When we were with USX we picked up a load of copper wire near Globe and we were grossed out going east and went through the Salt River Canyon and it has to have been one of the worst memories I have of trucking.
I took plenty of pictures and it was beautiful but it is not a place for a grossed out semi as it took us forever to get to the bottom of the hill with warm brakes which cooled at 5 - 15 miles an hour to climb back out of that canyon.
Never ever again will I go through the Salt River Canyon in a truck and I will think twice about it in a car.... The road is total switchbacks going up and going down with a cable between us and what seemed like a drop that would last forever. I have always compared it to the Grand Canyon as well as it is something to see...
I know my memories of the canyon are different then yours and mine was to due to being so heavy and it was a struggle the whole way and then to top all that when we got out of there near Show Low there were fires and we were not sure we were going to get through to I-40.
I would suggest if anyone wants to take this scenic route that you do this in the day time, have plenty of fuel, be empty with well adjusted brakes, have the camera ready to take pictures and take your time. It really is like driving through the Grand Canyon and it is a beautiful sight.
