Small Group Apache Trail Day Tour with Dolly Steamboat from Phoenix
Recommended by 90% of travelers
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Phoenix, USA
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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. 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
Pickup points
Select a pickup 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. FOR LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS: Any tours booked after 7:00PM Arizona time the night before the tour date might not be confirmed. You will likely have to meet at another hotel for pick up. Our office will contact you prior to 6:00am on the tour date.
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
- 01/01/2022 - 04/11/2027
Wednesday : 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Friday : 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Sunday : 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Itinerary
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.
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.
1
Apache Trail Scenic Drive
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Superstition Mountains (Pass By)
2
Canyon Lake
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
3
The Dolly Steamboat
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Lost Dutchman State Park (Pass By)
4
Tortilla Flat
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
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
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Most travelers can participate
- DETOURS American West is not responsible for road or viewing conditions due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
- 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 and notify supplier ahead of time.
- Minimum age is 3 years - you must notify supplier if you have any small children and confirm you will provide car seats.
- Wheelchairs or walkers that can fold up are acceptable on tour - you must notify supplier ahead of time
- You must let the supplier know if there are any mobility concerns that they should be aware of.
- 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
- FOR LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS: Any tours booked after 7:00PM Arizona time the night before the tour date might not be confirmed. You will likely have to meet at another hotel for pick up. Our office will contact you prior to 6:00am on the tour date.
- A snack bar is available on board the Dolly Steamboat with water, sodas, snacks, and alcohol. Cash only.*
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 13 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 258 reviews
Randy_S, Apr 2026
This was a fun and informative trip. Most all of the travelers on our trip would have preferred more time at Tortilla Flats and Goldfield Ghost Town and less at the Elvis Chapel and Museum area. We barely had time to get some food and no time to explore either place. The Dolly Steamboat was a fun and relaxing experience and the Captain was quite entertaining. Our driver gave us lots on historical facts and flora and fauna information.
Audrey_V, Mar 2026
Great trip especially the Dolly Steamboat down the Canyon Lake. The guide was very knowledgeable about the area. I would definitely recommend this tour.
Patricia_H, Mar 2026
Great way to get a taste of Arizona! Desert, mountains and a beautiful lake experience along with a western town
Robyn_L, Mar 2026
I love the tour guide and adventure. I would definitely recommend to my friends, colleagues and family.
Robert_B, Mar 2026
Mark the tour guide was a pleasure, he was knowledgeable and very accommodating.
We would highly recommend this tour to anyone.
Irene_G, Mar 2026
Wonderful experience and Mark was the best! Very knowledgeable and informative! Would definitely recommend!
Jennifer_S, Feb 2026
It was wonderful! Lots of insight into the history of the area and information about flora and fauna.
Lynn_B, Feb 2026
It is a long day, but the scenery was exceptional and tour leader very welcoming and informative. Would dit again!
isabelle_l, Dec 2025
Nice scenery, boring tourists stops and commercial low standards places. Quite disorganized for such a pricy tour which does not include lunch.
Harsh_D, Dec 2025
It was an amazing tour from start to finish. Bruce did a wonderful job picking everyone up and guiding us on an incredible journey from Phoenix to the Apache Trail and beyond. The Dolly Steamboat was refreshing, with plenty of beautiful scenic moments, and the Ghost Town was extremely fun to explore. The lunch stop was great as well. Overall, the tour was excellent, and Bruce did an outstanding job—thank you for such a memorable experience.
Dorene_K, Dec 2025
Stunning scenery while driving to our destination. The road was twisty and enable us to really get an amazing views of the surrounding desert. Lots of information from our guide. The cruise part was the best. The lake is lovely with the rock formations surrounding the entire lake. The captain was very entertaining. His selection of music is excellent. I would definitely recommend this tour.
Paula_C, Nov 2025
Very informative and beautiful. Tout guide was wonderful, kind and patient! Was our first trip to Arizona
Buford_M, Nov 2025
This was a wonderful experience from the tour to the steamboat ride. Our tour guide was terrific. We loved it.
Alicia_M, Nov 2025
Had an opportunity to see several sites. That said, we would have liked to spend more time at the museums and less time on the boat ride.
hankjean624, Oct 2025
We had a wonderful day with Aldo as our guide. He was one of the best guides that Viator has. He was accommodating and knowledgeable. We had a pleasant day.
Dragana_A, Oct 2025
The day trip was fantastic. Mark H was exceptionally attentive and ensured we had an amazing experience.
NORRIS_P, Oct 2025
This was a great experience that both meet and exceeded our expectations,Our tour guide and the entire crew did such a fantastic job.
