Drove just 15 to north of Apache Junction to the Lost Dutchman State Park. This park is located in the Sonoran Desert with hiking trails taking you into the Superstition Wilderness & surrounding Tonto National Forest.
This offers hiking trails, picnic and camping facilities and ranger tours for those wanting to learn about the desert creatures and wildflowers. Depending on the rainfall, sometimes the wildflowers bloom late February.
Our loop was the 2nd longest (a small park) which was Treasure Loop and 2.4 miles. The trails are very wide and heavily used all year round. Unfortunately, Lost Dutchman is one of 13 parks slated to close by summer due to severe budget woes. With over 100,000 visitors to this park, there was still a deficit of over $9000. This is be a hard blow to tourism in the state; most significant to Apache Junction.
Those lovely Cholla are reaching heights of about 10 feet; they get a greenish-white flower with some mauve in April to June. Tazz 'just' missed sticking her nose onto some joints that broke off and were lying on the trail. People have had the barbs go through the sole of their shoe (ouch).
A view from the 'green boulder.' Weather is perfect at about 23 C (72 F) and a light breeze.
No comments:
Post a Comment