The Superstition Mountains just east of Phoenix, rise to a height of approximately 3000-feet above the valley floor. According to one on-line source, the name was coined by area farmers in the 1860's. They heard stories from local Pima Indians about how they feared the mountains. The ranchers thought the Pima's were being superstitious, thus the name. Some Apache's believe the entrance to the underworld is located in the Superstitions.
The legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine is part of the lore of the Superstitions. According to the legend, Jacob Waltz, a German immigrant who came west in the 1860's, found the mother lode somewhere in the Superstitions and disclosed the location of that mine just before he died to a woman who had been caring for him. Although many have claimed to have found the mine, none of those claims have been verified. A cottage industry in selling maps to the Dutchman's mine sprang up in the years following his death. Many of those maps are on display in the Superstition Mountain Museum.
In another blog I described our trip through the Tonto National Forest along The Apache Trail. We spent the better part of a second day in the mountains checking out the scenery between Apache Junction and Tortilla Flat and taking a ride through Arizona's Junior Grand Canyon on Canyon Lake aboard a replica 1890's sternwheeler steamboat (Dolly).
Arizona Highway 88 changes quickly as it heads north out of Apache Junction towards Canyon Lake. From a relatively flat road, the highway quickly begins to ascend towards the mountains. A few miles north of Apache Junction the speed limit drops from 50 to 25 and the road begins a series of switchbacks. Roughly 3-miles from the Canyon Lake marina there is a large pullout with a gorgeous view of the lake and surrounding land. There are numerous smaller turnouts along the entire length of The Apache Highway making it easy to stop and drink in the peace and quiet or to take some photographs.
The ride on the Dolly lasted about 90-minutes and covered about 3-4 miles of the lake. The area is called the Junior Grand Canyon because of the towering rock walls along the lake shore. Wildlife is abundant including Longhorn Sheep, Mountain Goats, Javalina (a wild pig), Cougars, Eagles, Hawks and many species of fish including Crappie, Bass and Catfish. During the cruise several Mountain Goats were sighted along the ridge line. For those of you who may visit the area and want to take a cruise on Dolly advance reservations are highly recommended.
We hope you enjoy these photos.
