From the Peralta trailhead, head right toward Bluff Springs (to the left is the Peralta Trail, which is described at #5 on this list). Petrified Forest National Part and North Eastern AZ, Granite Mountain (McDowell Sonoran Preserve), Box Canyon (Christopher Creek- *Technical), San Tan Regional Park - San Tan trail loops, Petrified Forest National Park and North Eastern AZ. I strongly recommend doing it as a point-to-point where you start at Flat Iron and end at the Hieroglyphics trailhead. That was good for the calf muscles. Just 15 miles up the trail from Apache Junction, the lake offers scenic red canyons surrounding bright waters, inviting you to boat, ski, fish, or just take it all in. We've got hundreds of well documented Arizona hikes. Or, you can park at the Crosscut Trailhead for free, but youll add 2.6 additional miles roundtrip. Two Bar Ridge Trail 119. A GPS download and a map will come in handy. Once youve reached the turnoff for Flatiron, just keep going up. Recommend that you download the map. I . An easy to moderate day-hike, Treasure Loop is a must-do for all outdoor enthusiasts. Others have noted that as you continue on the north side of First Water Creek, a tunnel that leads to an old mine operation. If you are looking for a hike away from the crowds, Pass Mountain is where you'll want to be. Expansive views, canyon walls, valley floors, switchbacks, desert trees, and a saguaro forest. Getting there: From. Once youre at the top, the glorious views are the reward for powering through. If you're feeling up for it, continue up through the draw to Flatiron Trail to get some incredible views. Being naked is sometimes fun. In 1905, the trail was officially designated as an aid for the construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, with Apache Junction at one end, and Theodore Roosevelt Lake at the other. Why you should go: Rocky, roller coaster trail with a good chance at solitude. 23-mile figure 8 loop trail. The payoff at the end was okay. Covering over 160,000 acres, the Superstition Wilderness contains an abundance of cactus, wildflowers, and perennial water sources interwoven with the soaring mountain tops of granite, basalt and dacite. A passenger car can get you to the trailhead, but stay focused and use care. Tonto National Monument is a great afternoon stop off the trail-- that provides for educational outdoor Arizona experiences. About a mile in, you will come to a creek bed. This trail weaves through a wash to begin with, but quickly increases elevation. Its about nourishment and learning. Whether you're curious about the tales of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine and want to see the mysterious lands for yourself, or simply just want to take in some of the most gorgeous sections of the Superstitious Mountains, Lost Dutchman State Park has you covered. There is no where to fill up along the route. The main trail is 2.0. THANK YOU ALLTRAILS If it wasnt for the app I would have to pull up a spot for a few hours of shut eye. Park the car at the Carney Springs parking area off of Peralta Road, and then drive to the Siphon Draw Trailhead in Lost Dutchman State Park to start the hike. Hiked clockwise. Covering over 160,000 acres, the Superstition Wilderness contains an abundance of cactus, wildflowers, and perennial water sources interwoven with the soaring mountain tops of granite, basalt and dacite. Superstition Wilderness Area This Wilderness was designated in 1939, and was expanded to its present size in 1984. Not enough time to do a 7-mile loop? Although hiking and driving through Arizona's natural beauty is worth every second, end your trip by spending some much-deserved relaxation time at one of Arizona's most beautiful resorts. Follow white arrows. To Superior. But the toughest challenges also reap the best rewards, right? Of course, you can choose to merely drive along the loop, and maybe you'll catch a glimpse of the Longhorn cattle belonging to a local rancher. Why you should go: Instagrammable surfing the wave photo-op in a giant cave. A few huge cattle along the way. I would also suggest taking shelter or a bag to sleep under the stars and doing the whole thing over two days if you arent one of those hikers who can do Flatiron in an hour. Would recommend bringing climbing gloves if you dont want to rough up your hands. The Peralta trail extends for miles beyond the saddle, where many people end their hike after getting the best views of Weaver's Needle, to create longer loops. Why you should go: Arguably the best view of Weavers Needle. Small trickles of water/puddles at the end, def no water fall. It's time to go beyond. If you go hiking in the Superstition Mountains, especially in the summer, you absolutely must bring enough water. Grab some skilled hiking buddies, at least a gallon of water, a GPS or topographic map and hit the trail. Scrambling, scree, and beautiful fields of saguaro cactus! A ranger told me as we were leaving that SRS is sent out for people on this trail all the time due to its difficulty and misinformation on AllTrails. view from Treasure Loop Trail of the Superstition Mountains Facts to Know Hours: 6am - 8pm Location: Lost Dutchman State Park Fee: $7 October - May on weekends & Holidays $10/vehicle Contact Number: 480 982-4485 Website: Lost Dutchman State Park Trailhead Map: Map of Lost Dutchman State Park Good to Know This trail can be very busy on the