Overnight (multi-night) car parking at Peralta Trailhead

[jbullock35]

I'm planning a two-night hike in the Superstitions. I'd like to leave my car at the Peralta Trailhead lot. But I see that parking there is officially limited to 1 day: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tonto/r ... ecid=35441. Can I park for three days (two nights) in one of the nearby lots that is on the way to the trailhead?

[ overnight parking in the Superstitions ] is a related post, but it's more than 15 years old, and I'm not sure of the current status of parking regulations at Peralta Trailhead.

[chumley]

@jbullock35 I know of no restrictions to leaving a vehicle at Peralta while on a multiday backpacking trip and wouldn't hesitate to do so myself. It's a common starting point for many overnight trips.

I suspect that the single-day use language on the website is in place to discourage squatting/urban camping, which has been a problem along Peralta Road in recent years.

I don't think the Mesa Ranger District offices are open due to staffing shortages, but you may want to call the main office in Phoenix for an official response.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/tonto ... /contactus

I've also had luck getting a reply by messaging them through their Facebook page before. https://www.facebook.com/TontoNationalForest

[xsproutx]

My car has been left at that trailhead for dozens of nights with no problem. I always read that "stay limit" as "no camping at the trailhead".

If you want a more official answer, I've found facebook to be the fastest usually.

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

Last year I had a similar question about similar signage further east, at the Picketpost TH. I called the overseeing Ranger Station who said that their intent was "No overnight camping." That parking overnight for backpacking was okay.

[SJFL]

@jbullock35
Same as everyone else.