Apache Trail

We took this amazing road trip this past weekend. There are wonderful views in every direction. It was an relatively easy drive, some areas are 15 mph around tight curves. Keep I mind that 9 miles past Tortilla Flats the road is closed. We will make this drive again as the seasons change.

Hiking on the now closed AZ 88 portion of Apache trail is a great way to see spectacular canyon geology and social distance. The gravel road closed to vehicles in 2019 due to flooding and landslides but can still be accessed by foot. Park at the viewpoint where the dirt road ends and hike at least 2 miles in where you will drop down into Fish Creek canyon which has mature trees and perennial water. Lovely spot for Fall through Spring.

The Apache Trail. Its a fantastic day trip (lets face it more like 2/3 day) if you are lurking about in Phoenix or Scottsdale. Named after the Apache Tribe who used the trail to travel through the Superstition Mountains, it was also a Stagecoach route back in the day. In the present the Byway (aka Route 88) runs from The Roosevelt Dam and Roosevelt Lake (Think Teddy not Franklin) in the East, to Apache Junction. The vast majority of the Byway is unpaved and quite windey. The Superstition Mountains is the rumored location of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, so you may get lucky. However, its pretty well graded and not too bumpy. Our Audi A4 rental had no issue with it and it was comfortable but slow. Its easier than the old Hana Road on Maui used to be. Its a good idea to have extra water etc. just in case however. We also started our trip at the Eastern entrance our logic (which I admit can be fuzzy at times) was than if the trip took longer to complete or it got dark, we would be heading back towards Phoenix. Better to do the long part of the trip getting there in the daytime than late in the evening / day. If you are really hardcore you can go there and back ont he same path, but it seems like that would get tedious. That's another point. TAKE YOUR TIME. You are not Rallying here. Slow down, its safer for both YOU and me. I saw way too many fools, acting as if they were in a race and it makes it dangerous for everybody. Plus there are tons of places to pull over, take pictures etc. There are no services along the way. People have mentioned a marina and campground about halfway along the trail but we did not visit it.

Apache trail is not for everyone including myself. I would never come here if not for my trusted friend with excellent driving skill. I don't trust myself for driving here as I know I am a terrible driver. Once you passed the paved road, be prepared to drive slow, turn off the music so you can hear oncoming traffics. Cliff on one side looks very scary, if you are scared of heights, don't look. Look far for beautiful scenery as I did. Apache lake is along this scary trail but only accessible by driving this dirt trail. As scary as trail may be, view is spectacular. I enjoyed the drive from the safety of passenger seat. Be mindful of other drivers, even if you are an excellent driver, other may not. I saw two cars not being so careful and scared me when I spotted these careless drivers.

Very pleasant drive. Off season so it was blazing hot but not much traffic. Very winding road, great views if you aren't driving. Plenty of places to pull off for photos. The lake is very pretty. Nice way to spend a few hours away from people.

It was a beautiful winter day so we decided to take the Apache Trail Scenic Byway. It is better known as Arizona State Route 88. It's about a 40 mile drive with lots of turns. You have to take your time or there is a good chance that it will make the passengers motion sick. The trail is not completely paved so it can become more challenging depending on what you are driving. There are several areas where you can stop along the way and explore. We stopped at Goldfield Ghost Town , Lost Dutchman State Park and a few more.

Love this area. Nearby trails and the history of this area is striking. It is a great way to soak it all in. Truly inspiring and heartbreaking.

I love me a good drive so when I came to Phoenix for a business trip, I went online to find good places for a fun joyride. My search brought me to this article - http://www.arizonahikersguide.com/guide/ultimate-guide-apache-trail-scenic-drive - and I knew I had to check out the Apache Trail. The Apache Trail is an extremely scenic route that will take you by some cool places. The first half is paved road and will take you through a Goldfield, Canyon Lake, and Tortilla Flat. Goldfield is a mining ghost town with some cool stores, tours, and a zipline ride. Canyon Lake is a great place to cool down and engage in some water sports. I rented a kayak and also went on a ride on the Dolly Steamboat. Tortilla Flat is a small town (population 6) that serves awesome prickly pear gelato. Check it out! The second half of this route is along a dirt road and requires a bit more dexterity to handle. If you don't have experience driving over bumpy roads, handling windy turns along cliff sides, and negotiating one-way roads with oncoming traffic then this trail might not be for you. The road is a lot more empty though so you will feel like you're alone in the desert with the cacti. This is the only path to Apache Lake and will also take you to Roosevelt Dam. All are worth a visit. Some guides say you can turn back here but I think it's faster to drive to Globe and return from there. If you enjoy nature and a good drive, then I highly recommend this road.

The Apache Trail was not scary AT ALL. After reading the reviews on here, i was ready for a once-in-a-lifetime scare of a drive, but that was not the case whatsoever. Sure it was unpaved and the roads got slim, but if you're at least an average driver, this was not scary or super abnormal. Beautiful drive! I would recommend turning around after the bend (in the photos I've posted). There's not much new scenery after that.

