Apache Trail Scenic Drive

Apache Trail Adventure

One of the most scenic drives in the Phoenix area is a drive on the Apache Trail from Apache Junction to Roosevelt Lake. The scenic part starts on the northeast side of the town of Apache Junction.

From Apache Junction it winds north and east along a canyon with some stunning views of the surrounding Sonoran Desert. By far the best time to go is during spring, although fall is just as beautiful. Make sure you allow a full day for the drive since you will want to make frequent stops to take pictures and visit the interesting sights along the way.

Apache Trail: History: More than 1000 years ago, the Apache Trail existed as a footpath used by Native American Indians like the Salado, Apaches, and the Yavapai. The Salado used the trail to go between their seasonal homes in the lower desert and mountains. The Apaches and Yavapai used it in their raids against the Pima Indians.

In modern times (about 100 years ago), the Apache Trail was reinvented as a vehicular supply road for the construction of Roosevelt Dam. After the construction of the Roosevelt Dam, the road was used as a stagecoach route between Phoenix and Roosevelt Dam. Now the road has become a wonderful scenic roadway for the enjoyment of us all.

Getting there and where to start: The largest nearby major road is US 60, which runs east out of Phoenix. Take the Idaho Rd exit, go north a few miles, and follow the signs for Arizona 88, which is also known as the Apache Trail.

Apache Trail: What to see along the way: There are many things to do and see along the way, so we visited the Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce to get a map and some information to help us plan our day.

Our first stop was to the Superstition Mountain Museum. The Superstition Mountain Museum collects, preserves, and displays the artifacts, history, and folklore of the Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction and the surrounding region. It also has a barn that is called the Rifleman Barn; it was used in the TV series the Rifleman. The barn was also featured in many westerns.

Our next stop was at the Goldfield Ghost Town. Goldfield sits on a small hill between the Superstition and the Goldfield Mountains. The town had its start because gold was discovered in the area in 1892. The town grew rapidly but died almost as fast. Unfortunately, for the town the vein of high-grade gold ore soon became low grade until it was not worth the effort to dig it out of the ground. By 1898, the town had become a ghost town.

The Goldfield Ghost Town now features gunfights every hour on Saturday and on Sundays at noon through 4 PM. Several other features of the town are the underground guided mine tours, the only operating narrow gauge railroad in Arizona, jeep tours of the Superstition Mountains, horseback adventures, wagon and carriage rides. Lodging and camping are available at the Ghost Town, as well as Sunday services and weddings at Church on the Mount

After Goldfield, we continued on the Apache Trail as it wound into the mountains around Canyon Lake and then dropped back down to the town of Tortilla Flat. The road had many curves and two single lane bridges. The speed limit is about 25 miles per hour for most of the trip to Tortilla Flat with some turns that are even slower.

Go slow and enjoy the breath-taking vistas. There are several places along the way that allow for stopping on the shoulder where you will want to take pictures. One of the prettiest is the overlook at Canyon Lake. Take an opportunity to view the lake and read about how it was formed. Canyon Lake also has a marina and an RV park.

Our next stop was Tortilla Flat. (Do not be surprised if it takes an hour or so to go the 20 miles to Tortilla Flat.) When we arrived, the first place we stopped was the local Tortilla Flat museum to get an idea of the history of the town and what there was to see while there. The museum represents an old school house that once stood in Tortilla Flat. It was interesting reading about all the owners of Tortilla Flat, the many famous people that have visited and how Tortilla Flat got its name. The current owners are Alvin and Pam Ross along with David and Cindy Levi; they have owned the town since 1998. Who knows - maybe you could be the next buyers of Tortilla Flat!

The town celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2004. The town has a restaurant and saloon, BBQ Patio, Country Store, museum, Post Office, a gift Shop and six full time residents. If you go make sure, you stop and eat at the Tortilla Flat Restaurant and Saloon - known for its great burgers and a "Killer Chili.� Don't be put off by the long line for a table or seat at the bar. It is worth the wait and you can check out the place while you are waiting. The inside of the restaurant is covered wall-to-wall with dollar bills - read about the origin of the custom at the museum. Another novelty of the restaurant is that some of the seats at the bar are made from real saddles. For dessert, visit the Country Store and get one of their famous Prickly Pear ice creams.

Apache Trail beyond Tortilla Flat: If you decide to travel on towards Roosevelt Dam, you will first have to cross the flats where at time it floods. There was only a small puddle across the road the day we crossed. About five miles past Tortilla Flat, the Apache Trail turns into a dirt and gravel roadway. There is a place to stop just before the road changes to dirt that has wonderful views of the desert. Don't pass it by, since it doesn't look like much from the road.

The dirt portion of the road has some wonderful views of the canyon/gorge and affords views of some of the most spectacular and beautiful sights you will find in Arizona. There are several great places to stop. A stop at the bottom of Fish Creek Hill gives you a chance to watch the cars and large vehicles navigate the twists down Fish Creek Hill. Beyond Fish Creek Canyon look for a famous landmark called Geronimo Head.

Another favorite sight is the view of Apache Lake from the overlook. Apache Lake also has camping, a marina and a restaurant. Take a minute to stop before moving on to Roosevelt Lake and the Dam.

Roosevelt Dam and Lake: Construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam began in 1903 and it was completed in 1911. Once it was considered the world�s tallest masonry dam. The lake formed by the dam measures about 22.4 miles in length, has a shore line of approximately 128 miles and at its deepest is 188 feet deep. The lake has extensive recreational facilities.

Apache Trail: CAUTION: By the way, you do not need a four-wheel drive vehicle to go on the dirt road. Our front wheel drive 2003 Saturn L300 sedan had no problems navigating the road. However, there is one section that comes down Fish Creek Hill that is very steep and very narrow... and there are portions of the road where there are hairpin turns and only one vehicle will fit at a time.

We would not recommend the dirt portion of this road for a driver that has a fear of heights or is not confident in their ability to drive in close quarters. If you are considering taking a motorcycle on the dirt portion, think twice...or longer. There are many places where the road is like a washboard and deeply rutted, to say nothing of the curves and steep grades. A lot of hard work and missed views.

What to do in the Apache Junction/Mesa area: There are many activities available in the area. Enjoy camping, hiking, bird watching and mountain biking in the Superstition Mountains, Tonto National Forest, and the Lost Dutchman State Park. We got in a lot of hiking amidst the lovely spring flowers.

Perhaps you want to consider a tour from one of the local tour companies, such as Apache Trail Tours. Golf at one of the many golf courses.

Line dancing abounds at many of the local communities. Here are a couple websites: azbodydance.com and ucanlinedance.com.
Show up at one of these lessons and you will probably uncover even more local dance venues.

If you have a motorcycle, there are some great roads to travel. We hooked up with the Superstition Mountain Harley Davidson dealer-sponsored club and joined them on some of their rides.

There is a swap meet/flea market in Mesa, held Friday- Sunday. And of course the downtown areas offer shopping, movies, cultural events and a variety of attractions.