ATV Trails in Roosevelt Lake, Arizona
Theodore Roosevelt Dam spans the Salt River, forming a reservoir known as Theodore Roosevelt Lake. Named after the former U.S. president, the scenic desert lake is in the heart of the Tonto National Forest. Year-round off-road vehicle trails offer scenic rides for ATV enthusiasts making a trip to Roosevelt Lake. The area around the lake offers many recreation opportunities including camping, hiking, fishing, boating and seasonal hunting.
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Reaching Roosevelt Lake
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Theodore Roosevelt Dam and Lake Armstrong are in central Arizona. Roosevelt Lake is accessible using the Apache Trail and is 80 miles northeast from Phoenix. The lake can also be reached by a 20-mile drive on the paved Highway 88 from Globe, Arizona, or on the Beeline Highway, also known as State Route 87, from Mesa via State Route 188. To access the 25-mile long lake and its 112 miles of shorelines, visitors must purchase a Tonto Pass. In 2011, the fee was $6 per vehicle. ATV riders may need to obtain a free permit to ride in certain areas.
Apache Trail
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Desert landscape dominates the Apache Trail. The Apache Trail is a scenic route between Apache Junction and Roosevelt Lake. The paved portion of the trail ends just after Tortilla Flat, but ATV riders can expect a well-graded route. The trail is accessible from Phoenix via U.S. Route 60 traveling east to State Road 88. The winding trail is 39.3 miles long from the Lost Dutchman State Park to Roosevelt Lake. Campgrounds are available along the route at Canyon Lake, Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake.
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Four Peaks to Roosevelt Lake
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Riders can expect a six-hour journey if they explore branches of the main route. A three- to four-hour journey from Four Peaks Road to Roosevelt Lake gives riders a scenic ride through the desert, mountainous landscape. The trailhead is accessible from Mesa, Arizona, via State Route 87 until reaching Four Peaks Road, also known as Forest Route 143. Riders can also explore smaller trails that branch from the main route. Anyone picnicking, camping or hiking in the area should be aware that the area has one of the highest concentrations of black bears in the state.
Rolls Off-Highway Vehicle Area
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Only 4-by-4 vehicles are permitted on the Rolls OHV Area. Just south of the Four Peaks Road trail, riders can explore the expansive Rolls Off-Highway Vehicle Area. The trail system covers 27,000 acres and passes through the Sonoran Desert and a section of the Great Western Trail. The mountainous routes can be sandy at times and are found just west of Lake Roosevelt. From Phoenix, the trail system can be reached using State Route 87 and then traveling on the Bush Highway or Four Peaks Road to the trailheads.
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References
- Recreation.gov: Theodore Roosevelt Lake
- Go-Arizona: Roosevelt Lake
- Arizona Game and Fish Department: Arizona OHV Trails and Places to Ride
- United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Tonto National Forest: Motorized Use on National Forests/Travel Management
- United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Tonto National Forest: Rolls Off-Highway Vehicle Area
Resources
- Photo Credit atv airborne image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com roosevelt dam spillway image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com apache trail's route image by EuToch from Fotolia.com dirt bike airborne image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com dirt bikes airborn image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
