Apache Junction

Lost gold The story attached to these mountains concerns a German immigrant, Jacob Waltz, who according to legend found a rich gold deposit in the Superstitions and described its location on his deathbed in Phoenix in 1891. Several sites have been claimed as the mine over the years. Treating it as a legend is safer: Arizona State Parks warns hikers to keep out of old mine shafts. The Superstition Mountain Museum on North Apache Trail has a Lost Dutchman exhibit, along with a 20-stamp ore mill and a chapel, gallows and barn saved from the fire at the Apacheland Movie Ranch. Goldfield, a mining town established in 1893 and now a reconstructed tourist town, is also on the Apache Trail.

In the park Lost Dutchman State Park, 6109 N. Apache Trail, was dedicated in 1977 and is the easiest way to get close to the rock. Choose by ambition: the labeled Native Plant Trail is an easy start, Treasure Loop is 2.4 miles with 500 feet of climbing, and Siphon Draw is 4 miles round trip. The continuation to the Flatiron is a steep 5.8-mile round trip, partly unmaintained, that the park advises only for experienced hikers in good condition and allows at least five hours for. Cyclists have a 4-mile singletrack loop as well. Walk-in entry and hiker drop-off are not permitted, so you must drive in.

The Apache Trail State Route 88 heads north-east from town. It opened to the public as a scenic byway in 1922 and has long been promoted as part of a 120-mile circle route from Apache Junction. Do not assume you can drive it through. Beyond Tortilla Flat it is unpaved, narrow and rough. Flood damage in 2019 closed that section for about five years, and when it reopened in 2024 ADOT called it a primitive road suitable only for high-clearance four-wheel-drive and utility vehicles. Monsoon storms closed it again in July 2026. Check ADOT or AZ 511 for the current state of the road.

Day trips To reach Tonto National Monument, take US 60 east toward Globe and then State Route 188 north-west for 25 miles. The self-guided Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail is a mile round trip. The Upper Cliff Dwelling needs a reservation for a ranger tour, offered on winter weekends. Boyce Thompson Arboretum, at 37615 E. Arboretum Way in Superior, is along the same US 60 corridor. It keeps shorter hours from May to September and is closed on Tuesdays in June, July and August.

Practical notes The city's visitor center is on (480) 982-3141, and its tourism site, visitaj.com, lists current attractions and events. Pack far more water than you think: the state park recommends at least a gallon per person per day and says summer temperatures often exceed 100°F. In wildflower years the park's slopes can bloom in spring, depending on rainfall, but there is no reliable date, so ask the rangers.

When to go November to April. The park runs ranger hikes, star parties and music in those months. Summer here means an early start and a short route, or a different plan. Siphon Draw in particular is not recommended in hot weather.