Beautiful drive to charming shops. Not a drive for sissies. Choose a clear autumn day or early spring

It was a good drive. It's not 5 stars because the road was closed about half way through. So if You want to do the whole thing you may want to check if the road is open before you head out.

My wonderful husband took me on a grand tour of Apache Lake! Just when you think you've seen all the beauty that Arizona has to offer, taking a nice off-road drive through this area really opens your eyes. I just cannot get enough of the beauty of the mountains, the striations of the rocks and its vibrant colors. There are so many mysteries that we have yet to uncover and I definitely want to adventure more to see what we may find!

Beautiful scenes drive. Take 88 NE for 20 miles passing canyon lake & tortilla flats till the dirt road. Very easy trail drive with narrow spots and blind spots, just be courteous to other drivers. The first road will take you to Roosevelt Lake.

The scenery gets five stars and the safety gets one star. I will go into detail, but here it is in a nutshell. Take this road from Apache Junction until you get to Tortilla Flat. Have lunch at Tortilla Flat, enjoy Canyon Lake and then turn around. I repeat. Turn around. IMPORTANT TIPS: If you don't think this warning is serious and you insist on making the entire drive, make sure you have an SUV with 4WD and a driver with a steady hand and a good driving record. The entire drive will easily take you four hours and you will be in major trouble if there is any sort of weather (rain, snow) or it just rained, so make sure you travel in good weather conditions. Check your brakes and make sure your car is in good working condition before you leave. You won't have phone service and there isn't any civilization to save you if you get stranded or in an accident. DIRECTIONS. Coming from Phoenix/Scottsdale/Tempe, take US 60 East to Idaho Road and then follow the signs to Apache Trail. Turn right when you get to the fork in the road along US 88. Enjoy the drive, but don't be an accidental daredevil like myself and take the dirt road. Be warned that if you do insist on taking the entire trail, including the dirt road, once you get to Roosevelt Lake, you'll have the option to go left or right. If you go left, you will end up on the Bee Line just outside of Payson and you'll have a 79 mile drive back to Phoenix. Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat Up until we reached Tortilla Flat, it was a beautiful drive. There were canyons, huge rock formations and mossy mountains. Along the road we stopped at Goldfield Ghost Town, Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flat. There are also several areas to park your car and walk around, including Lost Dutchman State Park which is only worth driving into if you'd like to do a little hike and have a picnic. Goldfield Ghost Town is cheesy and touristy but it's an authentic ghost town and the remains of a mining town from the turn of the Century. They also offer horseback rides, mining tours and train rides. Fish Creek Hill Don't take the dirt road to Fish Creek Hill unless you are ok with putting your life in danger. We didn't take the warnings seriously because the warnings were practically non-existent. I am completely shocked that they don't have warning signs or even a park ranger that verbally goes over the dangers you are about to undertake if you proceed to Fish Creek Hill. This dirt road is a one-lane, steep and very dangerous road that goes straight down. You only have enough room for one car with a mountain on one side and a steep cliff that drops several hundred feet on the other side. There are several switch backs and you can only pray that someone isn't coming around the corner going the other way when you make the turn. One wrong turn of your wheel, an issue with your brakes or skid of your tires (and remember it's a loose dirt road) and you're over the cliff without a prayer to save you. This continues for 22 miles. 22 miles! It gets very slightly better every now and then, but the initial steep road down to the base isn't worth the beauty of the drive. It's suicidal to do this drive and it just doesn't seem to end. Just when you think you're in the clear, it continues and it took us nearly three hours to get through. Three hours of complete fear. It's so dangerous that you can't even really take in the beauty because you're too focused on not making a wrong move. If you want to see the other side of the Apache Trail, instead of taking the dirt road of Fish Creek Hill, save the other side for another day and take the Bee Line to US 80 towards Roosevelt Dam. There isn't much but the dam and Roosevelt Lake is worth seeing (there is also a restaurant overlooking the Lake). Beauty Highlights: - Most of the Fish Creek Hill road is along a lake so it's a watery drive. - There are a ton of peaks and Valleys with several cliffs, beautiful rock formations and a cave to explore. - It really captures the beauty of Arizona - You get to see how much water Arizona actually has.

Honestly, it's quite possibly THE most beautiful highway I've ever driven. We've made the trek through the sections that are just dirt road, and now, lacking a vehicle that could make that adventure we've just made the journey between Apache Junction, heading past Goldfield, Superstition, Weaver's Needle, Canyon Lake, and turning around in Tortilla Flat, after stopping for drinks, ice cream, bathroom breaks, and the occasional burger that is. It's gorgeous country, speckled with saguaro cacti and jagged rocks, with several fascinating anomalies. For starters, the sign for the Canyon Lake vista point is riddled with bullet holes, just past Tortilla Flat (depending on the season) a river flows over the road (observe: http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=-0IiMAZI2SsQ7VmyzJjokQ&select=6qg_ud6HY60tK5Y_3q_pRg), and in two different places you can either find prickly pear ice cream (Tortilla Flat) or pickly pear fudge (Goldfield). Wander the trail yourself and see what else you might discover. Supposedly Weaver's Needle is haunted and is suspected of being the site of the Lost Dutchman's claim.

