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I wasn't as fast as average by bensondk This track shows a one way route up to peak 5057 paste the Hieroglyphics. The route shows following the creek bottom for the first part past the hieroglyphics, but a person might find easier going by staying higher on the right on a fairly well travelled path. Often there is more than one trail, but the tendency seems to be to stay out of the creek bottom, where brush makes travel more difficult. Small pools of water may be found in various points along the creek bottom. An abundance of cairns mark key points along the trail. We found that hiking was often in the shade until reaching the ridge. The hike has magnificent views all along the route, and when reaching the first ridge at the saddle at the top, a person might be tempted to stop here. By continuing on to the peak at 5057, the views do become even more magnificent. This is one of the rare opportunities to hike to a location where you can look down on Weaver's Needle. During the course of the hike, you will encounter spots where you wonder if you can climb the barrier in the way, but if you look close at the hand holds, and the places for sound footing, all obstacles are relatively easily negotiated. Rather than being technically difficult, the hike is more a matter of conditioning. For the last mile before making the Ridgeline trail, the grade is 28% so there is lots of uphill to test your legs. Check out the Official Route and Triplogs. Note This is a moderately difficult hike. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
One-Way Notice This hike is listed as One-Way. When hiking several trails on a single "hike", log it with a generic name that describes the hike. Then link the trails traveled, check out the example. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent of 13 deeper Triplog Reviews
Superstition Peak 5057 via Hiero
I thought that this was an awesome hike -- the views going up Hieroglyphic Canyon were great, and ditto for the views on the Ridgeline and at the top of Peak 5057. This hike was more strenuous than I thought it would be, largely due to the route finding and scrambling from the petroglyphs up to the ridgeline. I had hiked the ridgeline before, but I did not remember all of the rock climbing on the section of the ridgeline between the Hiero trail junction and Peak 5057. My garmin GPS measured the roundtrip hike as being 8.6 miles with 3,400 feet of elevation gain. I have uploaded a GPS track that shows a one-way hike up to the Peak.
Note that I did this as an out-and-back from the Hiero TH.
I will definitely do this one again!
Note that I did this as an out-and-back from the Hiero TH.
I will definitely do this one again!
2018-01-16 DixieFlyer
Superstition Peak 5057 via Hiero
Year 7 for the D & B NYE hike.
Denny set the venue and arranged for the cast of hikers including J Squared, Long Play, Dr Supes, and one.
Off we headed into the fog. We passed one group on the way to 5057 before the pools, and that was it. Fog turned to rain on the Ridgeline, and the wind picked up. When we got close to the top of 5057, JJ was having nothing of the loop option I thrown out. He looked like an orange Popsicle
JJ/LP/1 made a hasty retreat back down, while Dennis, Walter and myself took our time retreating to alow the fog to disperse somewhat, getting some sweet views.
Short Video
youtube.com/watch?v ... A6Jw
When we hit the pools and glyphs, the masses appeared.
Great hike with a swank Group.
Happy New Year all
Denny set the venue and arranged for the cast of hikers including J Squared, Long Play, Dr Supes, and one.
Off we headed into the fog. We passed one group on the way to 5057 before the pools, and that was it. Fog turned to rain on the Ridgeline, and the wind picked up. When we got close to the top of 5057, JJ was having nothing of the loop option I thrown out. He looked like an orange Popsicle
JJ/LP/1 made a hasty retreat back down, while Dennis, Walter and myself took our time retreating to alow the fog to disperse somewhat, getting some sweet views.
Short Video
youtube.com/watch?v ... A6Jw
When we hit the pools and glyphs, the masses appeared.
Great hike with a swank Group.
Happy New Year all
2016-12-31 The_Eagle
Superstition Peak 5057 via Hiero
Joined the Turtle and Eagle on their annual New Year's hike. Lots of fog. Footing less than optimal. Once we reached the ridgeline the wind and rain kicked in. I didn't even pause on the summit. Touched the bench mark and began the descent.
