Come Take a Drive With Me
About an hour east of Phoenix, Arizona tower the Superstition Mountains, aptly named so because of the numerous legends (i.e. that of lost treasure, strange creatures, and even UFOs) surrounding this area. You may have read the overview of our Desert Adventures, but come take a drive with me as we explore this roughly 120 mile scenic drive that loops in and around the Superstitions as well through the canyons, lakes, mines and ghost towns within. The next time you are headed to or through Phoenix, do your absolute best to take an extra day for an adventurous drive a lifetime.
Part of the 120 mile loop is a 28 mile stretch of unpaved adventure that lies deep within the mountains and is quite simply an epic drive for the bravest and craziest of souls with four wheel drive. It’s name… The Apache Trail.
It is insane white-knuckle terrain that has been cleaved out of the steep mountain sides. Do not, I repeat do not take this journey, if one lane, twisted, washboard, unpaved, guardrail-less, sun-in-your-eye, thousand-foot-drop-off paths are not your thing.
The trail started where the pavement met the dirt high up in the mountains after we had already driven at least an hour (with several stops for gawking, pictures and a picnic lunch), and it is the turning around point for the timid. With the scent of crisp, dry, desert cacti filtered air wafting through our open windows, the road seemed unassuming to us at first.
The sandy gravel path began a slight decline as our hot rubber tread dug in deep, much like my fingers would dig into the handlebar on the front cart at the summit of a monstrous roller coaster who teases its riders right before the spine straightening plummet.
Quickly the dirt road narrowed to the thickness of one lane as the high mountain desert roadside began to drop off significantly. Maybe it was the heat of the high altitude, or that of the sun shining directly through the windshield into our faces that caused sweat to pool up on my forehead, but more than likely it’s because we were feverishly looking for the slightest hint of advance notice for an oncoming vehicle. Our heads whipped around side to side as we glanced to see how much room we had to navigate our tires. Too close to the right side and we could easily have painted reddish colored racing pinstripes along our white truck, courtesy of the jagged rock wall face. While too close to the left and the thought of recreational base jumping began to dance our minds as the valley floor became quite visible a few thousand feet beneath us.
Despite the challenging drive, Kristin did an awesome job calmly helping me navigate while her head was on a swivel soaking up the scenery. I was able to catch snippets of the all-encompassing beauty of the landscape below while darting glances between it and the shoulder-less road ahead.
We descended further. As we descended, we joked. Can you imagine riding a bike on this road? It wasn’t but 20 minutes later when the first group of oncoming furiously pedaling cyclists passed by us. Determined or psychotic, we couldn’t decide.
There were no guard rails, only an occasional extra wide spot where two cars had an opportunity to pass one another. Passing outside of this small area would mean almost certain doom for the vehicle on the outside lane. Luckily we were on the inside. We were convinced that a smaller four wheel drive vehicle would have been best for this trip (i.e. Jeep vs Truck…keep this in mind if you decide to partake on this adventure), but there we were…too late now.
The vast sweeping views of red and yellow glistening valley rock, the hawks soaring through the wind at our eye level, and the many giant saguaro cacti looking like an army of tiny fist-pumping soldiers covering the desert below made the trek absolutely worth it; especially knowing that much of it has been unexplored by humans due to its rugged inaccessibility. Truly it was an awe inspiring landscape, creating a strong distraction from the focus needed for the treacherous path that lay ahead.
Down, down, still further down we made our way, one foot on the brake to slow our descent almost the entire time until a bridge way at the bottom came into view. There’s no turning back, so we continued to push on. We knew it was inevitable, and then suddenly we saw it. A vehicle coming up the path directly towards us. We sure as hell weren’t going to reverse it up the mountain and to avoid having these poor souls back down the road, my eyes happened upon a wide spot around the next curve about 200 feet ahead us. Off with the brake and on with the gas we raced to the only area wide enough for two vehicles to squeak past. Once there, we waited, waved, and each continued on our treacherous paths.
Nearing the bottom of the trail we glimpsed huge cavernous rock formations and vertical rifts in the mountain where I can only imagine cascading waterfalls once carved their way through the rock on their several thousand foot drop now above us. A crazy, but insanely beautiful drive…even as the road disappears and reappears like a snake, coiling around the vertical cliff side.
Finally, after what seemed like an hour later (but was maybe 20 minutes), the bridge at the bottom greeted us like a marathon finish-line tape. We made it! Once over it, we were rewarded with an unbelievable 360 degree view which I can only describe as feeling like a pair of victorious Roman gladiators gazing up into the stands of the magnanimous stone Colosseum now surrounding us. We decided, it was the perfect spot to take a selfie proving we had conquered the mighty challenge.
From there the dirt section of the Apache Trail continued, but with fewer hairpin turns, before connecting to paved road again at the Roosevelt Dam.
All in all, it was completely worth the gallon of sweat lost and heart palpitations we endured. The Apache Trail and it’s subsequent loop is a must-do for adventure seekers looking for bragging rights as they brave their way through the drive of a lifetime. Another must-see along the way is the Tonto National Monument which is a perfect, shady afternoon hike to an amazing, ancient cliff dwelling.
And if you time it right, as you loop back to Phoenix after a long, incredible day, you’ll be blinded by an incredibly gorgeous sunset as you recount the adventures of the day and leave the Superstition Mountains behind.
So if you have a spare day to spend in and around the Phoenix area this is how we recommend you fill it. And if you don’t have one…..make one!
Cheers to the adventurous souls,
Matt
Stubs says
Another great adventure! I think I would have to be on a motorcycle.