73 year old Arizona native and I've driven that road dozens of times usually dragging a boat in a 2 wheel drive truck. Their signs about 4 wheel drive are a joke, that road's in 1000x better shape now (especially Fish Creek Hiil) than it's been in all the years I've driven it. Just my 2 cents worth and thanks for the great videos and drone shots.
Yeah, I've driven the whole trail. before the closing and in a lot worse condition in FWD car and a 2WD minivan. No problems. The 4x4 only is nonsense and discriminating AZ registered vehicle owners.
took my 90 year old dad through there in his chevy Malibu. He used to go that trail in the 50s in his oldsmobile, he wanted to see it again. no problem.
Before the road closed I was coming down Fish Creek Hill I met a 1 ton dully pulling a big 5th wheel RV trailer. Only way for me to go was back up the hill in reverse. Thankfully a motorcycle was coming down he went back to the top and stopped all traffic from coming down the hill. He should not have been on that road.
Hey no problem! I appreciate you sharing your story. after speaking with a state trooper and a couple other locals, the 4x4 sign is to help prevent sedans from going down there, getting stuck and holding up traffic and I agree, the road is in much better shape now than its ever been, but I got a feeling after a few months of people traveling on it, and a good rainfall....it aint gonna smooth much longer after that.....thank you again for checking out the video 👍
I drove that road in 1971 in a GTO. Roosevelt Dam was the original big red granite blocks and we drove across the dam. That was 50 years ago and my memory of this is still vivid. Posi track on the GTO worked well.
As a 16 old driver in 1982, I was driving a 1967 Ford Flacon station wagon. I had a boom box for a tape player. Fiddling with it I drove into the ditch on the uphill side of the road. Bent the tie rod just past Fish Creek Hill. Had to turn around and drive back to Tortilla Flat. They didn’t have phone service that far, so I caught a ride to Canyon Lake. What a memory.
Thank you thank you thank you! It means the world to me. all contributions are greatly appreciated and invested right back into the channel! Appreciate you taking time out the day to check out the video! thank you once again! 🙏
We drove the trail this past weekend. It's paved sporadically. Super duper washboard in places. My wife is a cactus baby and has never been on the trail. That high clearance, 4x4 warning is complete bullshit. I got stuck behind a mini van for a while before they finally let me by. Stopped by Tortilla Flats had a great meal. We started in AJ. Drove all the way to Roosevelt and came back home through Globe/Superior. All in all took us about 4 hours total including lunch. It was a fun drive. Next drive will be to Young and possibly further north. Wife wasnt a fan of the trail so i might be making this drive to Young by myself. Lol.
@@walkingman9171 I don't think I'd be on that road when it's wet in 4x4 or any other vehicle, short of a tank. Lol. I imagine you'd be slipping and sliding all over the place.
My dad drove us, when I was 8 years old in 1970. It was only 1 lane wide, yet 2-way. The drive was pretty scary, especially when a big RV came head on, and he had to back up to the next pull off to let it by. Even though we were driving an early Toyota sedan, the tires were right on the edge of the road and it was crumbling. My dad was cursing a blue streak, like you never hear anymore. Real 40’s-50’s army cursing. I spent the time counting all the blackened wrecks down at the bottom of the slope. I forget the number, but it was over 40 of them. Mostly really old cars from the 30’s or 40’s. But a few newer ones. For a kid from N.Y.C. It was eye opening to say the least.
Thank you so much!!! I appreciate that! any funds that i get from my viewers goes 100% right back into the channel in one way or another!...cant say thank you enough! this channel is just getting started! thank you for watching all the way from Europe! 👍
When I was a kid my family made the trip over Fish Creek coming and going about every weekend all summer in a 2 wheel drive pick-up camper and boat/ trailer combination. One time, we were making the trip in a Chevy Nomad station wagon pulling a boat and experienced brake fade coming down Fish Creek Hill. Apparently, early automatic transmissions would coast with no dynamic retarding action from engine compression available to hold a vehicle back. Drum brakes in those days, early 60s. Burnt Corral campground was always our destination. 15:4215:4215:42
In 2010 or so, I drove my E-150 van (conversion) from Apache junction to Roosevelt lake! Camped there drove back to Apache lake turn off found a Forest service campsite right on Apache lake!!! Still have the van over 1/4 million miles and still going strong !!!
I'd prefer they never pave that road. It keeps traffic down and the speed. People push their speed as it is, which causes accidents. Let's not invite more damage with more traffic and more debris from crashes.
11:58 Although there is “not a single drop of water” under the bridge at Fish Creek, I’ve hiked up there several times and there is running water further upstream with small pools. AND there are FISH in Fish Creek! They are isolated in their own little riparian oasis in the canyon. The scenery in this highway is spectacular. Love the drone footage! Thanks.
I love reading all the comments from the old timers about driving this road. I drove it with my buddy in 2018, a year before it closed. I had an ole Dodge Durango, and the washboard literally rattled pieces of the interior apart. Other than that, it really wasn't bad. I ought to make a trip back out there and see how it is for myself, thanks for the video!
I drove the entire road west to east in 1983 in a 1981 Trans Am. Met many large RV;s and rigs pulling boat trailers. Coming down Fish Creek Hill was an adventure meeting these large vehicles climbing uphill. Before Roosevelt Dam was rehabbed and raised.
Drove it 3 years ago just at the end of Covid in a Chevy Equino. What a fun drive until we tried to go down to the lake and a huge pothole tried to swallow us up! It’s incredibly beautiful up there looking forward to going again.
I really love watching your videos of these areas as I grew up in Phoenix back in the 70-80s. Makes me seriously consider moving back to the area. Keep up the great work!
Love your drone following you on the road. Gives us a great view of the road, landscape, and river. Great job! I've driven the road from Tortilla Flat to Roosevelt Lake several times in a 2 wheel drive before they ever made any improvements. Pretty scary!! One of the most beautiful drives in AZ. We are blessed to have such a beautiful state.
