Where am I? -- Volume I

[Rick Quinn]

I love Scenic Byways, especially the roads that have inspired people to give them an interesting name. To formally designate a particular stretch of country road as a National Scenic Byway requires a whale of a lot of effort, a lot of lobbying, and yes, there's also a bit of expense, making up those fancy signs. All of that said, not all Scenic Byways are created equal. Some of them are more like, "Scenic By-waaaays!"

Here's an example: can any of you Road Warriors out there Name that Road?









This one's an old favorite (with the emphasis on old!)

Rick

[Utahtea]

I love Scenic Byways, especially the roads that have inspired people to give them an interesting name. To formally designate a particular stretch of country road as a National Scenic Byway requires a whale of a lot of effort, a lot of lobbying, and yes, there's also a bit of expense, making up those fancy signs. All of that said, not all Scenic Byways are created equal. Some of them are more like, "Scenic By-waaaays!"

Here's an example: can any of you Road Warriors out there Name that Road?









This one's an old favorite (with the emphasis on old!)

Rick

I have no idea but from the mountain-mission-cactus road sign I’m guessing it’s in New Mexico.

We’ve done our fair share of dirt roads and we haven’t been here.

Utahtea

Edited to add Or Arizona...LOL

[Utahtea]

OMG...I think I have it! While we haven't been here we have friends that go to the area every January! If I'm right, I'd be superstitious to think I might get lost!

BTW...It's Arizona...my second guess.

Utahtea

[glc]

Great clue! That's the Apache Trail, through the Superstition Mountains.

[DonnaR57]

Just wanted to say that I've enjoyed these. Wish I could participate a little more, but I'm still working .... from home ... and by the time I see the photos after work, somebody's guessed it (correctly). I would have also guessed somewhere in Arizona, on that last set. I haven't been on the Apache Trail in years, though.


Donna

[Rick Quinn]

Great clue! That's the Apache Trail, through the Superstition Mountains.

Great job, everybody, that is indeed the Apache Trail, otherwise known as AZ 88. It's an incredibly scenic road that's famous for being incredibly rugged, particularly the 20 mile stretch east of Tortilla Flat that has never been paved, not since the road was first built, way back in 1905.

Last year, there was a wildfire near Apache Lake (one of the three lakes that are accessible off the Apache Trail); the fire badly scarred the mountainside above the road, and during the next heavy rain storm, a landslide cut loose, burying the roadway under untold tons of rock and debris, prompting the Arizona Department of Transportation to close a 14 mile stretch of AZ 88 "indefinitely." That's not to say that it will never reopen, but the repair is going to be expensive, and they have no plans to begin the work until there's enough new vegetation to stabilize the mountainside above the damaged area. You can still access Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flat from Apache Junction, and you can still access Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake by going the long way around through Globe.

Canyon Lake, the first of the three lakes you come to when driving the Apache Trail


Hmmm. I'm thinking--probably not!


Apache Lake in the spring


Apache Lake and Marina


Roosevelt Dam, the end of the Apache Trail.


Roosevelt Lake, the largest lake that's entirely within the borders of Arizona


Tonto National Monument, a cliff dwelling among the saguaros, located near the end of AZ 88


The Apache Trail is an important part of Scenic Side Trip #11; the route map in the RTA map library reflects the current road closure and the required detour.

[Rick Quinn]

Who among you can:

A.) Name the colorful canyon in this first picture:



B.) Identify the highway that squiggles its way to the bottom:



Before crossing the river on this bridge:



Last but not least:




C.) Name that river! (It's the same river in all four of these photos)

For bonus points: where does the water end up?

Rick

[DonnaR57]

I believe that is the Hite bridge near the Hite Marina at Glen Canyon Recreation Area. That would then be the Colorado River, and the water eventually ends up spitting out into the Gulf of California. All of the pictures I believe are in Utah.


Donna

[Utahtea]

I believe that is the Hite bridge near the Hite Marina at Glen Canyon Recreation Area. That would then be the Colorado River, and the water eventually ends up spitting out into the Gulf of California. All of the pictures I believe are in Utah.


Donna

I've been over the Hite Bridge many times and it's a lot more open and slick rock area and the bridge has an arch to it. I can not figure out where this is. With the color of the river it's in the southwest somewhere. Colorful river could be Colorado or Green.

I'm still thinking!

Utahtea

[Rick Quinn]

Keep thinking, because it's not the Colorado, or the Green. (Or the Gila ;-)

Rick