Approaches

From West. The profile includes a long section of the lower part of Madera Canyon Rd. Here the road is still far from a canyon, but only climbing a barely perceptible alluvial fan, still far from the Santa Rita Mtns. Where Madera Canon finally becomes evident, this wide dirt road turns off to the left. It heads for a low gap where the Santa Rita Mtns merge into the surrounding rolling hills. A long straight shallow climb finally gives way to a gentle canyon. The road hugs one side and uses a few stone walls and bridges to scale it. Approaching what looks like the top, a large dry stream bed starts to parallel the road. This is more than a hint, that there must still be much higher land around. But the road tops out anyway - very strange.

From East. (described downwards) It becomes evident that this is a rim of sorts - not much of a downhill on this side. A gentle downhill leads to a fast roll to Az82. In order to get an approach from this side, the profile continues back down the rim on this paved highway, which can have moderately heavy traffic, in spite of the plentiful turns through the grassy rolling hills on this side. The turns are often announced with rumble strips perpendicular across the road - very annoying. But I suppose you have to do something from keeping drivers to fall asleep at the wheel.

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