![ghost town apache junction ghost town apache junction](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ab/70/70/ab70709b6254dd6d4dd801c3e7684f86.jpg)
The end of the hike will lead you to the Flatiron, an appropriately named massive slab of rock from which you’ll have amazing panoramic views of the surrounding country, and even Phoenix which is nearly 30 miles away. The trail can be tricky in areas, but if you tough it out, it will take you to a waterfall that depending on the season, may or may not be flowing. If a challenging hike through an awe-inspiring park, followed by a picnic or relaxing snack sounds like a great way to spend a few hours, then Siphon Draw Trail in Lost Dutchman State Park is where you need to be.
![ghost town apache junction ghost town apache junction](https://files.tripstodiscover.com/files/2018/04/shoot-out.jpg)
Source: Arlene Waller / shutterstock Siphon Draw Trail There are a few access points near Apache Junction, the most popular of which is near the scenic Apache Lake. It’s home to two lakes, countless creeks and streams, and many amazing plants and animals including javelinas, elk, and even mountain lions. The area spreads from the Sonoran Desert in the south, through the ponderosa pines of central Arizona to the Mogollon Rim in the north, near Flagstaff.
![ghost town apache junction ghost town apache junction](https://st2.depositphotos.com/1327793/7284/i/950/depositphotos_72846509-stock-photo-a-look-at-goldfield-ghost.jpg)
Source: Jo Ann Snover / shutterstock Tonto National ForestĮven by Arizona standards, 3 million acres is a lot of land, and in fact, the Tonto National Forest is the largest in the state and the 5th largest in the United States. Be warned, it’s very easy to get lost in these mountains, and each year a few poor souls need to be rescued, while some don’t make it out alive. Since then, brave fortune hunters have been trying to find the mythical mine, and many have died in the process.Īt nearly 300 acres, the park is large and covered with trails. Rumor has it that in the late 19th century a Dutch prospector struck a vein of gold worth millions in the Superstition Mountains near Apache Junction, but died before he was able to cash in on his newfound wealth. If you’ve ever wondered about the famous Dutchman who got lost in Arizona, and why they named a park after him, then a trip to Lost Dutchman State Park should be on your Apache Junction itinerary. Source: Laurens Hoddenbagh / shutterstock Lost Dutchman State Park It’s also set amidst an area of largely unchanged national forest and some of the most dramatic scenery in the state, or even the western United States as a whole.īelow are 15 of the most amazing things to do while in Apache Junction.
![ghost town apache junction ghost town apache junction](https://previews.123rf.com/images/neilld/neilld1505/neilld150500044/40537886-apache-junction-arizona-march-15-goldfield-ghost-town-on-march-15-2015-near-apache-junction-arizona-.jpg)
Ghost town apache junction full#
After taking shots from various vantage points along the road, we followed an access road to the base of the bridge in order to get some interesting shots looking up the the graceful arches.Located about 35 minutes east of Phoenix in the remote Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction is close to many of the area’s most popular attractions.Īs an old mining town, it’s full of hard-luck stories and local legends, many of which include murders, missing persons, and hordes of gold that have eluded discovery for more than a hundred years. For all you factoid hunters, it is the longest two-lane, single-span, steel-arch bridge in North America!Īfter making camp down at Apache Lake, we drove back to the bridge in time for sunset. The first thing that caught our eye was the Roosevelt Lake Bridge on AZ 188 that crosses the narrow portion of the lake near the dam. We started our photographic journey at the junction of AZ 188 and AZ 88 – Theodore Roosevelt Lake. If you want to follow our route, here’s a link to a tourist map of the area from the Arizona Hikers Guide website. We have included photographs of our favorite places. We decided to spend several weeks at the Apache Lake marina campground in February and March and thoroughly explore this scenic route. And, it meanders through parts of the Superstition Mountains and Tonto National Forest. The Apache Trail in Arizona is a scenic, mostly unpaved, road that goes from Theodore Roosevelt Lake to Apache Junction.