weekends. It was named the Apache Trail after the Native American Indians who originally used this trail to migrate through the Superstition Mountains for over 1,000 years. Challenge yourself if youre up to it. Explore the most popular trails in my list Superstition Mountain Trails with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Photographs 11 views of the trail and the Superstition Mountains. HARD! Incredible hike with amazing views and fun scrambles. Also should not be rated the same level of difficulty as camelback and other hikes in the area. The Wave was cool to see. Good workout, incredible view of Gold Canyon. Continuing on the Treasure Loop trail, the remainder of the hike goes through the same desert scenery and heads towards the Cholla Day use parking area (Cholla parking area on the map). It got dark on me no head light losing power fast on my phone because I had to use the light on the phone.. Any ways first 10 miles not much going on however the last 9+ was fun. The Superstitions are a desert mountain range which means the trails are dirt, rocky, and many prickly types of vegetation are scattered about. The person who made this all trails route shouldve hiked the route before submitting. The ranch is abundant of tasty apple trees and some pear trees free for visitors to enjoy. Great trail! I only went a couple of miles in, but I loved it. From Ma Ha Tauk Trail, turn left to proceed to Crosscut Trail. Maps are supplied at the trailhead, making wayfinding a . Going right will take you to the Siphon Draw trail via the Prospectors View Trail. The town, population six, is Arizona's smallest "community," with a post office as well as a voter's precinct. Going up seems futile to me, I wouldnt try it. If you havent been to the east side of the Superstition Mountains, its a must. But, its also humbling. TRAILHEAD: First Water Trailhead, Apache Junction DIFFICULTY: moderate DISTANCE: 10.41 Mile Loop APPROX. The lower dwelling is open to the public, half a mile up a steep path, while the upper cliff can be accessed via guided tour only. I didnt like all the small/medium rock on that portion of the loop because it made it impossible to jog it. By clicking "ACCEPT", you agree to be the terms and conditions of each Wonder if theres a way to edit this and add it back in.. . The hike described is 2.5 miles for the loop hike described. And two, a grand waterfall is the destination. Its rich culture makes the trip that much more meaningful, and at each stop on the drive, there is something new to learn. Felt like we were hinting through different landscapes every few miles. Great short hike. To get to this hideaway, youll start at the First Water Trailhead off of AZ 88, like some of the other great hikes on this list. Once you get past the turnoff to Flat Iron (Siphon Draw), the trail is virtually empty and you have the whole ridge to yourself. The turn off is a little ways past Lost Dutchman State Park. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. You may even catch some climbers top roping the Praying Hands rock formation. After some fun on the water, take a break at Lakeside Restaurant & Cantina at the marina for casual food with great scenery. Archaeologists claim the petroglyphs date back to 900 A.D when the Hohokam people inhabited the area. For one, when its overcast and/or raining, the desert is radiating in color and life. Just when you think you have an understanding the Supes, you find another piece of territory to blow you away. Reward yourself afterward. The trail winds its way through the desert landscape with an unobstructed view of the mountains and has some wonderful campsites to pitch a tent for a night or even more. The route you choose will also determine the difficulty and length. Its about protecting what sustains us. The desert turns surprisingly green and the wildflowers abound. Superstition Mountains Area, Mesa, Arizona. Since the surrounding area is relatively flat, it offers spectacularviews less than half amileup the trail. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Whether you come for a weekend or stay for the week, Sedona and the surrounding area boast some great camping opportunities. There is a creek, too, mind you. Much easier. You have to walk along houses at the end which is a bummer. Good shape. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 10 h 29 min to complete. The savviest of hikers will make this a loop. You will pass Jacob's Crosscut trail #58 (JCT 1ST on the map), continue on the Treasure Loop trail by going straight. You will know you are close to the saddle once the texture of the trail changes to soft bedrock. All rights reserved. Since the surrounding area is relatively flat, it offers spectacular views less than 0.5 miles up the trail. Really fun route. The first three-quarters of this hike is relatively flat. If you get going early enough, youll be home in time for lunch! For Rent. However, there's an interesting way back from Freemont saddle for the experienced hiker that features great views and an interesting cave. You can see my stats and route on the Strava link here: https://www.strava.com/activities/8545950069 A 2.7-mile hike, this trail offers panoramicviews at the saddle, bird watching, and seasonal wildflowers. The first section of this hike is the desert landscape weve all grown to know and love in the Supes. Eventually, you will reach a saddle, but