Sawmill Road to Superstition Wilderness — Tonto National Forest Apache Trail Backdoor via Fish Creek Hill
A crumbling shelf above a 1,500-foot drop.
The Apache Trail — State Route 88 from Apache Junction to Roosevelt Dam — is half paved and half absolutely not. The unpaved section begins at Tortilla Flat and immediately gets serious: Fish Creek Hill is a narrow, mostly one-lane shelf carved into the canyon wall above Fish Creek, 1,500 feet below. The drop-offs are unguarded, the road surface is loose rock and compacted caliche, and oncoming traffic is a real negotiation. The Superstition Wilderness fills your windshield to the west the whole time, and Canyon Lake and Apache Lake reflect Sonoran Desert color back at you from below. Theodore Roosevelt built this road to construct Roosevelt Dam — finished 1911 — and it hasn’t changed much since.
Fish Creek Hill is rated difficult — not because of technicality but because the exposure and narrow shelf demand a composed driver and a vehicle that fits the road. High-clearance is essential; two-wheel-drive vehicles and trailers are formally discouraged by Maricopa County and ADOT on the unpaved section. Best season is October through April; summer heat above 110°F makes a breakdown a survival situation. No permit required. The road is occasionally closed after heavy rain. Apache Junction is your last fuel stop westbound; Roosevelt has limited supplies eastbound. Cell service is nonexistent through the canyon section.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 38 mi / 61.2 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2800 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD recommended |
| Nearest town | Apache Junction, AZ |
| Land manager | Tonto National Forest / Maricopa County |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | Tonto National Forest Maricopa County Apache Trail info |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Jeep Wrangler handle Fish Creek Hill without a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD will get through, but you'll want low-range for the steep descents and loose rock sections on Fish Creek Hill. A lift helps with approach angles on the rougher shelf sections, but it's not mandatory — ground clearance and driver comfort with exposure matter more here.
When is this trail closed or impassable?
Summer (May–September) is brutal — triple-digit heat makes this genuinely dangerous and flash flood risk spikes hard in monsoon season (July–September). Stick to October through April; after heavy winter rains, check with Tonto National Forest before you go because sections of the dirt road wash out.
Do I need a permit to drive the Apache Trail backdoor route?
No permit required for the drive itself — it's a public forest road through Tonto National Forest and Maricopa County. If you're camping overnight in the Superstition Wilderness, a free wilderness permit is required; pick it up at the Mesa Ranger District office or self-register at trailheads.
How bad is the exposure on Fish Creek Hill — what's the hardest part actually like?
Fish Creek Hill is a one-lane, unguarded shelf road with a sheer 1,500-foot drop inches from your passenger-side tires — no guardrails, no room to pass, and loose gravel that crumbles at the edge. The descent is the scariest section: steep, rocky, and tight enough that a full-size truck needs careful line choice. If heights spook your passengers, have an honest conversation before you commit.
How far is the nearest gas station, and is there water on the route?
Fill up in Apache Junction before you leave — there's no fuel for the entire 38-mile run, and the nearest station on the far end is Tortilla Flat (limited hours, high prices) or Globe. There is no reliable potable water on the trail; carry a minimum of 2 gallons per person, more in warmer months.
Trail track
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