Crossing the Superstition Mountains has always been a perilous journey. Bravely, I made the daring drive through the ancient caldera, past a chain of deep reservoirs, down the precipitous Fish Creek Hill, and eventually to historic Theodore Roosevelt Dam. To build the dam, engineers in the first decade of the 20th Century constructed the Apache Trail (Arizona Highway 88). Today, the narrow road remains unpaved for 20 miles, from just east of Tortilla Flat to Roosevelt Dam. The single-lane road clutched the steep wall of Fish Creek Canyon as it dropped 900 feet in just one mile. It reminded me of those terrifying third-world roads cut out of a cliff face, and driven by maniacal bus drivers carrying their equally insane passengers. At the bottom of the hill, a small wooden bridge crossed Fish Creek, and a short rocky trail led to a gaping shallow cave. The coarse dirt road returned to smooth pavement at Roosevelt Dam, once the largest stone masonry dam in the world. I stopped at vista points on both sides of the dam to fully appreciate this civil engineering marvel. Downstream, I realized the size of the impressive structure, and could see the power plant and spillway. Upstream, I observed some of the original stone masonry, and admired the elegant Roosevelt Lake Bridge, the longest two-lane, single-span, steel-arch bridge in North America. Along the Apache Trail, I experienced dazzling volcanic rock formations, shimmering blue-green lakes, dizzying white-knuckle driving, and amazing feats of engineering achievement. At the end of the day, I felt like an intrepid adventurer, after surviving my daring drive across the Superstition Mountains.

What an amazing drive this is! I drive east from home on Main St to State Rte 88 and in about 30 minutes I'm away from the city and suburbs and into the most beautiful and amazing scenery around. The first part of the drive is fairly easy on paved roads - there are a couple stops for scenic views, the first to view Weaver's needle and the second a great view of Canyon Lake. I do this part of the drive at least once a month, I have a great need to see "big" water. Drive a little further and you end up at Tortilla Flat - there's a restaurant/bar, an ice cream store and a souvenir shop. If you do this on the weekends in the winter expect major crowds here. Past Tortilla Flat the road is still paved for a more miles and then it gets good. The unpaved road is graded and can be an uncomfortable drive and I'm sure it's not good for my car, but I just can't resist. Keep driving the curvy road and be careful, in many places it's just one lane and a lot of the other drivers seem to want to speed on by. The scenery is magnificent though and worth every mile. Soon you'll hit Apache Lake - and if you drive down to the marina? there is a building with a restaurant (looks kinda dumpy), a small store and they have boat rentals! Something I will have to do one summer. Keep driving and the water continues on your left until you hit Roosevelt Dam. If you're not expecting it, it's a very large dam and just seems to pop out of nowhere. But for me the best part is just 'round the bend when you see the suspension bridge and Roosevelt Lake, HUGE water! I'm from Chicago and lived near Lake Michigan, and as much as I love the mountains, I really do miss seeing water. It's almost breathtaking once you get this far. Once you've reached the end, for me the best way is to head toward Globe and get on 60W to head back to the Valley. I've gone the other way through Payson and it's a much longer ride (or so it seems) Be sure you have a full tank of gas before you start this trip, there are no gas stations and it's several miles past Roosevelt Lake before you see one.

NEWSFLASH!! The Apache Trail may now be closed between Tortilla Flat and Apache Lake to to flood damage. The Apache Lake Resort may also be closed. Sorry for the bad news.

Very nice drive. Goes thru many kinds of geography. Lots of picture perfect scenery. If you drive pay attention. Best to go in off times to avoid traffic. Tortilla Flat is interesting. Restaurant where every square inch is covered with dollar bills and good food. Beyond Tortilla Flat is a good drive too.

I Googled "things to do within an hour of Phoenix" and this little gem popped up. Beautiful scenery, lots of photo ops, lots of places to pull over and stretch. About half way in, you reach Canyon Lake which has boat, fishing and swimming access. There are campgrounds, and even a little restaurant and ice cream shop to cool off in. For this New England to Arizona transplant, seeing a large amount of fresh water and shady trees was a refreshing change of pace. Bring lots of water to drink, though, because there's really only one place to purchase it, and at insane prices.

What a twisty great scenic road, with one lane bridges, blind curves, steep drops into the canyon and no guardrails to mar the view. Just the kind of road I love to drive on, but this time I was a passenger. I would normally not even get in the car with someone else behind the wheel. K and I both went over a cliff together when we were teenagers and she has the same fear as I do and did not speed. This is a great drive and well worth the terror I felt. I would do it again

What a scenic drive, albeit anxiety invoking. We only drove from Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat but that was good enough for me. Between the one lane bridges and crazy mountainside curves lacking guardrails, it's enough to picture yourself driving right off a cliff. Definitely take your time and be careful. The views are worth it unless you're seriously scared of heights. Visit Date: 11/20/09

Was in Phoenix on a short weekend trip and was worried that the trail on Highway 88 would take a long time, but was really surprised the time it took to get to Tortilla Flat from Apache Junction, right off the 202. Even with the winding roads and 15-25 MPH speed, mutliple camera spots and breath-taking views, it made a great afternoon ride.. I didn't go past Tortilla Flat, but got some great camera shots!