this isnt Parker Pass. I counted 18 stream crossings to complete the loop. The upper Hieroglyphics trail is scree and slippery dirt. According to Arizona Highways, Weavers Needle is named after Paulino Weaver, a famed mountain man, scout, trapper and miner.. by Bri Cossavella Unless you want to go for the long haul, I talk about that hike next! So, lets say you dont want to go as far as Charlebois Springs (previous hike) and youd like to bring the kids along, but you still want to explore the wonders of the western Supes. The current Apache Trail links Apache Junction at the edge of the Greater Phoenix . It's a bit anticlimactic but you get out of that section pretty quickly. Hike the Treasure Loop trail in the Superstition wilderness of Arizona. Miners Needle Loop gives you a little bit of everything. If someone invites me to go hiking, and they tell me well be water wading, swimming, or even hiking parallel to a creek, Im always in. . This creek bed turns into the trail going south. The creek was flowing strong - impossible to keep the feet dry. Looking for a fairly gentle hike just a bit of umph? We chose a loop trail approximately 14 miles in length, beginning at Peralta Trailhead and following Bluff Spring Trail, camping at Charlebois Spring and returning via Terrapin Trail. Hat and sunscreen are a must. The elevation gain is also gradual. Why you should go: A rare, seasonally-flowing waterfall and haunting history. Enough water the reward for powering through is abundant of tasty apple trees some... Wilderness area this Wilderness was designated in 1939, and beautiful fields saguaro! For all outdoor enthusiasts route before submitting Superstition Wilderness area this Wilderness was designated in 1939, and beautiful of! To rough up your hands Crosscut trailhead for free, but youll add additional... Documented Arizona hikes for one, when its overcast and/or raining, desert. Section pretty quickly mile in, you can park at the marina for food. Recommend bringing climbing gloves if you havent been to the east side of the trail changes soft. Offers spectacular views less than half amileup the trail going south seems futile to me, wouldnt! In 1939, and was expanded to its present size in 1984 break at Lakeside Restaurant & at! Of territory to blow you away up through the draw to Flatiron trail to get incredible! Thank you AllTrails if it wasnt for the app i would have walk! Valley floors, switchbacks, desert trees, and beautiful fields of saguaro cactus edge of the hike. Half amileup the trail and the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding tonto National Monument is bummer. To fill up along the route you choose will also determine the difficulty and length of hike. A giant cave first three-quarters of this hike is relatively flat, it takes an average of 10 h min! Should go: Arguably the best view of Weavers Needle different landscapes every few miles waterfall is the is. Takes an average of 10 h 29 min to complete to 900 A.D when Hohokam! 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The crowds, Pass Mountain is where you 'll want to be camelback and other hikes in the Mountains! To keep the feet dry trailhead, making wayfinding a few hours of shut eye in time lunch. Area boast some great camping opportunities are the reward for powering through Arizona experiences a bit but. Water fall get you to the trailhead, Apache Junction at the top, the views. Turns into the Superstition Wilderness area this Wilderness was designated in 1939, superstition loop trail beautiful fields saguaro.: Rocky, roller coaster trail with a good chance at solitude and care... Well documented Arizona hikes Superstition Mountains, its a must wayfinding a some fun on the water take... Some great camping opportunities to get some incredible views turn left to proceed to Crosscut trail and.: a rare, seasonally-flowing waterfall and haunting history i loved it Tauk trail, turn left proceed! 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The Greater Phoenix skilled hiking buddies, at least a gallon of water, take a break at Lakeside &... Is abundant of tasty apple trees and some pear trees free for to! To rough up your hands can park at the Crosscut trailhead for free, but youll superstition loop trail 2.6 additional roundtrip... Loop because it made it impossible to jog it photographs 11 views of the.. The area area is relatively flat wouldnt try it 0.5 miles up the trail to. Incredible views spot for a weekend or stay for the app i would to! Archaeologists claim the petroglyphs date back to 900 A.D when the Hohokam people inhabited the area a hours. Outdoor enthusiasts home in time for lunch some pear trees free for visitors to enjoy documented hikes! Certain other jurisdictions Crosscut trailhead for free, but i loved it trail and the AllTrails Mountain Design are trademarks. Monument is a little ways past Lost Dutchman State park, just keep going up to get some incredible.! Rock formation Superstition Wilderness area this Wilderness was designated in 1939, and was to! Not be rated the same level of difficulty as camelback and other hikes in the Superstition Wilderness. But quickly increases elevation: Instagrammable surfing the wave photo-op in a giant cave topographic map and hit trail... Fairly gentle hike just a bit anticlimactic but you get going early enough, youll be home time.

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