Since its completion in 1911, the Apache Trail has drawn visitors from all over the world to its spectacular scenery. The 40-mile drive connects Apache Junction east of Phoenix to Theodore Roosevelt Dam.
Officially known as State Route 88, the two-lane road passes through Goldfield Ghost Town and Lost Dutchman State Park. There, Flatiron Peak rises above the rugged landscape of the saguaro-clad Superstition Mountains.
The road becomes rugged and dramatic as you wind through steep turns, over canyons and into Canyon Lake to the historic stagecoach village of Tortilla Flats. The trail continues up to Fish Creek Hill, where the breathtaking views of the Salt River he canyon are captured in full he frame. 20.3 miles from mile 220.2, about two miles east of Fish Creek Hill Overlook, to mile 240.5 near Roosevelt Dam, are unpaved.
But the driver can’t do the whole drive.
Since June 2019, a 5-mile section of the Apache Trail from the top of Fish Creek Hill to mile marker 227 has been closed due to the Woodbury fires that have destroyed 120,000 acres of Tonto National Forest and Superstition Wilderness. .
Woodbury Fire:Blaze has grown to over 112,000 acres.Up to 48% containment
The closure made it impossible to drive the entire length of the Apache Trail and nearly doubled travel times from Metro Phoenix to recreational areas such as Apache Lake.
The Republic has spoken to Arizona Department of Transportation officials, Forest Service experts, and business owners affected by road closures to find out why the legendary byway hasn’t been repaired, and what plans exist to reopen the Apache Trail. I checked whether
Why is Apache Trail closed?
Fires, floods, intrigues and mysteries make up the history and legend of Superstition Mountain, and this issue fits the bill.
The U.S. Forest Service owns the Apache Trail, and ADOT has maintained the road since it was declared a state highway in 1927.
ADOT was formally granted a road easement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on July 5, 2017. Under the easement deed, ADOT is responsible for the construction, reconstruction, maintenance and operation of the Apache Trail.
This easement gave ADOT the power to close the road after the Woodbury fire. The road did not burn, but the fire spread to nearby vegetation and left scars that created the potential for landslides and flooding.
In August 2019, ADOT reopened a nine-mile stretch of the Apache Trail that includes the now-closed Fish Creek Hill section. Heavy rains from Hurricane Lorena forced another closure the following month.
September’s deluge caused large rock slides that made parts of the road impassable. ADOT said there were also concerns about soil stability and the potential for this to lead to future rock slides and road flooding.
Rabbits, bears and bobcats:Impact of the Woodbury Fires on Arizona Wildlife Habitats
ADOT’s Commitment to Apache Trail Shutdown
ADOT Assistant Communications Director Doug Nick said:
“The problem is that because of the damage from the fires dating back to 2019, whether it is winter rains or monsoons, the amount of rainfall or potential rainfall is not sufficient or equal, resulting in increased runoff. There is concern about the amount of vegetation prior to consolidating the soil.
“The concern is that once we repair the roads and expand the resources to do so, we run the risk of being swept away again very soon. That is why we need to look at long-term solutions. ”
ADOT conducted a study to assess the vegetation in the area and ensured the viability of long-term construction and maintenance work. The study was approved by the state legislature in 2021.
According to Garin Groff, ADOT’s head of public affairs, the investigation has not yet started because ADOT is carrying out the legally required processes. This investigation is expected to take approximately six months to complete.
The study will cost $700,000 and ADOT expects to complete in 2023. Nick said the next steps will be decided after the investigation is completed.
Impact of Apache Trail closure on Tortilla Flat
As ADOT’s investigation continues, business owners along the Apache Trail are increasingly frustrated with the impact the closure will have on their lives.
Katie Ellering, owner and operator of Tortilla Flats, a two-block-long hamlet on the Apache Trail west of Fish Creek Hill, is one of the most vocal business owners calling for road repairs.
“There is more than 100 years of heritage there, and thousands of tourists come each year to visit and experience the Apache Trail,” said Ellerling. “Unfortunately, tourists can’t cover all of the Apache Trail, so they don’t come.
“I just haven’t seen them coming via Tortilla Flat and it’s definitely impacting my business. I get emails and phone calls every week saying ‘Hey, roads still Are you open?’ It’s heartbreaking, other local businesses are also affected.”
