FR 487

[joebartels]

Good news!

Young, AZ (May13, 2008) -- Workman Creek (Forest Road 487) which had been closed for repairs, is now open to the public.

[chumley]

Joe- Do you know if that means that it's open past the falls now? Hasn't it been closed for several years? (Or are you referring to another closure that I wasn't aware of?)

[joebartels]

Guess I kind of assumed that's what it meant, perhaps not. However it's really not that long of a road. If they did repairs on another part and didn't fix that I think there'll be an outcry. It wasn't ever a "road closure" necessity in the first place, more of a caution area.

[Grasshopper]

Good news!

Young, AZ (May13, 2008) -- Workman Creek (Forest Road 487) which had been closed for repairs, is now open to the public.

How do we find out for sure that these repairs mean that FR487 is now officially open all the way to the end, from the Falls Campground area at that previously closed gate? Some of us enjoy beating that area to death in the summer for good hiking trails in the Sierra Ancha Wilderness. IF this FR487 is now really open all the way to the road end at the top of Aztec Peak fire tower, then EXCELLENT!!! \:D/

[chumley]

Check with the Tonto NF's Pleasant Valley Ranger District in Young. They would be the authority in the area.

[joebartels]

I just called, the answer is yes. She clarified that she was up there last week and went on to mention four wheel drive is recommended after rains.

[Grasshopper]

Update per Pleasant Valley Ranger Station, Young 928-462-4300: High clearance vehicle access from Hwy288/FR487 to the Falls Campground and high clearance 4WD from the Falls Campground to Aztec Peak;

[joebartels]

is this road open in the winter or are either of the gates near the waterfall locked?

[chumley]

I'm not sure. It's probably best to call the Pleasant Valley Ranger District and ask them. Snotel is reporting 16" on the ground at Workman Creek (6900ft), so I'm not sure I'd recommend going too far on that road right now anyway. At least not without chains and another vehicle or two traveling with you. It's only gotta get worse as you drive higher up. Of course the gate below the falls is at about 6400, so there might not even be snow on the road there.

[joebartels]

thx Todd!
Joel called and reported...

487 closed below workman creek falls 12/15/11- march(ish)

[The_Eagle]

Snotel is reporting 16" on the ground at Workman Creek (6900ft)

[big_load]

It would be fun to go in on skis and snowshoes to see the falls in winter.

[sneakySASQUATCH]

I'm waiting to hear back from the one who has the specific info. But upon further inquiry, the info I received was the gate to 487 at the 288 is the one that is closed. Waiting for a confirmation after leaving a vm.

[big_load]

the gate to 487 at the 288 is the one that is closed.

That's a long ski.

[Grasshopper]

As of this posting date per my tel-con with Angie at the Pleasant Valley Ranger District-
P.O. Box 450, FR 63
Young, Arizona 85554
(928) 462-4300

All previously locked gates and closed roads for access into the Sierra Ancha Wilderness areas, including Workman's Creek Road (FR487) up from the Falls Campground is now open for driving access. High clearance vehicles required with 4WD vehicles recommended.

[PrestonSands]

Has anyone driven up past Workman Creek Falls towards Aztec Peak this year? I know the road is usually closed officially until about early April. I called the Payson and Young ranger offices last week about the road's opening status, and both of the employees I spoke with were very vague. I don't think they had any idea.

[chumley]

June 22, 2021 Update (posted today, effective last Friday):

To protect the public’s health and safety from unsafe road conditions the following roads are closed:

National Forest System Road (NFSR) 487 (Workman Creek Road), starting ¼ mile west of Workman Creek Falls, then continuing east/southeast, ending at the Aztec Lookout Tower on Aztec Peak.

NFSR 487A (Murphy Ranch Road), starting at its intersection with NFSR 487, then continuing north, to its terminus at Murphy Ranch.

This is effective June 18, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., and shall remain in effect until June 18, 2023, or until rescinded, whichever occurs earlier.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 925160.pdf
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 925161.pdf

[big_load]

This is effective June 18, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., and shall remain in effect until June 18, 2023

Wow, two years is a while. I don't recall that being a terribly long stretch of road, though. I walked it at least once each way.

[DixieFlyer]

@chumley
Does anyone know why the road needs to be closed for 2 years to protect the public "from unsafe road conditions"? I drove up to Aztec Peak a couple of months ago and I didn't see anything unsafe about this road as compared to countless other forest roads

[chumley]

@DixieFlyer
The notice makes no explanation. But the attempted stabilization of the roadway and "bridge" (I use that term loosely) just below the falls may be a potential culprit.

If it was just naturally sketchy, that's one thing. But since the FS has made "improvements", I could see their liability increasing in the event of an incident there.