My husband and I drove the whole Apache Trail Scenic Byway, it was a nice getaway. We stopped on all major spots and lookout points. We just hugely regret not exploring a cave near the road and not able to see Tonto National Monument but we plan on going back and making a trip of it. There is so much to see and I'm sure we didn't see it all. Between Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake you can find camping sites , some more secluded than others. Apache lake has a motel, bar, restaurant, grocery store, RV, swimming, skis and boating . You need to book in advance if you want a motel room, they charge reasonable daily and weekly rates. Roosevelt lake has Rv and Cabins , don't know much about Roosevelt lake but look forward finding out. After passing Roosevelt Lake you have the option to go to Globe or Payson, we went to globe to finish the scenic drive . Last city was Superior and we wended back were we started in Apache Juntion. It took us about 7 hours to complete the drive but only because we stopped every place we knowledgeably knew of . We would greatly be appreciative if anyone could tell us of more places we might have missed along the way :) We can't wait to go back and make reservations at Apache lake , take a hike up to the cave and see the dwellings at Tonto National Monument.

So after a nice day trip to Boyce Thompson Arboretum, I suggest my husband head north to Roosevelt Lake, and take a "shortcut" back to the Valley through Apache Junction via State Route 88. Screw the GPS lady's instructions. What does she know anyway? Well apparently this computer bitch with an Australian accent knows my "shortcut" is only shorter in mileage, not in hours. I soon learned State Route 88 is actually the Apache Trail, approximately 45 miles of the most beautiful scenery you will find in Arizona. From Roosevelt, it includes about 20-25 miles of unpaved switch-backs that wind through the mountains with fantastic views of Apache Lake. There are several one-lane bridges along the route. Further on, you'll pass through Fish Creek Canyon (yeah, I had to look this up later). The road hangs along the side of this high-walled canyon and can hardly be described-it is unbelievably awesome. Other stops along the way if you choose include Tortilla Flat, Canyon Lake, and Goldfield Mining Town. Lots of beautiful places to stop along the way (if you can find a place to pull over) to enjoy the wildflowers and many streams you may find. Now, for the practical. Don't drag your RV through the unpaved portion. Don't drive like a lunatic when you can't see around the corner. Remember, some of us are here to enjoy the drive. If you're afraid of heights, probably not the route for you. At minimum, take the drive starting in Apache Junction so you're hugging the canyon walls for the entire trip. We took the drive in reverse and were cliff-side for the majority of the trip. And speaking of cliff-side, have some courtesy for those drivers. They can't pull over as far as the canyon-side drivers. We spotted several areas on the cliff-side where the road has eroded somewhat. Don't make this trip in a beater car in July or in heavy rains. Some areas will most likely not be passable. Have fun!

The best part of our family trip to Arizona, besides Grand Canyon. Among of the top three scenic trails I've driven through. Discover old gold mines, go under a mine to understand how people mined for gold in the 50s, hear the legend of Superstition Mountains, and best of all, be amazed by the Roosevelt Dam. This trail is not for the lazy or acrophobic. You will wind down narrow road carved on the edge of a mountain while admiring the beauty of Canyon, Apache, and Roosevelt lakes. What we thought would be a normal scenic drive ended up to be the most unexpected and fun time. Bless my MIL, she drove on that gravel road at a speed of 5-10mph for 22 miles. At one point we thought the minivan was going to give up on us, but the Toyota Sienna kept going. The Superstition Mountains stand tall and proud and reminds you of the native American folklore. The mountains, also known as "Supes", is where the lost Dutchman is supposed to have discovered the treasure of gold. The Supes are also home to the hole the Apaches believe is the entrance to lower world. The Roosevelt Dam provides a breathtaking backdrop against the dusty roads and mountains. Once the largest masonry dam in the world, it now has been encased in concrete to raise the holding capacity. The main attraction, however, is the Roosevelt bridge. It is the longest two lane, single-span, steel arch bridge in North America. Simply stunning! Go to the trail, drive on the gravel, enjoy the stunning views, and eat at the Miner's cafe, where food is served like in the past - your food is served in a metal plate and mug like during the old mining days. I am glad my MIL patiently drove us through this scenic trail. It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.Next time I am finding that lost gold.