Laura_H, Oct 2025
The Scenery wad outstanding but the tour was way too long and we were expecting more historical information about the trail which we did not receive from our guide who talked nonstop about everything else. The Dolly cruise was very interesting though
Roberto_F, Sep 2025
The guide was very knowledgeable about the Sonoran desert vegetation.
The Apacheland stop was fun.
The steamboat excursion was also enjoyable.
I was disappointed that the boat captain did not use the reference to the clock for spotting the rams on the mountain.
Rosemarie_M, Jul 2025
While our tour guide, Aldo, was personable after doing many other Viator tours, we felt this one was not worth its money. We could have easily driven the Apache Trail in our rental car and gotten to the boat ride and Tortilla Flats. The Dolly steamboat was very nice and the captain pointed out sights along the way. We were lucky to see mountain goats too. After a yummy lunch at Tortilla Flats, we went to Goldfield Mine. This was a vast disappointment since we only had a half hour( tour said an hour) which meant we could not do any activities such as a touring the mine or train ride. It was time only to walk briefly and take a few photos. The tour description said admission to Goldfield Mine was included. This is actually untrue since there is NO admission fee unless you do activities ( which we could not in half hour.) The van was roomy and other people were friendly but I wish we just drove this in our rental car and saved the money.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for your feedback. Time spent at each location can vary based on many factors. During summer, because of the very hot desert temperatures, we try to be mindful of guest comfort at outdoor locations. We are glad that you enjoyed Aldo, Tortilla Flat, the Dolly Steamboat and our van. Seems like you enjoyed most of the tour!
Thanks,
Rachel
Daisy, Jun 2025
Terrible. Would only recommend if you're over the age of 75 and not very mobile. Found it incredibly boring. There are many ghost towns in America. Nothing special about this ghost town..just a tourist trap with shops/restaurants. Same goes with Tortilla Flats. If you go on your own, at least you can hike in Tortilla Flats. Buy your Dolly Steamboat ticket yourself, better yet, rent a jetski and view Canyon Lake.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Hello,
I remember chatting with you on the phone after your tour, which was 3 months ago. We had both agreed that you should have inquired more about the tour before you booked. We delivered exactly what was advertised. It seems like this tour simply wasn't for you. We've been providing this tour for over 20 years and the vast majority of our guests love it. It's quite unfortunate you felt the need to give us a 1 star review.
Rachel Bass
Reservations Manager
Cheryl_F, May 2025
The driver picked us up on time at our hotel. He brought us to 3 locations., Goldfield Mines, Tortilla Flat, & the Dolly Steamboat. We were dropped off for over an hour in each of the first 2 locations to wander around on our own. The tour guide was an affable man- but didn’t have a lot of background information to share with us.
The Dolly Steamboat experience was spectacular! The captain narrated our travels. The trip back to our hotel was mostly quiet.
Response from Host, May 2025
Hi Cheryl, thank you for your review. We're glad you enjoyed the stops and we will convey your feedback to our Guide Manager. Thank you for touring with DETOURS!
Safe Travels,
Rachel
Ben_F, Mar 2025
Excellent day trip from Pheonix. Dolly Steamboat on Canyon Lake is beautiful. Lunch at Tortilla Flats can get crowded. Goldfeild & the Superstition Mountains are a sight!
Nina_A, Mar 2025
Wonderful and breathtaking adventure.. Guide was EXCELLENT... I highly recommend this... Would not hesitate to try their other tours..
Don_D, Mar 2025
The excursion was better than I expected. The guides were knowledgeable and very friendly, plus they gave us great recommendations of places to eat. I enjoyed every stop but truly enjoyed Tortilla Flats.
John_G, Mar 2025
Everything was as advertised. Would recommend the trip. The guide was very informative and made the trip interesting.
Atena_A, Mar 2025
Well organized, comfortable ride, amazing mountain views, enjoyable boat ride and knowledgeable guide.
Brenda_E, Feb 2025
Diane was a great tour. Very knowledgeable and personable. Trip was fun. It was a step back in time. Tortilla Flat was a favorite. Very off the wall place. Very fun. The boat ride was relax and scenic. We would recommend the tour!
Dorottya_S, Feb 2025
The trip was amazing! Lots of Wild west like scenery and a nice chill trip. Everyone was super kind and Diane is truly a great tour guide! I am also super satisfied with the Viator customer service. They were coordinating everything very smoothly! It was a 10/10 tour really. I would recommend :)
Susan_R, Feb 2025
The views were amazing. The boat captain was very informative. The atmosphere was wonderful. Loved it.
From $169.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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