Driving the Apache Trail...

Canyon Lake near start of Trail

For all our excitement at the prospect of driving this scenic trail, once we had done it, we
seriously questioned our sanity.  Beautiful, it is;  safe, it is not.  

Tortilla Flat Saloon

The start of the trail was rather tame, but as we drove on, the mountains became higher and the road narrower, with one switchback after another.  It was so narrow, in fact, that I felt compelled to lean into the driver's side as I was convinced, at several points, that we would go over.  Let's just say that if Geronimo travelled this trail, he was one heck of a brave fellow!

Superstition Mountains

The trail itself is only about 40 miles long, but takes at least 3 hours to drive due to its treacherous conditions.  The Tourist  Bureau people in Apache Junction explained that most people do not venture farther than Tortilla Flat, a tiny village of six inhabitants (really!), 10 miles into the trail.  (A note in passing:  The owners of Tortilla Flat, a touristy little village, tried to sell it in 2003 for $5.5 million but were not successful.  Hmmm, wonder why?!) 

Single-car Bridge

We were told that once you get past this town, the road soon switches to a dirt road and things get really hairy.  We nonetheless decided to go on a bit past Tortilla Flat, by about two miles or so, but then chickened out.  What can we say but that we enjoy our life way too much to take the chance!

The pictures we included in this post do not, by any means, come close to seeing the real thing.  But if  you need a better idea, just watch the show "IRT" (Ice Road Truckers) on their trek through the Andes Mountains.  The Apache Trail is not quite as bad, but definitely a close second!