Apache Trail cont.

But it is a scenic route!!

At Fish Creek Canyon we looked out a massive, vividly colored walls that were as steep as 2,000 feet above the highway.

That is our road at the bottom of the hill. Now to just get there!!

The 10% descent down the side of the mountain was like few other roads I have traveled. It reminded me of the Moki Dugway and a canyon road in Colorado. Fish Creek in the bottom of the canyon provided the area with cottonwood trees and other flora not seen at the drier, higher elevations. We stopped several times admiring the scenery and the wildflowers. The cacti may not be blooming yet but the wildflowers were putting on a show.

Maybe this is why it took us 3 ½ hours to go 38 miles.

Apache Lake is the second lake in the string of three lakes we passed.

We eventually came to the largest masonry dam in the world, the Roosevelt Dam, built on the Salt River.

The bridge is the longest two lane, single span, steel arch bridge which crossed above the dam. There was also a nice spot for our picnic lunch at the overlook. The lake supplies the water for the Phoenix area. 1,321,000 people would require a lot of water in the desert!

Just four miles past the dam we came to the Tonto National Monument. About 1250 A.D. some of the Tonto Basin people began building in the caves.

The Lower Cliff Dwelling we visited, where the Salado Indians looked out upon the Salt River, was a steep ½ mile hike up the hillside for us.

We stopped often to admire the hillside! This cholla cactus is also known as the jumping cactus but it really does not jump out and grab you.

Much of the dwelling was two story and they believe as many as 70 people lived in this dwelling. The beams in the room Leon is standing in front of would have been the floor for the top level.

Roof poles were laid across a main beam and a layer of saguaro ribs and clay mortar provided a roof. A family would have lived in one of the small rooms.

The blackened walls were evidence of the smoke-filled house from the fires that kept them warm during the winter months. The adults were less the 5’6” and had to stoop to go through the doorways but there was less heat loss in the winter.

Then we saw the Africanized bees living high above. The park may have to be closed if they can’t find a way to get rid of them. Later on the new we heard about 3 people in Phoenix that were attacked and hospitalized from bee stings. The dark black area above the brush are the bees!


At the end of the Apache Trail we passed through Globe and Superior, a couple of copper mining towns that began as silver mining towns.

Near Superior we stopped for a visit at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Here we took a leisurely walk on the 1 ½ mile main trail through the cacti, wildflowers, and various trees.


There were side trails throughout the park. One could easily spend the better part of a day here. This was Leon's favorite part of the park. We had put in a 9 - 5 day. But it was one that we won’t forget!

There are 300 acres of plants collected from all over the world. 50 acres are in the viewing area.  We were led past mountain cliffs, a streamside forest, a desert lake, and plenty of cacti. Here I am observing the wash.

I am happy any time we pass flowers in bloom! And that we did!