Weekes Wash, AZ

1893
The Foothills of the Superstitions were crawling with Prospectors, and Goldfield was a booming Gold Mine settlement. Over four thousand people by some accounts, making Goldfield the largest city in Arizona.

The Goldfield area is home to the Mammoth Mine and the Black Queen mines. Over three million dollars worth of Gold was excavated from the Mammoth Mine, based on the price of Gold in 1893 ( $20.00 an ounce). The 2006 value of Gold $ 625.00 an ounce. Countless other mines dot the foothills, many just feet away from the roads. Get out there and take a stroll, bushwhacking in the cooler weather, while the critters are not present. You may be surprised by the hidden adventures that await. Beautiful rocky washes are abundant.

Think prospecting was a thing of the past? We found new claims in this area filed in the Spring of 2006. Weekes Wash is prominent on the Topo maps, and you will discover it is a major drainage for the Foothills of the Superstitions. Its origin is in the same area as the origin for First Water, the northern Superstition Mountains. While First Water drains to Canyon Lake, Weekes Wash takes a dramatic turn and eventually heads south toward Apache Junction. You can follow the wash, but I suggest to pick an area and do a grid search of that area. Many different day trips can be created along this drainage, enabling you to discover dozens of new and old minings claims, diggings, glory holes, and mines. Look at my submitted Route, follow it, or create your own. Spectacular views of the Superstitions, the plants of the Sonoran Desert, and beautiful sunsets await. Bring a camera.

Check out the Official Route and Triplogs.

Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.

2006-12-17 AZLOT69