Where to see big cactus in AZ and/or NM?

RoyB wrote:
We used to really love the Apache Trail North of Apache Junction for seeing the big cactus plants when we lived in the area back in the 60s-70s... X2 on the Lost Dutchman State Park for camp site.


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We would park along some of the off-road shoots up the Apache Trail and walk among the big cactus... You can get right up next them...

The cactus are generally on the south slopes near the large mountains...

The Apache Trail is a great outing where you can take your time to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The Apache Trail is paved up to the Tortilla Flats area then becomes a small two lane (barely) dirt-rock road winding up and down the mountain trails... We used to picnic at a park pullout along an area called Fish Creek which is at the bottom of a pretty big canyon winding trail just north of Tortilla Flats...

Using google maps Earth View you can use people view and move along seeing the whole trail at ground level to get an idea about it... Some areas of the trail is flash flood prone if the weather gets bad all of a sudden...

Also be aware you away from people population here and must pay attention to what is around you at all times - you are out in the wild here for sure for snakes and spiders and strange looking wildlife forms... Have even run across a pack of Wild Javelina (pigs) one time in this area... Will certainly get your attention haha...

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Lots of other interesting things to see up and down the Apache trail that runs from Roosevelt Lake to Apache Junction. Great pit stop with shops at Tortilla Flats... Be sure to check out the bars stools as they are horse saddles with all of the famous horse names on them...

The mountain range near Apache Junction is the Superstitions... The lakes along the Apache Trail are source of water for the Phoenix valley metroplex...

Roy Ken