Location

  • Rogers Trough Trailhead to Vineyard Trailhead

Length

  • 29.4 miles

Southern Trailhead: Rogers Trough Trailhead

Access

From Florence Junction, travel east on US 60 for 1.8 miles, turn left (north) onto Queen Valley Road, continue 1.8 miles, and turn right (east) on FR 357. Drive 3 miles and turn left (north) onto FR 172 at a sign for Roger’s Trough Trailhead (there is a sign for FR 172 about 20 yards after the turn). Continue 9.2 miles to a fork and bear right onto FR 172A. Follow this road 3.7 miles, bear left at an intersection with FR 650 (which is also the route of the AZT arriving from Passage 18), and continue 0.4-mile to a very large parking area. The trail departs from the north end of the parking lot.

From the rest stop in Superior, travel west about 12 miles on US 60 to Queen Valley Road and follow the directions above.  Previous directions from Superior are no longer applicable since FR 357 has been closed to through traffic.

Northern Trailhead: Vineyard Trailhead

Access

This is near Theodore Roosevelt Dam, where AZ 88 and AZ 188 meet. The parking area is at the north end of the suspension bridge, on the east side of the highway.

Trail Route Description

Passage 19 travels across the east side of the Superstition Wilderness, an area defined by a stark beauty with rugged volcanic peaks, rocky canyons, and a rich history filled with mysterious legends and lore that attract tourists to this day. Although the Superstition Wilderness is a popular place to visit, this particular section is not easily accessible and therefore more remote. 

The remote nature of this section is likely what attracted Elisha Reavis back in 1874. Reavis was a homesteader who settled in the area and built a ranch along a nearby creek. The trail passes by the site of the ranch which still has flowing water and a few apple trees remaining from an old orchard that he planted.

This section features desert grassland, chaparral brush, and piñon-juniper woodland along with lush canyons, cottonwood and sycamore trees. The trail makes steep ascents up rocky and rugged terrain and crosses several canyons where it may be difficult to find the trail, and cairns are used to mark the way. 

After several challenging miles the trail climbs out of Cottonwood Canyon and you are rewarded by reaching a high point with expansive views overlooking Roosevelt Lake followed by a long, scenic descent to get there. 

In the final miles, you’ll find little to no shade and rising temperatures. Luckily, Roosevelt Lake is a welcomed rest stop with a general store, cafe, and plenty of sandy beaches to sit and soak your tired feet! The AZT follows the highway over the bridge, one of the few segments of paved road along the entire 800-mile trail.

Difficulty

  • Difficult

Season(s)

Water

Water can usually be found at Reavis Creek, Walnut Spring, Cottonwood Spring and Roosevelt Lake. Check the online Arizona Trail Water Report for current information at https://aztrail.org/explore/water-sources/.

Notes/Warnings

  • All water along this passage should be purified prior to use.
  • Mountain bikes are prohibited in the Superstition Wilderness.
  • There are good campsites upstream and downstream from the Reavis Ranch site, but camp at least 300 feet from water and trails.

Resources

  • Map of Passage 19
  • USGS Topographic Maps: Pinyon Mountain and Theodore Roosevelt Dam.
  • Superstition Wilderness Map – Tonto National Forest.
  • Tonto National Forest map.
  • BLM Information Center maps.
  • “Hikers Guide to the Superstition Wilderness” by Jack Carlson and Elizabeth Stewart, Clearcreek Publishing, Tempe, Arizona.

For more information

Current Passage Info

Beware of Confusing Cattle Trails Near Cemetery Trail Junction

September 22, 2023
On the AZT's Passage 19, between Highway 188 and Cemetery Trail Junction, trail users will encounter cattle trails at approximately mile 448.9 southbound (1.2 miles south of Highway 188) due to heavy livestock traffic to and from a metal water tank. Southbound users should remain on the north side of the wash here, proceeding gently uphill on the right bank of the wash before crossing it and ascending the hill through a switchback. For northbound users, the confusion occurs at approximately mile 350.5 (0.9-mile north of Cemetery Trail junction) where the AZT switches back to the left and the more obvious cattle trail continues straight downhill at a very steep angle. Users should stay on the AZT to avoid the cattle trail that drops steeply and dangerously into the wash at the bottom.
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Caution for Equestrians

January 18, 2023
North of Walnut Spring the trail sharply descends and ascends 1,000 feet over a 1.8 mile horizontal distance. Equestrians have had problems in this steep area, the south side of which burned severely in 2019. Near the north end of this passage, the trail passes through rocky and narrow Cottonwood Canyon for 3 miles, and tends to suffer from the summer monsoon floods and encroaching brush. The tread has been repaired numerous times, yet continues to change as it crosses from side to side through the canyon. The trail here is passable by hikers using care; however, equestrians should scout the passage before attempting it with stock. Additionally, equestrians caution that the north end of the passage at the Roosevelt Bridge is not equipped for loading or unloading stock. They suggest using one of the access points — Frasier Trailhead located approximately 2 miles south of the Roosevelt Bridge on the west side of Highway 188, the Cemetery parking lot just north of the residential area or the lower parking lot outside the gate at the FS Visitor Center — and completing the ride to the north end of the passage as an out-and-back.
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Theodore Roosevelt Lake

July 2, 2021
World Atlas (July 1, 2021) Arizona is located in the southwestern region of the United States. The State has diverse geography featuring volcanoes, mountains, canyons, plateaus, and deserts. Situated in the central part of the US State of Arizona, mostly within Gila County is the majestic Theodore Roosevelt Lake. This large lake is located in the Salt River Valley about 130km to the northeast of Phoenix – the State’s capital city, and 6km upstream from Apache Lake. The Theodore Roosevelt Lake was formed as a result of the construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River, as a part of the Salt River Project. Geography The Theodore Roosevelt Lake occupies an area of 21,493 acres and is considered the largest lake that is situated fully within the boundaries of the US State of Arizona. It is also the largest among the four lakes that were created as a part of the Salt River Project. The Lake has a length of 35.8km and has a maximum width of 3.2km. The Lake is situated at an elevation of 638m and reaches a maximum depth of 106m. The Lake receives its primary water inflows from the Salt River and the Tonto Creek....
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