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.
chumley wrote:While I personally still vote for closing the road to vehicle travel forever and converting it to a multiuse trail, I do find it interesting that the solution being proposed today for a cost of $4 million could have easily been implemented five years ago (and probably at a lower cost). It'd be humorous if it wasn't so pathetic.
I couldn't agree more. 2 wrecks, 1 resulting in a death and the other a complicated extrication, in the last 4 days. And this is before the Canyon Lake lookout heading up on the good paved section. I can't wait until they open this up
herdbull wrote: ↑Jan 21 2024 10:43 am
2 wrecks, 1 resulting in a death and the other a complicated extrication, in the last 4 days. And this is before the Canyon Lake lookout heading up on the good paved section.
Wow, I haven't seen that. It shouldn't be that dangerous, but anything is possible when people are involved.
@big_load
yeah, we don't make the news out here in AJ. Even when there's a shoot out at the O K corral there's no coverage. We are the "red headed stepchild" of Phoenix. lol.
big_load wrote: ↑Jan 21 2024 11:49 amWow, I haven't seen that. It shouldn't be that dangerous, but anything is possible when people are involved.
Not that dangerous?
Yesterday we were hiking in the area just West of Apache Trail and just as we began, two Porches and a Corvette came flying around the last corner with tires lightly squealing to blow South past the Willow Spring TH only to need to slam on the brakes as they went over the rise to avoid a road biker, how they didn't hit each other or the biker is likely a small miracle.
Purely a case of who will win a Darwin Award the soonest, any or all the drivers or the biker?
Frankly, why ANYONE rides a bike along that road, or Bush Highway near Saguaro Lake I cannot fathom, as they are definitely placing their life in the hands of drivers.
As for the wrecks... from high points at two separate times we first heard then saw a total of well over a half dozen first responders (DPS, Deputies, EMT and Fire trucks) over the course of our 4 hour hike, so we pretty much figured there may have been one or more serous accidents.
Also, on several occasions we saw anywhere from 3 to 9 motorcyclists in a group and heard them accelerating hard and braking for every corner, so who knows if one of them may have been involved.
One could easily argue that some people drive too fast on SR88 which creates a safety hazard for those driving at a different speed.
It is less common to hear someone opine that there is simply too much traffic on a road that is not equipped to handle it. Boat trailers and sightseers, motorcycles and cyclists.
The speed isn’t a great component but the real issue is the number of users on a road not remotely capable of handling the demand.
I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
I have bicycled the Apache Trail since the early 70's on a Schwinn Sunset Orange Collegiate from Mesa and when I lived in Gold Canyon I rode during the week when I was off from the fire dept. on my other road bicycles. I knew it could be risky and I generally rode during times of little traffic.
CannondaleKid wrote: ↑Jan 21 2024 1:41 pm
Frankly, why ANYONE rides a bike along that road, or Bush Highway near Saguaro Lake I cannot fathom, as they are definitely placing their life in the hands of drivers.
Back when I raced, that was one of my favorite rides. We'd start in Tempe and go to the end of the pavement past Tortilla Flat and back. Around 100 miles or so. The descent back to Tortilla Flat was one of the few roads I could break 50 mph on when the conditions were right. Fun stuff.
CannondaleKid wrote: ↑Jan 21 2024 1:41 pm
Frankly, why ANYONE rides a bike along that road, or Bush Highway near Saguaro Lake I cannot fathom, as they are definitely placing their life in the hands of drivers.
Back when I raced, that was one of my favorite rides. We'd start in Tempe and go to the end of the pavement past Tortilla Flat and back. Around 100 miles or so. The descent back to Tortilla Flat was one of the few roads I could break 50 mph on when the conditions were right. Fun stuff.
I used to enjoy that when I was young. Then I realized there was a patch of grit or pebbles out there waiting to change my luck.
@big_load
And yet another 1 today. Pretty much the same spot. Luckily it appears they both survived. I believe channel 12 had a news chopper out there today.
herdbull wrote: ↑Feb 05 2024 4:03 pm
@big_load
And yet another 1 today. Pretty much the same spot. Luckily it appears they both survived. I believe channel 12 had a news chopper out there today.
Why can't people just keep their vehicles between the lines?
big_load wrote:Why can't people just keep their vehicles between the lines?
Nowadays #1 on the list is probably because they're juggling their phone (figuratively) while driving. Every day I see one or more vehicles crossing the center line, even on perfectly straight streets/roads... because they are on the phone and/or are texting. A few days ago we saw a DRiVER watching a Tik-Tok video as they passed us.
big_load wrote:Why can't people just keep their vehicles between the lines?
Under rare traffic and weather conditions and a sporty road-hugging vehicle (such as a Toyota Tacoma) SR88 is extraordinarily fun to drive with a generous use of the complete width of the roadway and little regard for the lines or colors thereof. Or so I've heard.
I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
Tortilla Flat / Tortilla creek
I would like to take my visitors from Minnesota out there today or Monday and drive to the end of highway 88 and back.
Has anyone been out there within the last 24 hours and can report if the road is closed where Tortilla creek crosses highway 88?
A man's body may grow old, but inside his spirit can still be as young and restless as ever.
- Garth McCann from the movie Second Hand Lions
Route Editor
Route Scout
