FR 172 & 172A to Rogers Trough TH

[SuperstitionGuy]

The USFS has a road grader and front end loader reworking FS road 172 and 172A. The road grader started from the beginning of 172 at Hewitt Station road and had made it approximately four miles when we passed by him on Tuesday afternoon. The front end loader had been filling in crosswise channels made by running water from the beginning of 172 to almost the top of 172A. When we passed him they were reworking the ruts just below the extremely sharp curve just before 172A tops out before the turn to Rogers Trough Trailhead. My experience with rework on this road is that they will be up there all week. Queen Creek is not flowing and relative easy to cross at this time. Someone traveling this road after this post please give us an update on the grading project and how far they have reworked the road.

General rules for driving this road is as follows. High clearence with rear wheel drive is recommended for 172. High clearence with four wheel drive is recommended for 172A. Front wheel drive vehicles can drive this road but it is not recommended that they tackle the steeper portions of either road as it is very easy to tear up the front tires on the embedded rocks. Vehicles without high clearence should drive only as far as the embedded rocks are low enough in reference to the road surface to allow safe travel. My experience when the road has been recently reworked is that drivers have a tendency to drive to fast and have accidents. There are numerous sharp curves and high spots where you cannot see oncoming traffic. This includes cars, trucks, ATV's and motorcycles. Head on crashes are a real threat under these conditions. Please drive at a safe speed and also be aware of cattle that may be on the road and unwilling to get out of your way.

[cw50must]

Sounds fun.

[SuperstitionGuy]

Sounds fun.

It used to be but now that I am retired I no longer have access to a Company Car and have to own my own stupid mistakes of driving this "Fun" road.

[skatchkins]

Confirming this is an indeed an hour and half road on the uphill at least. I shaved 20min off with aired down new tires and (in the lower wider sections) not acknowledging that razors holding up numbered fingers means be careful because the numbered group coming behind them doesn't know how to drive, especially around corners. Later on, yes, stuff gets one laney and pulling over is indeed necessary and kind.
It's one of those roads where, yes you could do it in 2wd with HC but you're going to spin some tire, and need to be a placement predictor on one obstacle for certain. The first section is very pretty but the roughest, fighting little embedded rocks just bad enough not to be able to stay at a speed where you could stay on top of the washboard areas.
Also, lost a front CV axle clip, fog light mount, evap cooler mount, and there was need for more tie wire and zip ties, and the upper radiator hose got mad. Things to fix back at home at least.
All this to pick up the wife and friends at the end of AZT 18.

[xsproutx]

Has anyone done this drive since the monsoon season? Particularly looking to see about Woodbury TH as I've read that tends to be a bit better to access than Rogers Trough.

[SuperstitionGuy]

Due to the lack of rain this monsoon season there should be no reason not to travel to either trailhead. If your going for two days you can easily hike to Angel Basin from Woodbury TH and return via the Rogers Trough TH. Then hike from the Rogers TH back to Woodbury TH via the shortcut that you can see on most maps. You don't need a 4 wheel drive to reach Woodbury but you do to travel up to the Rogers Trough.

[chumley]

Due to the lack of rain this monsoon season

Did I drown in the flooding and record rainfall and lose my memory?

[xsproutx]

@chumley
I'm wondering if I fell asleep for a year here and you guys had a dry one compared to the last year I experienced? I've passed out before but don't usually lose THAT much time

[SuperstitionGuy]

I Grabbed my leather boots, rubber waders and thru them along with my tire chains into the trunk of my Honda CRV so I could go out and see the horrible conditions that the monsoons created on U.S. Forest Roads 172 and 172A. According to Chumley and xsproutx I was excepting the worse! When I turned off of Highway 60 onto Queen Valley road and finally Hewitt Station road I began to look for water in the low spots in the road and there was none. Turning off onto Forest Road 172 I was surprised to see that Queen Creek wash was completely dry and even the lowest washes had no mud in them but dry dust. The Saguaros appeared to be so thirsty that they were holding their hands up just begging for rain. I came across a Coatimundi by the side of the road and offered him some water but all he would take was a cold Dr. Pepper. I next saw a Coyote crossing the road ahead of me and he had one of those western style canteens hanging from his neck. Once I got to the junction of 172 and 172A I parked and walked up to the dam upstream to get a cold drink and the pipe was dry with no water coming out. So much for the terrible monsoons!

