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I read about this in the Hiker's Guide to the Superstition Wilderness and want to go find it. From Tortilla Flat this is listed as about 5 miles RT, so the heat shouldn't be too much of a limiting factor. It's along the creek bed and some moderate boulder hopping and bushwhacking, according to what I read and what Wally told me. The advantage to the heat might be that there shouldn't be much water, if any, in the creek so there won't be an issue of wet feet. Anyone feeling adventurous enough to brave the heat in the Supes?

No, you won't need a pass to park at this place. It's not a normal "trailhead". Don't park in the Tortilla Flats parking lot though. Just past it, as you start up the hill on the right side, there is a small road that goes down into the creek. You'll want to drive down that road a short bit and park there. You can drop into the creek right there, climb over the little hill, and you're in.

Tread lightly out there guys! The last time I was out there I almost got bit by a rattler. I slipped down one of the larger boulders in the canyon and pulled the tube from my reservoir and lost all my water so I was in a hurry to get back to the car (first and second mistake). When I was coming up over the shortcut out of the canyon I was moving fast and nearly stepped on an adolescent snake. He struck, I jumped, we both retreated quickly. I moved a little more carefully the rest of the short distance out of there.

matt gilbert wrote:Tread lightly out there guys! The last time I was out there I almost got bit by a rattler. I slipped down one of the larger boulders in the canyon and pulled the tube from my reservoir and ...

At first I thought these events were connected. The next words were going to be "it started buzzing" instead of "lost all my water".

There's still time to sign up for the desert endurance hike.

Hoffmaster wrote:

rally_toad wrote:Are any of the trailheads in the Supes day use only?

I don't know of any that are "day use only", but you must make sure you buy a Tonto Pass for the appropriate amount of days that you will be gone. Otherwise, you will be ticketed (I know from experience ).
Stiller, I think you are crazy. It's too hot. Besides, there is not water flowing down Peter's Canyon in the winter, let alone the summer. Good luck.

From: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreatio ... ites.shtml

"Superstition Wilderness Trailheads:"

"Peralta and First Water Trailheads-fee no longer required" There was/is no fee required @ Tortilla, Reavis, Canyon Lake or any of the T/H's in the eastern portion of the Sups.

Excerpted from:http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/tp/pass-options.shtml
"......The Tonto National Forest does not charge entry fees......."

I guess the only question now is: how prohibited is parking at the Tortilla Flat lot? do they really pay attention and enforce the parking by towing cars? I noticed that the hike can be shortened by 0.4 miles each way if you park up the road a bit and bushwhack down to the creek. that would only make this 4.2 miles. Come on, who can't hike 4.2 miles, 117 or no 117? How many of us brag about living in the heat in Phx to friends and relatives who live in those moderate climates? If you brag, you gotta back it up. Let's see some more "Committed"s.

Stiller wrote:I guess the only question now is: how prohibited is parking at the Tortilla Flat lot? do they really pay attention and enforce the parking by towing cars?

Contrasting the usual number of empty spots there with the fairly heavy recreational use nearby, I wouldn't chance it.

No, you can't park at Tortilla Flats. They will tow your vehicle.
If you park where I said to park, you won't have any problems and getting to the trail is really easy.
I went out and did a little hiking yesterday in open country and by 9:30 AM is was way too hot to be doing anything strenuous. I'm personally not going to join you on this hike, sorry. I do wish you the best and please be careful.

djui5 wrote:No, you can't park at Tortilla Flats. They will tow your vehicle.

Wow!

I honestly don't know for sure, but it sure does seem disrespectful.
Speaking of which...

Tyler Williams in his $19.95 book Canyoneering Arizona directs you to

Take highway 88 (the Apache Trail) east from Apache Junction to the town of Tortilla Flat. Park here or at one of the several wide spots just beyond Tortilla Flat.

That's about 180 pages after the ethics section.

joe bartels wrote:

djui5 wrote:No, you can't park at Tortilla Flats. They will tow your vehicle.

Wow!
I honestly don't know for sure, but it sure does seem disrespectful.

I have parked at Tortilla Flat for day hikes. I've been out past dark and come back to my car well past the time that the town shuts down. No problems. I parked at the end of the lot where my car would have minimal impact on the businesses there.

Well that's interesting! Maybe you can, but personally I wouldn't. I've never had a car towed from there, but was told by someone they'd tow it if you parked in their parking lot. Who knows.

There is another option: Continue driving on 88 past the dip and up around the right curve till you pick up the original Apache Trail turn off near the highline tower. Drive up the old road, park and hike over the pass to the south and west. This will bring you just upstream of where Tortilla and Peters meet. It's very unlikely anyone will even know your there and especially this time of year.

It's bushwacking of course but it gets you off the beaten path and you might even find something interesting besides everyone elses foot prints. I have gone over it a number of times just to avoid having to park at Tortilla or where someone may break into my vehicle. But beware as it's my kind of bushwacking and some of you may not like it.

SuperstitionGuy wrote:But beware as it's my kind of bushwacking and some of you may not like it.

Bushwacking up Tortilla Creek past Peter's Canyon nearly brought me to tears a few years ago. When I finally was able to exit the creekbed, I was shredded. One of the best hikes I've ever done.
I don't think anybody "like"s bushwacking in the Supes.

OK, I start drinking tonight. Water of course, the beer drinking doesn't start until after the hike.

Hey, you mind if a new guy joins you? Just joined this club. I was suppposed to be backpacking through aravaipa canyon this weekend but the threat of monsoons scared off my hiking partner. I would love to get some sort of hike in.

Grant

It may only get up to 108 tomorrow. I might have to wear a long sleeves.

Grant, If you want in show up in the AM. I hope you like the heat.

....cake! Good job out there today guys. I had a ton of fun. Can't wait to go again.

Ya gotta love those boulders! I only saw one vulture overhead so we must have done alright.

The news said it got up to 112 today. It must have been about that when we finished. Thank God for the breezes we got to cool us off once in a while. I'm still sipping Kool-Aid.

Did you stop for ice cream in Tortilla Flat? I can't drive past it anymore without getting a cone.