Lost Dutchman and Apache Trail

 

Lost Dutchman and Apache Trail

The next campground we visited was Lost Dutchman State Park campground.  The state park is named after the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine.  There is a legend that a rich gold mine was hidden in the Southwest, somewhere in the Superstition Mountains, to which the state park backs up.  This state park, and the supposed mine, are just east of Phoenix, Arizona.  According to legend, Jacob Waltz (1810 – 1891) discovered the mine and kept it a secret.  Jacob was a German immigrant, and the term “dutchman” was used to refer to someone of German descent during that time.  Jacob supposedly died before he could tell anyone where the mine was.  A map was supposedly found that would lead to the mine, and folks have been looking for it since 1892.  It’s estimated approximately 9,000 people each year look for the mine and several deaths have been attributed to the searching.

No, we didn’t look for any gold mine, but we did have a real treasure of a campsite, with some lovely sunset views (above).  The saguaro cactus were found all over the campground, along with another cactus that looked very golden and lovely. (see below)  Don’t let the looks fool you.  Those golden barb were mighty long and looked mighty sharp!!

One day, we took off on a ride down the Apache Trail.  The Trail is historic as being one of the trails that originally was a stagecoach trail through the Superstition Mountains.  It was named after the Apache Indians that used to use that trail to move through the mountains.  At the beginning of our drive, though, was something I didn’t expect in the desert near Phoenix, Arizona – a lake!!  This view is of Canyon Lake, which is not just a lake, but the hub of a recreation area along the Apache Trail.  Boats, swimming, etc., could be found all along this lake. 

A bit further along the Apache Trail lies the very small town of Tortilla Flats.  It’s somewhat of a ghost tourist stop now, but used to be a stagecoach stop.  The Superstition Saloon wasn’t yet open for the day when we passed by the town, but we stopped for some photos, anyway.

You can see that today’s Tortilla Flats had several things to offer, although a motel was not one of them.  However, just down the road a little ways on the opposite side of the road was the Tortilla Flats Campground.  Frankly, it didn’t look all that inviting to Jeff and me, but I guess if one needs a place to stay, it could be a welcome site!

I decided I couldn’t tell the story of the Dutchman Inn (which I think is now the saloon) better than this sign!!  

We drove on down Apache Trail until the road was abruptly closed at the top of the Lower Fish Creek Canyon.  We got out to see the view from there.  What we couldn’t see,  but were told when we later stopped back at Tortilla Flats, was that vegetation on the ground had been burned during one of the wildfires in Arizona over the past few years.  Then, there was a rainstorm caused by the remnants of a hurricane, and the rains loosened up the ground, and because there was no vegetation to hold the ground in place, a landslide occurred, wiping out the bridge at the base of the Lower Fish Creek.  So, we had to be content with this view at the end of the road we could travel down.

On the drive back, we took in the sights of some saguaro cactus and a magnificent dead tree along the side of the road.

Enjoy!!