Besides not being able to drive the entire historic route, Ellerling said a major concern for business owners is the added travel time due to the closures. Erring, who owns a boat on Lake Roosevelt, says that it used to take him 45 minutes by car, but now it takes him more than two hours.
“You have to exit onto Highway 60 toward Grove, come back, round up onto (State Route) 188, and go around the back,” Ellerling said. “We lost one of his employees because we live on the other side of the washout and it takes him two and a half hours to get to work.”
Easy Day Trips From Phoenix:Here’s why you should drive the Apache Trail to Tortilla Flats.
What Closing the Apache Trail Means for Apache Lake Marina
Another business owner who has felt the impact of the closure is Kathy Schuster, the former owner and operator of the Apache Lake Marina Resort.
Schuster, whose family bought the marina in 1973, said he sold it because his income plummeted after road closures.
“Our resort was severely impacted by the decision to close that road, essentially pushing us into bankruptcy and finally selling in January 2021,” said Schuster.
East Valley resident Tyler More, current owner of the Apache Lake Marina Resort, said he often has to stay overnight at the marina because his commute is so long.
“When I go there, I usually stay a few nights because it’s not worth that drive,” More said.
More, who bought the marina from Schuster, says the lack of access is hampering his ability to make money.
“It’s better to be able to access this facility anytime,” More said. If it were fixed or there was another way it could generate 100% more revenue. ”
What Apache Trail Business Owners Are Doing About Road Closures
Ellerling and Schuster, who are representing More’s interests in the matter, are members of a group called the Apache Trail Attractions Commission, which is trying to convince government officials and ADOT to fix the road.
This group of companies along the Apache Trail is supported by Pinal County Supervisor Jeff Sardy and Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin.
The two men jointly wrote to ADOT in April 2021 requesting that Apache Trail repairs be added to the state’s five-year transportation plan, which was released on June 17, 2022. was not included.
Impact of the Woodbury Fires and Hurricane Lorena on the Apache Trail
To understand how environmental changes after wildfires affect roads like the Apache Trail, The Republic collected information from hydrologists working for the Forest Service and ADOT liaisons. I got in touch with Susan Blake, Hayashi’s publicist.
If environmental events, such as the Woodbury Fires or Hurricane Lorena, affect Forest Service lands, protocol must be followed, Blake said. Fires over 500 acres should be evaluated by the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team to check for damage and potential risk to life, safety, forest service infrastructure, natural and cultural resources.
“The BAER team was on site as part of a BAER assessment shortly after the fires, and the BAER team revisited the area in February 2020 to see how the area was recovering.” says Blake. “Also, the Forest Service’s ADOT liaison visited the site to investigate the damage to the road.”
Declining soil stability in the affected areas is one of ADOT’s concerns, but Blake said many of the soils in the area were already considered hazardous even before the fires and storms. pointed out.
“The soils in this area vary,” says Blake. There is not much room for water to seep into the soil. ”
Blake says vegetation and soil need to be restored to their pre-fire state, which can take three to 10 years, depending on the severity of the burn. And even when it does, flooding is still a possibility.
“There are many areas where the soil is inherently unstable, so heavy or prolonged rains can cause flooding and damage,” Blake said. “Even stable soils and slopes can be damaged by sufficiently large and intensive rainfall.”
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How does ADOT decide which roads to rehabilitate or build?
ADOT Five-Year Transport Facility Construction Plan (Five Year Program) was released on June 17, 2022. This plan details projects and spending over the next five years. Nick said the plan will be updated annually.
“We give presentations to[the Arizona Department of Transportation]each year on projects that we have identified as needing attention,” says Nick. “And the board will look at them. This means that not all I-10’s and I-17’s are available.
“It’s spread across the state. But once we know what the research is saying, we have to look into it.”
When asked why it took more than three years to conduct the research, Nick pointed to the complexity of transportation funding and how projects were prioritized.
“So it depends on a number of factors, such as the need for safety, the increase in traffic, etc. In the busiest cities, there is not one highway with the highest traffic that is preferred. does not mean that you will get it immediately.
“If you look at highways like 93[in the US]they don’t go through a lot of populated areas, but a lot of people use this highway to get from Phoenix to Las Vegas. So we have to look into everything.”
The issue of restarting Apache Trail has been a sensitive issue among various stakeholders, but Nick said ADOT is firm about how it will proceed.
“It’s not just a matter of finding maintenance money to go out there and fix the problem,” Nick said. It’s not good for safety, so you can put it back in a few months. ”
