The entire trail is 40 miles but the paved part is about 17 miles. It is a steep climb with lots of switchbacks. If this kind of driving scares you then I am not recommending it. But if you have some time to spare and want to see some beautiful scenery then this is for you. The trail goes through Theodore Roosevelt Lake, a ghost town and the Lost Dutchman state park. The scenery is so much better than these pictures show. The road was so narrow and twisty that we just could not take pictures at the best spots. We went as far as Tortilla Flat and then turned around. I will write a little bit about the rest of the trail but I have not personally traveled it. This is a very adventursome drive and it is not recommended for large RV's or caravans.
The largest RV rental company in the US does not allow their vehicles to be taken on this route. There are lots of hairpin turns and some of them only wide enough for one car so care must be given when meeting up with oncoming traffic. You will see Fish Creek Canyon with some magnificent scenery, some breathtaking view that overlook Goat Mountain and the Four Peaks, Apache Lake and Roosevelt Dam. This is where the road becomes paved again. Four miles east of Roosevelt Dam and one mile off AZ 88 is Tonto National Monument, an ancient Salado cliff dwelling. The Salado people lived here for about 300 years and abandoned it in the 1400s, according to archaeologists.
The Apache Trail is a fabulous drive at any time of year, but it is especially beautiful in spring and fall.
