Apache Junction - Gateway to the Superstition Mountains
Apache Junction lies at the eastern edge of the Phoenix metropolitan area where the urban grid gives way to the Superstition Mountains. The city has roughly 38,100 residents and takes its name from the junction of the Apache Trail (State Route 88) and U.S. Route 60. The Superstition Mountains, rising abruptly to over 5,000 feet just east of town, are the source of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine legend, a story that has drawn prospectors and treasure hunters since the 1890s. Lost Dutchman State Park at the base of the mountains is the most visited trailhead in the area.
The Apache Trail itself is a winding, partially unpaved road that climbs through the mountains to Canyon Lake, Apache Lake, and Roosevelt Lake. Originally built in 1911 to support construction of Theodore Roosevelt Dam, the route is considered one of the most scenic drives in Arizona. Parts of the road were damaged by the Woodbury Fire in 2019 and have undergone reconstruction.
The Flatiron, a wedge-shaped rock formation on the western face of the Superstitions, is a popular and strenuous hiking destination visible from much of the city. Siphon Draw Trail, which begins in Lost Dutchman State Park, is the primary route to the top.
The Goldfield Ghost Town, a reconstructed mining camp at the foot of the Superstitions, operates as a tourist attraction with a mine tour, narrow-gauge railroad, and saloon. Many Apache Junction residents are seasonal, arriving from colder states to spend the winter months in RV parks and manufactured-home communities that are common on the city's western side.
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Apache Junction lies at the eastern edge of the Phoenix metropolitan area where the urban grid gives way to the Superstition Mountains. The city has roughly 38,100 residents and takes its name from the junction of the Apache Trail (State Route 88) and U.S. Route 60. The Superstition Mountains, rising abruptly to over 5,000 feet just east of town, are the source of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine legend, a story that has drawn prospectors and treasure hunters since the 1890s. Lost Dutchman State Park at the base of the mountains is the most visited trailhead in the area.
The Apache Trail itself is a winding, partially unpaved road that climbs through the mountains to Canyon Lake, Apache Lake, and Roosevelt Lake. Originally built in 1911 to support construction of Theodore Roosevelt Dam, the route is considered one of the most scenic drives in Arizona. Parts of the road were damaged by the Woodbury Fire in 2019 and have undergone reconstruction.
The Flatiron, a wedge-shaped rock formation on the western face of the Superstitions, is a popular and strenuous hiking destination visible from much of the city. Siphon Draw Trail, which begins in Lost Dutchman State Park, is the primary route to the top.
The Goldfield Ghost Town, a reconstructed mining camp at the foot of the Superstitions, operates as a tourist attraction with a mine tour, narrow-gauge railroad, and saloon. Many Apache Junction residents are seasonal, arriving from colder states to spend the winter months in RV parks and manufactured-home communities that are common on the city's western side.
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