Travel Arizona’s Apache Trail
Posted in Scenery, Southwest, Travel | By Shelley Gillespie | Tags: Desert, Southwest, Travel
Following the Apache Trail in Arizona, you can just imagine what it might have been like in the days of the gold rush. Horses and stagecoaches traveled the rough mountains and winding paths back in the 1800s to reach Globe from Phoenix. The romantic imagery of the old west is palpable!
Apache Trail Scenery
Nowadays, a four-wheel drive vehicle makes the trip in less than three hours (traffic permitting). In some areas, the road is reduced to a narrow, unpaved one-lane road that dangerously skirts the edge of a mountain with the valley spreading out below.
From the west off of highway 88, there is Goldfield Ghost Town, with a chance to have your photo taken in period costume and enjoy crafts, food and a small railroad to ride. It’s a hoot!
White knuckle ride
Back on the highway, the road gets narrower and, in season, boaters are hauling their pleasure crafts to Canyon and Apache Lakes so they can cool off and enjoy the open vistas and mountain views from the water.
Tortilla Flat
The road winds along until you reach the edge of Canyon Lake, where there is a restaurant and the steamboat, Dolly, which takes visitors on Canyon Lake daily.
Just past Tortilla Flats, an old stagecoach stop, the road becomes narrow and those without four-wheel drive and faint of heart usually stop at this point. Refreshments and facilities are available.
Dolly Steamboat
Continuing along, there are some hairpin turns and incredible views. Several scenic locations have rest stops.
Saguaro Dot the Apache Trail
Apache Lake has a resort and marina, but stopping at a pullout from the trail with the resort in the distance offers a restful view of the lake and mountains.
Apache Lake
Stopping every so often is a good idea, because the drive is challenging. When you see a ribbon of road way below and realize that eventually you will be driving down there, you know you have a long way to travel.
Apache Trail
Ultimately, when you see the Roosevelt Dam, you have reached the end of the trail. The Dam is a massive structure that has historical information posted detailing the Dam’s building and expansion. Time to head back to civilization!
Roosevelt Dam
Travel to the Apache Trail: From Phoenix, take route 60 east until you reach US 88. Follow the road, carefully, and enjoy the views! Allow at least three hours for the drive.