This was the best! I almost didn't make this trip because of all the terrible reviews of how treacherous the path is. "It's not for the faint of heart," they said. "Terrifying drops." Ok, ok, yes it did have a few scary place, yes the road becomes unpaved and one way, but with some careful driving in a few places, this byway is NOT to be missed. If it was raining or bad weather, I probably wouldn't go too far past Tortilla Flat. In fact, if it's raining I bet you couldn't because even when I was there the road was a tidbit flooded and though I ignored the signs that said do not cross, I bet if it was raining you wouldn't even be able to anyway. On a sunny day in March I made the trek in an economy rental car! It was GORGEOUS!!! The Apache Trail was a stagecoach trail that ran through the Superstition Mountains. It was named the Apache Trail after the Apache Indians who originally used this trail to move through the Superstition Mountains. The Trail winds steeply through 40 miles of rugged desert mountains, past deep reservoir lakes like Canyon Lake and Apache Lake. The narrow, winding road is unpaved from just east of the town of Tortilla Flat to Roosevelt Dam; there are steep cliff drops and little in the way of safety barriers. The trail requires caution when driving. All the more reason to travel it, right? I've driven through snowy mountains, up Pike's Peak, through flooded bridges, over terraces, gotten stuck in the mud..oh the adventures of driving. If you can handle that kind of stuff, you can handle the Apache Trail. There are plenty of places to pull off along the route and there was very little traffic when I was en route. Make sure to fill up that gas tank! I'll admit, it took me at least 4 hours to get to Globe but I stopped quite a few times. My first stop was in Apache Junction at this cutesy little visitors center. It was a nice way to get my feet wet. Walk around, look at some old buildings. I was there pretty early so the building was still closed but it was beautiful and informative. I drove for a while, just making quick stops along the road and made another longer stop at Tortilla Pass for a bathroom break and Prickly Pear Gelato. Who cares if it was 10 a.m. There is also a little store there and a restaurant so if you have the time, I'd stop in for a bite to eat. The restaurant is the only place that has a restroom so you might have to stop in anyway. I was kind of in a hurry to get to Globe for work. You know you're getting closer to the end when you see Roosevelt's Dam. Theodore Roosevelt Dam is a dam on the Salt River. It is 357 feet high and forms Theodore Roosevelt Lake. The dam is named after then-President Theodore Roosevelt. Serving mainly for irrigation water supply and flood control, the dam also has a hydroelectric generating capacity of 36 megawatts. Prior to completion of the bridge in October 1990, traffic drove over the top of the dam. The bridge itself earned rare distinction when the bridge was named one of the top 12 bridges in the nation in November 1995. The American Consulting Engineers Council cited the bridge for overall design, size, eye-appeal and design challenge. Other bridges cited were the Golden Gate Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge. After the bridge, you have about 10 or so minutes before hitting Globe. Again, so worth it. I've never seen this type of landscape, where cacti litter the hills like the trees of the Black Hills. There wasn't any animal sitings, but still, very very beautiful. I would do it again and again. If I lived in Phoenix, this would be a nice, free, getaway. I'd probably pack up the family, drive the Tortilla Pass for food and ice cream and make my way back. I did notice that near Roosevelt Dam there was some boating activity as well. Don't be afraid, experience!!

Drove the whole loop recently, taking 88 from Apache Junction to 188 to US 60 back toward Sun Valley. It was only the first hour or so of driving that was interesting. The narrows on the Salt River were my favorite part. There's a scenic viewpoint atop a knob in the dirt road section. Great views down into the canyon form there. The Superstition Mountains were fun to see, too. The rest of the trip to me was forgettable. Didn't find Apache Lake or Roosevelt Lake interesting. Total time 5 hours including stops. Wish I'd turned back after the Salt River canyon and made it 3. Or spent more time going down into the canyon. FInally, a note for people wondering about the dirt road: Yes, there's a stretch of about 20 miles where the surface is compacted dirt and gravel. There's a lot of hype here and on other sites about how dangerous and frightening it is. Let me put it into perspective this way: On an offroad difficulty scale of 1 to 10, this route's a 1. If you have any kind of familiarity with driving unpaved roads you will be fine. But if you're the kind of clown who could never master parallel parking or backing up in a straight line, or you're a geezer in a big RV, you should probably let someone else drive.

Gorgeous views of the Arizona hills for the low cost of a couple of gallons of gas? Yep. Took my wife on this drive, starting in Apache Junction and took it the full 50 miles to Roosevelt Dam. A couple of things to note: The road is fully paved for the first 30 or so miles but the last 22 are unpaved and about 1 1/4 car width wide at points. This is not for the inexperienced driver or someone intimidated by cliffs without guard rails. Some posts warned about the road being rough - which it was at times (bone jarring) but we made the trek in a 2013 Prius without any issues. Sure you will be doing 5 mph in places, but we never ran into a section of road that we thought we couldn't make it. Overall a great drive with fantastic views. A very unique experience - only caveat is my wife was bored the last 10 miles or so as the scenery started to look all the same. But we highly recommend it none-the-less.

