Apache Trail / Canyon Lake Steamboat Cruise

Phoenix, United States of America

Arizona is renowned for its spectacular scenery, and you will certainly see a lot of it on this tour. Journey along the magnificent Apache Trail following the base of the Superstition Mountains. Visit historic Goldfield Ghost Town, and complete your day with a relaxing steamboat cruise on Canyon Lake.

Travel the scenic Apache Trail at the base of the legendary Superstition Mountains.

Visit Goldfield Ghost Town where tales of gold abound! Gold was first struck here in 1892.

Next, it's time for a relaxing steamboat cruise on one of Arizona's most beautiful desert lakes - Canyon Lake. Your cruise aboard the Dolly Steamboat will give you a chance to catch a glimpse of big horn sheep and bald eagles as well as learn about the Apaches from your boat captain.

After your cruise, enjoy a stop at the "bustling" town of Tortilla Flat (population 6). This small Arizona town is the last surviving stagecoach stop along the Apache Trail. A lunch stop will be made at either Canyon Lake Marina or Tortilla Flat.

USD $108.00

Review by:   Philip H. D,    March 2018
We had a very good tour. The curvy roads were haunting but made the trip worthwhile. Tortilla flats is special! Steamboat was okay but limited sights. The bald eagle nest was the highlight.

Review by:   Razvan B,    December 2017
Our driver was very experienced in telling us different stories and also taking pictures of us in different places. Highly recommended!

Review by:   Lorraine D,    November 2017
It was a very pleasant day. Manny was very knowledgeable. Loved the Ghost town that we visited and the beauty of Canyon Lake. Was a long day, but well worth it.

Review by:   Patricia L A,    October 2017
Did this trip on my own as my travel companion did not want to go with me. And I have to say I would do this one again in a heartbeat. The Apache Trail was interesting and the little town we stopped in for lunch was awesome. But the steamboat cruise was truly wonderful. We saw so many animals up on the rocks - mountain goats, eagles, and my personal favorites the little coots that swam next to the boat. You will not be disappointed with this trip that's for sure.

Review by:   David D,    August 2017
Even though things were running late for some reason, we had plenty of time to see it all and never felt rushed. Our driver, Mike, was great! He took extra time to show us things and was always telling us interesting facts about what we were seeing. He is definitely in his element! We had a wonderful time. Saw a lot of beautiful and interesting things and ate well also! I highly recommend this tour!

Review by:   Jason B,    July 2017
I presume Viator sends the tour out to the lowest bidder. We got stuck with Ma and Pa Tours/Redstone and spent the day sweating in a 1990 P.O.S. tour bus with minimal A.C. and a broken P.A. system, so we couldn't hear anything the tour driver said in the back of the bus. It ruined an otherwise pleasant tour and tour guide. I would recommend skipping Viator and going directly to the tour company, so you know who/what you are getting.

Review by:   Amanda H,    March 2017
We had the most amazing day! Mike was an awesome guide extremely knowledgeable and entertaining! I highly recommend this trip it is a perfect day trip to learn a little history and enjoy beautiful scenery. Thanks for the memories!

Review by:   Rosemary O,    March 2017
Beautiful, serene . The cruise was like a picture book setting.. The guide Mike was knowledgeable, amusing and very pleasant.

Review by:   David A,    March 2017
The tour guide, Mike, did a very good job. The down side was that we were picked up 2 hours late. We were notified twice that the pickup would be late. This cut our time short at some stops.

Review by:   Margarita B,    March 2017
Good itinerary, the service is not so good. No water on the bus for 8 hours tour. The tour is really about 5 hours. The rest of the time it takes to pickup and drop off the passengers all over the Phoenix. The tour guide tried his best calling about pickup delay.

Review by:   Leo M,    March 2017
Great tout. Mike knew the area well and was able to answer all of our questions. The Canyon Lake cruise provided breathtaking sights.

Review by:   maryparsons77,    February 2017
All the places we went were interesting but we could probably have done all on our own. What made the tour for us was our guide Wayne who was outstanding. He was extremely knowledgeable about the area, the history, the landscape and made it really interesting. He talked non-stop and it was all worth listening to. He also knew a lot of the people we met on the tour.

Review by:   Jim K,    February 2017
The tour was a good spend of a day. Mike was very informative and made our trip!!

Review by:   tmp,    February 2017
What an amazing trip and beautiful trip! Our driver/guide, Mike Rodriguez, knew the area and everything to see. Everyone should be so lucky to have Mike show them this beautiful area. From Apache Junction, Tortilla Flats to Canyon Lake this is a must see!

Review by:   Russell M,    January 2017
This tour was amazing!

Review by:   William I,    January 2017
It was strange. Mike was friendly enough. We were the only couple on the tour. It was basically a ride to the Dolly Steamboat Cruise. We stopped for a nature walk, and snacks. There were parts of the tour route that were closed that seemed to surprise our guide. He also moved up our cruise because there was not enough to fill up the time before our original tour time. He seemed to make it up as he went along. Save yourself some money and just drive to the Dolly Steamboat cruise. The Canyon Lake Cruise was very good.