Thank you! I enjoy utilizing the follow feature, it offers such a unique perspective! and I feel like people can really gauge how wide and how good the road is! thank you for sharing your story!
Another great video on Fish Creek Road/Apache Trail. I can’t believe how smooth the road looks and the wider width. Hi again from Canada. The first place for you to see in Canada would be Jasper/Banff National Parks, Moraine Lake and 7 Mountains, Athabasca Falls, all of which are in Alberta where I live. Just Google the area for your first look at the great views. You’ll love it. Would you consider doing a video in the Sedona area, and the Tucson area? The red rock country and the Saguaro cactus are outstanding. Love to see them again.
Canada!!! I will be going there one of these days....funny thing is, on my way back from a recent trip, this girl I was sitting next to on the plane was telling me all about canada. I was telling her how I always wanted to go there and film a video at lake Okanagan, as I've heard that is a place where they've had reports of the Famous Loch Ness Monster!!!! RAWR!!!! that type of stuff has always interested me. And i did a video partially on sedona and showcased a lot of the red rock....ill put the link to that video right here ua-cam.com/video/woqW0zBjEXw/v-deo.htmlsi=6sGUy676pZUmECnk as always, thanks for watching!..........will be going to Tucson in the future!
Just made this drive from Apache Junction to Apache lake in my Subaru SUV, very drive-able save for a few stretches of road that is a bit rough. Will go back for sure for such wonderful wilderness.
Love this!!! This is the section of road we never got to see! Love the Fish Creek Bridge and the Roosevelt Bridge. I'm sure we'll end up back in AZ at some point. Quite different from Wisconsin and we loved our time there. Thanks for another great video!
Hey thanks again for checking out the video! you will definitely have to take this way next time your out in AZ, so much to see along the way, im actually heading out there again today to do some more video stuff....Love Wisconsin though! I grew up in southern MN so we always went to Wisconsin Dells every summer! its on my bucket list to do a video out there next im in back in the midwest. Thanks again for checking out the video!
Drove that road with with drivers permit with grand parents in the 80s. The car was a 1973 Plymouth fury III. Big green boat. Grandma cried the whole way. Mom's eyes were closed. Grandpa just sat back smoking the whole time.
Took the drive from Canyon Lake a few weeks ago to Apache Lake. The road was amazing. The trip down fish creek hill was not at all what it used to be. They did have a state trooper on both sides, making sure everyone was following the new rules. I would hope they will not pave all the way. I feel like a maintained dirt road will keep the traffic down somewhat . Paving and guard rails will take away from the beauty of the desert. Digging your videos, by the way. Keep em coming. If you got a little different ride with some clearance, you can get some beautiful footage around Arizona for sure. I'm going to have to get myself one of those fancy drones for sure .
Thank you! appreciate you checking out the channel....and yes! A new ride in the future is something I've got my eyes on.....in time! and yea, you should get a drone, they offer such a different perspective compared to what "on the ground" cameras can do......thanks again for checking out the video!
Miss being able to drive Fish Creek hill, looking forward to being able to use it again! We always stay in the Crabtree Wash area as we have access to one on the cabins there.
When Roosevelt Dam was being built, my grandfather and a couple of his cousins drove horse-drawn freight wagons on that road during the summer when they were on summer break from high school in Mesa. They would leave early monday morning amd wouldn't get back until Friday evening.
I drove down Fish Creek Hill from the Phoenix end 3 or 4 weeks ago and went as far as Apache Lake. The stretch that is 4WD was the smoothest part of the road. Don't know why they say 4WD only. I was driving my 4WD Tacoma but could just as easily have made the trip in my Murano. Another great video. Thanks.
If you ever come to NoCal, another gorgeous drive is 299 between Salyer and Weaverville - not frightening but absolutely beautiful; although can be dicey when rainy and/or snowy; well known for rock falls and landslides; right along the Trinity River
Drove the road last Thursday 10/3/24 and the part that was closed is now in excellent condition. Some of the road leading from Tortilla Flat to the top of Fish Creek Hill are a bit bumpy, but nothing a regular car can't do at slow speeds. Don't take a low rider though. We specifically went to Apache Lake for lunch and a beer and we were the only ones there. Then we kept going on up to Roosevelt Lake. Beautiful drive.
Over 30 years prior to the rockslide and closure, I drove the Trail countless times to camp and fish the Apache and Roosevelt impoundments. Most trips were done in my '74 Jensen Healey roadster, with a kayak resting on the windshield frame and a fabricated rack strapped to the trunk. Monsoon season was irresistible, as the brief but dramatic late-afternoon storms were followed by a fragrant peace that is distinctive to our desert. The condition of the road was highly variable, sometimes deteriorating to a jarring washboard, but that generally kept speeds down. Pavement and few guardrails will likely result in further "improvements" in the coming days. Easy access has resulted in the degradation of virtually all wonders of nature and I lament the paving of that stretch of road.
pulled my tent trailer with my old f150 from apache junction to apache lake. It was a little harry going down fish creek hill. My wife insisted we go back the long way past Rosevelt and Globe. We heard from some people after we came down that someone tried to drive their 40ft motor home up fish creek hill and got stuck trying to go by a guy towing his boat down the hill. The boat ended up getting torn up by the hillside rocks trying to get by the motor home.
18 years ago we drove the entire length to the dam in a Ford Focus rental car! It was no problem, just a little hairy going on the one lane sections along the cliffs. Other than that it was a super easy drive.
Since early days in my teens, I always considered it 2-wheel anything with minimal caution. But with a manual trans you can goof-up and get trouble. I have a 4Runner now and the deal is AT gets me to other 4x4 places like Reavis Ranch northside. For now, while Fish Ck Hill is limited access I need to get out there. I so miss those places. It just needs to cool off a bit.
