Superstition Wilderness Mountain

 On Friday, February 7 was a good day for one more of our adventures. We packed a lunch, coffee, water, binoculars, and maps. We left at 9:30 a.m. headed to AZ #60 east, turned on Idaho Dr, and then Apache Trail. Destination was the Tonto National Forest and Superstition Wilderness Mountain.

As Randal drove I had the video camera running for quite a distance showing the winding road and beautiful view of the rugged mountains and valleys. We stopped to take pictures as we went along. Our first stop was a Tortilla Flats.

“The road twists and climbs it way through country as primitive as it was; wild and rugged stretches of desert mountains. Sapphire -blue lakes, lush landscape of plants and animals, some cliffs, plunging canyons, ancient Indian dwellings, semiprecious stones littering the desert floor and among the sights awaiting you along the trail” - Tortilla Flat Telegraph

Some history of the area: over 100 years ago it was a thriving stage- coach stop, for travelers and freight wagons going to Roosevelt Dam. In 1904 during boom times of the Dam building the population was 125 people (today they have 6). Most of the town was destroyed by a flood in 1943 and even in 1924 and 1987 weren't able to destroy the old west perseverance Tortilla Flat AZ.

AZ # 88 goes as far as Roosevelt Dam, however the pavement does not. We drove to where the pavement stopped and turned around a came back as Randal does not like the way the RAM truck handles on graveled wash-broad roads. Later we heard from people, we stopped to talk to, that the graveled part of the road was a breath-taking ride with narrow roads, hair-pin turns, sharp canyon drops and scenery.

We stopped at Lost Dutchman State Park, paid $7.00 and received a hiking map. We went for a 2,4 mile hike on Treasure Loop #56 up the Superstition Wilderness Mountain. We walked up 500 feet. It took us a couple of hours to walk it, as we stopped to take pictures and take in the awesome views. AZ State Parks

From the brochure : “Named after the fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman State Park is located in Apache Junction in the Sonoran Desert, 40 miles east of Phoenix. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest”

We have 440 pictures and at least 10 minutes of video. Randal has set them up on a stick, added soft music so we can view them on the TV. It is very peaceful to view where we've been.

Until next time remember "Discover It and Live It"