Backpacking-Camping along the Apache Trail, AZ.

03/30/2009 in Travel And Exploration | No comments

In the past I have blogged about the Apache Trail but this weekend we packed up our camping gear and headed out on a Sunday afternoon for a one night camping expedition. Having driven the trail before, we recalled a few places where camping could be found just off the road. We set out from Chandler on the 88 and found a place to park just a few miles after the dirt road begins. To find the location, drive down the step ravine incline. At the bottom there is a river and a bridge to pass over the river. Just 1/8 of a mile past the bridge there is a parking area to the left (West) of the road with some boulders to prevent you from driving further in to the land. Park there and follow the trail to the river. Just after crossing the river there are many places for camping with sandy ground, good clearing and sometimes you might get lucky and find an abandoned fire ring made of rocks.

Make sure you do not go when rain is expected, as the trail drive can be difficult and there is a good chance for washes to come roaring down the lowlands and raising the level of the water. We pitched camp here and just soaked in the scenery around us.

Out there the night sky lit up like nothing I’ve ever seen before! I’ve been camping many times but this was something else! Our bellies full of potstickers and hot cocoa, we sat by the fire until the night became a blanket around us and the stars shone their brightest. The bubbly stream, singing frogs and breeze ruffling the trees lulled us to sleep in our tent.

In the morning we hiked up the river and found even more good camping pads and secluded caves. Then we packed up and headed back, but not before noticing a few crushed vehicles that glinted on the steep slope just below the high apache trail. Two trucks had taken the plunge from the harrowing road and were left to rust:

On the way back West on 88 we stopped at Tortilla Flat for some famous Prickly Pear Ice Cream. The unique fruit flavor of the prickly pear was a welcome taste after a warm hike through the river. As we rounded a sharp corner after Tortilla Flat, we came upon a rescue scene pulling a Jeep up from the cliff. The entire top was flattened from its recent roll down the hill. We only hoped that the occupants made it out ok. Get one tire off the road and you are done for. This is definitely the place to be cautious. Even though we were fairly certain no wild animals would bother us, we kept a hand knife on us at all times and slept with an axe and a rock pick at the ready. The thrill of sleeping under the stars with no other humans to bother us was worth it!