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.
While I still prefer they close it forever, I do wonder what the logic of the 4x4/UTV restriction really is. People towed boat trailers down that road and drove sedans for decades with no restrictions. Is it any worse now than it was before the rockfall? It’s a dirt road. It is not now nor has it ever been a 4x4 road. The whole thing is silly.
I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
@chumley
my hunch is the original plan, maybe even unbeknownst to the people, was to open it as a 4x4 section but with push back they turned it into a dirt highway. Will it remain nice? Depends on if they leave heavy equipment up there to manicure it ever week or so. I thought there was going to be like a phase 2 to this when funding becomes available?
The SR-88 - Apache Trail project spans 11 miles from SR 188 to Apache Lake. The 48-hour closures will run from 7 a.m. on Tuesday to 7 a.m. on Thursday for the following days:
April 8-10
April 15-17
April 29-May 1
May 6-8
There will also be a 72-hour closure that will last from 7 a.m. April 21 to 7 a.m. April 24.
The 48-hour closures are scheduled to begin weekly on Tuesdays from the entrance to Apache Lake (milepost 229.9) to west of the Roosevelt Dam (milepost 240.5).
The closures will finish on May 8 - or so they say.
"The censorship method ... is that of handing the job over to some frail and erring mortal man, and making him omnipotent on the assumption that his official status will make him infallible and omniscient."
George Bernard Shaw
Plan for 48-hour full closures on State Route 88 (Apache Trail) April 29-May 15 72-hour closure also planned May 12-15
The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for full closures of east and westbound State Route 88 (Apache Trail) between the entrance to Apache Lake (Forest Service Road 79) to just west of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam Overlook (mileposts 229.9-240.5.
Note: Access to the Theodore Roosevelt Dam Overlook will remain open and accessible from SR 188.
"The censorship method ... is that of handing the job over to some frail and erring mortal man, and making him omnipotent on the assumption that his official status will make him infallible and omniscient."
George Bernard Shaw
Last week, the committee working with ADOT on the Apache Trail convened to talk about the signage at the top of Fish Creek Hill.
As many know, with the reopening of the Trail, signage was then changed to include the following statements:
No Trailers
4-Wheel Drive and UTV’s only (except authorized vehicles)
For better-or-for-worse the committee was successful in getting these restrictions changed, and now to allow trailers, boats, campers, etc. access to the many recreational areas within the area. This change will also remove the restriction imposed of only 4-wheel drive and UTV vehicles.
ADOT’s plan is to fold down the white portion of the sign, but leave it in place in the event it is needed in the future if the road experienced future deterioration.
"The censorship method ... is that of handing the job over to some frail and erring mortal man, and making him omnipotent on the assumption that his official status will make him infallible and omniscient."
George Bernard Shaw
hikeaz wrote: ↑Jul 28 2025 3:19 pm
ADOT’s plan is to fold down the white portion of the sign, but leave it in place in the event it is needed in the future if the road experienced future deterioration.
I think future deterioration is practically inevitable. In any case, I look forward to visiting again this year with HC 4WD.
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