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need for greater government involvement in these water management projects that would reclaim the arid lands of the West. Due to pressure from publications, irrigation organizations, and lobby campaigns, both the
Republican and Democratic platforms in the presidential election of 1900 prioritized pro-irrigation and pro-reclamation as their central plank. As a result, on June 17, 1902, the
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Construction of the Apache Trail (known as the Tonto Wagon Road at that time) began on August 29, 1903. The route of this supply road followed the ancient footpath that is believed to have been used by the
Anasazi tribes to trade with the Hohokam. Other Native American tribes may have also used this
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After the completion of the Apache Trail in 1905, the character of this road began to change. While this road continued to serve as a supply route for the
Theodore Roosevelt Dam, the Apache Trail soon opened up for public use. Several entrepreneurs began to provide transportation services along this
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In the late 1890s, the valley experienced its worst drought since the Civil War. As a result, citizens in the
Arizona Territory, along with their counterparts in the surrounding areas of the West, realized the urgent need for reclamation projects. Furthermore, this devastating drought showcased the
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provided most of the labor for this road construction and they lived separately from the other crews. These Apache workmen often brought their wives and children to live with them and maintained their traditional way of life. The Apache Trail, originally running from the Mesa railhead to the dam
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in
Arizona, which would provide the vital water supply and hydroelectric power to promote the growth of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Although the remote site of this future dam proved to be a logistical nightmare, the solution to this problem was the construction of the Apache Trail. Thus, the
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was one of the first companies to benefit from the scenic beauty of this road. They offered the famous "Sunset Route", which was their "New
Orleans to San Francisco" train route that included a motorcar side trip over the Apache Trail for an additional fee. Of note, it was the Southern Pacific
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However, the major challenge to the valley's continued agricultural and economic growth was the temperamental Salt River. Its flow was erratic with both droughts and floods straining the farmers. There was a clear need for the reliable delivery of water. Reclamation projects, such as building a
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Fires and floods in 2019 resulted in a massive landslide between the Fish Creek Hill
Overlook and Apache Lake Marina. This section of road has not been repaired and is closed indefinitely. Drivers can access Tortilla Flat from the west. Access to Apache Lake is only possible from the east.
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in the
Arizona Territory revealed the potential for irrigation-based frontier settlements. The initial settlement, Phoenix, grew slowly, but as the irrigation system along the Salt River expanded, new settlements developed in the valley, which included
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Railway
Company who coined the name "Apache Trail" in their advertising campaigns in order to promote these automobile side tours of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam and the Apache Trail. This name has been used for this road ever since.
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road, which included both stagecoach and automobile excursions. These entrepreneurs recognized the unspoiled and spectacular landscape surrounding this road and marketed its appeal as a popular tourist destination.
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From Apache
Junction heading northeast to Tortilla Flat, the Trail - named The E. Apache Trail (Arizona State Rt 88) at this point - is paved, turning into a dirt road a few miles east of
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storage dam, would not only accumulate and provide enough water for the farmers during a drought, but also decrease the likelihood of disastrous floods during the wet periods.
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in 1992, the Apache Junction portion of the Apache Trail was part of US Highway 60, which was rerouted to the Superstition Freeway once it was completed.
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236:; there are steep cliff drops and few safety barriers. The trail requires caution when driving and it is not recommended for large
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290:. This act authorized the development and funding of large-scale water projects to harness and manage the water in the West.
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Apache Trail served as the critical supply road, facilitating the transport of materials and equipment to the dam site.
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256:, when the United States federal government desired to settle territories in the West. Accordingly, surveying in the
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The Trail winds steeply through 40 miles (64 km) of rugged desert mountains, past deep reservoir lakes like
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One of the first federal projects undertaken by the National Reclamation Act was the construction of the
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footpath during prehistoric times as a migratory route between their summer and winter homes.
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391:"Too Much Water, or Not Enough: Arizona Territory, Irrigation Projects, and Politics"
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Indians who originally used this trail to move through the Superstition Mountains.
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This article is about the stagecoach trail in Arizona. For 1942 Western film, see
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in the east and the towns of Alhambra, Peoria, and Glendale in the northwest.
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228:. The narrow, winding road is unpaved from just east of the town of
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site, was completed on September 3, 1905 at a cost of $ 551,000.
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Apache Trail - looking southwest from near highest point
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Development of the Salt River Valley began after the
446:. Phoenix, Arizona: Arrowhead Press. p. 181.
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560:Native American trails in the United States
190:through the Superstition Mountains and the
444:Superstition Mountain: A Ride Through Time
85:. It was named the Apache Trail after the
565:Trails and roads in the American Old West
585:Protected areas of Pinal County, Arizona
442:Swanson, James; Kollenborn, Tom (1981).
580:Transportation in Pinal County, Arizona
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351:"State Route 88 (Apache Trail) | ADOT"
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570:Historic trails and roads in Arizona
277:The National Reclamation Act of 1902
16:Historic stagecoach trail in Arizona
595:Native American history of Arizona
575:Geography of Pinal County, Arizona
522:U.S. Department of Transportation
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286:was signed into law by President
92:The historic Apache Trail linked
590:History of Pinal County, Arizona
459:"Sunset Route and Apache Trail"
410:Images of America: Apache Trail
376:Images of America: Apache Trail
54:Saguaros along the Apache Trail
38:Apache Trail at Fish Creek Hill
30:Historic Apache Trail road sign
179:Apache Trail, northeastern end
128:Apache Trail, southwestern end
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323:Evolution of the Apache Trail
540:The American West Travelogue
511:GPX (secondary coordinates)
139:at the edge of the Greater
81:trail that ran through the
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530:Scenic drive: Apache Trail
524:Apache Trail Historic Road
474:Sources and external links
294:The Theodore Roosevelt Dam
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506:GPX (primary coordinates)
481:Map all coordinates using
463:Tom Kollenborn Chronicles
429:Tom Kollenborn Chronicles
330:Southern Pacific Railroad
307:Building the Apache Trail
489:Download coordinates as:
425:"Arizona's Apache Trail"
408:Powers, Richard (2009).
374:Powers, Richard (2009).
284:National Reclamation Act
395:Reclamation and Arizona
145:Theodore Roosevelt Lake
300:Theodore Roosevelt Dam
83:Superstition Mountains
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501:GPX (all coordinates)
412:. Arcadia Publishing.
378:. Arcadia Publishing.
192:Tonto National Forest
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555:Geography of Arizona
423:Kollenborn, Thomas.
215:Superstition Freeway
168:33.6725°N 111.1531°W
117:33.4152°N 111.5807°W
526:. America's Byways.
163: /
112: /
21:Apache Trail (film)
288:Theodore Roosevelt
173:33.6725; -111.1531
122:33.4152; -111.5807
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457:Kollenborn, Tom.
258:Salt River Valley
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536:, Jun. 14, 2006.
534:Arizona Republic
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71:Apache Trail
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226:Apache Lake
222:Canyon Lake
171: /
158:111°09′11″W
120: /
107:111°34′51″W
65:and rainbow
63:Canyon Lake
549:Categories
360:2021-03-01
337:References
177: (
155:33°40′21″N
143:area with
126: (
104:33°24′55″N
79:stagecoach
532:from the
355:azdot.gov
254:Civil War
248:History
141:Phoenix
75:Arizona
87:Apache
77:was a
263:Tempe
211:Tempe
267:Mesa
265:and
224:and
207:Mesa
69:The
496:KML
238:RVs
232:to
73:in
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