One more thing... when we were at the Roosevelt Dam standing out on that little shelter at the rest stop, all of a sudden a helicopter flew straight up out of there and flew down the canyon. It came back carrying something on the end of a long cable and dropped it off and took off again. Very cool!
oh!!!! I know exactly what you mean! heck I even got some video of it, but I didnt wanna put it in this video as the video i got was too jittery. im guessing that chopper was picking up water. they usually have a long rope with an orange plastic carriage on the bottom , they use this to scoop up water from the lake/river and then dump in on the forest fires!
I love to camp and fish on Apache Lake, and I do like the idea of paving the road all the way to the lake. But the downside is that it would ruin that lake!! With the road paved it would make that lake just another powerhead lake. The only thing you could do is to put a low-speed limit on the whole lake! They ruin Bartlett Lake. Now they close the lake after so many boats show up, and you take your life in your hands with all of the powerheads on the lake. I no longer go that lake, and that's what will happen if they pave the road into Apache Lake!
I did the full drive from Roosevelt Lake to Apache Junction last Sunday in my Nissan Juke. Definitely no issues, despite my rule breaking with a 2WD. Though the ADOT truck and the state patrol up top obviously didn't care. It's just so nice to finally be able to do the full drive as I moved back to AZ in 2021, making this my first time being able to do so. I appreciate your previous video that showed it was perfectly fine for a crossover SUV. I do hope they pave the north section clear to Apache Lake. Incidentally, I'd say the west side of Fish Creek Hill would be harder on a passenger car as there are more rocks sticking up than on the east side.
I drove that in about 1984 in a 76 Camaro. Girl friend from Boston who had a drivers license, but did not really drive, was biting her nails and asking to stop for a cigarette break all the way down fish creek grade. Yes it can be very scary for flat launders with no guard rails on a steep narrow gravel road with limited edge clearance for opposing traffic.
Camaro!!! thats my dream car! I even had one for a while, wasnt a 76 though....and that is my favorite generation of camaros! thanks for sharing your story!
I was kinda sad when it burned up. We drove to the lake righ before the fire and saw a ton of animals going the other way. Almost like they knew it was going to burn.
my wife and I (probably around 2014 or so) we were staying in Scottsdale... We drove up to Payson ( via 87 - beautiful drive). We left Payson after lunch, and drove a short while on the 260 and then attempted to drive some of the forest? road along Mogollon Rim - but the access road was closed due to snow. We came back down thru Payson to the 188 and thru the Indian Reservation? down to Roosevelt Lake, crossed the bridge and picked up the Apache Trail. None of that early part (after the bridge) was paved to my recollection. A mile or two down the road a big bull was just ambling down the road - we carefully passed, but he didn't really care about us. Stopped at Apache Lake, a little later crossed the Fish Creek bridge, up and over Fish Creek hill, passed Tortilla Flats (which I wished we would have stopped to visit, but didn't) and then along Superstition Mtns. to Apache Jct to Mesa and back to Scottsdale. We had no problems with the road at any point other than a little roughness here and there, and if I remember correctly a little washout on the edge of the road going up Fish Creek hill (probably around the steepest part). I'm pretty sure we were driving our 4wd Tundra. It was a very scenic trip.
You mentioned the confluence of the Gila and Salt rivers South of Phoenix. If you haven't yet been there yet, there is a survey monument on the top little peak near there that marks Arizona's baseline and meridian.
I still take the jeep if only to have options when I meet another car head on. With the 33s, I can be the guy to stick a wheel on the birm or in the ditch. If i'm in the Mini Van, I have to hope they can make the appropriate room.
Now that it's opened back up, I need to take the drive again. I'm in AJ so it's not much of a drive for me to get there. I do a lot of landscape photography. Been up and down Fish Creek a number of times before it was washed out. There was one time I was going down and there was a large U-Haul truck trying to get up. One of those time that make you think WTF is he doing.
Jessie, great video as always. I really need to try out the follow me on my drone. Perhaps after I get back from Philly. We do live in a beautiful state don't we. You really made me laugh with the speeding comment. I had a troll yell at me in all caps in a very early video I made because he felt I was driving way too fast. After that I felt I had to put a disclaimer. LOL. Keep up the great work.
Heck yea we live in a beautiful state! and yes, definitely try out the follow mode, its a wonderful feature. just a couple days ago I was mountain biking out near south mountain and I had my drone following me there as well! got some amazing footage that I may include in a future video! thanks again for tuning in!
it doesnt have any terrain level detector. it just detects obstacles, and I would say its really good at it. The 3d sensing system is always scanning the surround area and searching for a clear path
I drove my fwd manual transmission Honda Element end to end in Oct '17 . No problem, it was fun. Wife hated it. She hates most back country drives in AZ.
We pulled a 20' Sea Ray from Chandler all the way to Apache Lake Marina and back, over Fish Creek Hill with no problem, the road then was worse than it is now, so the idea of 4WD makes no sense; we pulled the boat with a 2wd pickup with no issues; the road as of 11/01/2024 is smoother than 20 years ago. So if you do not see any law enforcement on top of Fish Creek Hill, go anyway!!!!
I put a 3000 watt inverter in my truck and I have 6 DJI FPV batteries so I can fly pretty much all day while on the road with that setup. Do you charge in your car or just get them all charged before you go?
I charge them in my car, but not FROM my car, I have 4 portable power banks that i use to keep them topped off while im on the road....they work wonders!
Does anyone have any additional information on what the remaining “off road part is like? I know it mentioned clearance and trucks but is it rock crawlers or would a capable pickup truck be fine?
That depends on which battery you use. One battery, which is the intelligent flight battery, will give you 34 minutes of flight time, and the intelligent flight Plus battery will give you 47 minutes of flight time.
@@ElRobo1956 right! one of the first drone I had, had a maximum flight time of twenty minutes, but i always stopped flying when I got down to 5 minutes left........just to ensure I had enough time to return, so realistically is was only 15 minutes of solid flight time
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 Hopefully soon. I have a 2000 cherokee. 4 in lift 31x10.5R15 Mickey Thompson Baja Legend tires. Billstien shocks. I highly recommend the tires and shocks
Before it was closed I drove the road a couple of times, once in a 4x4 Jeep Liberty no problem, the next time was on my Harley, that made my bum twitch, especially when a cyclist passed me going down hill.😮😮
You need a upgrade to that car. Need to find a old-school reliable off road unit. A old school chevy suburban or truck or a Ford truck with a manual trans from the 90s.
