# Superstition Mountains, the Apache Trail and Tonto Basin

> 3-day road trip of about 300 km (187 mi) with 9 stops, from Phoenix to Payson. About 3 h 20 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b18-superstitions-tonto-basin/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 300 km (187 mi) with 9 stops, from Phoenix to Payson. About 3 h 20 min of driving in total. Saguaro trails below the Superstitions, a canyon lake on the Apache Trail, a desert arboretum, and cliff dwellings above Roosevelt Lake.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 300 km (187 mi) |
| Driving | 3 h 20 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 9 |
| Route | Phoenix → Payson |
| States | AZ |
| Updated | May 23, 2026 |

## Route description

Drive east from Phoenix on US-60 to Apache Junction and turn north on AZ-88, the Apache Trail. Lost Dutchman State Park comes up after 8 km, with trails climbing toward the Superstition cliffs and a good campground with electric sites. This is winter and spring country; from May to September, hike only at dawn and carry more water than you think you need.

Beyond the park, AZ-88 winds through saguaro hills to Canyon Lake, where a steamboat-style tour boat cruises the reservoir, and on to Tortilla Flat, a tiny old stagecoach stop. Past Tortilla Flat, the road turns to steep, narrow gravel down Fish Creek Hill. This section reopened in 2024 after a five-year closure caused by fire and flood damage, still closes after storms and is no place for RVs, so check ADOT first.

This guide returns to Apache Junction and takes US-60 east toward Superior. Boyce Thompson Arboretum lies just off the highway, below the jagged Picketpost Mountain, with desert gardens and a trail along a creek. US-60 then climbs through Queen Creek Tunnel and mining country to Globe, an old copper town with a historic downtown and the Besh-Ba-Gowah pueblo ruins.

From Globe, AZ-188 runs north for 45 km to Tonto National Monument, where a steep paved path climbs to the Lower Cliff Dwelling above Roosevelt Lake. Nearby, Theodore Roosevelt Dam and its steel arch bridge mark the east end of the Apache Trail. Forest Service campgrounds line the lakeshore; a Tonto Pass is needed for day use. AZ-188 and AZ-87 then continue to Payson, under the Mogollon Rim.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Phoenix** (AZ)
2. **Lost Dutchman State Park** (Apache Junction, AZ): Trails lead from saguaro desert toward the cliffs of the Superstition Mountains, named after a legendary lost gold mine. The park has a campground with electric sites; best from November to April.
3. **Canyon Lake** (Tortilla Flat, AZ): A reservoir on the Salt River squeezed between steep cliffs along the Apache Trail (AZ-88). There are beaches, a marina and a scenic pullout; a Tonto Pass is needed to park at recreation sites.
4. **Tortilla Flat** (AZ)
5. **Boyce Thompson Arboretum** (Superior, AZ): Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden, with a 2.5 km main trail through desert plants from around the world below Picketpost Mountain. Mornings are best in summer, when hours start early.
6. **Globe** (AZ)
7. **Tonto National Monument** (Roosevelt, AZ): Salado cliff dwellings in shallow caves above Theodore Roosevelt Lake. A paved but steep 1.6 km return trail climbs to the Lower Cliff Dwelling; the Upper Cliff Dwelling needs a ranger-guided tour.
8. **Theodore Roosevelt Dam** (Roosevelt, AZ): A 1911 masonry dam, later encased in concrete, holding back Roosevelt Lake at the end of the Apache Trail. A viewpoint and a long steel arch bridge sit beside it on AZ-188.
9. **Payson** (AZ)

## FAQs

**How long is Superstition Mountains, the Apache Trail and Tonto Basin?**
3-day road trip of about 300 km (187 mi) with 9 stops, from Phoenix to Payson. About 3 h 20 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Superstition Mountains, the Apache Trail and Tonto Basin?**
We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 20 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Superstition Mountains, the Apache Trail and Tonto Basin start and end?**
It starts in Phoenix and ends in Payson.

**Which states does Superstition Mountains, the Apache Trail and Tonto Basin pass through?**
Arizona.