Inspiration Point + Theodore Roosevelt Dam

Inspiration Point shows views of the longest two-lane inverted arch suspension bridge in America and Roosevelt Lake, the largest lake in central Arizona. If you are headed south to north, this is the last major stop on the Apache Trail (Highway 88), and it's absolutely worth it! The suspension bridge alone is incredible, but with views of Lake Roosevelt behind it and Roosevelt Dam to your south, there are stunning 360-degree views from this small parking lot.

Roosevelt Lake is a reservoir between the Salt River and Tonto Creek, and it is a major water supply for Phoenix, Arizona. The dam was one of the original five federal projects under the Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902. It took five years to complete the dam (1906 to 1911), and it is one of the highest masonry dams in the world. At 280 feet high and 723 feet in length, it cost over $10 million to build. It was originally known as the Salt River Dam #1. The success of this dam was a huge contributor to the development of central Arizona, and it still plays a large role today.

In 1989 the dam's capacity was increased by about 20% by adding 77 feet to its height—a small $430 million project. Since the new construction completely encased the original design, it was pulled off of the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.