HikeArizona.COM

Hello all,

I'm looking for a 3-4 day trip in the Superstitions for the second weekend in March. I'm hoping to see some great wildflowers - anyone have any reports? I've actually done quite a bit of hiking in the Sups (and love them!), but this is the first time I'm the trip planner. So here's what I'm looking for:

2WD access - I can do a shuttle if the shuttle isn't too long. I've also done some slogs along 4WD roads to walk to/from my car, which is ok if necessary.
Wildflowers!
First day is 8 miles or less
Second to fourth days can be a bit more - say 12 miles or less. I don't NEED longer days, as I'm lazy, but I can do them if the route is great.

Thanks!
Rebecca

Drive your 4x2 to the Tortilla trail head lot, will get you a 3 mile (but pleasant) road walk then you jump on the Peter's Trail and hike across the same named mesa to Charlebois Spring. Camp.
Day 2 you hike Dutchman trail up La Barge canyon and merge onto the Red Tanks Trail. Camp at Dripping Springs.
Day 3, take Fraser Canyon to the ROger's Canyon trail and hike it to Angel Basin. Camp.
Day 4 backtrack a little bit on the Rogers Canyon trail to the JF trail at Tortilla Pass and walk the JF trail back to your car. EPIC.

Hmm, I like the concept of this route. However, a friend of mine will be accompanying me for the first day and then will hike back out the following morning while I continue on. While pleasant enough, that 3 mile road hike certainly isn't the best the Sups has to offer, and I wouldn't want her to have to do it twice in two days.
Thoughts?

You could do it backwards ;-)
FS213 is among the best roads for hiking, especially on the last stretch when you want it easy.

If you have a favorite area of the Superstitions that would certainly help.

joe bartels wrote:
FS213 is among the best roads for hiking.

I would have to agree with Joe. This a very scenic road. You could certainly do a lot worse. The scenery is better on the way back to the parking area anyway. You'd be doing your friend a favor.

Hoffmaster wrote:

joe bartels wrote: I would have to agree with Joe. This a very scenic road. You could certainly do a lot worse. The scenery is better on the way back to the parking area anyway. You'd be doing your friend a favor.

and.. she will be hiking one way in early morning and the other direction in the afternoon. It'll seem like an entirely different road!

te-wa wrote: and.. she will be hiking one way in early morning and the other direction in the afternoon. It'll seem like an entirely different road!

Yeah. In my own cryptic way, that is what I was getting at.

Guess if I'd read the thing with full attention I'd have realized it ends where it starts

I skim read and assumed it ended at Peralta.
On the Bright side you could make a 4 day trek starting on Dutchman or Bluff Spring. Your friend could then take the other back and make a loop while you move on to Angel Basin etc.

I hereby promise to read two out of three words from here on out ;-)

renshiwo wrote:Hmm, I like the concept of this route. However, a friend of mine will be accompanying me for the first day and then will hike back out the following morning while I continue on. While pleasant enough, that 3 mile road hike certainly isn't the best the Sups has to offer, and I wouldn't want her to have to do it twice in two days.
Thoughts?

It is very easy for hikers unfamiliar with this road to miss the right turn at the only junction on this road as they hike back out. The left turn will take a person west and parallel to Apache Trail but eventually will end. If you should take this turn do not try to cross country back unless you are spider man!!!

Beware :-({|=

We've both hiked this road multiple times before, so I don't think getting lost will be an issue.

Some of my favorite places in the Superstitions....
Terrapin Pass
Red Tanks (I like the fun side canyons with springs and turtles)
Can't remember the name of this one, but we hiked a nice narrow canyon somewhere in the vicinity of Reavis Falls
Of course, Reavis Falls is cool
Angel Basin

I don't know. I really like the Superstitions! I'm definitely looking for a lower elevation hike out of the pines, both because I live in Flag and see enough pines every day and because I'm ready to be toasty warm for a few days.

So when are your plans - i'm kind of thinking the same thing myself ---- i'm thinking this weekend sat/sun

We'll be meeting on Sunday morning and hiking through Tuesday or Wednesday.

If you're looking for a weekend hike you could check out the hiking partners forum - there's a post up about a 20 mile 2-day trip for the 8th and 9th in the Superstitions that covers some of the same ground as suggested in the posts above.

renshiwo wrote: If you're looking for a weekend hike you could check out the hiking partners forum - there's a post up about a 20 mile 2-day trip for the 8th and 9th in the Superstitions that covers some of the same ground as suggested in the posts above.

Yeah, that's my trip! It'll be fun!!

renshiwo wrote:We've both hiked this road multiple times before, so I don't think getting lost will be an issue.

This is usually when I get into real trouble.