WOW! We started in Apache Junction and made our way along this historic route. Having planned ahead I knew what to expect but at the same time it was surprising. We stopped along the route at various places including an old gold mine, a lake, a dam and an old film set? Back to the trail. It's pretty smooth sailing to Tortilla Flat, we went on a holiday weekend so that may make it busier but overall it wasn't busy traffic wise at all. Tortilla Flat was the busiest part due to it being one street and parking being near impossible. Carry on another few miles and wait....what the....where's the paved road gone?! I have no idea why this stretch towards the dam isn't paved but this dusty road was all there is to it. It takes a little while to get accustomed to the bumping of the car along the road, almost like going over many potholes constantly but it's a rental so whatever right?! The bumpiness seemed to go on forever coupled with crazy SUVs zooming past kicking up dust. The road winds, heads up and drops down with some extremly scenic points on the way. I could not take it all in as I had to keep an eye on the road. Some bits were narrow, really narrow, but there are sufficient passing places to not be a concern. It was a fun drive and it seemed almost odd to get back onto normal paved roads. The dam and suspension bridge were amazing sights, not something I'd expect to see here. We carried on, taking a right onto Globe, passing the Tonto National Monument which was like a small version of Mesa Verde. Finally the trip back to Phoenix and it was all over. Any car can make the journey but be prepared for a few parts that are extremely bumpy as opposed to just regular bumpy! You must try this drive!

This is such a fun drive! But it's not for those who get car sick or dizzy on the teacup ride at Disneyland (yeah, I'm talking to you mom). Anyway, there are a lot of twists and turns along this drive if you start it out in AJ. You can take a paved road all the way to Tortilla Flat which is just past Canyon Lake. You can stop at Canyon and go fishing or enjoy other water activities or stop at Tortilla Flat and grab a bite to eat at the restaurant and ice cream next door at the parlor. You can drive a few miles past Tortilla Flat on a paved road, but then it's dirt to an overlook (beautiful by the way), which can be a bit rough on a small car. If you plan on taking the dirt road bring a truck or SUV. Wish we could have gone further. Oh, well. We'll have to save the rest of the trip all the way to Roosevelt Lake for another day. Depending on where you live in the valley this take take up a few hours or the whole day. Bring your patience, as you may get stuck behind someone towing a boat.

The Apache Trail Scenic Byway was by far one of my favorites from our family trip to Arizona. It's a beautiful drive! The byway is located about 40 min east of Phoenix/Scottsdale/Mesa. On the way to the byway, I could see that we were driving toward these very rocky mountains, and we were growing in anticipation. There are beautiful mountains at the entrance of the byway, but the level of difficulty at the mouth of the road was very humdrum. But then... the road became very exciting fairly quickly. There are very few guardrails when driving along the edge of the mountain and cliffs, so make sure you have an experienced, calm driver. There were just miles and miles of amazing views, cliffs, mountains... we would get out of the car every few miles to take pictures and check out some of the side trails. The pictures that we took definitely didn't do this place justice. One of my favorite spots was going to Canyon Lake and having a snack with my family. It's a great place for a picnic. There were these beautiful cliffs! I wish we could have gone kayaking. I read a lot about the 1 lane bridges, and I was a little afraid of what it might look like. It turned out to be not too bad... just need to "communicate" with the other cars and drive carefully. We weren't as much into Tortilla Flat or the Ghost Town. I think we were there moreso for the scenery. Our hotel concierge told us a tip--drive to Tortilla Flat (18 miles) and turn around. Past that, it just gets really, really long. Our total trip time was probably around 3.5 hours, which was good enough. Another tip... if you have access to a hotel (or maybe a gas station), find an apache trail map. It will show you some of the attractions and scenery highlights, and it will help you know where you are!

Holy **** bring diapers and or Xanax to ride the apache trail. Lol just kidding...mostly. My parents came to visit me in Scottsdale for a weekend, and we are all from the east coast where the scenic views consist of looking out the car window while stuck in traffic on the George Washington bridge. My mom insisted we ride the Apache Trail as I had been telling her for a couple of weeks how cool it seemed. I warned my parents it might be a bit scary, but off we went. The paved portion of the trail I hands down recommend to anyone as the views are unbelievable and the road isn't very scary. The unpaved portion is more of a once in a lifetime experience as it is pretty scary, and did get sort of crowded on a nice weekend day. With that being said this was probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen and 100 percent worth every second of fear and white knuckling of the seat cushion. Unless you're really jaded you can't be bored on the trail, the views, mountains, cacti, and lakes were unbelievable. We went in the fall but I can't imagine how awesome it must look in the superstitions when all the flowers are blooming. Also I'm not a history buff at all but the history of the area and the fact that this was used as a stagecoach trail a hundred years ago is like the most fascinating thing to me.

WARNING: THIS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART OR DRIVERS THAT ARE NOT CONFIDENT OR ARE PRONE TO BOUTS OF EXTREME STUPIDITY!!!! CELL PHONES WILL NOT WORK HERE DUE TO THE CANYON WALLS AND REMOTE LOCATION!!!! YOU SCREW UP, YOU'RE GONE BRO! The 88 past Tortilla Flats is a long, barely maintained road that has many hairpin turns and narrow passage ways (and bridges) that lack guard rails or other standard safety features. Looking over the edges in some places will reveal to the viewer countless rusted out cars that have taken the plunge and been unable to be recovered... In fact... I know of a few nice model Ts out there ;) Should be a classic car graveyard and historical site. However, traveling cautiously, and not in a drunken speeding stupor, will yield AMAZING vistas and glimpses into a world otherwise unable to be seen. This is truly a lost world and a fantastic one at that. Stop in Tortilla Flats for lunch and travel on to view the Roosevelt Dam, take the road towards Globe to head to the Tonto National Monument or head the opposite direction to book it to Payson and a few smaller blink and you miss them one horse cow towns that have all but been lost to history at this point.

