• The Peralta gold legend. As with most of the terrain surrounding the Phoenix metropolitan area, the Superstition Mountains have a desert climate, with high summer temperatures and a handful of perennial sources of water. Travel by vehicle east from Scottsdale to the First Water Trailhead on the western flanks of the Superstition Mountains. The Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum displays the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountains and surrounding region. Superstition Wilderness Hiking. Superstition Wilderness Area. The trail will go through another descent before meeting up with the Calvary Trail 0.4 miles on. Your directions and descriptions were super helpful! Enjoy. Fire damage has been reported on this trail (11/14/2020). Enjoy a four-day backpacking trip in the spectacular Superstition Mountains Hike through desert landscapes filled with Saguaro cactus and dramatic vistas Learn wilderness camping basics from our expert female guides Get gear tips and enhance your backcountry cooking skills After 1.2 miles (or perhaps a little more, depending on where you set up camp) you'll reach the Terrapin Trail junction on your left - take this and begin to quickly climb higher and higher with ever more remarkable views. “I loved every minute of this waterfall hike in late … Camping and Backpacking Information. This 3 mile section heads southwest in its entirety, opening up to views of Weaver's Needle as you go along. THE KILLER MOUNTAINS. 173 Miles 278 Kilometers of Trail 7 Recommended Routes 1 Gem ; 0 Easy Trails ; 17 Intermediate Trails ; 6 Difficult Trails ; Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. If you're lucky, a gila monster may even cross your path! The Superstition Wilderness is a stunning 160,200 acre area outside Apache Junction, AZ, with over 170 miles of (variously maintained) trail networks. The Superstition Mountains are bounded roughly by U.S. Route 60 on the south, Arizona State Route 88 on the northwest, and Arizona State Route 188 on the northeast. For an Arizona backpacking trip, the Superstition Wilderness encompasses over 159,000 acres of land in the Tonto National Forest east of Phoenix, Arizona. Maps- last update 6-21-2020. Black Mesa Trail 241. I completed the route exactly as described in march of 2019 and it was amazing, I would highly recommend it! Backpacking in the Superstition Mountains, Arizona - March 2018 After our time in the Kofa Mountains in March, we drove east through Phoenix and immediately embarked on a two-night backpack trip through part of the Superstition Mountains. There is no marked trail up Battleship Mountain when you get there. With incredible landmarks such as Weaver's Needle, years of fascinating history about hidden treasure, lost mines, death, and new … Superstition Wilderness Area. The hike itself is beautiful, and the views once on top of Battleship Mountain are exceptional. There are many legends of a lost gold and buried treasures within the Superstition Mountains of Arizona. Click Here for a Full Screen Map. Click Here for a Full Screen Map. I was constantly crossing small streams and I was covered in mud. From here it is a series of cairn finding exercises to guide you to some of the most impressive 360 degree views in the Superstition Wilderness. But these trips also present a challenge because the region has areas where water is seldom found. Stargaze at night and walk among the beautiful saguaro giants during the day. And i… The Superstition Mountains (Yavapai: Wi:kchsawa), popularly called "The Superstitions", are a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Day 2 (10 miles): Leave your camp behind and enjoy a day of exploring without the weight. It was a truly amazing trip and I totally have the bug now! ... What makes backpacking Flatiron more difficult is strapping an extra 20–30 pounds to your back and hiking the 3.25 miles and 2780 feet in elevation gain to the top. These roads enclose 430,000 acres of which the current Superstition Wilderness makes up 160,200 acres. There is no marked trail up Battleship Mountain when you get there. 7 day, 92 mile solo hike in Arizona's Superstition Wilderness. The Superstition Wilderness is located in Central Arizona in the Tonto National Forest between Apache Junction and Globe, Arizona. The trail will climb gradually and give you great views of the area. This Wilderness was designated in 1939, and was expanded to its present size in 1984. While hiking, you might meet people who are still searching for the gold mine supposedly discovered by Dutchman Jacob Waltz. This 2.4 mile round-trip trail features an elevation change of 450 … This trail goes counter-clockwise starting on Dutchman Trail, then continuing onto Boulder Canyon. So, when we know water is squared away, we have to take advantage of it. Popular: Booked by 110 travelers! The first part is a short hike to a cove at the south edge of Canyon Lake. There’s a portion of the wilderness that was swept away by wildfire, exposing a burnt, red sand beneath the ashes. After a mile, the trail turns to your left. There are any number of trips you can design to fit your time and skill level. In this article I picked my go-to hikes that I recommend to every new hiker, visitor, or fresh air seeker. Once you get to Boulder Canyon, the rocks cairns showing the trail are easy to miss and then it basically becomes rough boulder hiking down the canyon until you pick up the trail as it crosses again. Share what you know about this area! There are any number of trips you can design to fit your time and skill level. It now contains approximately 160,200 acres. There is a well-developed trail system, and the western end of the wilderness receives heavy use during the cooler times of the year. Keep your eyes and ears out for rattlesnakes along this section. Although the Dons are still around, their annual trek hasn’t happened since 2004. Semi-Custom Apache Trail Day Trip Including Dolly Steamboat and Superstition Mountain. I managed to find a campsite that had a good flow of water right behind it! It’s beauty and remoteness makes the area a hiker’s dream – hundreds of miles of trail, perennial water sources and varied elevations, making the area a great 3-season hiking destination. There are any number of trips you can design to fit your time and skill level. Located on a little knoll off Mammoth Mine Road, Goldfield Ghost Town offers a guided tour of a reconstructed section of the Mammoth Mine. Weaver's Needle and Fremont Saddle via Peralta Canyon Trail, Superstition Ridgeline Trail via Carney Springs Road, Dutchman, Boulder Canyon, and Second Water Trails Loop. Day 3 (6.3 miles): Pack up camp and head back out the way you came in, taking the Dutchman's Trail back to Bull Pass (note: descending Bull Pass this direction is trickier than the way you came initially due to the loose/rocky nature of the trail). You can read all about my trip details here: http://www.fuel4play.com/2018/02/super-superstitions.html. $195.00 per adult. This loop hike combines the five most prominent hiking segments into a single excursion. Hiking is straight forward up the gentle meadow slope. Superstition Wilderness. Stay on the trail and watch for the cairns in BC. The mountain range is in the federally designated Superstition Wilderness Area, and includes a variety of natural features in addition to its namesake mountain. From camp, head back the way you came on Dutchman's Trail, past the Calvary Trail and Bull Pass junctions, staying on Dutchman's at each. It's 4.2 miles from the Black Mesa/Dutchman's junction, most of which is relatively flat except for a gradual climb through Parker Pass, which is where you'll get your last view of Weaver's Needle for the trip. From here the trail descends slowly on the other side, following the eastern flank of Weaver's Needle before opening up into an incredible rocky area at Bluff Saddle. Rescues are common, however. You would need to have some type of map and know how to read it. Take a left here and enjoy this brief section of flat and rock-free trail before quickly meeting up with the Bull Pass trail #129 0.2 miles ahead on your left. As you head up Bull Pass you will come to a saddle. 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