[herdbull]

Anyone been all the way to the Trailhead in the last month or so? The other half wants to go and I'm just looking for an update on road conditions. We'll be driving a '19 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with some decent off road tires. TIA.

[wallyfrack]

@herdbull I went to The Woodbury Trailhead on 1/15 with a Jeep Patriot. FR 172 is rough but passable. I only touched bottom once and that was because I took a bad line. The washes are the worst areas. FR 172A is sure to be a treat but I didn't go up there. If you have to turn back Woodbury is an option for a hike.

[herdbull]

@wallyfrack
we took the ATV up there today. Parked down low in one of the main trailer parking areas right before the shooting area. The road is in absolute fabulous condition up until the old farm with the windmill and tanks. Roughly 1.5 miles from the 172 & 172A split.

They are actively grading the road at that point and it looks like they are heading deeper. The road up until that point was probably the best desert road I have been on in years. We proceeded to the Woodbury TH and any truck or AWD type of little SUV should make it. It's not too bad. The road from the split up 172A is quite rough. Careful driving will get a pickup or SUV all the way to the TH but without clearance you will scrape here and there. While 4x4 is probably, and I say probably, not mandatory it is recommended.

[xsproutx]

I went up to the Woodbury trailhead yesterday and came back down tonight (quick overnight backpacking trip). Agree with the above that the road is in pretty good shape as far as these things go up to the old farm as mentioned. There are some bigger rocks but nothing a normal SUV/truck should have an issue with. Past there, it's a bit more rough but it's mostly that you just need to actually pay attention to your lines at that point instead of just blasting down the road.
There is one section about a half mile before the 172A split that was a bit tricky, though. I have an outback wilderness (basically, a slightly lifted outback with a bit more clearance than a taco and with different bumpers to make approach/departure angles slightly better than the regular outback) and it took 3 or 4 attempts to get up this section that is a little steeper and rutted out that's a combination of dirt and slick rock; I just couldn't get enough traction. I switched on x-mode for a 'deep snow/mud' setting and was able to get up it with that with minimal tire spinning. For that one section, I can imagine a 2wd vehicle would have a pretty hard time. Outside of that section, just need to pay attention and it'll be fine to Woodbury at least.

[ShatteredArm]

I just went up today, and 172A is in pretty rough shape. My friend got his Toyota Forerunner all the way to Rogers Trough, although he said he scraped once. So I'd say if you have equal or better capabilities, you should be good.

FR650 is a different story. No problem with my stock Wrangler, but the Forerunner wouldn't have made it.

[wallyfrack]

I drove my Jeep Patriot up FR 172A to Rogers Trough trailhead. The road has been worked and is in good shape. There are a few bumps and some loose rocks but nothing bad. Yes, the Subaru crowd has a green light.

[nonot]

I would rate the road as 2WD/low clearance to the Woodbury turn off, and moderate clearance, 4WD helpful (probably not needed with an experienced driver) to Rogers Trough TH. The reason it is helpful is due to loose rocks/gravel on steep uphill sections. This is based on my experiences from this weekend. Note: I did not drive to Woodbury trailhead, that branch of road may become worse after the turnoff.

[xsproutx]

that branch of road may become worse after the turnoff.

Honestly, as of a few weeks ago, that's the smoothest and and nicest part of that road by far. If you make it to the split, the woodbury side is pretty standard hard pack for the most part and nice

[ShatteredArm]

@xsproutx
Can confirm a Suburu Crosstrek can get to Woodbury TH.

[xsproutx]

Subie gang checking in. Went up to Rogers Trough yesterday and had no issues. They even fixed the spot before the 172 split that I had a little bit of an issue with last time. Moderate clearance is needed for the last half mile or; probably don't need 4wd/AWD but wouldn't hurt, to repeat what nonot said. Outside of that last half mile, it's smooth, not really rocky, and not rutted as of now.

[jrich0085]

Now that the weather's getting cooler, I'm wondering if anyone has been up FR 172/172a to Rogers Trough Trailhead... If so, how is the road condition after this active monsoon summer?

[ddgrunning]

@jrich0085
A friend of mine drove it yesterday to scout out for an overnight trip. He reports that he made it all the way to the th in 2wd (though he had 4wd). High clearance recommended.