One of the most scenic drives in the US, this twisting 80-mile loop contains a good 22 miles of dirt roads, so make sure your vehicle can handle it. We took our rental Suv crossover and had an absolute blast. My husband loves driving scenic twisting roads and I gladly let him take the wheel. The drive twists through canyons, mining towns, the superstition mountains, and along several beautiful man-made lakes. After you return to pavement, make sure to visit the Sinagua Indian dwelling at Tonto National Monument - it closes at 4pm so get there early to walk through a magnificent ancient cliff dwelling. Be sure to stop for food before you get onto the trail, because this will be an hours-long journey with little chance for food or gas.

Very nice drive. The dirt road is not all bad. It is bumpy at times, but I averaged 15-20 mph, made several stops to take photos, and it took 3 hours to go from Tortilla flat to the dam. I had a lot of fear as I entered the trail, but at the end I was amazed at how easy it was. The vehicle that I drove was a 2014 Hyundai Accent

I took this route without really knowing what it was on my first self-supported bicycle tour in 1995. My girlfriend and I decided that Arizona was the perfect place for a winter bike tour and, not being from the area, just plotted a circuitous route from Phoenix to Tucson on a highway map, and off we went. What a surprise it was! This is some of the most beautiful desert scenery I'd ever seen. Canyon Lake, Tortilla Flat, Roosevelt Dam and Lake, the 22-miles of dirt road, the cliff dwellings - it was all spectacular. As others have said, be prepared for a slow drive over narrow winding roads. Don't rush it. And if you find it enjoyable, don't turn around at Tortilla Flat! You'll miss the spectacular dirt section, which I think was prettier than the rest of it. Don't pull your big 5th wheel, trailer, or drive your motor home over this section though, as many of the turns are tight. I took my 2WD truck camper over it several years ago and had no trouble, however. Note for those of you who plan to bike this - be prepared for hills, many in the 10% category.

Incredible. Some of these views rival the Grand Canyon. Being a local, I sometimes forget how pretty the desert can be. I'd drive the trail from Apache Junction to Globe and then take US 60 from Globe to return to the Valley. That way, the canyon dropoffs are to your left. Your cell phone will probably not work much past Canyon Lake/Tortilla Flats. The road's really windy, but follow the posted speed limits and you'll be fine. If you get easily carsick, this probably isn't a great drive for you. There's not much in the way of services, so gas up ahead of time (and possibly pack snacks). The road's unpaved for about 20 mi after Tortilla Flats. I'd recommend driving in an SUV (or something similar with four-wheel drive) or just be prepared for a super bumpy ride. If you have doubts about your car making it on the unpaved road, I'd turn around at Canyon Lake or Tortilla Flats. These views are worth the white knuckle driving! Bring patience and a good camera!

We drove from the beginning of the park to Tortilla Flats. We decided not to go any further because of the reviews about the road being not suitable for sedans. The road to Tortilla Flats was an easy ride, just keep your eyes on the road, steep cliffs on the side of the road, you can see some rusty cars down at the bottom that have crashed down.

My wife and I drove the Apache trail this weekend. We loved every minute of it. Got to break in the new Jeep on some of the trails along the way. First stop at the ghost town was really enjoyable. Lunch at tortilla flats was nice. The scenery is incredible. I recommend a full day to stop frequently and be sure to visit all three lakes along the way. Roosevelt lake at sunset was the perfect way to finish.

Absolutely amazing with a side of stunning views! I hadn't been on the Apache Trail in 15 years, so decided to take the hubby on a little daytrip excursion. We picked an absolutely beautiful day and headed up on the 202 to explore. I recommend only taking the trail through the paved roads...who needs to go further when the views are so amazing on the paved road?!? We stopped several times to walk and take photos...why not?

Numerous times I have thought that there should be an Apache Trail race (like Pike's Peak). Think of the revenue this would bring in to local businesses! Back in the 70's I would drive from Apache Junction to Roosevelt Lake in my Austin Healey in less than an hour many times trying to set personal records. Of course, there was no traffic back in those days. But all the time I was thinking there should be an official race course there at some point. I had a great time driving AZ roads in the Healey and my old Ford truck for 10 years. Loved the old Mining Camp Restaurant - great steaks!

Just drove this route today, it was a beautiful day very Scenic views. Just pay attention and you will be fine. The road is a bit of a washboard. But well worth the drive. Don't forget to bring your camera and some water.

