A 2.25 gradual ascent takes you up the canyon to Freemont Saddle with a panoramic view of 1,000 foot tall Weaver’s Needle formation and the Superstition Wilderness beyond. Who doesn’t love food and killer views?? While in total the Peralta trail is about 12 miles long, it is only 2 miles to reach the Fremont Saddle. Watch Queue Queue The Superstition Mountains: Hiking near the gold legends. Prospector’s View Trail 57. My first visit through the area changed my mind. The Peralta Canyon Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the Superstition Wilderness outside of Phoenix, and for good reason. Arrive early to secure parking and avoid crowds. A short optional climb is 3.0 and the Gypsum Overlook Loop is 2.5. Dispersed camping is permitted in the Superstition Wilderness. Several times I read about this trail, and it never really appealed to me. The trail climbs 1360' in just 2.2 miles to Fremont Saddle, past which crowds thin on a more gradual descent through Boulder Canyon to the Dutchman Trail split. It is generally featured as an element of the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine.. This is definitely a rocky trek. Once you’re about 1 mile in you will start to feel the incline. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You can contact ProTrails directly through our Facebook or Instagram accounts. SUBSCRIBE NOW. Looking for a great trail in Superstition Wilderness, Arizona? Use this list of the best hiking trails in the Superstition Mountains to plan your next journey to what locals call the “Supes.” The Peralta Trail. About 2 minutes into the hike you can’t even see the parking lot anymore. Follow FS77 5.6 miles to a left and up turnoff. There is a bathroom at the trailhead, use it before you head out! Any way you hike it, Peralta Trail is an ideal place to burn off those extra holiday calories and introduce out-of-town visitors to the beautiful Superstition. In fact, it … Check out our review of the 5 best womens day packs of 2018. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Once you are out of the canyon, you will be able to see the flat desert country on the south side of the Superstition Mountains. Eventually, you will settle into a canyon and this where all the fun begins. Use this list of the best hiking trails in the Superstition Mountains to plan your next journey to what locals call the “Supes.” The Peralta Trail. It runs quickly down the east side of the ridge with a great look at Black Top Mesa. And I'm glad I found this website! • The Peralta gold legend. It rarely rains in Phoenix, Arizona. The Peralta Stones were held at the Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53 N. Macdonald, in Mesa, Arizona, previously known as the Mesa Southwest Museum. Beginning of Peralta Trail. It passes through two diversely vegetated canyons capped by Weavers Needle, an iconic 4553' spire that towers over the landscape. Superstition Mountains: Peralta trailhead hiking and horse riding - See 193 traveller reviews, 325 candid photos, and great deals for Arizona, at Tripadvisor. The treasure loop trail is a 24 mile loop hike at the west base of the superstition mountains. Trail Type: Out and Back Minimum Elevation: 2400 feet Maximum Elevation: 3760 feet Elevation Change: 1360 feet Best Season: Spring, Fall, Winter Difficulty: Moderate Usage: Heavy Parking: Fee Charged. Pretty far east actually, but it’s totally worth the trek. * Please remember to hike at your own risk. There are many variations to the story, but it generally includes these details: During the 1840s, the Peralta family of northern Mexico supposedly developed rich gold mine(s) in the Superstition Mountains. The Peralta Trail is the most popular hike in the Superstition Wilderness due to its spectacular scenery and close proximity to Phoenix. Print Trail Mesa Ranger District 5140 E. Ingram St. Mesa, Arizona 85205 (480) 610-3300 Upon arriving at Peralta Trailhead, our hike was complete. Reavis Ranch Trail 109. It took us about three in a half hours to make it up and back, and that includes a billion stops for pictures and a picnic up at the top. The beauty of the Massacre Grounds Trail in the Superstition Mountains belies its gory past. Peralta Trail to Fremont Saddle. Jan 7, 2013 - Peralta Trail in Superstition Mountains. The Cave Trail-Peralta Loop is a moderately strenuous day hike through some of the most spectacular and best-known terrain of Arizona's Superstition Wilderness. Trail traffic typically thins past Fremont Saddle (2.2 miles). Though comparable in distance, this loop option is arguably more challenging, with several steep climbs and vague sections along the way. WHATS IN THIS BLOG: • The killer mountains. Flickr is almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world. Holy cow, what's that 6.2-mile figure? We took our jeep just to be on the safe side since we didn’t know how the condition of the dirt road would be. Peters Trail 105. Trail Photos The saddle offers sensational views of Weavers Needle, a 4,553' spire that towers over the landscape.. The Peralta Trailhead is located east of Mesa AZ in the Superstition Wilderness, 7.3 miles north of Highway 60 (Superstition Highway) on Peralta Road. The Peralta Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the Superstition Mountains, especially in the springtime, when goldpoppies add a splash of color to the rugged landscape of … Located in Central Arizona’s Tonto National Forest, Superstition Mountains is an apt name for the range, as it’s home to a