I don't know whether to laugh myself to stitches, or express supreme scorn at the snowflake orientation, that too many folks subscribe to, these days of late. But, with what you showed us, Jess, as long as it keeps idiot amateurs away from us, doing needlessly dangerous stuff to us, on a surprisingly decent road; well, I guess that we can't ask for anything better, can we? And views/scenery so BEAUTIFUL, you almost wanna cry!! And, SILLY ME!! Good thing that you explained that your drone can treat your vehicle like a homing device; I'd thought that you had required a helper, one to drive, and one to operate the drone. The power line situation reminds me of the Clint Eastwood movie, "The Gauntlet". He and his girlfriend are on a cycle, driving in a setting extremely similar to this one, and he's being chased by bad guys in a helicopter. If only he can lure them low enough to fly into the nearby power lines and crash, he's got it made, and he does succeed in doing so. But, in doing so, he's probably knocked out the juice, to at least 40K customers(Laughs!!)!!
Merica? explain, you could of done the entire length in your car, there is no 4 wheel drive only parts, why they post it is a mystery, I think they old signs that do not apply now....Javi G.
I spoke with a state trooper thats been camped out just before you go down fish creek hill, and I asked him if they plan on citing people that go down fish creek hill in a sedan "or anything thats obviously not 4x4 or high clearance...he said "its their discretion if they decide to cite someone or not" Merica is something I always say when I see the US flag
73 year old Arizona native and I've driven that road dozens of times usually dragging a boat in a 2 wheel drive truck. Their signs about 4 wheel drive are a joke, that road's in 1000x better shape now (especially Fish Creek Hiil) than it's been in all the years I've driven it. Just my 2 cents worth and thanks for the great videos and drone shots.
Yeah, I've driven the whole trail. before the closing and in a lot worse condition in FWD car and a 2WD minivan. No problems. The 4x4 only is nonsense and discriminating AZ registered vehicle owners.
took my 90 year old dad through there in his chevy Malibu. He used to go that trail in the 50s in his oldsmobile, he wanted to see it again. no problem.
Before the road closed I was coming down Fish Creek Hill I met a 1 ton dully pulling a big 5th wheel RV trailer. Only way for me to go was back up the hill in reverse. Thankfully a motorcycle was coming down he went back to the top and stopped all traffic from coming down the hill. He should not have been on that road.
@@bobfincher1767Bass tracker and an F150 should make it through.
Hey no problem! I appreciate you sharing your story. after speaking with a state trooper and a couple other locals, the 4x4 sign is to help prevent sedans from going down there, getting stuck and holding up traffic and I agree, the road is in much better shape now than its ever been, but I got a feeling after a few months of people traveling on it, and a good rainfall....it aint gonna smooth much longer after that.....thank you again for checking out the video 👍
I drove that road in 1971 in a GTO. Roosevelt Dam was the original big red granite blocks and we drove across the dam. That was 50 years ago and my memory of this is still vivid. Posi track on the GTO worked well.
Thank you for sharing 👍
Georgeous scenery - can't get enough of the Arizona desert! Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for the great video!
Hey no problemo! glad you enjoyed! Arizona scenery is top notch!
As a 16 old driver in 1982, I was driving a 1967 Ford Flacon station wagon. I had a boom box for a tape player. Fiddling with it I drove into the ditch on the uphill side of the road. Bent the tie rod just past Fish Creek Hill. Had to turn around and drive back to Tortilla Flat. They didn’t have phone service that far, so I caught a ride to Canyon Lake. What a memory.
lol, what a day! thank you for sharing!
Just a shout out to AZDOT for their fine job on repairing and restoring the Apache Trail.
YES!!! props to AZDOT! they worked wonders getting this restored!
Thanks!
Thank you thank you thank you! It means the world to me. all contributions are greatly appreciated and invested right back into the channel! Appreciate you taking time out the day to check out the video! thank you once again! 🙏
We drove the trail this past weekend. It's paved sporadically. Super duper washboard in places. My wife is a cactus baby and has never been on the trail. That high clearance, 4x4 warning is complete bullshit. I got stuck behind a mini van for a while before they finally let me by. Stopped by Tortilla Flats had a great meal. We started in AJ. Drove all the way to Roosevelt and came back home through Globe/Superior. All in all took us about 4 hours total including lunch. It was a fun drive. Next drive will be to Young and possibly further north. Wife wasnt a fan of the trail so i might be making this drive to Young by myself. Lol.
If the said 4X4 required when wet, I might except that. But otherwise yes its BS.
@@walkingman9171 I don't think I'd be on that road when it's wet in 4x4 or any other vehicle, short of a tank. Lol. I imagine you'd be slipping and sliding all over the place.
haha, oved the story!
My dad drove us, when I was 8 years old in 1970. It was only 1 lane wide, yet 2-way. The drive was pretty scary, especially when a big RV came head on, and he had to back up to the next pull off to let it by. Even though we were driving an early Toyota sedan, the tires were right on the edge of the road and it was crumbling. My dad was cursing a blue streak, like you never hear anymore. Real 40’s-50’s army cursing. I spent the time counting all the blackened wrecks down at the bottom of the slope. I forget the number, but it was over 40 of them. Mostly really old cars from the 30’s or 40’s. But a few newer ones. For a kid from N.Y.C. It was eye opening to say the least.
thank you for sharing!
Hope you save up enough in the future to help the channel grow. One of my favorites. Greetings from Europe.
