Do You Have What It Takes to Drive Arizona’s Most Dangerous Road?

Arizona features some of the best scenic drives in the U.S., that's for sure. Did you know that some of these scenic drives can be extremely dangerous? Let's take a look at one of Arizona's most dangerous roads.

On this road, you will experience some amazing views through Arizona's desert landscape and the Superstition Mountains and be exposed to extreme cliffs --some without guardrails-- hairpin turns, and rough roads.

Read More: One Interstate in Arizona Confusingly Uses the Metric System

Some History Behind One of Arizona's Most Dangerous Roads

The road in question is the Apache Trail which starts in Apache Junction and ends at the Theodore Rosevelt Dam—also known as Arizona State Rt 88. The Apache Trail stretches a total of 40 miles as it winds its way through the Superstition Mountains.

It gets its name from the Apache Indians who used the trail to make their way through the mountains, later becoming a stagecoach route.

In the early 1900s, when irrigation needs from the Salt River for the valleys below began to grow, it became apparent that the temperamental river needed to be tamed. That's when plans for the Theodore Rosevelt Dam emerged.

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Construction of the dam began in 1903, and a supply road was needed to equip construction crews. The Apache Tribe provided most of the labor to convert the ancient trailway into a via roadway. The roadway was finished in 1905.

What Makes Arizona's Apache Trails So Dangerous?

While the scenery along the Apache Trail takes you through some of Arizona's best desert landscapes and mountains, it's those views that could cause you the most peril.

The road contains a multitude of hairpin turns waiting to catch the unsuspected driver off guard. Speaking of guards, there are sections of the road that traverse high cliffs with no guardrails to protect you from a deadly fall.

Arizona State Rt 88 recently reopened a section that was closed due to damaging floods from the Woodbury Fire 2019 that burned close to 124,000 acres of the Tonto National Forest.

There are also wrecked cars littered along the sides of cliffs, some dating as far back as the 1940s.

While the road can be treacherous to drive, it's still a road trip you need to take. Just make sure to take your time, and pay attention to where you're driving.