Flat Iron is one of the "must do" hikes to establish your "clout" in the hiking community. This is an Arizona off-road trail into Box Canyon near the Gila River just past Florence with the new Ford Raptor. There are no designated campsites. The dam was renamed and dedicated to President Roosevelt during the ceremony. I used to live in the foothills of the Superstitions. Superstition Mountain is located in Imperial County, north of the Plaster City OHV Open Area. Went clockwise, up the left trail and down the right. Although the entire area is open to OHV riding 365 days per year, the below table shows the official trails used during the annual Superstition Mountain Event held in January. Much better than the Sedona jeep ride we went on last year. Frog Tanks Trail 112. The cairns were helpful along this route. Rocky with no tracks on it at all. Cross-country OHV use is permitted within the boundaries of this area. The cave looks like it should have cliff dwellings. The especially spectacular views are all once you get to battleship mountain after 5 miles give or take of most rough rocky terrain. The minimum age is 2 and we offer a reduced child fare for ages 2-15. Suspension lift and 1 hard locker strongly suggested. I've hiked nearly 1000 miles in my lifetime and this mountain in the desert was BRUTAL. The return part of the loop was just a beautiful hike. https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/california/superstition-mountain. Went CW. Take a stroll along the Native Plant Trail or hike . Saw only 2 people (and 3 dogs). How to Get There From San Diego Area: Of all the Superstition Mountains hiking trails, Flat Iron can be the most demanding in the shortest distance, but also the most rewarding. The woman responsible for that should be commended. Due to the high temperatures we experience, this tour is available only October through May. When you find the trail it really isnt bad at all! Without a doubt, one of the highlights of the drive are the mountain switchbacks as you descend down the backside of Montana Mountain. 274K subscribers in the arizona community. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. The last quarter mile has a lot of technical rock climbing to the top. Youll need to exercise some caution when traveling on the trail and be on the lookout for vehicles driving the opposite direction, especially on blind turns and on the narrow mountain switchbacks which are wide enough for only one vehicle. The two hour Dutchman Tour travels through the Tonto National Forest into the picturesque Sonoran desert. After crossing below the dam we will make our way to Towstrap Hill. Self guided, just the cost of your gas.. take some snacks and lots of water. Narrow crossings along the ridge This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Since 1993 Apache Trail Tours has been offering guided Jeep tours in the Superstition Mountain foothills and along the famous Apache Trail Highway. Several water crossings but able to rock hop and keep feet dry A great place to go on a motorcycle ride. There were some thorny bushes that got us a few times (long pants are a must! Either make it up the damn dam or go around the edge. Okay, maybe July is not the smartest months to hike into the Supes anyway, and I did start out at 7 a.m. from the trailhead, but there was not another soul in sight, till I got back to fremont Saddle where I met two ladies. Down was too hard, hard to find, scary at times. But the legendary Superstition Mountains, Apache Trail and Four Peaks Wilderness have captured and held Flapjacks full attention. Had to turn around rather than climb up the lichen covered Stone Mountain. You are now going west. There are two dips in the road a mile or so apart. Powered by WordPress. A fantastic hike. Please visit the website dedicated to this effort and read more details and history about the Apache Trail. But be prepared for lots of rocky terrainmake sure your ankles and knees can handle the challenge. When the water level is lower, there is a trail on the left side of this pic that leads down to the spring Reply . But for most hikers, count on six hours total. The view from the road or parking lot do not do it Justice! The trail had fairly steady foot traffic, but there was plenty of parking (on the Sunday in January that we visited). Stayed for the night, got down to about 30 degrees. Bring 3 liters of water if planning to do longer hikes like Siphon Draw to Flat Top Iron. Definitely needs to be done CCW. Sooooo much water!!!! After getting rid of your unlucky bad penny, you will come out on the top of the MINE TRAIL. Thanks for the fabulous jeep tour. Easy Jeep trails that take you to an abandoned gypsum mine and also quite close to the Superstition Mountains. You may bring your own alcohol on the 44 desert adventures, but NO glass. There are many tales of this supposed hidden gold mine in the Superstition Mountains that have captivated people for hundreds of years. Amazing hike and definitely one ypu should have your list. The four peaks can also be seen from here in the distance as well which provides an additional backdrop for photos especially when theyre covered in snow. Suspension lift and 1 hard locker suggested. Beautiful hike after a winter storm. At the end of the day you will feel a sense of accomplishment not often experienced on lesser trails. We cover all types of truck campers here at Truck Camper Adventure. The scenery is spectacular. The cave trail is really the only part where I had these problems, and if I was rating just the other parts of the hike or just the views it would be an easy 5/5. February 18, 2013. Allow 5 to 6 hours for the round trip. Trail Finder maps of large regions do not include the lowest zoom