Thank you so much!!! I appreciate that! any funds that i get from my viewers goes 100% right back into the channel in one way or another!...cant say thank you enough! this channel is just getting started! thank you for watching all the way from Europe! 👍
When I was a kid my family made the trip over Fish Creek coming and going about every weekend all summer in a 2 wheel drive pick-up camper and boat/ trailer combination. One time, we were making the trip in a Chevy Nomad station wagon pulling a boat and experienced brake fade coming down Fish Creek Hill. Apparently, early automatic transmissions would coast with no dynamic retarding action from engine compression available to hold a vehicle back. Drum brakes in those days, early 60s. Burnt Corral campground was always our destination. 15:42 15:42 15:42
Thank you for sharing!!!
In 2010 or so, I drove my E-150 van (conversion) from Apache junction to Roosevelt lake! Camped there drove back to Apache lake turn off found a Forest service campsite right on Apache lake!!! Still have the van over 1/4 million miles and still going strong !!!
nice!! sounds like a fun trip!!
I'd prefer they never pave that road. It keeps traffic down and the speed. People push their speed as it is, which causes accidents. Let's not invite more damage with more traffic and more debris from crashes.
good point!
This is exactly how i feel. Just going to make it easier for all the idiots to ruin it
11:58 Although there is “not a single drop of water” under the bridge at Fish Creek, I’ve hiked up there several times and there is running water further upstream with small pools. AND there are FISH in Fish Creek! They are isolated in their own little riparian oasis in the canyon. The scenery in this highway is spectacular. Love the drone footage! Thanks.
Just did it today as well! Tortilla Flats to Roosevelt! Excellent Drive ! Had a Blast exploring!
Awesome! Glad to hear!
I love reading all the comments from the old timers about driving this road. I drove it with my buddy in 2018, a year before it closed. I had an ole Dodge Durango, and the washboard literally rattled pieces of the interior apart. Other than that, it really wasn't bad. I ought to make a trip back out there and see how it is for myself, thanks for the video!
hey no prob! thanks for checking out the video....and I agree with you....love reading the comments from the old timers!
I drove the entire road west to east in 1983 in a 1981 Trans Am. Met many large RV;s and rigs pulling boat trailers. Coming down Fish Creek Hill was an adventure meeting these large vehicles climbing uphill. Before Roosevelt Dam was rehabbed and raised.
thank you for sharing!
I’ve driven that road in a Ford Taurus…it was totally doable and not scary at all. Waterfalls in abundance and beautiful views!
Hoping one day I can make down there when the waterfalls are going....just as long as i dont get stuck haha, thanks for checking out the video!
Drove it 3 years ago just at the end of Covid in a Chevy Equino. What a fun drive until we tried to go down to the lake and a huge pothole tried to swallow us up! It’s incredibly beautiful up there looking forward to going again.
thanks for sharing!
I really love watching your videos of these areas as I grew up in Phoenix back in the 70-80s. Makes me seriously consider moving back to the area. Keep up the great work!
Sorry we’re full 😂😂
Thank you so much! AZ is a home you are always welcome back to! thank you for checking out the video!
Just went from Apache Jct to lake Roosevelt in a 2 wheel drive suburban 5 days ago . Fish creek hill was a piece of cake!
Sounds great!
Love your drone following you on the road. Gives us a great view of the road, landscape, and river. Great job! I've driven the road from Tortilla Flat to Roosevelt Lake several times in a 2 wheel drive before they ever made any improvements. Pretty scary!! One of the most beautiful drives in AZ. We are blessed to have such a beautiful state.
Thank you! I enjoy utilizing the follow feature, it offers such a unique perspective! and I feel like people can really gauge how wide and how good the road is! thank you for sharing your story!
Another great video on Fish Creek Road/Apache Trail. I can’t believe how smooth the road looks and the wider width. Hi again from Canada. The first place for you to see in Canada would be Jasper/Banff National Parks, Moraine Lake and 7 Mountains, Athabasca Falls, all of which are in Alberta where I live. Just Google the area for your first look at the great views. You’ll love it.
Would you consider doing a video in the Sedona area, and the Tucson area? The red rock country and the Saguaro cactus are outstanding. Love to see them again.
Canada!!! I will be going there one of these days....funny thing is, on my way back from a recent trip, this girl I was sitting next to on the plane was telling me all about canada. I was telling her how I always wanted to go there and film a video at lake Okanagan, as I've heard that is a place where they've had reports of the Famous Loch Ness Monster!!!! RAWR!!!! that type of stuff has always interested me. And i did a video partially on sedona and showcased a lot of the red rock....ill put the link to that video right here ua-cam.com/video/woqW0zBjEXw/v-deo.htmlsi=6sGUy676pZUmECnk as always, thanks for watching!..........will be going to Tucson in the future!
Just made this drive from Apache Junction to Apache lake in my Subaru SUV, very drive-able save for a few stretches of road that is a bit rough. Will go back for sure for such wonderful wilderness.
heck yea!
Love this!!! This is the section of road we never got to see! Love the Fish Creek Bridge and the Roosevelt Bridge. I'm sure we'll end up back in AZ at some point. Quite different from Wisconsin and we loved our time there. Thanks for another great video!
Hey thanks again for checking out the video! you will definitely have to take this way next time your out in AZ, so much to see along the way, im actually heading out there again today to do some more video stuff....Love Wisconsin though! I grew up in southern MN so we always went to Wisconsin Dells every summer! its on my bucket list to do a video out there next im in back in the midwest. Thanks again for checking out the video!
Drove that road with with drivers permit with grand parents in the 80s. The car was a 1973 Plymouth fury III. Big green boat. Grandma cried the whole way. Mom's eyes were closed. Grandpa just sat back smoking the whole time.
haha oh wow, thanks for sharing!
That big truck at 6:05 took that turn WAY to wide...timing is everything!
people be crazy
Thanks for this video. I haven't been down HWY88 all the way to the dam since 2017.
no problem, hopefully you can make it down there again soon!
I was out on the Apache Trail today. Did the reopened Fish Creek Hill. Lots of traffic today (Saturday). I should have known better. Great drive.
Yea, weekends are pretty busy!
