Explore the Apache Trail from Phoenix on a full-day tour that takes you into the legendary Sonoran Desert. Visit the ghost town of Goldfield, ride a steamboat on Canyon Lake, stop at the eccentric hamlet of Tortilla Flat and admire views of the Superstition Wilderness from Fish Creek Hill. Get a feel for the Wild West as you learn about the region's history and wildlife from your knowledgeable guide. Enjoy this small-group tour limited to just 13 people in a custom van with leather captain's chairs.

Full-day tour of the Apache Trail, from Phoenix
Hear stories about life on the American frontier from your informative guide
Learn about edible plants and desert survival skills

What's Included

Professional guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off. Even if your hotel is on the list, we may need you to meet elsewhere.
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Bottled water
1.5 Hour Nature Cruise

Gratuities
Food

Meeting And Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix Mesa
1011 W Holmes Ave, Mesa, AZ 85210, USA
This is a guaranteed pick up location, however, please let the supplier know as soon as possible if you are NOT staying here, as they may have a closer meet location for you.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.

Opening hours

1/1/2022 - 6/11/2024
Wednesday : 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
Friday : 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
Sunday : 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

Please note: We do not pick up at private residences and we do not guarantee pickup for all hotels. Even if your hotel is on the list, there may be a chance you'll need to meet at an alternate location. If need be, the supplier will determine a location you can meet to be picked up for your excursion. Tour supplier contact details will be provided on your pre-paid voucher.

What To Expect

The original Apache Trail was a footpath that the local native Americans used to traverse the Superstition Mountains. As western expansion took hold, the footpath became a stage coach trail for miners and mountaineers in search of their fortunes, and later it earned the first ‘Historic Highway’ destination in Arizona.

During your full-day tour of the Apache Trail, relax and take in the scenery on a 6-mile narrated nature cruise on Canyon Lake aboard a legendary steamboat. Look for big horn sheep, bald eagles and other desert animals, and admire the lake’s volcanic cliffs, which stand as high as 1,300 feet (396 meters).

Visit the ghost town of Goldfield, founded in 1892 and named for the precious metal found in the area. A hub of the region’s gold mining operations for five years, it quickly declined when the ore ran out. Nowadays the town offers western-themed attractions such as panning for gold, displays of authentic mining gear at Goldfield’s Historic Museum, and tales about female pioneers of the 1800’s at Lu Lu’s Bordello.

After your steamboat ride, visit Tortilla Flat and Fish Creek Hill in the Superstition Wilderness. Once a stagecoach stop, Tortilla Flat retains a quirky charm, in evidence in its motto ‘The Town Too Tough To Die’ and a festively decorated saloon. From Fish Creek Hill, enjoy a stunning vantage point over the Sonoran Desert and Superstition Wilderness.

Your guide fills you in on the legends of the Lost Dutchman Mine, along with plenty of information about the region’s history, geography and wildlife, including rare animals and edible plants.
 At the end of your full-day tour, your guide returns you to your Phoenix-area hotel.

Apache Trail Scenic Drive

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Superstition Mountains (Pass By)

Canyon Lake

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

The Dolly Steamboat

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Lost Dutchman State Park (Pass By)

Tortilla Flat

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Goldfield Ghost Town

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
Arizona state law requires children under 8 years to have either a child seat or booster. Child seats are not provided, please bring your own
Minimum age is 3 years
Not wheelchair accessible

Service animals allowed
Wheelchairs that can fold up are acceptable on tour
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 13 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

133 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 133 reviews

The tour guides were...

Monzy_M, May 2023

The tour guides were excellent Explaining was fluent and it was fun all through the day. Never missed a beat

Super Fun Day Tour

Susan_S, Apr 2023

This tour was fantastic! As a newby to Arizona, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history, geography, and natural beauty of our wonderful state. Our guide Tracy was awesome, really made us feel welcome to explore at each stop and not rushed. He also was very informative about our local diverse culture. Highlights were the western movie sets/memorabilia and the miniature western town train display at the first stop, the Gold Mine Tour at the ghost town, eating at historic Tortilla Flats which had good food and outdoor music, and finishing with the boat ride which was beautiful and very relaxing. Even though I live locally, I really enjoyed being chauffeured in their travel van as it made it seem like I “got away” for a day. I highly recommend the Apache Trail Day Tour with Dolly Steamboat to locals and visitors for a super fun variety filled day.

Steamboat

Crystal_F, Apr 2023

Had a great time on the Steamboat and Tortilla Flat, Goldfield gold mine. Tracy was great during our tour.

Great experience!!!

Thomas_W, Apr 2023

Our tour guide was awesome she was full of information on the areas along the way took lots of time with us even one on one forgot her name but you could tell she thoroughly enjoyed her job…would recommend this trip it was beautiful and Fun!!

Desert Tour

Rebecca_P, Apr 2023

I have family living in Arizona. We took the tour on a family visit. I learned things about their home state I would never have known without the tour. The Arizona desert is truly fascinating. Tour Guide was wonderful!

