, and Prescott. It marks a good resting point on the difficult climb from Phoenix. This, and nearby communities are rich in Native American culture, and are worth whatever time travelers can spare.