Photos of the drive on FR-172 to Woodbury and Rogers Trough Trailheads

The Woodbury and Roger's Trough trailheads in the Superstition Wilderness are northeast of Florence Junction on FR-172, FR-172-A, FR-172B. Moderate clearance passenger cars can often make it to the Woodbury Trailhead. High-clearance and 4WD is needed to get to the Roger's Trough trailhead. The road is typically closed several times a year at the crossing of Queen Creek due to high fast flowing water (see photo 20). FR-172 has several more unbridged crossings and heavy rain can rearrange sand and rocks making it impossible for passenger cars to cross even after the water subsides.

The drive takes close to 2 hours from the US-60 and Loop 101 interchange in Tempe. The driving time is variable depending on the road conditions, your vehicle, and your comfort driving narrow mountain roads--the last 15 miles are unpaved and can take anywhere from 45 minutes to double that. It normally takes me 20 minutes for the 4 miles from the Woodbury turnoff to Roger's Trough. I seen reports of people needing 45 minutes for those 4 miles!

- Take US 60 east out of the Phoenix Area past Florence Junction (US-60 and SR-79).
- 2.2 miles east of Florence Junction, turn north onto Queen Valley Road. The intersection is well signed, has a turning lane, and it's before you get to the railroad crossing
- After 1.8 miles, turn east on FR-357 Hewlett Station Road . The intersection is on a curve and is hard to see until you're past it. The pavement lasts for only a few feet after the turn.
- After 3.1 miles, turn north on FR-172. It's just past a corral (on the left) and the ruins of Hewlett Station on the right.
- After 9.2 miles, you'll come to the end of FR-172 at signs for the Woodbury and Roger's Trough trailheads. (Keep an eye out for Elephant Trunk Arch.)

The Woodbury Trailhead is straight ahead 1.5 miles (turn right at the gate) on FR-172B.

For the Roger's Trough Trailhead, make a right turn onto FR-172A
- After 3.6 miles, you'll come to a Y with FR-650.
- Turn left and drive 0.3 miles to the Roger's Trough Trailhead.

- Most of FR-172A is a one lane shelf road with few pullouts and blind curves. Drive slowly and scan the road in the distance to prepare for oncoming traffic. The last mile into Roger's Trough requires high clearance 4WD due to washouts on fairly steep uphills. There may be 12" rocks in the road for the final 0.3 miles--depending on whether the last rain added or removed sand from the wash.

Trails out of (or nearby) the Woodbury trailhead include: JF-Trail, Coffee Flat Trail, Woodbury Trail, Millsite Canyon Trail, Randolph Canyon Route, and the Whetrock Canyon Route.

Trails out of the Rogers Trough trailhead include: Reavis Ranch (Valley) Trail, and the West Pinto Trail.

FR-650 at the Rogers Trough Trailhead can be used as an alternate return route. It is a somewhat more difficult drive. It is a narrow shelf road with tighter switchbacks than FR-172A. If the crossing at Queen Valley is closed due to water, FR-650 will also be closed since parts of the road run down a wash (see photo 77). The upper section closelly follows the Superstition Wilderness boundary and provides access to several trailheads: Reavis Trail Canyon trail (both ends), Spencer Spring Trail, Rock Creek Route, and a southwest route to Tony Ranch Cabin and Haunted Canyon.