Wikipedia wrote:The Apache Trail in Arizona was a stagecoach trail that ran through the Superstition Mountains. It was named the Apache Trail after the Apache Indians who originally used this trail to move through the Superstition Mountains.
The current Apache Trail links Apache Junction (33.4152°N 111.5807°W) at the edge of the Greater Phoenix area with Theodore Roosevelt Lake (33.6725°N 111.1531°W), through the Superstition Mountains and the Tonto National Forest.
Today, the majority of Apache Trail remains unpaved, turning into a dirt road a few miles up from Tortilla Flat, and continuing as such for nearly the full remainder of its length. The section east of Apache Junction is known officially as State Route 88. It is also the main traffic corridor through Apache Junction, turning into Main Street as the road passes into Mesa, and regains the Apache name by becoming Apache Boulevard in Tempe, ending at Mill Avenue. Prior to the completion of the Superstition Freeway in 1992, the Apache Junction portion of the Apache Trail was part of US Highway 60, which was rerouted to the Superstition Freeway once it was completed.
The Trail winds steeply through 40 miles (64 km) of rugged desert mountains, past deep reservoir lakes like Canyon Lake and Apache Lake. The narrow, winding road is unpaved from just east of the town of Tortilla Flat to Roosevelt Dam; there are steep cliff drops and little in the way of safety barriers. The trail requires caution when driving and it is not recommended for large RVs, SUVs, or caravans. Some large RV rental companies in the US do not allow their vehicles to be taken on this route.
The Apache Trail will be closed for some major road repairs from November 15 - January 21, 2011. major delays will occur prior to and after those stated dates. Plan your outings accordingly.
I don't believe it is quite as simple as we might wish. If the washout was due primarily to the lack of vegetation as a result of the fire, it will likely take years for enough regrowth to prevent being washed out in the same manner as it has.
Unfortunately I seriously doubt it will be a quick (or even moderately fast) rebuilding of the immediate washed-out sections. I have a feeling a rather significant amount of assessment, research & planning for flood mitigation will need to take place before any rebuilding takes place... which could easily take a year or more before any construction begins. I'd hope not, but just the same we should be prepared for that eventuality.
The least I can hope for is they open the road to the rest stop/overlook, or at least as far as the Tortilla TH.
I made the mistake of attempting to drive out Apache Trail this morning...
No road work was shown when I checked the AZ511.gov map before I left home, however, there IS work in progress along the road from the Canyon Lake overlook to possibly Canyon Lake. (I'm not sure how far it goes because I turned around as soon as I came upon the stopped traffic.)
Rock/boulders are being added on the inside of every corner where it has been eroded. Based on what I see has been completed the work probably began on Monday.
Unfortunately I have no idea how long the work will go on.
Heavy rain forecast in area vulnerable to flood damage November 19, 2019
PHOENIX – An unpaved section of State Route 88 between Roosevelt and the Apache Lake marina will close at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, in advance of a storm that has the potential to trigger flash flooding and roadway damage.
The segment, from just west of Roosevelt Dam near milepost 241 to the marina turnoff at milepost 229, remains vulnerable to flash flooding and debris flows from the adjacent Woodbury Fire burn scar. The 12-mile stretch will remain closed until after the storm passes and crews with the Arizona Department of Transportation can inspect the highway and repair any damage.
A storm in September damaged a section of SR 88, causing it to close for repairs for more than a week. This type of damage has led to an indefinite closure of the highway from the marina turnoff to just east of Tortilla Flat.
I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
Yesterday (12-1-19) as I was visiting the Goldfield Ghost Town, I stopped in at the Apache Trail Tours and spoke briefly with Jan Thyregod about the condition of the Apache Trail. Because of her Trail Tours business, she pretty much has her finger on the pulse of the DOT and when things are going to happen. She didn't have anything to add that I haven't already heard about a two to three year (maybe) potential open date for the road.
Jan did mention that the business' along the Trail are feeling the pinch of reduced traffic, (not as many visitors coming out this way and purchases are way down) so they have contacted DOT and a meeting is scheduled at the Apache Junction City Hall in the Council Chambers on Dec-17 at 8 to 10 am. This is an open meeting where all concerned groups are welcome to attend.
I plan on attending to get some first hand information rather than what has been passed on through the Forest Service or other outlets.
On every trip into the Superstitions, I find another Gold Mine. Today the mine was filled with Memories. I can not wait for the next trip.
@AZLumberjack
Probably 20-25% of the tours I drove for Apache Trail Tours back in 2014-2015 were to the Overlook so I'm sure their bottom-line has taken a hit... particularly when the photo & rest stop at the Overlook is off-the-table.