levels. From the park, there's easy access to the Siphon Draw Trail that leads to the Flatiron through the nearby Superstition Mountains, making it a popular starting point for visitors. The rock formations in the Superstition Mountains are very unique with changing colors. There is a "marble mine" that produced calcium carbonate for a processing plant in Superior. Went through it all. Originally designated as a federally protected wilderness in 1939, the area covers more than 160,000 acres. Started out our day with a paddle on Saguaro Lake, took a break in the middle of the day for lunch and then set out for a "scenic drive" to Tortilla Flats and the Apache Trail (Route 88) in Tonto National Forest. If youre interested in tackling this route, you have a some options when it comes to logistics. I use Alltrails.com for trail info. This isn't much of a trail. There are many trails that crisscross through the terrain, some shorter some harder. I chose the Peralta Trail to start with, one of the most frequented in the 'Supes', total length about 6 miles one way. with stops to learn/test some basic skills. Explore Superstition Mountain Trails - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Located along the southern rim, Superstition Loop allows 4x4 users to enjoy the towering peaks while driving along an easy off-road trail . Backpacking the Superstitions: An overnight camping trip to the Superstition Wilderness Area on the Tonto National Forest. He has found his home here at Apache Trail Tours and is excited to have you along for the ride. Good luck for your body shop man. Follow Huff Road north about 6.3 miles. Limited use areas and military practice bombing targets are immediately adjacent to the open area. Hiking. . February 27, 2023 February 27, 2023 Randi 13 views. Become an onX Member for the best outdoor adventure apps with tools to get you there and back safely. Bring copious amounts of water, and if your cardio isnt the best consider taking a shorter route. Haunted Canyon Trail 203. Did it counter clockwise. Smokey is knowledgeable on the terrain and history of the area. It goes up to Garden Valley, a 2400 ft high plateau that is covered by bushes and Cholla Cacti. Don't bother with that hike. Incredibly scenic though, especially the reveal of Weavers Needle once you crest Fremont Saddle. Minimum 32 tires REQUIRED. Nine miles later youll take a right on FR 172A (a left here will take you to the Woodbury Trailhead) which youll follow for two miles where youll take another right on FR 650 up on Montana Mountain (a left here takes you to the Rogers Trough Trailhead). Hard to find the route. The minimum age is 2 and we offer a reduced child fare for ages 2-15. Great hike! Smokey is knowledgeable on the terrain and history of the area. Featuring desert plants with interpretive signs along the way, this trail acts as an introduction to the area. We recommend booking Superstition Mountains tours ahead of time to secure your spot. The wilderness extends eastwards from the Superstition range to other more remote mountains, and for all this region access is limited to two main roads; US 60 past the southern edge and the Apache Trail (AZ 88) to the north. Cottonwood Trail 120. . Trying to get a little more clarification on time/distance/difficulty/recommendationsgoing to be in Phoenix area, want a difficult day hike. A short day close to town. This is real and genuine wilderness - and they do have to go and rescue lost hikers out of there every year. Although damage can occur on any trail, with a little care you should have minimal trouble on this run. per adult (price varies by group size) Apache Trail and Dolly Steamboat Van Tour. No major breakagewe should be done about 12:30 pm. Treasure Loop Trail. Latitude: #_LOCATIONLONGIITUDE, Copyright 2020 San Diego 4 Wheelers | All Rights Reserved |, 60th Annual Tierra Del Sol's Desert Safari, SD4W Out of State run to San Juan Mountains/ CO, Any 4x4 vehicle with no other modifications. The day I went, there were several people ahead of and behind me . Please clean up your cartridges and target material. Expect vehicle damage. Last 1-2 miles are a bit technical. We have been fortunate enough to go on one of the rare occasions last year when it snowed out there and it was packed with people. Superstition Mountain. Your desert tour was fantastic! Then proceeding to Wrangler Canyon, which is a potential fender scrubber, to our lunch spot (little or no shade). This tour may not be for you, due to the snaking road and altitude. Suspension lift and at least 1 hard locker REQUIRED, 2 hard lockers suggested. Well.WE DO! Make sure it is dry when you go. Second Water is a popular hiking trail in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, Arizona. Go east on Interstate 8 about 100 miles, almost to El Centro.Take the Dunaway Rd exit, go north (left) to S-80/Evan Hughes Hwy. When you reach the fence there's an area to go through. After that there is a long rocky uphill follow by a very steep and loose downhill. If you go early morning before the heat sets in great for a hike or motorcycle ride! Started out counter clockwise. It's easy to get lost. Activities Get access to thousands of off-road dirt trails and snowmobile trails across the nation. We will then drop into the Mine Trail. Our 4X4 off road desert loop tours are anything but boring and not for those that want a smooth ride. Overall a challenging hike. This run is not for the faint of hearts. A committee of local government officials, business owners, and concerned others has been formed and we are working diligently to get the Apache Trail repaired and reopened. Please observe all posted signs and do not enter the bombing . 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