Lost Dutchman State Park

The park is in a scenic part of the Sonoran Desert at the foot of the Superstition Mountains. While it's surrounded by attractions such as the town of Tortilla Flat, Canyon Lake, and the Apache Trail, it's best visited independently by car. You can picnic, mountain bike, and take your pick of short hiking trails to view native plants and animals. Night-time events such as scorpion hunts and moonlight walks are great for exploring the desert after dark.

• The park entrance fee is US$10 per vehicle with 1-4 adults and US$3 per bike and individuals.

• The Lost Dutchman Visitor Center is open daily and has a store, gift shop, and nature exhibits.

• Two accessible bathrooms are located in the Cholla and Saguaro day-use areas.

• The park has restrooms with showers, group campsites, RV sites, and cabins for overnight stays.

The park is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Phoenix along the Apache Trail and is easy to reach by car. From Phoenix, take State Route 202 and follow East Brown Road and Lost Dutchman Boulevard to State Route 88, also known as the Apache Trail, to the park.

The park is open year-round. The day-use gate is open from 6am to 8pm daily, and the Visitor Center and Park Store are usually open from 6am to 4pm daily with varying holiday and summer hours. To skip the desert heat, visit during winter from December through February and spring from March through May, when the weather is relatively cool. Summer and fall temps easily reach 100°F (38°C) and higher.

A designated scenic byway, the Apache Trail is a 40-mile (64-kilometer) scenic route of winding, unpaved roads through the Superstition Mountains. From the town of Apache Junction, the route passes the Lost Dutchman’s Mine, Canyon Lake, and the minuscule town of Tortilla Flat to Theodore Roosevelt Lake and Tonto National Monument.