Took the drive from Canyon Lake a few weeks ago to Apache Lake. The road was amazing. The trip down fish creek hill was not at all what it used to be. They did have a state trooper on both sides, making sure everyone was following the new rules. I would hope they will not pave all the way. I feel like a maintained dirt road will keep the traffic down somewhat . Paving and guard rails will take away from the beauty of the desert.
Digging your videos, by the way. Keep em coming. If you got a little different ride with some clearance, you can get some beautiful footage around Arizona for sure. I'm going to have to get myself one of those fancy drones for sure .
Thank you! appreciate you checking out the channel....and yes! A new ride in the future is something I've got my eyes on.....in time! and yea, you should get a drone, they offer such a different perspective compared to what "on the ground" cameras can do......thanks again for checking out the video!
Loving your videos. Just bought my first drone last summer. Now I want to upgrade.
oh awesome! and thank you! drones are such a game changer! thanks for checking out the video!
Miss being able to drive Fish Creek hill, looking forward to being able to use it again! We always stay in the Crabtree Wash area as we have access to one on the cabins there.
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for the footage, I just rode my motorcycle by there today and think I will have to drive down that road soon in our vehicle.
Hey no problem! thanks for checking out the video 🙏
When Roosevelt Dam was being built, my grandfather and a couple of his cousins drove horse-drawn freight wagons on that road during the summer when they were on summer break from high school in Mesa. They would leave early monday morning amd wouldn't get back until Friday evening.
Thank you for sharing 👍
I drove down Fish Creek Hill from the Phoenix end 3 or 4 weeks ago and went as far as Apache Lake. The stretch that is 4WD was the smoothest part of the road. Don't know why they say 4WD only. I was driving my 4WD Tacoma but could just as easily have made the trip in my Murano.
Another great video. Thanks.
thank you!!!! 🙏 appreciate you checking out the video!
If you ever come to NoCal, another gorgeous drive is 299 between Salyer and Weaverville - not frightening but absolutely beautiful; although can be dicey when rainy and/or snowy; well known for rock falls and landslides; right along the Trinity River
I will keep that in mind...Thank you!
Drove the road last Thursday 10/3/24 and the part that was closed is now in excellent condition. Some of the road leading from Tortilla Flat to the top of Fish Creek Hill are a bit bumpy, but nothing a regular car can't do at slow speeds. Don't take a low rider though. We specifically went to Apache Lake for lunch and a beer and we were the only ones there. Then we kept going on up to Roosevelt Lake. Beautiful drive.
Thanks for the info!
Over 30 years prior to the rockslide and closure, I drove the Trail countless times to camp and fish the Apache and Roosevelt impoundments. Most trips were done in my '74 Jensen Healey roadster, with a kayak resting on the windshield frame and a fabricated rack strapped to the trunk. Monsoon season was irresistible, as the brief but dramatic late-afternoon storms were followed by a fragrant peace that is distinctive to our desert.
The condition of the road was highly variable, sometimes deteriorating to a jarring washboard, but that generally kept speeds down. Pavement and few guardrails will likely result in further "improvements" in the coming days.
Easy access has resulted in the degradation of virtually all wonders of nature and I lament the paving of that stretch of road.
thank you for sharing!
😅 love the Cherokee Rock Crawler‼️I’m so anxious to get my Xterra out there with my buddy. Great video
right! the rock crawler is BA! Xterrz would be fun! thank you for checking out the video!
Oh, I'm sad I missed this live.😟 Hope you're doing well ❤
Doing great dawn!!! hope your doing well too!!
I love your videos man ,saludos from Florida, 👍
Thank you! appreciate ya checking out the videos! Love Florida! Saludos from Arizona!
Thanks.... good video
no probs! glad you enjoyed it!
I've been at Fish Creek Bridge when there was water rushing down the creek and it was only a matter of 2-3 feet under the bridge. It was crazy!
amazing!
pulled my tent trailer with my old f150 from apache junction to apache lake. It was a little harry going down fish creek hill. My wife insisted we go back the long way past Rosevelt and Globe. We heard from some people after we came down that someone tried to drive their 40ft motor home up fish creek hill and got stuck trying to go by a guy towing his boat down the hill. The boat ended up getting torn up by the hillside rocks trying to get by the motor home.
yikes!!! thank you for sharing!
The non paved sections are in good shape now hopefully they will survive the next monson season...
only time will tell
Such a wonderful place
And amazing aerial footage
Let me guess, you're using the follow me mode 😊👍
I enjoyed watching my friend
Thank you! The views never get old!
18 years ago we drove the entire length to the dam in a Ford Focus rental car! It was no problem, just a little hairy going on the one lane sections along the cliffs. Other than that it was a super easy drive.
thank you for sharing!
Since early days in my teens, I always considered it 2-wheel anything with minimal caution. But with a manual trans you can goof-up and get trouble. I have a 4Runner now and the deal is AT gets me to other 4x4 places like Reavis Ranch northside. For now, while Fish Ck Hill is limited access I need to get out there. I so miss those places. It just needs to cool off a bit.
Driving with caution is always wise. You never know what to expect..
Be safe..
Exactly!! I'd rather go slow and play it safe vs going fast and Wish I had played it safe 👍
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 That road...you know it's gonna be a side by side yahoo sooner or later...lol
One more thing... when we were at the Roosevelt Dam standing out on that little shelter at the rest stop, all of a sudden a helicopter flew straight up out of there and flew down the canyon. It came back carrying something on the end of a long cable and dropped it off and took off again. Very cool!
oh!!!! I know exactly what you mean! heck I even got some video of it, but I didnt wanna put it in this video as the video i got was too jittery. im guessing that chopper was picking up water. they usually have a long rope with an orange plastic carriage on the bottom , they use this to scoop up water from the lake/river and then dump in on the forest fires!