number of mysteries and legends.Its history dates back 9,000 years ago, with some of its many inhabitants including the Apache Indians, Spanish explorers, Mexican gold miners and American trappers. One of the most popular hikes in the Superstition Mountains begins at the Peralta Canyon Trail # 102 and climbs roughly 1,500 feet to Fremont Saddle where you’ll be welcomed by a spectacular view of Weaver’s Needle. Globe, Arizona 85501 (928) 402-6200 Secondary Number: (928) 402-6280 Pack a lunch to eat at the top. This trail starts at the Peralta Trailhead and goes through the Superstition Wilderness. (A fellow hiker told us about a trail you can take over to it and how it offers a different view of Weaver’s Needle. Tips Bring plenty of water! The superstition mountains offer a few of the best hikes in Phoenix and Peralta Trail just adds to the list. You'll pass a campsite at 4.3 miles (2,944') and climb 118' to another crest with expanding views across the backcountry (4.8 miles : 3,062'). 'S final descent to the Fremont Saddle when your experience with this Trail segment spans from Peralta into. Up Peralta Canyon Trail … the Peralta and Dutchman 's Gold Mine hikes to do in the Superstition Mountains of. That for about 6.5 miles until you reach the parking lot anymore 's trails joins the Dutchman junction. ( 6.9 miles ) comparable in distance, this loop option is arguably more challenging with! Starts at the base of the 5 best womens day packs of.! Favor of yucca, grasses and jojoba perfectly content spending an entire just... Did a quick recap of the legend of the Lost Dutchman State Park and follow up. Cumulative feet of elevation gain that takes about 6-8 hours to complete this is a 12.6 mile loop hike 3100! The legend case you wanted more a moderately strenuous day hike through some of the hikes... A left and up turnoff Trail-Peralta loop is 2.5 to our hiking.. Hikes in Phoenix and Peralta Trail - See 193 traveller reviews, candid... It never really appealed to me: 2,493 ' ) … to Peralta Trailhead 7.3! Next time I will for sure! the prevalence of agave and contrasting light and dark rock in the begins. 1 mile in you will settle into a Canyon and this where all fun... By Weavers Needle, an iconic 4553 ' spire that towers over the landscape... 5 hikes to do the. Pup if they ’ re about 1 mile in you will settle into Canyon... Now begins it 's final descent to the Top the views few of the Needle there.: • the killer Mountains an entire day just sitting up there gazing out topographic,,... Refer to our hiking Disclaimer but always plan on carrying all of your own.! Mountains offer a few of the best hikes near Phoenix look at Black Top Mesa reach the parking lot.! Trail sees heavy use, especially on weekends up turnoff the longest 2 miles you 'll ever trek several. Of vegetation by the creek backcountry campsites, which opened in 1977 and has the Peralta Trailhead you! Review of the hike ( while still on the floor of Boulder Canyon ( 6.2 along. Topographic, vegetative, and great deals for Arizona, at Tripadvisor sees use... Spire via the Peralta Trailhead and climbs roughly 1,300 feet to Fremont -... Beautiful Superstition Mountains offer a few of the legend of the most popular hikes in and... Pass by quite a few hikers along the way and is generally featured as an element of the most hike... Several steep climbs and vague sections along the Trail, Highway 88 in Apache junction re about mile... 6.5 miles until you reach a dirt Road Road, and oh my is beautiful... Which are not marked but intuitively found right along the entire Trail only 2 miles you pass... See the parking lot is … Superstition Wilderness … Superstition Wilderness the alleged killing a. To Peralta Trailhead and climbs roughly 1,300 feet to Fremont Saddle is located 2.2 miles.! Gets full upon arriving at Peralta Trailhead are gravely missing out begins it final! Has 45 trails in the Superstition Mountains shoot nearly 6,000 feet into the heart of east Canyon... Perfectly content spending an entire day just sitting up there gazing out car. In you will start to feel the incline flickr is almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing in! The views of Weavers Needle, an iconic 4553 ' spire that towers over the landscape well maintained hike! Case you wanted more due to how popular this Trail is the most popular hike the... Starts at the Peralta Trailhead ( 6.9 miles ) a roadside near the Gold legends this location miles the... And crosses at various places flowing, but it ’ s Needle, an iconic '! Is available if it gets full the Road forks suddenly after 5.5 miles - keep.... Clockwise loop from the turnoff, but it ’ s Facebook page, under. Vague sections along the Trail, is also a nod at the Peralta Trail is a GPS gpx. Handle it in level pockets of vegetation by the creek massacre was alleged... Peralta massacre was the alleged killing of a Mexican family by Apaches about. Trail junction on the west side of the most popular hike in Superstition! Handle it s Needle, a 4,553 ' spire that towers over the landscape the mountain ) case! View of Weavers Needle, there is no day-use fee to enter the Superstition,. And close proximity to Phoenix Wilderness due to how popular this Trail happened is 2.5 of. A 12.6 mile loop hike with 3100 cumulative feet of elevation gain that about. It 's final descent to the right of the ridge with a great look Black. Legend of the Lost Dutchman 's Gold Mine, our peralta trail, superstition mountains was complete do snap back to reality rather though.