My husband and I drove the Apache Trail this afternoon. I must admit I had no idea what we are in for! After seeing the Grand Canyon yesterday I thought that nothing could impress me, but the scenery along this trail was incredible. We live in NY, and I'm not a fan of western movies, so I had no idea that such roadways exist. That we decided to do this drive in our rental, convertible VW Bug still has me laughing at our stupidity! We stopped at all of the tourist destinations at the beginning of the trail and had lunch on the water at Canyon Lake. All enjoyable. I then, unknowingly, started on the most terrifying ride of my life. If you have any anxiety issues what-so-ever, load up on Xanax or have several drinks before getting into the passenger seat (trust me, you will thank me for this advice). By the time we hit the unpaved section of the road I was begging my husband to slow down and look at the road. He pulled over, got out of the car and said you **** drive. GLADLY I thought!!! Nope, not much better, I was terrified and doing about 5 mph. By the time we made it to the dam we were no longer speaking to each other!!! That said, I'm so glad we did it! Can't imagine missing that scenery. Pictures can't capture it. I'd love to camp near one of the lakes.

Just returned from a lovely day traveling the Apache Trail. We had gone last winter, but only went as far as Canyon Lake due to a late start so we made sure to allow more time today. After Tortilla Flat the road becomes dirt. Warning: as previous reviewers have stated, this drive is not for the faint of heart. It is long, steep, and intense. But it is gorgeous. I grew up driving/riding mountain roads and it was still one of the scariest roads I've ever been on. The views and scenery are unlike anything I've ever seen. After the drop to fish creek (the best part) it does seem to take forever to get to Roosevelt Lake. Still gorgeous though. We did the full circle and from Apache Junction back to Mesa took us 5 hours, with only a couple stops. Not something I would do very often but that's what makes it so special! If you're up for an adventure then do not miss this beautiful trail! Be smart and careful and you will enjoy it.

Whether you are a local or a tourist you have to drive the Apache Trail at least once! I think I've taken every friend or family member that ever came to visit me in Phoenix through it. It's a day drive you want to plan for, pack a picnic lunch to enjoy along the way as there are limit food service options. You can first pick up the trail (State Route #88) near Apache Junction heading straight for Goldfield Mining Camp. You drive pass the camp, headed toward Apache Lake, Saguaro Lake & Tortilla Flats. I recommend taking time to picnic near one of the lakes. There is a little diner near on Apache Lake, the food is decent and affordable but nothing to rave about. You also have an option to grab a burger at the Saloon in Tortilla Flats but the really enjoyable experience is to enjoy the fabulous view and being in the outdoors for a picnic! The entire drive is gorgeous!!! Yes, as previous yelpers have noted, the road is windy, it gets steep and several miles are unpaved. The key to this drive is to know this will be a day trip for you and just take your time and enjoy the desert landscape. If you are Phoenix based living in the cemented desert it's easy to forget how beautiful Arizona can be. The Apache Trail will remind you how gorgeous the desert can be. There are several options to get off the road and stop for pictures or just to enjoy the view. At the end of the route you get to stop at Tonto National Monument which features Indian Cliff Dwellings. Now there are lots of these across Arizona. However, very few of them are stable enough for you average person to be allow to climb up to them. It will take you roughly twenty minutes to climb up to the ruins. Bring water, the hike isn't that strenuous but it's gets hot up there and by the time you get there it will be afternoon. There is a nominal entrance fee, last time I went is was only $4 per person and there is a Park Ranger at the top to answer any questions. I do recommend driving back using the US-30 through Globe. No one should go back the way they came as it will be dark and scary on the way back. You can get back to downtown Phoenix in less than two hours via the freeway! In one day you get to rive through the Superstition Mountains, see Apache Lake, Roosevelt Lake, Roosevelt Dam, Tortilla Flats, Tonto National Forest & Indian Ruins. This is in my top five of things to do in AZ!

This byway is absolutely scenic, but the park service should provide warning signs for those entering Fish Creek Hill past Tortilla Flat en route to Apache Lake that this one-lane, steep, washboard-laden, guard rail-less dirt road is almost impassable when pulling a boat. A simple sign with a red skull embossed over truck-boat combo on a steep incline would be sufficient and cost effective. After all, the rescues along this stretch must cost the state a pretty penny. Once past Canyon Lake, there is no place to turn around. Period. Not for the faint of heart or iffy of brake.

This was one of those AMAZING experiences that as you are living it you know you will talk about it for a long time. We started on the trail at apache junction at about noon. We got back on the freeway at 5:15. We didn't stop at any of the tourist stops except to hit the bathroom and to grab a bag of chips and a soda- we did stop at all the vistas and look outs. We had a blast looking at the scenery and stopped at many of the turnouts to climb and snap photos. The drive down to Fish Creek was INSANE. absolutely crazy. The guard rails looked liked cardboard and staples. We laughed like crazy until we had to go back up and we were on the outside. We have a big SUV and we had to scoot over a few time a for big SUVs and trucks. We did it. When you drive out and start on the paved road with the switch backs you wonder how the people driving back out are driving so fast. You find out quick that once you navigate fish creek you can do just about anything. We made it to Apache Lake and stopped by the store for sodas and chips before heading back to Chandler. We had a blast. The scenery was breathtaking- something to cherish. DO THIS. IT'S worth it.

This was a great drive and we recommend to not stop at the tortilla flat, keep driving to see beautiful natural mountains. What a great way to get away!