From: ... Our welcoming town is just southeast of Phoenix and only a short drive away from the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. 4. 42 miles long one way. When Theodore Roosevelt drove there in 1911, he compared the … Things to do near Apache Trail Scenic Drive on Tripadvisor: See 779,415 reviews and 2,769 candid photos of things to do near Apache Trail Scenic Drive in Arizona, United States. The Apache Trail . the historic and scenic Apache Trail for the next forty miles. Apache Trail Scenic Drive. The Apache Trail was designated Arizona's first historic and scenic highway in 1988. Map + Directions. Arizona’s Apache Trail, USFS Scenic Byway. The Apache Trail today officially starts in Tempe and heads west to Apache Junction along Highway 60. Apache Trail National Scenic Byway is a 40 mile drive on Hwy 88 from Apache Junction to Roosevelt Dam. A drive on the Apache Trail is one of the most scenic drives near the Phoenix area. The scenic byway was designated in 1998, and is approximately 39 miles long, winding in and out of some of the most awe-inspiring country in Arizona--or for that matter, in the West. Other experiences in Arizona. From Apache Junction it winds north and east along a canyon If you're looking for a scenic dirt road to explore, look no further than the Apache Trail. Nearby Experiences. Winding on the edges of Superstition Mountain Wilderness, this was the original path of Apache Indians that became a stagecoach route during the wild west. Which, it turns out, you can do on the Apache Trail, one of Arizona’s most beloved roads. Apache Trail one of the most scenic drives in the country. Just after you pass Saguaro Lake and Tortilla Flats (good pit stop if you’re hungry), the paved road turns into a dirt road so this is when you get to take your time and really absorb all the beauty! The extraordinarily scenic section of the Apache Trail or Highway 88 starts at the Theodore Roosevelt Dam at the junction with 188 and ends outside of Apache Junction. Coronado Trail Scenic Byway Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests/Flickr Named after the Spanish conquistador, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, this trail is not only a historic route but it also shows off some of the prettiest sights eastern Arizona has to show off! The Apache Trail in Arizona 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.. However, portions of the trail remain unpaved, and these rugged sections travel through rough mountains and Saguaro cactuses. The historic Apache Trail linked Apache Junction at the edge of the Greater Phoenix area with Theodore Roosevelt Lake through the Superstition Mountains and the Tont The Apache Trail is one of the most breathtaking scenic drives in central Arizona, and we recently had a chance to trace its path once again. ... Apache Trail Scenic Drive. This site … Apache Trail Scenic Drive. Apache Trail Scenic Drive. Apache Trail is a scenic 42-mile drive that winds through the Superstition Mountains. Book your tickets online for Apache Trail Scenic Drive, Arizona: See 628 reviews, articles, and 885 photos of Apache Trail Scenic Drive, ranked No.60 on Tripadvisor among 718 attractions in Arizona. The Apache Trail Scenic Drive, Arizona, United States Photo Credit Apache Trail Scenic Drive, Arizona, United States While this is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful drives in all of the United States, Arizona’s Apache Trail can be unforgiving to drivers whose attention wavers from roadway to surrounding landscape. It provides a front-row seat to several ghost towns, abandoned mines, bridges, lakes, and the Roosevelt Dam. The scenic part starts on the northeast side of the town of Apache Junction. We started around 9:00 in the morning and arrived at Tonto National Monument in just enough time to visit the Lower Cliff Dwelling before the park closed. The Apache Trail scenic drive will take all day. If you’re looking for an incredibly scenic drive near Phoenix, Arizona that can be completed in a day or two that also offers excellent camping opportunities, then the Apache Trail (Arizona-88) is right for you. Our Apache Trail tours are a blend of beautiful scenery, fantastic Western history, and a gorgeous boat tour through Canyon Lake. The scenic drive from Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat on Highway 88 is only 27 km (17 mi). The Apache Trail is a great scenic drive outside of Phoenix, Arizona. Hiking Trails, Scenic Drives, Horseback Riding Tours. Get the full experience and book a tour. The route begins in Apache Junction and ends at the Roosevelt Dam. It is bound on the north by Canyon and Apache lakes, and on the south by the rugged Superstition Mountains and the Superstition Mountain Wilderness Area. Can be taken as a circle route through Globe (120 miles round trip) Depending on how many times you stop, plan on about 6-8 hours to complete the journey. 