(between
Phoenix and Long Valley, AZ)
The community of Payson is about
milepost 253 on highway 87. Just south
of Payson at milepost 250 a descent begins for southbound traffic. There are two short sections of 6-7% grade
during the next 2 miles and at milepost 248 there is a sign—"Trucks—vehicles
pulling trailers check brakes and equipment ¼ mile." There is a brake check pullout and then 5 ½
miles of 6-7% grade with only a couple of short breaks in the grade. There are 45 mph curves. After the steep section a mile or so of 3%
grade takes you into Rye, Arizona.
Between Rye and Phoenix there are
many 5, 6, and 7% grades with climbs and descents whichever way you are
traveling. There is a 3 mile 7% hill
and a 4 mile 6% hill and a 2 mile 7% hill and everything in between. It is a good two lane road with passing
lanes on most of the climbs. The road
is four lane for about 30 miles south of Payson.
There is another long descent on
this road. About 24 miles north of
Payson is the junction of 87 and 260 highways.
About 1½ miles south of the junction a descent begins for southbound
traffic. The first 2½ miles are mostly
3-4% downhill. At this point (milepost
274 ½) there is a brake check pullout.
Then the grade starts down at about 6% for 4 miles into the town
of Strawberry. There are 20, 30, 35,
and 40 mph curves. After passing
through Strawberry the grade resumes for another 3 miles to the town of
Pine. Between Pine and Payson there are
short ups and downs in the grade—some steep but short. There are also some short and steep hills
for about 10 miles north of the junction with 260.