Once we got below the ridgeline conditions improved. The rain stopped and the fog lifted a bit. Cruised on back to the trailhead. Lots of folks by the glyphs and on the lower trail.
Great hike. Great group. Thanks all. Happy New Year HAZ!
Once we got below the ridgeline conditions improved. The rain stopped and the fog lifted a bit. Cruised on back to the trailhead. Lots of folks by the glyphs and on the lower trail.
Great hike. Great group. Thanks all. Happy New Year HAZ!
2016-12-31 johnlp
Superstition Peak 5057 via Hiero
A great hike to finish up 2016. The temps started out alright but the view was about 50 feet. The rain waited until we were near the summit and that made it cold. Bruce tried to convince us that it would blow over from satellite images on his phone. He was right and the rain stopped a while later making the hike down enjoyable. We stopped at the agave roasting pit on the way down to poke around and take pictures. The trail below the petroglyphs was busy and the parking lot was filling up when we left. Happy 2017!
2016-12-31 wallyfrack
Superstition Peak 5057 via Hiero
3rd time was a charm : )) Didn't take a pooch - weather was right for a Superstition Peak delight. My GPS shows just over 11 miles round trip from the Hiero trailhead -- 3.9 miles one way (as listed on the site) appears to start after you finish Hiero trail.
So glad that we did this trail (or climb) today. Perfect. Cheers to all for a Happy New Year!!
PS: Ran into some fellow Hike AZ people coming from Carney TH.
Oh - must mention - the waterfalls were to die for pretty!
So glad that we did this trail (or climb) today. Perfect. Cheers to all for a Happy New Year!!
PS: Ran into some fellow Hike AZ people coming from Carney TH.
Oh - must mention - the waterfalls were to die for pretty!
2016-12-28 SibeMtnMomma
Superstition Peak 5057 via Hiero
Micro burrs, foxtails, and a gazillion gnats. This hike easily overcomes all those. Haven't been up to 5057 in a couple years, so it was nice to visit again. Saw a beautiful fox on the way up. Denny got buzzed by a swift on the summit. Would have taken the hair right off his head... 
Going down Hiero is now a well defined trail. More just a route the first time I did it. We finally got a breeze the last mile or so to keep the gnats at bay. Not many gnats over 3500 ft thank goodness.
Good times, great company.
Going down Hiero is now a well defined trail. More just a route the first time I did it. We finally got a breeze the last mile or so to keep the gnats at bay. Not many gnats over 3500 ft thank goodness.
Good times, great company.
2015-05-03 johnlp
Superstition Peak 5057 via Hiero
denny has wanted to hike 5057 again, and i have too
john wanted to do the off trail route via balancing rock, so we all agreed that the loop would be fun
left hieroglyphic trail to head up toward the balancing rock and passed right by the base of it
not sure how that stays balanced
went on above the canyon from there, following a route karl and kathy did with ---- and liz
a couple fun places to scramble, some cactus to avoid but not bad terrain at all
other than the foxtails and bushes with little round sand burr-like stickers
great views to the south
hit 5057 from the west side, with the final bit on the official trail
not much of a breeze and it was a little hazy
didn't stay long on the summit, as we wanted to snack at the saddle above hieroglyphic canyon
headed down the ridgeline
always good to see the views of the superstitions from there
followed the trail down hieroglyphic canyon
this trail is quite well-defined now, with plenty of cairns
a half mile of scree at the top, but then pretty good footing
as we dropped, there were more and more gnats
eventually a really annoying amount of gnats the last couple miles
we couldn't even stay and chat at the trailhead
great hiking a peak with denny and john again
good choice, guys
john wanted to do the off trail route via balancing rock, so we all agreed that the loop would be fun
left hieroglyphic trail to head up toward the balancing rock and passed right by the base of it
not sure how that stays balanced
went on above the canyon from there, following a route karl and kathy did with ---- and liz
a couple fun places to scramble, some cactus to avoid but not bad terrain at all
other than the foxtails and bushes with little round sand burr-like stickers
great views to the south
hit 5057 from the west side, with the final bit on the official trail
not much of a breeze and it was a little hazy
didn't stay long on the summit, as we wanted to snack at the saddle above hieroglyphic canyon
headed down the ridgeline
always good to see the views of the superstitions from there
followed the trail down hieroglyphic canyon
this trail is quite well-defined now, with plenty of cairns
a half mile of scree at the top, but then pretty good footing
as we dropped, there were more and more gnats
eventually a really annoying amount of gnats the last couple miles
we couldn't even stay and chat at the trailhead
great hiking a peak with denny and john again
good choice, guys
2015-05-03 trekkin_gecko
Superstition Peak 5057 via Hiero
had two choices for today, this loop and bluff springs mountain summit
