Vidio of fish creek Descent

The Apache trail --Tortilla flats to Roosevelt dam --"The most hair raising and intimidating drive in Arizona and possibly the world". Not recommended for RVs. Video by LORI

The Apache Trail--Part 1--Apache flats to Tortilla flats

Feb.16th to 17th--Lost Dutchman state Park to Roosevelt Dam--After consulting our atlas we decided to continue north on The Apache Trail, Hwy. 88, to the Roosevelt Dam for, what we thought would be, a nice scenic drive. Little did we know what we were about to encounter.

The Start of the Apache
trail

Scenery along the Trail

Canyon Lake

Larry in Tortilla Flats

The first leg of our journey took us some 10 miles on a paved narrow 2 lane road, that wound through the mountains, to Tortilla Flats. Tortilla Flats has a population of six people and no services except for some souvenir shops and a restaurant .

The apache Trail--Part 2--Tortilla Flats to Roosevelt Dam

Leaving Tortilla flats the paved two lane road lasted for 8 to 10 miles and then changed into a single lane washboard gravel cow trail. The road took us up mountains and down valleys with curves and switchbacks that barely gave us enough room to negotiate the turns. Larry and Lori were driving ahead of us and videoed our descent down Fish Creek Hill.

Beautiful scenery

Single Lane Bridge

Canyon Lake in distance

Leaving Tortilla Flats

About 15 miles from the Roosevelt dam we came to a sign that said "No Vehicles Over 40 Feet Allowed To Proceed" as we were 36.5 feet long, and not knowing what lay ahead, we carried on.

Two lane gravel at this point--no problem eh!

Tonto National forest

Oh! Oh! Single lane. Are you kidding?

Muddy waters--Lots of rain recently

With grades of 10 to 15% that take you down 1500 feet in a very short time. Shear cliffs and hair pin turns demand all your attention as one wrong move will take you off the road, falling some 1000 feet, to join the pile of wreckage at the bottom of the cliff. We were driving on a ledge that was supported, in places, by sandbags.

It took two and a half hours to go 30 miles

Just as we thought we had made it through the worst parts of the road we came to the descent down Fish Creek Hill. Fish Creek Hill, as I was to find out later, is the most dangerous,gut wrenching,make a man out of a boy stretch of road that you will ever encounter anywhere.

Severe Washboard 5 miles per hour

Hairpin turns and shear drops

Whenever we met cars coming towards us one of us would have to pull over and we would pass with only inches between us. This often happened on corners and was always unexpected. Because of all the hills and turns we had very little warning of approaching traffic.

Very Little room to pass

Top of Fish creek Hill you can see larry's Camper far below

Winding down the mountains and approaching Roosevelt dam

Finally Paved Roads

Wickenburg to Lost Dutchman State Park

Feb 14th to 16th--Lost Dutchman State Park--Located in The Sonoran Desert 40 miles east of Phoenix. The campground is located just north of Apache Junction in the Superstition wilderness area and the Tonto National Forest. We stayed two days and took the time to explore Goldtown a authentic old western town located close to the park. The campsite is located at the foot of the Superstition Mountains and is a very beautiful place to visit.

Stopping for the night

Our back yard for the night

Goldtown Business

Bad Place to end up

Two visits to outhouse daily--oh!oh!

The Town Museum

Larry and I at the bordello just kidding eh!

Ride a piece and rest a spell

Having a cold one at the outside Bar

Row of antique cars

Wickenburg Rodeo and Stanton, Arizona

Feb. 12th to 14th--Wickenburg Arizona--Arrived in Wickenburg,a lovely little town in the valley, just in time to see their annual Rodeo and explore some old ghost towns in the area. We stayed on the rodeo grounds for two nights and made day trips to Stanton, Arizona a old gold rush town that had been restored to resemble it's original condition. The Lost Dutchman's mining Association have taken over the town and there were prospectors from all over America actively panning for gold in the surrounding hills.

Parading the Flags, good to see some Canadian cowboys participating .

One guy and four dummies doing YMCA by the Village People -Hilarious.

These Cowboys are Tough. OUCH!

The Frog Rock Cafe-- Lunch time

Old Fire Truck

Don't mess with these Old Boys

Lori looking over the old buildings

The Old Opera House

Alvina at the Stanton Hotel

Contented Cows in the Desert