Photographs along Historic Apache Trail

The scenic Apache Trail is a fantastic day trip just outside of Phoenix in Apache Junction. Once you made it down US 60 and North onto AZ 88 (AKA Apache Trail) the first thing you'll notice to your right will be a small museum at the base of the impressive Superstition mountains. This is a good spot to start your journey, you can learn about the history of the area and take some snapshots while you're there. Apache Trail is a 48 mile slow going road windy road alongside cliffs, canyons and lakes.

On your left is Goldfield Ghost Town,which is a reconstructed old mining town. In the gold strike of 1892 Goldfield was a thriving town of about 400 residents with saloons,general store,boarding houses, brewery,meat market, blacksmith shop and a schoolhouse. It became a ghost town after the golf ran out. Today it is a bustling tourist stop with mock shoot-outs in the street, tourist shops, horseback riding, train rides and panning for gold all set with an incredible backdrop of the Superstition Mountains. Kids will love this spot.

Soon after passing the ghost town you will come to the Lost Dutchman Park located on your right. This is a great spot to explore the Superstition Mountains. Legend has it there's gold in those hills, but the Lost Dutchman Mine has never been rediscovered. Many adventurers have sought the lost gold.

Driving along Apache Trail (which was built on the original dusty wagon trails of the early 1900's) you will see Four Peaks in the distance. Soon you will come a cross the first glimpse of Canyon Lake. On your right you will be able to pull over and see the lake and the boats below.The views are beautiful from here, but they get better as you get closer to the lake. Winding your way through the canyon's a glimpse of the dark blue water against the tall canyons is really quite striking, making Canyon Lake one of the prettiest in the state of Arizona. If you make reservations ahead of time, you can float along Canyon Lake on a steamboat ride in Dolly's Steamboat.

You'll see why some call the canyons along Apache Trail a smaller version of the Grand Canyon when you slowly snake your way along all the tight curves and sheer cliffs on this road.

Next to Goldfield Ghost Town, our kids favorite stop was Tortilla Flat. Located about two miles from Canyon Lake, the town of Tortilla Flat was an original stagecoach stop on the Apache Trail in the early 1900's, in the late 80's the town burned to the ground and was subsequently rebuilt. The Town consists of a restaurant, saloon and general store connected by a wooden boardwalk. There is also a very tiny museum at the end. The water that runs amongst the big boulders was a great attraction. Just about everyone was out there climbing on the rocks. Don't forget to get an ice cream cone! Tortilla Flat is the only place I am aware of that sells Prickly Pear Ice Cream. If you're all the way out here, you have to try it. It is pink and has a berry flavor. If you like the jelly you'll like the ice cream too.

Not too far after Tortilla Flat the pavement will end and you will notice a lot of century plants with huge flower stalks. The unpaved road is well maintained and regular passenger cars should not have a problem driving on them. It took us a little over two hours of drive time to get to this halfway point,this trail is popular and there are quite a bit of cars on the winding roads. Continuing on the Apache Trail your final destination of this 48 mile long road is Globe. On the way there you will pass Apache Lake, Roosevelt Dam, the Tonto National Monument and the Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaeological park. We will update this part of the trail another day. Have a fun road trip!

Suggestions: Allow a full day to travel the entire trail, fill your tank up before you hit the Lost Dutchman State Park, if you plan to stop and stay over night there is a motel at Apache Lake.