I drove my fwd Honda Element end to end in Oct of 17. No problem manual transmission, wife hated it 😅
I love to camp and fish on Apache Lake, and I do like the idea of paving the road all the way to the lake. But the downside is that it would ruin that lake!! With the road paved it would make that lake just another powerhead lake. The only thing you could do is to put a low-speed limit on the whole lake! They ruin Bartlett Lake. Now they close the lake after so many boats show up, and you take your life in your hands with all of the powerheads on the lake. I no longer go
that lake, and that's what will happen if they pave the road into Apache Lake!
I just drove that for the first time in a LR3. What a discovery!
Remember descending vehicles have right of way.
amen to that!
I did the full drive from Roosevelt Lake to Apache Junction last Sunday in my Nissan Juke. Definitely no issues, despite my rule breaking with a 2WD. Though the ADOT truck and the state patrol up top obviously didn't care. It's just so nice to finally be able to do the full drive as I moved back to AZ in 2021, making this my first time being able to do so. I appreciate your previous video that showed it was perfectly fine for a crossover SUV. I do hope they pave the north section clear to Apache Lake.
Incidentally, I'd say the west side of Fish Creek Hill would be harder on a passenger car as there are more rocks sticking up than on the east side.
How long does the full drive from the dam to AJ take?
Thank you for checking out the video! glad to hear you made it in the juke!
roughly an hour, really depends on what your driving and how busy it is....weekend will take a lot longer
Thanks for sharing. Towed a small bass boat on the road in the past. Not sure why anyone would want to see more pavement in the wild...
hey no prob! thank you for checking out the video!
One of my favorite drives when i lived in Az....tried to take the wife there 2 years ago and was very disappointed that it was closed😢
its open now! now you gotta come back!
I drove that in about 1984 in a 76 Camaro. Girl friend from Boston who had a drivers license, but did not really drive, was biting her nails and asking to stop for a cigarette break all the way down fish creek grade. Yes it can be very scary for flat launders with no guard rails on a steep narrow gravel road with limited edge clearance for opposing traffic.
Camaro!!! thats my dream car! I even had one for a while, wasnt a 76 though....and that is my favorite generation of camaros! thanks for sharing your story!
Great video...
Thank you! Im glad you enjoyed it!
I was kinda sad when it burned up. We drove to the lake righ before the fire and saw a ton of animals going the other way. Almost like they knew it was going to burn.
my wife and I (probably around 2014 or so) we were staying in Scottsdale... We drove up to Payson ( via 87 - beautiful drive). We left Payson after lunch, and drove a short while on the 260 and then attempted to drive some of the forest? road along Mogollon Rim - but the access road was closed due to snow. We came back down thru Payson to the 188 and thru the Indian Reservation? down to Roosevelt Lake, crossed the bridge and picked up the Apache Trail. None of that early part (after the bridge) was paved to my recollection. A mile or two down the road a big bull was just ambling down the road - we carefully passed, but he didn't really care about us. Stopped at Apache Lake, a little later crossed the Fish Creek bridge, up and over Fish Creek hill, passed Tortilla Flats (which I wished we would have stopped to visit, but didn't) and then along Superstition Mtns. to Apache Jct to Mesa and back to Scottsdale. We had no problems with the road at any point other than a little roughness here and there, and if I remember correctly a little washout on the edge of the road going up Fish Creek hill (probably around the steepest part). I'm pretty sure we were driving our 4wd Tundra. It was a very scenic trip.
Thank you for sharing!
You mentioned the confluence of the Gila and Salt rivers South of Phoenix. If you haven't yet been there yet, there is a survey monument on the top little peak near there that marks Arizona's baseline and meridian.
ooooh interesting! I've been out there once, but it was only for a brief amount of time. thank you for the info!
If your worried about how fast you can drive the Apache trail your kind of missing the point of driving the Apache Trail
Turtle fast is plenty fast for that road...
@@robertallen6710 Especially if you have pets, young children or anyone prone to motion sickness.
I still take the jeep if only to have options when I meet another car head on. With the 33s, I can be the guy to stick a wheel on the birm or in the ditch. If i'm in the Mini Van, I have to hope they can make the appropriate room.
That XJ needs to be yellow, like the #MORR Banana.
haha, well I do have a yell Chevy K10 that might make an appearance i next weeks video!
Now that it's opened back up, I need to take the drive again. I'm in AJ so it's not much of a drive for me to get there. I do a lot of landscape photography. Been up and down Fish Creek a number of times before it was washed out. There was one time I was going down and there was a large U-Haul truck trying to get up. One of those time that make you think WTF is he doing.
Thank you for sharing your story 🙏
Jessie, great video as always. I really need to try out the follow me on my drone. Perhaps after I get back from Philly. We do live in a beautiful state don't we. You really made me laugh with the speeding comment. I had a troll yell at me in all caps in a very early video I made because he felt I was driving way too fast. After that I felt I had to put a disclaimer. LOL. Keep up the great work.
Heck yea we live in a beautiful state! and yes, definitely try out the follow mode, its a wonderful feature. just a couple days ago I was mountain biking out near south mountain and I had my drone following me there as well! got some amazing footage that I may include in a future video! thanks again for tuning in!
nice, black and white river from before they invented color rivers
Absolutely NO pavement, that should have stayed dirt 100%. Arizona trails are dangerous enough with the idiots on SxS...
Paving it is just asking for people to speed and fall. And drown. Kinda sad if you think about it
Grew up here. A paved Apache Trail can eat my foot...
Does your dorne have some kind of terrain level detector ? HOw did it managed to not crash into the moutain while following your car ?
it doesnt have any terrain level detector. it just detects obstacles, and I would say its really good at it. The 3d sensing system is always scanning the surround area and searching for a clear path
Paving it increases the odds of someone speeding off a cliff
sometimes you gotta let natural selection do its thing no:
I was there today, your car will make it all the way through.
I drove my fwd manual transmission Honda Element end to end in Oct '17 . No problem, it was fun. Wife hated it. She hates most back country drives in AZ.
haha, its always the wives that dislike it
Bicycled this entire way out and back from Apache Jct.
nice! ive biked part of it, but not the entire thing
the first time I saw this type of drone,I honestly though so that is how Captain Kirk did it on the away missions,lol.
lol, its a great drone!
