r/ApacheJunction • u/OHLOOK_OREGON • Feb 27 '26
Visiting from out of town...what should I eat/hike/do?
I'm flying in next weekend to check out the Superstition Mountains and do some hiking and exploring. Staying in Apache Junction. Does anyone have recs for great food (mexican if possible), specific hikes, and anything beyond Superstition Mountains like Salt River area? I have a car and plan to hike all day.
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u/jackscannabinoids Feb 27 '26
The Lost Dutchman Days rodeo is going on this weekend, with a dance at the Elks Lodge off of Highway 88 tomorrow night, a parade in downtown AJ on Saturday morning, and rodeo entertainment and a carnival Saturday & Sunday afternoons.
The Goldfield Ghost Mine is super cute, previously mentioned. You’re a short drive from Tortilla Flat and Canyon Lake.
For eating I would recommend Dirtwater Springs and Hacker’s Grill, Los Favoritos is also very good and previously mentioned.
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u/JustAnEngineer2025 Feb 27 '26 edited Feb 27 '26
Be mindful of the heat if you want to hike. Folks regularly need to get rescued as well as die.
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u/JuleeeNAJ Feb 28 '26
Hike early,not sure on next weekend but this weekend its already in the 90s. Also, get to your hike before sunrise, and i hope you like people because the trails fill up fast.
Hackers is a nice breakfast and lunch place, food wise its a bit more difficult because everything around here is busy this time of year. The arboretum near Superior is not too far, great hikes to the old Pinal City and you can hike Picket Post mountain. Superior has good Mexican and good BBQ too.
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u/RVtech101 Feb 28 '26
Hieroglyphs, the Wave Cave, Freemont Saddle and Flatiron are a few favorites in no particular order. Bring twice as much water as you think you might need. A great drive is over 4 Peaks and down to have lunch at the Roosevelt Marina. Come across around 88 and have ice cream at Tortilla Flats on your way back.
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u/CeeUNTy Feb 27 '26
My favorite Mexican restaurant is a dive called Los Favoritos. It's really good and reasonably priced if you don't care about the "ambience" in a restaurant in a trailer. Whatever you do don't go to Los Gringos. The place is super cute but the food is bland, often dried out like it's from yesterday and it's pricey. The last time I ate there I threw it away.
Go down highway 88 for a beautiful drive with some cool places to check out. The Ghost Mine is an old working camp that's been turned into a tourist spot. They have zip lining, an ice cream shop, restaurant, an old whorehouse with your guides and of course souvenirs.
There are a lot of pull offs where you can get out and take great pics on that road. At the end there is tortilla flat. It was a pot stop for the old west wagons on their way to CA. The restaurant has saddles for seats at the bar. There is a little museum and a souvenir shop. The drive is harrowing so you cannot speed! People do occasionally drive over the edge.
Canyon lake is down by tortilla flat and you can take the steamboat dolly tour with or without dinner. They take you back around the mountains and it's really beautiful.