Review by:   KENNETH S,    December 2016
This tour was packed with so many things to see I can't believe we fit it all in one day. The tour is a all day trip. There are many interesting stops along the Apache Trail. We visited a old town that was just like being back in the old west. The Canyon Lake Riverboat ride was beautiful. I enjoyed every minute of the tour. This is a must see.

Review by:   pgall51074,    November 2016
The steamboat Captain was very imformative. We really enjoyed the view and history of the Lake and mountains. We would do it again.

Review by:   Marie S,    September 2016
Our tour guide was terrific!

Review by:   Sam M,    September 2016
Excellent tour and excellent tour guide! Highly recommended!!!

Review by:   strandjeane,    August 2016
Wayne was our guide from pick up at the hotel to drop off. He is an amazing guide! So friendly, knowledge and funny!! We had a wonderful day. Lunch was at Tortilla Flats, very good food and a fun place to see!!! We loved the entire tour!!! Highly recommend this tour!!!

Review by:   julie a,    August 2016
Excellent trip! Wayne our travel guide was fantastic and very knowledgeable of the history of the area.

Review by:   Bryan K,    August 2016
This was a very nice and informative cruise. The captain and his deck hands were so nice and they provided assistance to see the sights and animals. Well worth the cost of the cruise and I would take it again.

Review by:   Jorge L,    July 2016
The experience was very enlightening. The tour guide was exceptional as he knew the area as if he lived there his whole life. He was very pleasant to be around and very helpful with my handicap.

Review by:   Richard S,    June 2016
Highly recommend this tour! The instructor was so knowledgeable about absolutely everything, from the history of the area to the native plants and animals. Really enjoyed the ghost town and the boat tour, however they could have skipped the first stop (movie set) in my opinion.

Review by:   Thomas D,    June 2016
I was expecting more. Lot of driving and a lot less sightseeing.

Review by:   Alexandru M,    April 2016
The tour was great. The guide gave us all kind of interesting information and answered our questions. _br/_ The actual cruise was nice but having binoculars would have made it great._br/_ The stop at Tortilla Flat where we had lunch was a high point. _br/_ Highly recommended tour.

Review by:   Lannette,    April 2016
This trip was absolutely amazing, will definitely be booking thru this company again.

Review by:   Michael G,    March 2016
Wayne was a great tour guide! Knew his stuff. Do a lot of traveling with Tauck Tours 5 stars and he could work for them!_br/_ Mike and Mary Ann_br/_ Chicago

Review by:   Lawrence M,    March 2016
This was a great trip. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable which made the tour so interesting and fun.

Review by:   John T,    December 2015
My husband and I really enjoyed this tour. There were only 4 in the group and Wayne our tour guide was a very personable guide. He kept the tour relaxed and informative. Thank you Wayne!!

Review by:   Peter C,    November 2015
our guide Wayne was on time, courteous, very knowledgeable and took very good care of the group._br/_ For history buffs, lots of information to digest. Just a suggestion to eat a hearty breakfast first as lunch will be after 1:30PM.

Review by:   Attilio S,    November 2015
This tour was excellent. They picked us up right at the lobby of the hotel and the tour guide was amazing. Not only did he talk about Apache trail but he also told of the history of Phoenix. Additionally, the boat ride was wonderful and relaxing. Saw some Bald Eagles during the trip.. Great Time

Review by:   Janice R,    November 2015
This tour was great and lots of fun. We went with Arizona Tour and Travel and our guide was Wayne who was great. He allowed us some flexibility and we were able to get some shopping done and had our lunch in Tortilla Flat. Also, the steamboat cruise was great. Canyon Lake is beautiful, and we saw big horn sheep and a bald eagle.

Review by:   Himmel,    October 2015
WOW! This 8 hour tour was SO MUCH BETTER than expected! Wayne Parker was our CTFG Certified FABULOUS Tour Guide :-. His knowledge, presentations, friendliness and genuine class easily lifted our tour over the top of every mountain we saw. Folks, the scenery - almost from second to second - is spellbinding. From the incredible desert trees, cactus and scrub to the hills, vistas and mountains to the old western towns, rivers and lakes, there's hardly a moment to regroup in between each new adventure! This is a 100 MUST. WOW!

Review by:   Michael D,    October 2015
OK First I have to apologize. My 1st review a couple of days ago was lost!?_br/_ So let me begin again that our tour guide Wayne Parker was probably the best guide we have ever had traveling throughout the the country. We were picked up at our designated hotel promptly and from the that moment we were given amazing information thru the areas of Phoenix and the surrounding mountains side. From the celebrity homes on the mountains to the plants n trees surrounding the various neighborhoods Wayne was informative and very entertaining! But when we got unto the Superstition Mountain /Apache Trail his narrative of all that was around us came to life. We almost felt like it was in the 1800s, traveling on a covered wagon to our destination on a very winding road!! to Canyon Lake, except we were in an A/C van.lol Upon arriving at the lake we boarded the Dolly Stearn Wheeler for a 90 minute cruise that was spectacular viewing cliffs, eagles, and other wildlife that hoestly pictures could not capture the true beauty of this hidden lake! After the cruise Wayne took us to 2 old west mining towns and as a group WE decided to have lunch at Tortilla Flats._br/_ There we were able to stroll thru this facinating town and my wife even panned for gold. On our way back we ran into a big traffic jam. Undeterred, Wayne took the first exit off the the expressway and took the side streets to keep us moving, giving us additional information on the neighborhoods we were traveling thru. Great job Wayne, and again Donna n I Thank You!

