Day Trip #2: Apache Trail

First, I must say I hate how Blogger uploads pictures onto the top of the blog post rather than at the bottom, and then makes it difficult to move the pictures within the post!  Thus, this is a backward account rather than a forward one.

Just 20 miles east of Phoenix begins what is called the Apache Trail.  It is 44 miles long, 22 miles of which is dirt road and essentially one lane.  It passes three lakes, Canyon lake, Apache lake, and ends at Roosevelt lake.  It was BEAUTIFUL!! Above is a section between Canyon lake and Apache lake, the rocks and light and recent rainfall made the view stunning.

Sunset over Canyon lake.  Growing up in Osgood, I always loved sitting on the brick planters on our front porch and watching the sun set.  They were beautiful and I missed that living in Utah, where beautiful sunsets seemed always few and far between.  Arizona as graced me once again with beautiful sunsets!  Nearly every night the sunset is such that it makes you pause and think for a moment, "wow, that's pretty!"

I have heard the rumors of scorpions and taranchulas, but this is the first of either that I have seen!  He was right in the middle of the road and I was afraid we had hit him.  Luckily we had not so I could get a picture.  I was amazed at how he seemed completely passive to us and paid us no attention at all, neither changing direction nor speed. 

Sun breaking through the thunderstorm over Apache lake.

Shore line of Apache lake.  To the boaters out there- YES, the water is VERY warm.

Just thought this was pretty

Again, just liked the picture.  This is Roosevelt lake, the largest lake actually fully contained in Arizona's borders, but not as pretty as Canyon or Apache lakes.

The marine at Roosevelt Lake

The large open waters of Roosevelt lake

The dam for Roosevelt lake.  Apache lake begins literally about a quarter mile below this dam.

By Roosevelt lake there are old indian cliff dwellings in what is called the Tonto National Monument.  It is one of the few cliff dwellings they let you actually walk around in the dwellings so I was excited about it.  Unfortunately, they closed at 4 and we didn't get up there in time and were greeted by a closed gate instead.

Beach at Apache lake.  This is on our initial drive up, the previous pictures were on our return trip.  I would love to just tent out on the beach with a boat!

Apache lake.  This was the most beautiful of the three lakes I thought.  It runs through the canyon for 17 miles.

The picture above doesn't look like much, but the road went straight down the cliff into this cove and looped out again.  Once in the cove, it was a place that demanded reverence.  I wasn't quite sure why but I felt it was a special place.

Many of the rocks had a green hue to them and it took me a while to figure out why.  Lichen!  With resent rains the lichen was very green and covered most rocks.  It was amazing to me that in the scorching heat and intense sun, so much life was everywhere!

Made me feel small looking out and seeing rows of canyons!

I loved the yucca in bloom!

On the shore of Canyon lake.  The closest to Phoenix and definitely the busiest.

They had a ferry ride offering lunch and dinner that looked like fun.  They also had a nice marine with slots with room for a barbeque!

Our first stop on the trail was at Goldfield ghost town.  Pretty touristy but you can go down in the mine and pan for gold for $7 bucks.  I didn't do it, figured it would be more fun with a niece or nephew... hint hint :)  The shaved ice was excellent however.

I liked how the old time truck had an Idaho license plate.