Lost Dutchman State Park in Arizona is named after a legendary lost gold mine and borders Tonto National Forest. It is especially beautiful in the spring when you are treated to a carpet of desert wildflowers. Lost Dutchman State Park offers plenty of opportunities to hike, bike, and simply enjoy the epic views of the Superstition Mountains.

Hiking

Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. They range from the ¼ mile, flat Native Plant Trail to the challenging Flatiron via the Siphon Draw Trail. The 5.5-mile out-and-back hike with 2527′ elevation gain is no easy stroll, but the views from the top are worth the effort. It is a pretty even uphill to the Basin, after that it was some serious rock scrambling. The trail is marked on rocks in these places. This is a very popular hike, and the heat can get pretty brutal in the afternoons, so start early! Make it to the top and you will be rewarded with stunning scenery, and if you’re like me, a pretty good sense of accomplishment.

Biking

Around the outer edge of the park is a 4-mile single-track mountain bike loop. The trail is pretty smooth and flat in most places, but also has a few good ups and down through the various washes. It was never too crowded, but always a nice diversion.

Camping

The Lost Dutchman campground offers 134 campsites. Half of the sites provide electricity and water. There are also paved non-hookup site pads that can be used for tents or RVs. Every campsite has a picnic table, barbecue grill, and a fire pit. There are no size restrictions on RVs and pets are welcome. There is also a small bathhouse and a dump station.

Other nearby options include Usery Regional Recreation Area, McDowell Mountain, and a slew of commercial parks filled to the brim with snowbirds each year.

Scenic Drive

Also close, the Apache Trail offers a nice drive on an old stagecoach trail. What starts as a calm drive through a sea of Saguaro, becomes an adventurous drive through one of the most amazing canyons via the historic Apache Trail, aka State Route 88. The original narrow, rugged trail was converted to transport heavy equipment and supplies a distance of nearly 60 miles from the town of Mesa to the Theodore Roosevelt Dam site. Today the Apache Trail itself is just less than 50 miles. The northern 22 miles of it are unpaved. Because the road is well maintained and graded, 4-wheel drive is not a requirement for this drive. However, there are several switchbacks over sheer cliffs, so it is not for the faint of heart.

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Phoenix, the state capital of Arizona, is known for its warm, dry climate that attracts huge numbers of sun lovers during the winter months. The Greater Phoenix Area is a large sprawling city with a mix of modern high-rise buildings, Indian and Spanish colonial influences, and a touch of the Wild West. The city offers abundant art and cultural attractions, historic neighborhoods, and museums.

Desert Botanical Garden

I really enjoy going to botanical gardens around the country and learning about native plants. The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is home to 21,000 plants representing close to 4,000 different plant classifications and is a terrific place to learn about the flora of the southwestern desert.  It is a large garden with six major trails/garden exhibit areas.  Winding paths over 50 acres showcase a fantastic variety of arid plants, from towering saguaros to delicate blooms.

My favorite part of the Desert Botanical Garden is the Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Trail. It is an actual dirt path trail winding around the base of a hill. Along the way, there are displays showing how Native Americans used to live in the Southwest. It features five distinct habitats that have provided people with useful plants for food, fiber, medicine, and cultural purposes for 2,000 years: Desert, Desert Oasis, Mesquite Bosque, Semi-desert Grassland, and Chaparral. The story of these relationships is brought to life through cultural examples of the Akimel O’odham and Western Apache Roundhouse. Don’t miss out on hands-on activities such as pounding mesquite beans to make flour.

Other trails include:

• Desert Discovery Trail

This is the garden’s main trail with desert plants from around the world including a plethora of cacti and succulents. You’ll find the oldest plantings on this 1/3-mile trail, and it is easy to navigate.

• Harriet K. Maxwell Desert Wildflower Trail

Learn how colorful desert wildflowers, hummingbirds, and bees interact in the Sonoran Desert on this short trail.

• Sonoran Desert Nature Trail

A 1/4 mile trail where you can enjoy the big picture — desert, mountains, plants, and animals.

 

Heard Museum

While researching activities in the area, I read that the internationally acclaimed Heard Museum is one of the best places to experience the art and history of the American Indians of the Southwest and it did not disappoint. The museum’s 11 spacious exhibit galleries and beautiful outdoor courtyards feature outstanding traditional and contemporary American Indian art. I also took two free docent-led tours that were included in the price of admission. The Highlights of the Heard tour allowed me to get the lay of the land and establish a plan for what I wanted to go back and see in depth. I returned later for the tour of their signature exhibit HOME: Native Peoples in the Southwest. 

One of the exhibits I really enjoyed was a room with hundreds of Kachina dolls. The carved figures are given as ceremonial gifts to young girls. Each gift represents a prayer wish for good health, growth, and fertility. Since the mid-20th century, these carvings have developed as an impressive art form. This display shows a wide variety of different styles.

I found an amazing tribute to Native American contributions to our military outside. The American Indian Veterans National Memorial is the only known national memorial dedicated to American Indian veterans of all conflicts. The Memorial consists of several sizable sculptures by the acclaimed Native artists Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache) and Michael Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo). The 10-foot sculpture Unconquered II is the last sculpture created by Houser. Naranjo is a Vietnam War veteran who suffered an injury that rendered him blind.

Papago Park

Nestled in the heart of Phoenix, Papago Park is a true gem waiting to be explored. The park boasts the famous Hole-in-the-Rock Trail, where visitors can hike to the top of the iconic formation for breathtaking views of the city. But that’s not all – the park also offers excellent fishing opportunities for those who love to cast a line, and with over 1,200 acres of pristine desert landscape, nature enthusiasts will feel right at home. It is also home to the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden.

Camelback Mountain

There are a lot of great hiking locations around Phoenix and Camelback Mountain is one of the most popular among tourists and locals alike. It is a short, but challenging trail, with 1,500′ of elevation gain in just over a mile. Hikers are rewarded with stunning city views, and scenery encompassing red sandstone rock formations.

Apache Trail

For those who want to experience more of Arizona’s natural beauty, taking a day trip to the Apache Trail is a must-do activity. The Apache Trail is a scenic road that weaves through the Superstition Mountains, Tonto National Forest, and the canyon vistas around the Salt River. Along the way, you can stop at the historical Goldfield Ghost Town, which has been preserved in time, offering a small glimpse of what it was like to live in the mining towns of the old West.

Jerome Ghost Town Day Trip

If you’re on a quest to uncover hidden gems and unique experiences during your travels, take a day trip to the Ghost Town at Jermone Arizona. Once a thriving mining town, this mystical location now beckons tourists from all over, blending a rich history with a plethora of stories about its haunted past. While wandering through the steep and winding streets adorned with restored historical buildings, Jerome’s absorbing history immediately captivates the visitors. Jerome State Historic Park and its museum give you a chance to dive deeper into the town’s past.

Where to Stay

If you like to camp,  Lost Dutchman State Park is a terrific location at the base of the Superstition Mountains. It is far enough outside the city to enjoy nature, but close enough to visit the top sites. For a hotel with a beautiful view, try the Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort.

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