Shoe Trees

What bizarre compulsion causes people to sling their old shoes over the branches of roadside trees? We can only gaze in wonder and admiration.

Punkin Center, Arizona

Famous in legend but rare in actual sightings, shoe trees eluded me until I spotted this one while driving Arizona's Highway 188. Among the many shoes I also spotted one pink flamingo.
Directions: At mile marker 271.6 on Highway 188, between the Highway 87 (Beeline Highway) and Punkin Center.
Last Visited: March 2015.

Sunflower, Arizona

Besides many pairs of shoes, this branches of this tree also hold some other footwear: skis, flippers, and ... purses?
Directions: On southbound Highway 87 (Beeline Highway), 1 mile south of Sunflower at mile marker 216.9 .
Last Visited: May 2015.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

More of shoe pole than a shoe tree, this is one of many artistic expressions that can be seen in the front yard of this private residence.
Directions: 299 Gallup Ave SW (at New York Ave, in the Old Town area).
Last Visited: April 2010.

Standard disclaimer: Sites are described for entertainment purposes only, as they were at the time of my last visit. I can not vouch for the current condition of the site or its accessibility.