Review by:   George H,    September 2015
I have already rated this tour. Excellant

Review by:   Carol M,    September 2015
Our tour group was small just 5 of us. Wayne is an amazing tour guide. He even made a stop not on the agenda to accommodate one of our group. Would definitely book another Wayne led tour. Five stars plus.

Review by:   Erica G,    June 2015
Chris was a great guide. It was also a great group. We had a really enjoyable day. Got to see some real wildlife - bald eagles, big horn sheep and fish in Canyon Lake. It was a beautiful day all the way around.

Review by:   Joseph C,    April 2015
It was informative and just hands down awesome. Our Guide, Chris was amazing. I would recommend Ma and Pops tours to anyone. My youngest just took to Chris like glue. We all felt comfortable with him and he made the trip worth it 10X's over

Review by:   Brad L,    January 2014
We had a great time! Our guide was very nice and informative. Beautiful scenery and a good time all around

Review by:   shadylady35,    December 2013
A really different trip along the Apache trail then on to Tortilla Flat followed by a 90 minute steamboat cruise then to Goldfield Ghost Town and finally a visit down the mine. I've done this trip before on a previous visit, every time I learn more about the local area, and Arizona too, due to the knowledgable tour guides. Many thanks Brad.

Review by:   un,    December 2013
Had a great time exploring the area Our tour guide was a local with so much knowledge. Had a good time meeting new people. Definetlu would reccommend

Review by:   William K,    December 2013
The trip was interesting but the ghost town was not impressive.

Review by:   Rebecca J,    November 2013
Was a very pretty tour but it felt like we were just in the car the whole time. There was a mix up with our tour so it was delayed by 2 hours and when the tour guide got there it seemed like he really didn't want to be there. It was supposed to be an 8 hour tour and we only got 6 hours. It would have been great to have extra time at the Goldfield town, we only had 1/2 hour so I felt like we were rushing around trying to get photos of everything. We ate at the pub Tortilla Flat but again was really rushed and only had 45 minutes there, all we saw was the inside of the pub which was very cool and the food was great. The Steamboat tour was the highlight and the only thing that wasn't rushed because it couldn't be rushed. Over all it was an ok tour which could have been an amazing tour if we had a great tour guide and if we were given the time that we paid for.

Review by:   bK,    October 2013
The Apache Trail was a scary ride if you don't like heights. The road had very few guard rails but the view was well worth the trip. Canyon Lake had some spectacular views., the paddle boat was pleasant and relaxing. This was a great trip to get the feel of the land during the mining era. The tour guide was great at explaining history of the area. The tour guides on the Viator Tours I booked were excellent.

Review by:   Denise R,    April 2013
Wonderful tour going up the Apache Trail where mule teams once hauled the men and materials that made Roosevelt Lake. This amazing story comes to life on this tour. Plus seeing the desert is marvelous, and our tour guide was most informative about everything in Phoenix. The cruise was magical; we floated past canyon walls spotting eagles and big horn desert sheep. Loved the old mining town of Goldfield where we had just enough time to tour the gold mine on our own; it was amazing. The hard life of the miners boggles the mind. The guide there was also most entertaining and informative, but u need to ask if there's enough time to squeeze in this extra. I recommend you do it if possible. The lunch stop at Tortilla Flat was fine but we used the time there to see he tiny museum there about Roosevelt Lake.

Review by:   PATSY M,    March 2013
I THINK THE TOUR COULD HAVE BEEN SPLIT IN TWO PARTS,ADDING THE MUSEUAM ACROSS FROM THE "GHOST TOWN" AND SPENDING MORE TIME AT EACH VENUE. PERHAPS A SHOW AND LUNCH INCLUDED AT THE "GHOST/WESTERN TOWN". A CATERED LUNCH AT THE "STAGE COACH" STOP AND MORE TIME TO EXPLORE. YOU COULD SPEND TWO OR THREE HOURS AT EACH OF THOSE POSSIBLE LUNCH VENUES. AS IT WAS,WE WERE VERY RUSHED TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT EVENT. NO COMPLAINS ABOUT THE CONTENT,JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR EACH.

Review by:   Kristi H,    February 2013
This was a good tour, the bigget downfall is there is not enough time at the Gold Mining Town, Steamboat Cruise and Tortilla Flats add to the tour, making it a nice relaxing day.

Review by:   Starr W,    February 2013
This was a fabulous tour. Not too long (8:30 - 3pm) but full of information. Our guide new the area and loved it. He was full of information and it was interesting and appropriate for our area.