57 reviews of Apache Trail Scenic Byway "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. The Apache Trail through the Superstition Mountains is a classic scenic drive. While damage from a 2019 landslide still blocks part of the route, the Arizona Department of Transportation this year repaired the Apache Trail up to Fish Creek Vista, turning an already scenic road into a day trip with a panoramic payoff. Also known as Apache Trail Scenic Byway. It is now a scenic drive … Officially known as State Route 88, Apache Trail begins in Apache Junction east of Phoenix and winds for 40 miles through the Superstition Mountains to Roosevelt Dam. Apache Trail is a 19.8 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Tortilla Flat, Arizona that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. This infamous route is a popular one in the Jeep community for a reason. To help you enjoy your drive on the Apache Trail, I have prepared for you a custom Google Map, complete with turn by turn instructions, and helpful tips. When my husband and I wintered in the Greater Phoenix area, the scenic Apache Trail drive was our favorite thing to do when we entertained out-of-town visitors. This well-traveled road affords visitors an incredible view of canyons, geologic formations, desert plants and trees, desert and lake views, and wildflowers in season. This is a 2.5 hr drive from Scottsdale taking the Apache Trail to the dam, then 1.5 hrs return through Globe on 188 & 60 or via the Beeline 87 Hwy. In July of 2020 officials closed Tonto National Forest prompting the closure of SR 88 east of Tortilla Flat and between Roosevelt and Apache lakes. The Apache Trail runs for 38 miles (61 km) from Youngberg, Arizona to Theodore Roosevelt Dam, Roosevelt. Customizable Directions. It runs along Route 88 between Apache Junction and Roosevelt Lake, just east and south of Phoenix.Following the Salt River past Canyon Lake and Apache Lake, it twists through some truly stunning Sonoran Desert landscapes of rugged rocks and sassy saguaros. The trail is primarily used for nature trips, fishing, and scenic driving and is accessible year-round. The road that goes through the ‘Apache Trail’ is Arizona State Route 88. 628 Reviews #59 of 716 Sights & Landmarks in Arizona. Background. Depending on how often you stop to gawk at the scenery, you should plan on 7-10 hours to complete this trip. The Apache Trail was originally built in the mid-1920s, and remarkably--and delightfully--remains largely unpaved today. About two and half miles down the road from Lost Dutchman State Park is located the site of Government Well. One of the most scenic drives in the Phoenix area is a drive on the Apache Trail from Apache Junction to Roosevelt Lake. A drive on the Apache Trail is one of the most scenic drives near the Phoenix area. Half the route is an unpaved, bumpy dirt road State Route 88/Apache Trail was constructed in 1904 to provide construction access for the Roosevelt Dam, which was completed in 1911. The drive took us just over 5 hours to complete the 120 miles round trip with the true Apache Trail, partly one lane, being 42 miles, and just over half being unpaved. Screw the GPS lady's instructions. 40 mile scenic drive through the Superstition Mountains northeast of Phoenix, past varied cacti and several deep reservoirs. Recommended. The winding road, although paved, is a challenge of one’s driving skills because of … Located outside of Phoenix, Arizona, this scenic road takes you through the Superstition Mountains, offering spectacular views of mountains, lakes and tons of saguaros. Apache Trail Scenic Drive; Apache Trail Scenic Drive. Arizona’s most scenic drive . Apache Trail and Dolly Steamboat Tour. This well-traveled road affords visitors an incredible view of canyons, geologic formations, desert plants and trees, desert and lake views, and wildflowers in season. Weaver’s Needle, visible along the Apache Trail. Whilst a relatively short drive, it manages to pack in quite a few sights along the way and the drive itself is great fun as the road twists and turns its way through the superstition mountains. What does she know anyway? A National Scenic Byway, the 44-mile paved and gravel Apache Trail crosses the rugged northern part of the Superstition Mountains just northeast of Phoenix, offering access to three reservoirs and gorgeous desert scenery.. Named for the Apache people who once used this trail, the road winds through canyons and mountain ridges, offering plenty of pull-outs … October 18, 2015. The Apache Trail Scenic Drive. Once a trail for the Apache tribe through the Superstition Mountains, Apache Trail Scenic Drive showcases the desert Southwest along a now-paved highway known officially as State Route 88. As you drive down a 4×4 road, you will see amazing views of the Superstition Mountains. Our most popular tours and activities. A two lane paved mountainous road as you drive from Apache Junction, past the western face of the Superstition Mountains and into the Salt River Canyon at Canyon Lake.