Fun day

MableClarann_K, Apr 2023

We took this daytrip and had a very relaxing time . Our guide, Tracy, made it an enjoyable and factfilled journey.

Apache Tour and Canyon lake

James_A, Apr 2023

The Apache Trail tour was absolutely fantastic!!! The surrounding mountains were stunning and will forever be a cherished moment in my life @@@ our tour guide, Nikki, was very helpful as she Madd sure that every possible need was taken care of Nikki is a delight to be around as she is very full of energy and her knowledge of the area is amazing. Detours is very fortunate to have her!!@

Apache trail

Ralph_H, Apr 2023

Enjoyed our whole experience with our travel guide, Mark. The desert was in bloom so the scenery was magnificent. Our granddaughter enjoyed panning for gold at Goldfield Ghost town and the Dolly steamboat ride in the canyon was very special. Highly recommend this day tour

Loved it !

Judith_R, Apr 2023

Wonderful experience and much more relaxing then doing the driving ourselves. Jennifer’s tips and tricks made also made the experience more fun and interesting.

Mountain Views

Michael_K, Mar 2023

Superstition Mountain views. Enjoyed the Dolly Steamboat ride on Canyon Lake. Goldfield Ghost town was nice.

A fun filled adventurous day

Tina_B, Mar 2023

Tracy was very fun and knowledgeable ! The canyon boat ride was wonderful The ghost town was amazing ! We also saw a cowboy church since our tour was on a Sunday

The Dolly Steamboat ride...

dlcamesbury, Mar 2023

The Dolly Steamboat ride provided magnificent scenery- breathtaking! Ghost town/gold mine visit was a disappointment but the experience could be greatly improved if the guide noted at the start that the activities (for which there were extra charges) could only be enjoyed if people did them early upon arrival- taking the suggested route resulted in not having time in the one hour stop to go in the mine or ride the train. If less time was allocated for Tortilla Flats those activities could have been possible. The band at Tortilla Flats was great. Taking this tour on a Sunday was great- a couple of things would not have been seen during the week!

Response from Host, Apr 2023

One of the challenges of touring the Apache Trail is the great diversity of options. Some of our guests could spend all day at Goldfield Ghost Town! So, as our tour guides pick up a group of guests that they are meeting for the first time, they try to create the best mix of activities and attractions, starting with the main inclusions of the tour, as written. We are glad that you appreciated Goldfield as much as we do!

Excellent day tour

Patricia_N, Mar 2023

Pick up at a convenient Phoenix hotel was very timely. Our tour guide, Nickie, was totally upbeat and accommodating to all of our needs. The three stops we made gave us a good taste of the area - Tortilla Flats, our Dolly Steamboat ride down Canyon Lake and our visit to the Ghost town. Nickie made the best of a rainy day. She was quick to snap our unique vacation pictures. I'd highly recommend this day tour.

Great time

Shelley_s, Mar 2023

The ride into the mountains was breathtaking. Stopping at Tortilla Flats was an experience we will never forget.

Great excursion!

Paul_C, Mar 2023

Tracy is an excellent tour guide. He gave interesting and enlightening insights into the Apache Trail, Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flats. Wonderful family trip I recommend to all.

Great scenery, driver was...

David_L, Mar 2023

Great scenery, driver was very knowledgeable, Dolly steamboat ride and her captain and crew were wonderful. Taco Flats food was delicious. Only bad part was our pickup location was one of three, and ours was the furthest from our hotel.

Beautiful day.

Ruth_O, Feb 2023

Loved the steamboat tour of the lake and delicious food in Tortilla Flats. Our guide was great, too.

A worthwhile day trip

SHOSHANNA_S, Feb 2023

The re-created mining town, reminiscent of old movie Westerns. The boat ride was beautiful and relaxing with gorgeous scenery.

Great Service

Marina_R, Feb 2023

Diana did a fantastic job juggling driving and detours due to a marathon, while still sharing fun facts. She was very attentive to all passengers and their needs. Well chosen stops. Highly recommend it.

Not the tour if you want something remotely active

Melissa_P, Feb 2023

It wasn’t really the tour’s fault and my tour guide was great but it was not something I enjoyed. Tortilla Flats was a little place (like maybe 2 city blocks long) and the “ghost town” was actually a replica built in 1984 and was nothing to write home about. Especially the burger at the steakhouse (although the fries were really good). The steamboat was ok but not spectacular and definitely not great enough to make the other 2 sites worth it. I felt overall it was a wasted day of my vacation.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Hi Melissa, It's unfortunate you didn't enjoy this tour as much as our guests often do. We sure hope you loved the scenery and relaxation of the Dolly Steamboat nature cruise. We find this tour is great for those who want a taste of desert scenery in a relaxing and non-strenuous environment. We thank you for choosing us to show you the Southwest and we welcome you to try out our other tours! Thanks, Rachel Bass

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