Apache Trail (AZ 88)

What should you know before visiting Apache Trail (AZ 88)?

No toll roads expected for a car.

• ADOT says SR 88 is paved from Apache Junction to several miles east of Tortilla Flat. Beyond that, the road is gravel and narrow.
• The steep stretch near Fish Creek Hill was closed after flooding in 2019 and reopened in 2024 only for high-clearance 4WD vehicles and UTVs. Signs say no trailers.
• Apache Lake can be reached from the east via SR 188 with a trailer or boat. Motorhomes should use that side or turn around at Tortilla Flat.
• Conditions can change quickly after rain. Check the current status with ADOT before you set out.

The drive

From Apache Junction, SR 88 heads northeast through desert foothills past Canyon Lake to the small settlement of Tortilla Flat. The pavement continues for several miles beyond it. Past that point the road becomes a gravel track that drops steeply to Fish Creek and continues toward Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake. The section closed in 2019 was about five miles long, starting at Fish Creek Hill Overlook. Only the reopened part, roughly mileposts 222 to 227, is signed for high-clearance four-wheel drive and UTVs.

Planning

For a motorhome, drive the paved part from Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat and return the same way, or approach Roosevelt Lake and Apache Lake via SR 188 from the east. Do not enter the primitive section with a trailer. A separate federal project has been reported to close the road between Roosevelt Lake and Apache Lake at night, so check ADOT and az511 before driving. Heat in summer is severe, so most visitors choose the cooler months.

Camping

The corridor crosses Tonto National Forest, where rules on dispersed camping, fire and recreation passes are set by the Forest Service and vary by area, so check them beforehand. Ask the Forest Service which campgrounds are open and in which season. Services may be limited east of Tortilla Flat, so fill up on fuel and water beforehand. Summer storms can flood washes and close the road.

FAQs