Saturday, February 09, 2013

Saturday Snapshot: Along the Apache Trail


Want to see who else is participating in this fun meme? Stop by Alyce's excellent blog, At Home With Books for the complete list, as well as the easy rules (just in case you want to play along, too)!


~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Northeast is scheduled to be clobbered with snow, and we're even being forecast some of the white stuff up in the mountains here, so I thought I would post a few photos of blue skies and sunshine along one of my favorite trails to take visitors: the Apache Trail. Click on any of the photos to view them in larger sizes.



The Apache Trail just outside of Phoenix
 
Just outside of Phoenix, the Apache Trail is a nice two-lane highway. In the shot above we're heading into the Superstition Mountains and not far from the turn-off to the Lost Dutchman State Park.


Apache Lake

The road takes you further and further into the mountains-- and you're also heading right for one of Phoenix's main sources of water: a series of lakes like Apache Lake that you see above.


Canyon Lake up ahead

The Apache Trail doesn't always stay that nice two-lane blacktop. By the time it reaches the first lake in the chain-- Canyon Lake-- the road narrows to one lane over a series of bridges. By the way... did you know that ARIZONA has more boats per capita than any other state in the country? That's a head scratcher, isn't it?


Heading for Roosevelt Dam

By the time you're almost at the end of the trail at Roosevelt Dam, the road is narrow, twisting... and has never been paved (and it's been that way for many miles). It's always a hoot to watch flatlanders travel this road-- preferably from a vantage point off the trail and not inching along behind them!

35 comments:

  1. I like the way the trail eventually becomes a narrow track - I expect it was all like that once.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it was, Margaret. The trail was originally built by the men working on Roosevelt Dam. They had to have a way to get down to Tortilla Flat to whoop it up on the weekends. Of course it also extended to Phoenix so supplies could get all the way out there.

      Delete
  2. What a great place, such unique scenery.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never tire of traveling it. It's my favorite spring wildflower trip. In years of the perfect winter rains, the mountainsides are literally covered with flowers.

      Delete
  3. Thanks for the great journey! I do enjoy Arizona....and here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST

    ReplyDelete
  4. Arizona has some amazing views!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. An embarrassment of riches in that respect, Staci. I've overheard visitors traveling the Apache Trail say, "With all this, who needs to visit the Grand Canyon?!?" I think that's a bit extreme, but I understand the sentiment behind it.

      Delete
  5. It would be hard to keep my eyes on the road with all that wonderful scenery.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Such interesting landscape. As Trish says, how to look and keep eyes on the road. Like that in the Cape Breton Highlands too, though the scenery is much different.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a good thing that Denis loves to drive and I love to be a passenger!

      Delete
  7. What gorgeous scenery! I want to come visit you! lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In a few weeks, the wildflowers should be covering the mountainsides. Come on over!

      Delete
  8. Cathy - How gorgeous!! Reminds me of a drive I once took from Tempe to Flagstaff. Such a beautiful ride...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gorgeous drives all over this state, Margot, and the best ones are off the paved roads. :-)

      Delete
  9. Interesting that the road just peters out at the dam ... it certainly is big country out that way ... here in New England, I don't feel as minute as I did out that way!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, we do have one county that's bigger than Rhode Island and Connecticut combined-- and we don't even brag like Texas does! LOL

      Delete
  10. Beautiful photos! That show of Apache Lake is breathtaking.

    Saturday Snapshot

    ReplyDelete
  11. Replies
    1. Glad you enjoyed the little road trip, Vicki!

      Delete
  12. Apache Lake looks very dramatic nestled under those amazing cliffs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It certainly does. Whenever we get that far down the trail, Denis and I always have to pull off and soak in some of those beautiful water and cliff views.

      Delete
  13. Great series of shots...thanks for sharing♫ My SS: http://lore-eleven.blogspot.com/2013/02/icy-convex-mirror.html

    ReplyDelete
  14. Gorgeous photos! I must get there some day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you ever get the chance to take a drive down the Apache Trail, please try to do it mid-week. The traffic is a bit much on the weekends because of those lakes, and once you're off the pavement, it can be a nerve-wracking drive for those who aren't used to it.

      Delete
  15. Replies
    1. You're welcome, Elizabeth-- thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  16. That's a beautiful view! It looks like a great place to hike.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a wonderful place to be regardless of what you're doing... unless you're the type of person who breaks out in hives if they leave the city limits! ;-)

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. I really appreciate it!