Driving the Apache Trail - Arizona State Route 88 | For Travel's Sake: Episode 8

How much fun can you have in a Ford F350 pickup on a historic and treacherous road through some of the most beautiful and rugged scenery in America? Let's find out! Fasten your seat belt, because in this episode we drive Arizona's legendary Apache Trail through the Tonto National Forest and the Superstition Mountains from Roosevelt Dam to Apache Junction! A former stagecoach route, this amazing desert highway (Arizona State Route 88) is an unforgiving test to anyone's driving skills. Hop in and ride along as we drive the Apache Trail!
Leave a comment below and tell us what kind of vehicle you'd choose to drive the Apache Trail!
We are an American couple who decided to sell our house and travel full-time in our 37-foot fifth-wheel camper AND our 38-foot sailboat, S/V Ampersand. We want to share our journey with you and inspire you to follow your own dreams and adventures! We hope you like what we do. If you liked the video, be sure to give it a thumbs up. And don't forget to subscribe!
Thanks for watching, For Travel's Sake!
John and Cat
The cameras we used for this video:
Sony FDR-X3000: bit.ly/2G25qnD
Lumix G7: bit.ly/2pfBUFM
Our truck is a 2015 Ford F350 diesel.
For more about the Apache Trail, start here: bit.ly/2C7WZVq
Music: www.epidemicsound.com
Don't forget to visit our website: www.fortravelssake.life
Follow us on Instagram at: for.travels.sake
And follow us on Facebook at: For.Travels.Sake

[@Cat-cg5xy]

Exciting news from the Arizona Department of Transportation! azdot.gov/good-news-those-drawn-apache-trail?fbclid=IwAR0Wps2HUHzF6ZdwxAXo1xWEjeXFowGuxYGQds0I4D6JoAjkNLlozaqufGw_aem_AfH01KRi81WnOsxDWdgtS_dE7MFa8oYJ4kkA6yISj9kv17Bjeerk3MSwkoPxSkr-G4Y

[@EnjoyingLife2024]

I remember driving the trail and enjoying the colorful rock formations along the way and pulling off the road to just lay on the hood of my car looking up at the sky. A colleague recently advised me to stop overworking and take a vacation. I wish I could vacation here again. 👍😎

[@georgesealy4706]

I have been on the Apache Trail many times. Unfortunately a lot of idiots drive way too fast on that road. They think they are cool. They are not, they are just stupid. There have been a number of people who have gone over those cliffs because they lost control of their car on those narrow dirt and gravel roads. It didn't end well for them. Good video. Thanks for posting. It is a remarkable place.

[@ForTravelsSake]

George Sealy So true! It’s a road that begs to be driven slowly. And not just for the safety. There is so much beauty along the way! Thanks for watching and for commenting. Safe travels!

[@helenjackman8984]

If you don't scare easy this is a very interesting drive.

[@stefanmuler9854]

Love it over there. Best area

[@karenpowell4626]

First time I drove that was 20 years ago. My husband made me drive the RV towing a boat out to Roosevelt from Apache Junction. I was shaking by the time we got there. We drove home through Globe on our way home... But, it's definitely gorgeous back there!

[@ForTravelsSake]

Wow! That must have been scary! 😱 We sure miss driving that old road. Thanks for watching!

[@karenpowell4626]

@@ForTravelsSake it was! Back in the day that road was traveled along, so there were many close encounters with other vehicles!

[@tonyfaust8479]

Great drive and great views. Thanks for sharing! A bit like our drive from Salina Cruz to here!

[@mostly_insane2291]

Funny bit at the beginning with the oversized vehicle. In my teens my uncle drove my family through there in his motor home. It was thrilling and terrifying at the same time.

[@ForTravelsSake]

We weren’t sure how many people noticed that oversize rig. It was going sooooo sloooow! We’re pretty sure it wasn’t going beyond the Apache Lake campground, but it was still too big for that old trail. That trip with your uncle must have been quite an adventure for a teenager! Thanks for watching!

[@ralphsmith4063]

Great drive, I have made it 4 times over the last 10 years.

[@heleneahern1226]

Bucket list...thanks for the beautiful video.

[@ForTravelsSake]

Helene Ahern Thank you! 🙏🏼 I hope you get to make that drive someday soon! Thanks so much for watching! ❤️

[@rainbowrunner1550]

I've only been on the whole road one time over 10 years ago in March 2008. We were heading up to Payson but the 87 was closed because of a landslide. We had to go on the 88 instead. It was a long drive obviously, but my Dad made it with his 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 with me, my two siblings, and my Mom riding. That was the truck he had at the time. It was past dark when we came home so we went through Globe instead driving the 88 at night.

[@ForTravelsSake]

What a great memory! It’s on our bucket list to drive the Trail at night under a full moon!

[@camper5520]

Great Trip, Thank you !!!

[@ForTravelsSake]

Camper 55, Thanks for the kind words. We hope the road gets opened again someday. We’re planning a follow-up video about the closure of the Apache Trail. Thanks for watching!

