Statistics  Difficulty: 2     Route Finding: 1   Distance Round Trip 3 miles  Trailhead Elevation 2100 feet  Elevation Gain 588 feet  Avg Time Round Trip 1.5 hours Author Unregistered  Descriptions: 713  Routes: 0  Photos: 0  Trips: 0   (0 Miles)  Age:     Gender: ?  Location: HAZ Member Photos  Photos         Date Member 5  02-06-2010  chikkutom 4  02-06-2010  azpride 25  01-31-2010  Hiker Girl 23  01-16-2010  Rick Vincent 16  03-24-2009  bigredchef 8  03-07-2009  snakemarks 25  03-07-2009  tibber 17  02-27-2009  SparkyJackie 3  01-06-2009  Mattrgrs12 5  01-06-2009  Sendo 4  01-03-2009  dcauchon 5  11-28-2008  azpride 6  10-26-2008  cpullins 7  10-03-2008  Sherrie Cutl 8  05-23-2008  rally_toad 5  04-27-2008  abcarmichael Page:  1,  2,  3,  4   Photosets Rated Viewed

Superstitions SW  Forest  Tonto  Wilderness  Superstition Backpack - Yes Seasons - Autumn to Spring GPS Routes  Default Route by jetescamilla 1.48 mi  2008-03-21 jamesb7 1.57 mi Linked Routes  Superstition Peak Loop via Hiero  2004-08-28 joe bartels Expand Map Street Terrain Topo View All Routes w/ Borders!  Map - Beartooth Superstition Wilderness Culture  Gila Petroglyph Styl    Gila Petroglyph Styl    Gila Petroglyph Styl   Fauna  Black-tailed Rattles    Bordered patch    Chuckwalla    Common Buckeye Butte    Gambel Quail    Harris Antelope Squi    Magnificent Hummingb  Rock Squirrel    Spring Azure    Tree Lizard   Flora  Anderson Thornbush    Brittlebush    Chain Fruit Cholla    Desert Globemallow    Ocotillo    Prickly Pear    Saguaro    Staghorn Cholla    Teddy Bear Cholla   Nearby Hikes Springs Direct Air Miles Away to Trailhead 0 •  Lost Goldmine Trail - LGTH to Cloudview 0.1 •  Superstition Mnts - SW / Hierogylphic Canyon 0 •  Superstition Peak Loop via Hiero 1 •  Lost Goldmine#60 - Cloudview to Jacobs#58 1.6 •  Hog Canyon [ View More! ]       [ View Springs! ]

Whenever I have out of town guest visiting they always ask to see the desert. As a life long Arizona resident I take these visitors on one of the first trails I ever hiked, the Hieroglyphics Trail in the Superstitions. This trail has changed over the many years in existence, and with the urban sprawl reaching to the base of the Superstitions it is some times difficult to find the old trailhead. There are some magnificent saguaros and picture perfect photos ops of the superstitions along the way.

After about 25 minutes you'll reach the official trail head of the Hieroglyphics Trail. The trail from this point climbs gradually through fields of saguaros, jumping cholla paloverde, creosote bush and other desert plants. As the trail rises to Hieroglyphics Canyon, the end of your destination, teddy bear chollas join the cacti present along the trail. There are wonderful views of Mesa and Apache Junction to the west and wilderness are to the east. It is at this point the trail levels out some and is great place to stop and take in the beauty of the desert. The trail continues and follows the drainage channel from the canyon and some spectacular views of the canyon and rock formations can be seen along the way. After some minor rocks to climb over you have reached the end of the trail and can view some remarkable Indian hieroglyphics. Beware though, some of the hieroglyphics have been recently etched by some modern day morons. After rains there will be pools of water in the rock areas. Every time I have been there water was present and it was polluted. On the return trip the views are just as great as the conversation about the hieroglyphics you've just seen. The total distance is about 1.8 miles from the official trail head. This is a great trail for winter visitors, visitors from back east, or anyone looking for a easy fun trail to hike in the beauty of the Superstition Mountains.