(between
Flagstaff and Phoenix, AZ)
Camp Verde, Arizona is in a valley
and the descent is long and steep from both north and south on I-17. There are runaway truck ramps on both of
these hills. There is also a steep
descent for southbound traffic near Black Canyon City between mileposts 251 and
244 on I-17.
FROM THE
NORTH INTO CAMP VERDE:
About 26 miles south of the junction
of I-40 and I-17 at Flagstaff there is a sign for southbound traffic—"6%
grade 2 miles ahead." About ½ mile
later there is another sign—"Trucks—vehicles pulling trailers check
brakes and equipment—use scenic view."
At milepost 312 a sign warns—"6% grade next 13 miles"
and ½ mile later the 6% begins. The first
3 ½ miles are fairly steady 6% grade.
There are several breaks in the
descent where the grade eases. The
first two breaks are only ¼ to ½ mile long and then between mileposts 306 and
304 the grade is about 4%. Between
mileposts 304 and 298 the grade is pretty steady at 6% (almost 6 miles.) There is a runaway truck ramp just before
milepost 300. The ramp goes off to
the right and is almost level. There
are several warning signs as you approach it.
About milepost 298 the grade goes
uphill for a short distance and then flattens as you approach the rest
area. If your brakes are hot this may
be a good place to cool them because it is still 9 miles to the bottom of the
hill at Camp Verde. Not all of the 9
miles are downhill—in fact there is a mile of uphill included—and most of the
downhill is 4-5% from the rest area to Camp Verde.
FROM THE
SOUTH INTO CAMP VERDE:
At milepost 280½ on I-17 there is a
brake check pullout and then a sign for northbound traffic—"6% grade
next 7 miles" and "Runaway truck ramp LEFT 2¼ miles." The 6% grade starts down at milepost 281
and is steady for all but a little of the 7 miles. The runaway truck ramp is at milepost 283. The road curves to the right and the escape
ramp goes straight from the left lane and uphill. The grade eases to 4-5% for the last mile into Camp Verde.
FROM THE
NORTH INTO BLACK CANYON CITY:
At milepost 253 there is a sign for
southbound traffic—"Trucks—vehicles pulling trailers check brakes and
equipment—use rest area." After
coming out of the rest area there are signs stating—"winding road"
and "6% grade next 5 miles."
At milepost 251 the 6% grade begins
with 60 mph curves. After 2½ miles the
grade eases for ½ mile and then goes back to 6% for 2 miles. It eases again for about ¾ mile and then is
4-5% for another mile or so to the exit for Black Canyon City.