Arizona’s Apache Trail Arizona’s county road 88/Apache Trail is considered the oldest highway in Arizona. President Theodore Roosevelt wrote: “The Apache Trail combines the grandeur of the Alps, the glory of the Rockies, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon and then adds an indefinable something that none of the others have, to me, it is most awe‐inspiring and most sublimely beautiful.” <detoursamericanwest.com> Historically, the Salado Indians were in the area around 900 AD. The story of the Salado American Indians who lived in the Sonoran Desert can be found at <nps.gov/tont>. They created many of the trails that were later used by the Apaches. The trail was used in 1903 for the construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Lake Dam. Over 400 laborers worked on the dam and lived in camps along the route. One section into a deep ravine brings to my mind how treacherous the wagon loads and hauling drivers experienced. It was known as the Roosevelt Road as the dam was constructed between 1906 and 1911. It was later called the Apache Trail. <detoursamericanwest.com> The Apache Trail name was coined by E.E. Watson, railroad agent for the Southern Pacific that crossed Arizona. The railroad replaced wagon trains when it came to Phoenix in 1887. The Salt River caused much damage to Phoenix due to flooding. In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt passed the National Reclamation Act and Arizona was designated to receive the first dam to be built at the confluence of the Tonto Creek and the Salt River. <nps.gov/tont> The Tonto National Monument was established in 1907. In 1987, the trail was officially dedicated as Arizona’s first historic highway. <detoursamericanwest.com> The trail may be one of the most scenic drives in the state, but also dangerous without guard rails that can cause one to go over an edge and plunge more than 1,000 feet. Treacherous can best be described by driving down Fish Creek Hill with its 10 percent grade, crossing Fish Creek at its base. To learn more about the trail historically go to <ajpl.org>. Not always passable, the 47‐mile drive from Apache Junction goes through parts of Superstition Mountains, several deep‐ water reservoirs, the Tonto National Forest and eventually ends at the head of the Theodore Roosevelt Lake dam. The roadway is mostly unpaved, steep and quite winding. In was constructed in the 1930s to support the development of the dams. It also means that top speed will be around 15 miles per hour. According to <dangerousroad.org> “General Motors Proving Grounds used to use the Apache Trail to test tires and vehicle maneuverability.” The area is full of stories including old mines, the Lost Dutchman Mine and other tale‐telling spots along the way. Another way of getting to Roosevelt Dam is Highway Route 188 that goes through Globe, Arizona. Globe is south of the dam. It was established in 1876 after a silver strike. Copper and silver were mined in the area, with copper still being extracted today. One of my favorite stops along the way just before the paved section of the road ends is Tortilla Flat. Your next 28 miles will be rugged. Once a stage coach stopover, a big flood in 1942 and burning down in the mid‐1980s looked like it had reached its end, but tourists and locals have rejuvenated the place. A bar, curio shop, music and historical mementos of the past can be seen there today. Once you ford Tortilla Creek, if you can, you well get to see and experience what Apache Indians, stage‐coach drivers and dam builders with their wagon loads experienced in the early 1900s. At one time, the dam was the largest masonry dam in the world. Theodore Roosevelt Lake dumps into the Salt River as it traverses through Apache Lake, the largest; Canyon Lake; and Saguaro Lake before it goes into the Salt River. There are hundreds of plants in the area besides the prominent Saguaro and Ferocactus. In the Tonto National Monument there are over 230 species of animals and over 150 species of birds. Vegetation and wildlife are impacted by temperature and precipitation in a desert environment. Those factors are key to what you may or may not see. On several occasions I was able to see, but not photograph Javelina. Like wild boar, they can be seen near desert washes, saguaro and palo verde forests and grasslands with mixed shrubs and cacti. They are territorial and herbivores, but will also eat lizards, dead birds and rodents. <desertmuseum.org> This photo program spans over nearly 30 years of various visits on the Apache Trail. Sources: http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/apache_trail/, http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/arizona‐news/the‐dangerous‐beauty‐of‐the‐apache‐trail, https://www.dangerousroads.org/north‐america/usa/1324‐apache‐trail‐usa.html, https://detoursamericanwest.com/history‐of‐apache‐trail‐arizona/, https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/road‐trips/2014/09/09/arizona‐scenic‐drive‐apache‐trail/15363837/, https://www.desertusa.com/desert‐activity/apache‐ trail.html, https://www.mcdowellsonoran.org/wp‐content/uploads/2016/06/Flora‐and‐Fauna‐of‐MSP.pdf, http://www.ajpl.org/wp/wp‐ content/uploads/2016/04/The‐Apache‐Trail‐Circle‐Route.pdf, https://www.nps.gov/tont/index.htm, https://www.srpnet.com/water/dams/roosevelt.aspx, https://www.nps.gov/tont/learn/nature/animals.htm, https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona‐contributor/2016/06/14/teddy‐roosevelts‐arizona‐ obsession/85855566/, https://www.usbr.gov/lc/phoenix/AZ100/1910/topstory.html and https://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/oz/long‐fact‐sheets/Javelina.php. acuri.net John R. Vincenti Arizona’s Apache Trail .