loaded a bunch of tracks for both and decided to do this one on the drive
first time on hierglyphics trail
the rock with water flowing part looks worthy of further exploration, but today i found the trail next to the canyon and just kept moving
didn't see the hieroglyphics or the balanced rock so a return trip is in order
the trail above the canyon is well-cairned, perhaps overly so
a nice helping of AEG with a bit of bushwhacking through overgrowth and some scrambling
there is a point where two canyons come together, and the trail first goes to the right, then up the section between, then finishes the climb on the left
at the top, i ran into three backpackers doing the ridgeline
took a right on ridgeline heading for 5057
you're not done ascending yet
great views on both sides of the ridgeline where the canyon meets the trail
found the turnoff for 5057 and met two guys on the way down from the summit - think one of them was haz hikerguy, doing ridgline
those would be the only people i saw until back at the trailhead
spent a few minutes on 5057 admiring the views, taking pictures and signing the register (hikerguy was the only other signature today)
this is the third time i've been on 5057 and i've seen the spur trail leading to three sisters before
seemed like a good day to go that way
not really a trail up higher, but not difficult to walk on rock or avoid the cactus
i went out on two of them, and will have to look more closely at my track to see where i was
one has a killer dropoff
good views, and just cool to be up there
made my way back down to boulder saddle, then down carney
an unbelievable amount of globemallow on the trail, which contrasted nicely with brittlebush, and made the descent tolerable
took lost goldmine trail back to the trailhead
this got a little tedious, and i wouldn't do this exact hike again
thought about doing devils mountain's loop, but with three sisters tossed in, didn't really want to go back the same way
unfinished business in this area, as i considered turks head and the wave cave too late
hiero deserves a little more attention, too
nice day, as some high clouds and a good breeze kept it cool enough
i think i like scrambling
Wildflowers
going with moderate as an average, but areas of abundant brittlebush
predominately brittlebush, globemallow and hedgehog flowers
substantial globemallow on carney
light amounts of lupine and other things i don't know the names of
loaded a bunch of tracks for both and decided to do this one on the drive
first time on hierglyphics trail
the rock with water flowing part looks worthy of further exploration, but today i found the trail next to the canyon and just kept moving
didn't see the hieroglyphics or the balanced rock so a return trip is in order
the trail above the canyon is well-cairned, perhaps overly so
a nice helping of AEG with a bit of bushwhacking through overgrowth and some scrambling
there is a point where two canyons come together, and the trail first goes to the right, then up the section between, then finishes the climb on the left
at the top, i ran into three backpackers doing the ridgeline
took a right on ridgeline heading for 5057
you're not done ascending yet
great views on both sides of the ridgeline where the canyon meets the trail
found the turnoff for 5057 and met two guys on the way down from the summit - think one of them was haz hikerguy, doing ridgline
those would be the only people i saw until back at the trailhead
spent a few minutes on 5057 admiring the views, taking pictures and signing the register (hikerguy was the only other signature today)
this is the third time i've been on 5057 and i've seen the spur trail leading to three sisters before
seemed like a good day to go that way
not really a trail up higher, but not difficult to walk on rock or avoid the cactus
i went out on two of them, and will have to look more closely at my track to see where i was
one has a killer dropoff
good views, and just cool to be up there
made my way back down to boulder saddle, then down carney
an unbelievable amount of globemallow on the trail, which contrasted nicely with brittlebush, and made the descent tolerable
took lost goldmine trail back to the trailhead
this got a little tedious, and i wouldn't do this exact hike again
thought about doing devils mountain's loop, but with three sisters tossed in, didn't really want to go back the same way
unfinished business in this area, as i considered turks head and the wave cave too late
hiero deserves a little more attention, too
nice day, as some high clouds and a good breeze kept it cool enough
i think i like scrambling
Wildflowers
going with moderate as an average, but areas of abundant brittlebush
predominately brittlebush, globemallow and hedgehog flowers
substantial globemallow on carney
light amounts of lupine and other things i don't know the names of
2013-04-01 trekkin_gecko
Superstition Peak 5057 via Hiero
I had been wanting to do 5057 via the balancing rock since the last time I went up Hieroglyphic, so instead of Hog Canyon we tried this one today. It turned out to be a great hike! Not too long, solid AEG, fun scrambling and a little, easy off-trail stuff with great views all day long!
