RV Traveler's

Roadmap to Apache Trail

The Apache Trail, completed in 1905 to accommodate construction of , mimics the course of the Salt River as the road zigzags through a volcanic landscape of agaves and cacti, flits around hairpin turns and then plunges precariously along Fish Creek Hill to the dam and . 1

Highlights & Facts For The Ideal Experience

Trip Length: Roughly 145 miles

Best Time To Go: Winter, spring, autumn

What To Watch Out For: Despite its short length, the drive can take a full day due to low speed limits.

Must See Nearby Attractions:

Superstition Mountains Museum (Apache Junction)

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Traveler's Notes

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Named after the Apache Indians who once used the route, the Apache Trail, or AZ 88 as it is officially known, links Apache Junction at the edge of the Greater Phoenix area with Theodore Roosevelt Lake, through the and the ; 40 miles of steep, winding and mostly unpaved road past magnificent scenery of twisted igneous mountains with dense forests of saguaro and ferocactus, and several deep blue lakes.

The first points of interest are Goldfield, supposedly a ghost town but now rather commercialized, and then the Lost Dutchman State Park - this has information about the varied stories and legends associated with the mountains, and in particular about the Lost Dutchman Mine which was supposedly a tremendously rich gold mine.

The land around is typical of the Tonto National Forest area - crumbling, distorted rock with steep cliffs and twisting ravines, without much covering vegetation but with several species of desert plants.

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What To See Along the Way

Apache Junction Fish Creek Hill Lost Dutchman State Park Apache Lake Tonto National Forest Theodore Roosevelt Dam & Lake Needle Vista Canyon Lake Queen Creek Canyon Tortilla Flat

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Facts & More Information To

Plan Your Trip! Tonto National Monument

Apache Junction: The gateway to the desert lake region and the spot where Rte. 60 meets Rte. 88, also known as the Apache Trail.

Lost Dutchman State Park: A 320-acre state park located near the Superstition Mountains and named after the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, a famous gold mine legendary among the tales of the Old West.

Tonto National Forest: Encompassing 2,873,200 acres, is the largest of the six national forests in and is the fifth largest national forest in the United States.

Canyon Lake: The lake was formed by the Mormon Flat Dam, which was completed in 1925 after two years of construction.

Tortilla Flat: The only authentic stagecoach stop to survive the 1900's along the Apache Trail.

Fish Creek Hill: A short trail at the edge of Fish Creek Hill leads north to Fish Creek Vista, where buff-colored cliffs skirt the canyon below.

Apache Lake: One of four reservoirs built along the Salt River in central Arizona as part of the Salt River Project.

Theodore Roosevelt Dam & Lake: Roosevelt Lake was created in 1911 with the completion of the Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River. At the time, Roosevelt Dam was the world's tallest masonry dam at about 280 feet high and Roosevelt Lake was the largest man made lake in the world.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum: the largest and oldest botanical garden in the state of Arizona. It is one of the oldest botanical institutions west of the Mississippi.

Ready, set, go!

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