[@leeroschen6340]

In April 2019 while on an Arizona vacation (I live in South Dakota), my wife and I took AZ-88 in our small rental car on our way to Tortilla Flat not having a clue beforehand how dangerous certain portions of this gravel road were. It was marked on our map as a scenic route, so we thought we would give it a try. My wife and I almost got wiped out and killed by a oncoming pickup truck (driving WAY TOO FAST) pulling a boat DOWNHILL on that scary curve that runs along the side of the mountain where it is basically one lane traffic. And with NO guardrail to protect us. If the driver of that truck had tapped our front bumper, we would have gone over the cliff, and met our Maker. Our bumpers were only about 18 inches apart when we both came to a screeching halt on the side of that mountain. I needed to BACK UP down the mountain to a place where I could pull over to the side to let the other vehicle by me. I HAD NEVER BEEN SO SCARED SHITLESS IN MY LIFE. Like the game of football, it was a game of inches with little to spare! I can't help but wonder what would have happened if I had been driving a trucking and towing a boat like the other vehicle was. Someone would have had to back up!!!! I still get the chills when I recall this near-death experience. Gorgeous scenery, but we will NEVER dare to take this dangerous drive again.

[@ForTravelsSake]

Wow! Very scary! Glad you made it safely. Unfortunately, no one will be able to make that drive again for a long time - maybe ever. Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@andrewj4442]

Driven it once in a Kia Soul...… Thanks for sharing this. 😍

[@ForTravelsSake]

andrew james Wow! I bet that was quite a ride! Thanks for riding along with us!

[@mandarb23]

the best time to be at fish Creek hill is when it's raining. more water falls than you can count

[@moniqueneely1671]

We did it last summer. Now it is indefinite closed from 212 to 228 because of the bad fire we had last summer and flooding. The desert needs to heal some.

[@exploreaholic_az]

Is the road open now? :)

[@TheDustysix]

Back 1988 or so I was driving in Mesa and saw an oil change special. So I stopped. I pop the hood of my F-150 4x4 and the tech says "You'll be looking for a new truck soon!" I said why? He says "No A/C!" I laughed. I said I've lived here for 3 years. So What? I used to drive the whole fish creek thing Sunday drive. Fun trying to watch two RV's one going up the other down at that choke point on the cliff.

[@patricemastropole5713]

Sorry...I see from other reviews that many people loved the ride & the view to Tortilla Flats...it was just plain terrifying for me. Not a ride for the faint of heart. We got there and I was so nervous from the ride up there I did not want to go to the restaurant there...just wanted to get back in our car and get the heck out of there. No guard rails on those steep cliffs!😬

[@ForTravelsSake]

That’s totally understandable! That’s not a fun drive for everyone. We’ve had some really hairy drives we wouldn’t do again. But we’re glad you watched our video. Safe travels!

[@HikeBikeWalkRide]

Oh, sad sad.....have you heard about the damage to The Apache Trail this fall? I fear my bucket list had a cancelation. Glad we have this video!

[@ForTravelsSake]

We agree, it is sad. The power of water is unyielding. We’re currently in Apache Junction and plan to do a followup video about the loss of the trail.

[@HikeBikeWalkRide]

@@ForTravelsSake I look forward to your next video! I pray they will be able to repair the old road!

[@soap1056593]

Do you need a 4x4 at any time or is a 2WD with high clearance and good tires all you need? Awesome video!!

[@ForTravelsSake]

When the Trail was open, people drove it in all kinds of vehicles. It didn’t require 4WD or high clearance, though it helped to have good shocks! Unfortunately, the Apache Trail is currently closed (see our video about that), due to flood damage and rock slides. But we hear the ADOT is studying the feasibility of reopening the road. Stay tuned! And thanks for watching!

[@RD-xh9ss]

Wow awesome video. Thank you for sharing. Next time I go ill look to make that drive 👍. Can most cars make it thru that trail?

[@ForTravelsSake]

Thanks! Sadly, the road is closed now. Check out our video explaining why... Apache Trail: CLOSED! | For Travel's Sake: Episode 29

[@ralphsmith4063]

Several miles of the trail now closed indefinitely due to fire which resulted in rains washing out the trail.

[@ForTravelsSake]

Ralph it's amazing what Mother Nature can do. It is a phenomenal drive as you know. If you haven't caught our latest episode about the closing of the trail it's episode 29. Thanks so much for follow our channel and for your comments on the videos.😄

[@AngelInTheDesert]

Would you take a sports car on this trail? It is the unpaved section not recommended

[@ForTravelsSake]

The drive from Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat is perfect for a sports car, but the unpaved section is not recommended!

[@kylemag1139]

It’s such a shame they closed a portion of this route indefinitely

[@ForTravelsSake]

We agree!

[@kylemag1139]

@@ForTravelsSake I live not far from this route at all and have taken this route until the part where it’s closed. I thought it was always like that. I wish I could see it first hand

[@VladimirBlarp]

This doesn't look like a good idea in a passenger car

[@ForTravelsSake]

Very true! But unfortunately the road is currently closed. We tell that story in another video. But thanks for watching and commenting! Safe travels to you!

[@TommyJones49]

Those roads are crazy. Let's use some of Bidens new printed money for strong guard rails.