We left the trail before reaching the petroglyphs where a ridge comes down to meet the trail. We headed straight up towards the balancing rock and worked our way around some cliffs and were soon above the rock.
From there we found a well-marked trail that led us up through the hoodoos. Once above the hoodoos the trail was smooth until the approach to the 10 foot climb. It's a fun challenge much like the one near the top of Flatiron. And like that one, you're pretty much there once above it. Up to the summit for some lunch in the sun!
We went back down to the ridgeline trail and over to the Hiero saddle. Once we were down to the wash we stayed in it (except one spot where we split and I went down the trail) and rock-hopped back to the pools. I thought we'd find the spring along the way, but no luck.
Once at the pools we cruised back to the car, happy to have enjoyed another great day in the Supes!
We left the trail before reaching the petroglyphs where a ridge comes down to meet the trail. We headed straight up towards the balancing rock and worked our way around some cliffs and were soon above the rock.
From there we found a well-marked trail that led us up through the hoodoos. Once above the hoodoos the trail was smooth until the approach to the 10 foot climb. It's a fun challenge much like the one near the top of Flatiron. And like that one, you're pretty much there once above it. Up to the summit for some lunch in the sun!
We went back down to the ridgeline trail and over to the Hiero saddle. Once we were down to the wash we stayed in it (except one spot where we split and I went down the trail) and rock-hopped back to the pools. I thought we'd find the spring along the way, but no luck.
Once at the pools we cruised back to the car, happy to have enjoyed another great day in the Supes!
2013-02-15 vanman
Superstition Peak 5057 via Hiero
Lizard: "I DO have the number to the Superstition Search and Rescue in my phone."
Hippy: "Hmmm, that may come in handy later.
Lizard: "But I left my phone in the Suby."
Silence...exchanged look....explosive laughter...up the side of the mountain off-trail.
"Lizard! There's an arrow!"
"You're joking right?"
"There's another arrow..."
"Where the heck did that trail come from??!"
10 minutes later
"Let's climb up that"
"Kay!"
...
"We've climbed a good...8 feet."
...
"It's snowing"
And it stands, we shouldn't be allowed to hike together.
We learned a nice lesson, when you WANT to travel off trail, be sure to know where the trails actually ARE so they can be well avoided.
Hippy: "Hmmm, that may come in handy later.
Lizard: "But I left my phone in the Suby."
Silence...exchanged look....explosive laughter...up the side of the mountain off-trail.
"Lizard! There's an arrow!"
"You're joking right?"
"There's another arrow..."
"Where the heck did that trail come from??!"
10 minutes later
"Let's climb up that"
"Kay!"
...
"We've climbed a good...8 feet."
...
"It's snowing"
And it stands, we shouldn't be allowed to hike together.
We learned a nice lesson, when you WANT to travel off trail, be sure to know where the trails actually ARE so they can be well avoided.
2013-02-09 Hippy
