b'candersonphotography/istockphotoFish Creek OverlookTravelers that brave the tenuous Fish Creek Canyon hikes, either up or downstream, will be gifted Superstition Restaurant & Saloon with beautiful views as far as the eye can see!The canyon is home to a variety of flowers, wildlife, and plentiful Clark Gable stopped in on his wayvegetation. The best time to to and from Roosevelt Lake, which hevisit is during spring beforevisited often. Its reported that he alwaysthe weather is too hot.had tomato juice to drink.ROCK CLIMBINGGlenn Ford and Ida Lupino made The easiest accessed narrowCURRENT STATUS:the movie Lust for Gold in Tortilla ravine is on the south side of the Flat and even brought their own Apache Trail 3.1 miles east ofApache Junction (milepost 194) to saguaro made of aluminum with them. Tortilla Flat. Here an unnamedTortilla Flat (milepost 212)Alan Ladd and Loretta Young reportedly shot somesouth-side tributary of Mesquite Creek forms a canyon scenes there for a western movie in the mid-thirties. which is enclosed for about one mile and has a properOPEN TO TRAFFICslot for 600 feet - only at most 30 feet deep, but enclosed John Wayne was also a frequent visitor and veteranenough to make exploration quite challenging, since it western movie star Ben Johnson would regularly stopcontains several near-permanent pools, up to six feetJust east of Tortilla Flat by. Paul Harvey and his daughter had a good day indeep, and two dry falls. The passageways are pretty, with(milepost 213) to Fish Creek Hill Tortilla Flat. a few slender cottonwood trees in the lower end, andOverlook/Rest Area (milepost 220)layered slopes above, home to cacti and yucca. The slot The famous founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken,section can be explored in less than an hour, while up toOPEN TO TRAFFICColonel Sanders, and his wife were charmed bytwo hours are needed if continuing downstream along Tortilla Flat. Don Johnson and Barbara Streisandthe deeper, wider lower gorge.came for a visit during their rebuilding phase. They wereFish Creek Hill Overlook/Rest Area very much incognito and reportedly enjoyed the patioHIKING (milepost 222) to Apache Lake BBQ and Cowboy Band. Tortilla Trailhead FS #213 is also an offroad trail for vehicles. It is a 6.4 mile moderately trafficked out andMarina (milepost 229)Last but not least are each local guest and those fromback trail located near Tortilla Flat that features beautifulCLOSED TO TRAFFIC; UTVS, abroad who have left their dollar bills on the walls of thewildflowers and is rated as moderate. The trail isEQUESTRIANS, HIKERS AND restaurant (including currency from over 80 countries)primarily used for hiking and is best used from October contributing to the history of Tortilla Flat. until April. Dogs are also able to use this trail but mustBICYCLISTS ALLOWEDbe kept on a leash. About 2.5 miles in you hit an old well FISH CREEK OVERLOOK and water tanks. This is part of the Tortilla Pass Trail but The prominent lookout point provides views backends at the ranch foundation instead.towards the cities and out into the desert. Personal responsibility is a must as there are no railings along the edges and a falling could result. Modest facilities are available. The road is closed at this point. Hikers may still park at the closure and walk 1.5 miles to the start of the trail.ArizonaRealCountry.com March 2022 25'