As painful as a possible 2-3 year time-frame sounds, unless the requisite Federal, State and/or County funds can be found to divert to the cause it may not happen for a lot longer.
At the least it would be nice if the road could be opened to the Overlook. We can only hope...
@chumley
I sort of hope not. While that would be cheaper for the state, it really cuts off access to a lot of hikeable areas unless you want to make a backpack trip out of it or lug 30 lbs of canyoneering equipment 10 miles to do a half mile canyon. We have lost access to not only a lot of Hikes, but also a lot of Canyoneering Routes. Not to mention that the Businesses at Apache Lake would see a permanent drop in revenue.
Lifeis not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming,"Wow What a Ride!"
Yesterday (Dec 17) I attended an Apache Trail Closure meeting at the Apache Junction City Chambers between ADOT, US Forest Service, a new Business Alliance and other interested parties.
ADOT was represented by members of the Central and East Central areas, both of which have responsibilities over the Apache Trail since it spans the two areas.
US Forest Service was attended by management level persons from state and local offices.
A newly formed Apache Trail Business Alliance was attended by Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce, Superstition Mountain Museum, Mother Lode Mercantile, Apache trail Tours, Dolly Steamboat, Tortilla Flat, Apache Lake Marina, two local horse-riding clubs and several others including Tonto Ruins (US Forest Service) and a business from Superior.
Also, in attendance were members of the offices of US Senator Martha McSalley, Representative Paul Gosar, Arizona State Tourism, Apache Junction Mayor and several others with interests in the continuing status of the road.
The meeting was called at 8:00 am and was followed by introductions. The scope of the meeting was given by ADOT members along with a plan that could extend two to three years before the road could be fully used again. After that the floor was open to comments from John Schempf (Superstition Mountain Museum) and Jodi Ackers (Mother Lode Mercantile) followed by other members of the Business Alliance.
The meeting was well managed, there were no shouting matches and all parties were thanking the ADOT members for their work but making the point loud and clear, that the road closure is having a big effect on their business by a lack of tourist spending. There were no conclusive remarks or dates only a promise to keep the dialog open and, if needed, to schedule more meetings.
It was brought up during the meeting that initially the Indians, using only horses and hand tools built the complete 40 mile road in under two years, so why is it now going to take three years to repair sections of that same road. The response was; The Indians didn’t have to contend with Environmental Impact Studies. So it seems that it’s a series of regulations relating to the environment and personal safety that are holding up the progress.
It was also mentioned that opening the road as far as the Fish Creek overlook would relieve a lot of the tensions, but again, no dates have been agreed upon.
Although the time frame of two to three years was frequently mentioned, no one mentioned, “if ever”, so there’s hope yet for the future of the Apache Trail.
Last edited by AZLumberjack on Dec 18 2019 3:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
On every trip into the Superstitions, I find another Gold Mine. Today the mine was filled with Memories. I can not wait for the next trip.
AZLumberjack wrote:It was also mentioned that opening the road as far as the Fish Creek overlook would relieve a lot of the tensions ...
I don't have enough info to fully assess, but this seems like the biggest bang for the buck and thus the most likely proposal to gain traction in the near term.
AZLumberjack wrote:The Indians didn’t have to contend with Environmental Impact Studies. So it seems that it’s a series of regulations relating to the environment and personal safety that are holding up the progress.
They must be planning on doing a lot of restructuring around the borders of the Road if they are doing another Environmental Impact Study. The Road already exists, so what's been impacted by the Road, is already impacted. I imagine all the damage done to the road has already impacted the Environment even further. I'm sure that quite a few creatures and plants were relocated by the moving earth and water.
Lifeis not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming,"Wow What a Ride!"
AZLumberjack wrote:the Indians, using only horses and hand tools built the complete 40 mile road in under two years, so why is it now going to take three years to repair sections of that same road
Well... back-in-the-day they didn't have to worry about making the road wide and safe enough for the traffic of today. You know, like the large dual-wheeled pickups pulling monstrous 5th-wheel RV's, sometimes pulling an additional trailer with a boat or large ATV on it.
Seems to me for the amount of work required to make the repairs they very likely would include making 'significant improvements' to ward of future washouts... which may require an additional Environmental Impact Study.
CannondaleKid wrote:Well... back-in-the-day they didn't have to worry about making the road wide and safe enough for the traffic of today. You know, like the large dual-wheeled pickups pulling monstrous 5th-wheel RV's, sometimes pulling an additional trailer with a boat or large ATV on it.
There certainly are better things in life than backing up a rental car on a steep, narrow, gravel hill because the oncoming traffic needs the whole road.
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