I drove from Gold Field to Roosevelt Lake in a Tesla with 4.3" clearance today. You don't need SUV or 4x4. Spectacular scenery. I highly recommend.
We pulled a 20' Sea Ray from Chandler all the way to Apache Lake Marina and back, over Fish Creek Hill with no problem, the road then was worse than it is now, so the idea of 4WD makes no sense; we pulled the boat with a 2wd pickup with no issues; the road as of 11/01/2024 is smoother than 20 years ago. So if you do not see any law enforcement on top of Fish Creek Hill, go anyway!!!!
Thank you for sharing 🙏
I drove that road back in 2000 and 2001 in a 1994 Mustang Cobra. 4x4 has never been needed.
A GOOD strategy, to keep the idiot snowflakes away! More power to ya--MUSTANG POWER!!
I put a 3000 watt inverter in my truck and I have 6 DJI FPV batteries so I can fly pretty much all day while on the road with that setup. Do you charge in your car or just get them all charged before you go?
I charge them in my car, but not FROM my car, I have 4 portable power banks that i use to keep them topped off while im on the road....they work wonders!
Does anyone have any additional information on what the remaining “off road part is like? I know it mentioned clearance and trucks but is it rock crawlers or would a capable pickup truck be fine?
capable pick would be just fine
How many minutes can your DJI fly before replacing the battery?
That depends on which battery you use. One battery, which is the intelligent flight battery, will give you 34 minutes of flight time, and the intelligent flight Plus battery will give you 47 minutes of flight time.
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 That beats the 15-20 minutes from a few years ago!
@@ElRobo1956 right! one of the first drone I had, had a maximum flight time of twenty minutes, but i always stopped flying when I got down to 5 minutes left........just to ensure I had enough time to return, so realistically is was only 15 minutes of solid flight time
Whats the follow speed of this drone?
i was going about 25mph and the drone kept up just fine
Do you think a 4WD is truly necessary? 2WD Ford Ranger truck could handle it okay in normal dry conditions?
I took my 2WD Nissan Juke on the full road last weekend and it was perfectly fine. You'll do great!
@@johnchedsey1306Awesome thanks! Sounds like it'll be just fine. Drive with common sense and enjoy the road.
you'll be just fine 👍 have fun!
Now you need a full size Jeep Cherokee
Oh believe me!..I'm working on it! one day, this channel will have a full sized jeep!
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464
Hopefully soon. I have a 2000 cherokee. 4 in lift 31x10.5R15 Mickey Thompson Baja Legend tires. Billstien shocks. I highly recommend the tires and shocks
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 check out factory 5's F150 pre runner conversion kit.. way more capable than a raptor for a fraction of the price.
"except authorized vehicules" means that all cars can go. they just don't want you to.
mount a gopro on that little XJ!!
Doing that today! Heading back out the Apache trail!
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 Better yet...a DJI Osmo Action 4 or 5...the best!
So now no longer a trail! I can understand making it a smoother trail but paving it just made it a road!
👍👍👍
thank you !!!! hakuna matata!
Before it was closed I drove the road a couple of times, once in a 4x4 Jeep Liberty no problem, the next time was on my Harley, that made my bum twitch, especially when a cyclist passed me going down hill.😮😮
lol thank you for sharing!
You need a upgrade to that car. Need to find a old-school reliable off road unit. A old school chevy suburban or truck or a Ford truck with a manual trans from the 90s.
currently looking for a 2000 jeep cherokee sport!....one of these days!
I don't know whether to laugh myself to stitches, or express supreme scorn at the snowflake orientation, that too many folks subscribe to, these days of late. But, with what you showed us, Jess, as long as it keeps idiot amateurs away from us, doing needlessly dangerous stuff to us, on a surprisingly decent road; well, I guess that we can't ask for anything better, can we? And views/scenery so BEAUTIFUL, you almost wanna cry!!
And, SILLY ME!! Good thing that you explained that your drone can treat your vehicle like a homing device; I'd thought that you had required a helper, one to drive, and one to operate the drone.
The power line situation reminds me of the Clint Eastwood movie, "The Gauntlet". He and his girlfriend are on a cycle, driving in a setting extremely similar to this one, and he's being chased by bad guys in a helicopter. If only he can lure them low enough to fly into the nearby power lines and crash, he's got it made, and he does succeed in doing so. But, in doing so, he's probably knocked out the juice, to at least 40K customers(Laughs!!)!!
lol thank you for sharing!
Allowing RVs on this road is a terrible idea. The fact that it's paved opens it up to more bad drivers. 👎
agreed!
How about a paved four lane with a couple of gas stations along the way.
haha, and throw in a few resorts and casinos!
Kool ❤❤
👍
I vote for no more paved roads…imo we have enough,,, enjoy your hard work, thank you.
hey thank you for checking out the video! its much appreciated 🙏
Paved??!? How disappointing.
Merica? explain, you could of done the entire length in your car, there is no 4 wheel drive only parts, why they post it is a mystery, I think they old signs that do not apply now....Javi G.
Someone interpret this comment for me...plz
I spoke with a state trooper thats been camped out just before you go down fish creek hill, and I asked him if they plan on citing people that go down fish creek hill in a sedan "or anything thats obviously not 4x4 or high clearance...he said "its their discretion if they decide to cite someone or not" Merica is something I always say when I see the US flag
@@jessiesdroneadventures7464 seems disrespectful to the flag and what it stands for, America!
I love the beautiful state that I live in and my country!
At about mins, there it is under the bridge graffiti why? !! :(
Been there done that many times, Screw it and lets pave it to Mt. Whitney and beyond! You fools --------
They should never pave as the late Gov. Rose Mofford said.
No pavement.
It’s unfortunate they are making this a paved route. It will ruin this area for the true enthusiasts
i agree