Sawmill Road to Superstition Mountains Backdoor — Tonto National Forest Four Peaks Wilderness via Fish Creek Hill

Arizona Route 88 — the Apache Trail — is famous enough, but the network of forest roads that branch off it into the Superstition and Four Peaks wilderness edges are where things get serious. This route leaves SR-88 near Roosevelt Lake’s north arm, climbs FR 143 toward the Four Peaks Wilderness boundary, and threads through the Mazatzal transition zone via Slate Creek and Sycamore Creek drainages before looping back toward the Superstition Wilderness edge above Tortilla Flat. Fish Creek Hill is the named crux: a tight, switchbacked descent with sheer drop-offs and a single-lane shelf that demands controlled descents and awareness of uphill traffic. The views of the Salt River arm and Superstition ridgeline from the top of Fish Creek are legitimately world-class.

A stock high-clearance 4WD handles this in dry conditions, but the shelf road and loose basalt on the Fish Creek descent reward a lockers-equipped rig. Tires matter — aired down to 25 psi is appropriate on the rocky sections. No permits required for dispersed camping on Tonto National Forest ground. Best season is October through April — summer heat here is lethal and the rocks radiate it well into the night. Water is available at Roosevelt Lake and Tortilla Flat; carry extra. Cell service is nonexistent once you leave the lake shore. The Four Peaks backdrop at golden hour makes every scratched rocker panel worth it.