Have you ever heard the tale of the Lost Dutchman gold mine? If so, you already know a bit about the Superstition Mountains surrounding Phoenix, AZ. Visible from miles around, it’s no surprise the Superstition Mountains are a favorite among hikers. Indeed, you’ll find several excellent trails through them, offering some of the best hiking in this part of the United States. While a couple of the trails are relatively easy, most are pretty challenging, especially when the sun is blazing. If you’d like to learn more about all the trails available, read on. We’ve got the top Superstition Mountain hiking trails in and around Apache Junction, Az, below for your enjoyment.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Superstition Mountain Hiking: Treasure Loop Trail
- Elevation Gain- 1000 feet (305 meters)
- Trail Type- Loop
- Distance- 2,4 Miles (3,86 km)
- Difficulty Rating- Easy to moderate
- 4.5 Stars
- Pets- Yes
One of the easier trails because the surrounding area is so flat, the Treasure Loop Trail is still excellent. It’s pet-friendly and, more importantly, offers impressive views right from the start. The best time of year to hike this trail? That would be during March and April, when wildflowers are blooming everywhere you look! Locals recommend the Treasure Loop Trail from October through May as the summer heat can be brutal.
Superstition Mountain Hiking: Peralta Canyon Trail
- Elevation Gain- 1400 feet (427 meters)
- Trail Type- Go and Return
- Distance- 4.5 Miles (7.24 km)
- Difficulty Rating- Moderate to Difficult
- 5 Stars
- Pets- Yes
The Peralta Canyon Trail is very popular because of the stunning scenery found along its route. That’s good and bad, as the crowds can be a bit much during the high season. That high season, by the way, is through winter and spring. If you want to see stunning and unique rock formations, this is the trail for you. Also, once you reach the top, the view of the 1000-foot Weaver’s Needle is simply spectacular! (They say Spanish gold from the 1700s is hidden there!)
Start Your Journey From Usery Mountain Regional Park
Is desert camping on your list of things to do while in Arizona? If yes, point your car in the direction of Usery Mountain State Park! They have several campgrounds, including one of the most popular family campgrounds in the area. Many trails wind through the park and Tonto National Forest right next door. There’s also an outdoor gym built under the refreshing shade of a massive shade structure. Plus, get this; they have a 5-star rated archery range to enjoy!
Usery Mountain Hiking: Cat Peaks Trail
- Elevation Gain- 125 feet (38 meters)
- Trail Type- Loop
- Distance- 2.7 Miles (4.35 km)
- Difficulty Rating- Easy to Moderate
- 4.8 Stars
- Pets- Yes
If you’re looking for a short-ish, easier trail, Cat Peaks Loop is a great choice outside of Superstition Mountain hiking. Even better, it’s a gorgeous example of the Arizona desert landscape, with several different types of beautiful cacti in abundance. (Cholla, saguaro, hedgehog, and others.) The trail is actually a figure-8 with a crossing between peaks in between. Locals recommend taking the trail from October through April to avoid crowds and the ridiculous heat in summer. By the way, it’s an excellent trail for horseback riding.
Apache Junction Hiking: Flatiron Trail
- Elevation Gain- 2781 feet (847 meters)
- Trail Type- Go and Return
- Distance- 6 Miles (9.7 km)
- Difficulty Rating- Difficult to Extreme
- 5 Stars
- Pets- Yes, but some restrictions
Challenging describes the Flatiron Trail well, as it ascends almost 3000 feet in less than 3 miles! There are few switchbacks also, making it even more of a challenge. No matter what time of year, getting an early start on this trail is recommended. That way, you can start back down before the sun starts to cook you. (It’s about 4 to 6 hours round-trip, depending on your ability level.) Yes, it sounds daunting. However, the reward for your hard work is a truly spectacular, 360-degree view of the surrounding Superstition Mountains!
Usery Mountain Hiking: Pass Mountain Trail
- Elevation Gain- 710 feet (216 meters)
- Trail Type- Loop
- Distance- 7.5 Miles (12 km)
- Difficulty Rating- Difficult
- 4.8 Stars
- Pets- Yes
Pass Mountain Trail is one of the best in Usery Mountain Park. It’s also the longest trail in the area at 7.5 miles. (Note that it takes the better part of a day to hike.) The trail circumnavigates Pass Mountain, which is a pretty impressive feat. One of the best reasons to hike the Pass Mountain Trail? There are fewer crowds, so you’ll have a more peaceful, quiet experience.
Desert Survival Tips for Superstition Mountain Hiking
Desert camping is quite different from camping anywhere else. Being correctly prepared is a must to enjoy yourself and avoid any problems or sticky situations. To help, below are a few of our top desert camping tips!
- Bring a lot of water. More than you think you need. And drink frequently to keep from becoming severely dehydrated. (It happens more quickly than you might think!)
- Shake out your hiking boots every time before you put them back on. Critters like hiding in boots and shoes, and some pack a nasty, venomous sting!
- Rather than eating three big meals, snack throughout the day to keep up your energy.
- Bring extra blankets and warm clothing. The desert gets surprisingly cold after the sun goes down.
- Stay active early and late in the day. In the middle, relax and conserve energy. (Desert animals do this all the time.)
- Pack out your trash, always.
- Pitch your tent in a shady area when possible. If not, use a tarp to prevent your tent from getting extremely hot.
Desert Necessities for Hiking the Superstition Mountains
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Hats and sunglasses
- Flashlights and batteries
- Lighters and matches
- A Compass
- Ground cloth for your tent
- A large cooler with ice
- Bandanas
- First Aid Kit
- Toilet paper and baby wipes
Where to Store Gear After Hiking the Superstitions
We hope today’s information about hiking trails in the Superstition Mountains was a revelation and very helpful. At Storage Solutions, we know the Arizona desert very well. That’s because we have 29 self-storage locations in Arizona with clean, safe, and secure storage units. You can rent a storage unit in Apache Junction to store all your hiking gear and supplies.
Self Storage Near the Superstition Mountains
Mesa, AZ 85206
Apache Junction, AZ 85120
Florence, AZ 85132
Questions about renting a storage unit in Arizona? If so, you can chat with us online and get the answers you seek. You can also visit our Apache Junction self-storage location and meet the on-site manager. They can help you decide which storage unit in Arizona is best for your particular needs. Until then, we hope you thoroughly enjoy camping and hiking in the Superstition Mountains. If you’re like us, you’ll be out there enjoying Arizona’s beauty on a very regular basis!
