Superstition Mountains: 2-night, 3-day suggestions

[AveryFisher]

Hi,

I am not new to hiking in Arizona or to backpacking in general but have never done more than a day hike in the Supes. I have been backpacking in New England (I'm from Maine...trails are quite different out here!) but am looking to do a two-night, three day trip in the Supes with my family during the third week of March 2011. We are looking to hike about 10 miles per day with elevation gain and at least one summit; we are 18, 21, and 52 years old and are all athletic and in good health, though we are inexperienced in overnight backpacking in the desert (especially during the time of year that water supplies start to dry up). :-/

My question is two-fold:

Does anyone have a suggestion for (or even a link to) a two-night, three day hike that fits what we're looking for and has reliable water sources?? I am apprehensive about water availability and would not plan this trip if there is a consensus that known water sources will be dried up. I know that this website is full of hikers who have been out in the Supes for much longer trips than this and am just hoping for some suggestions!

Thanks,

Avery

[JoelHazelton]

A trip I did two Decembers ago:

Day one: Hike into Reavis Ranch via 109 north, set up camp.

Day two: Dayhike to Circlestone and Mound Mountain. Be sure to summit Mound Mountain via the north face, otherwise you'll be dealing with a hellish amount of manzanita. If you still have energy pack up camp and backtrack on the Reavis Trail to make day three shorter. We moved camp to the Plow Saddle junction.

Day three: Dayhike down to Reavis Falls and then hike out. Definitely the most difficult day.

I think the entire trip was about 34 miles. The last day was the longest and I was already tired from the previous two days. Also not sure how worthy of a destination Reavis Falls would be this year... Not much rain lately.

Reavis Creek near Reavis Ranch will have reliable water.

Link to my triplog: http://hikearizona.com/x.php?I=4&IDt=40 ... 40573&ZTN=

[nonot]

March is perfect for the lower Supes. There is almost always water flowing (though it's been pretty dry so far this winter)

D1: From first water TH, go dutchman to black top mesa, and down to either the cavalry or the dutchman near the intersection of the two where you can camp.
D2: A couple of choices here: you could dayhike the weaver's needle loop (recommended for beginners - terrapin to bluff springs - peralta-dutchman-back to camp), or you could go check out Charlesbois spring and find the Peralta Master Map and go up onto Peter's Mesa and look around up there (a little more obscure). Either way you don't have to move your camp if you don't want to.
D3: Take the Cavalry around to Boulder canyon, back S to the Dutchman, go NW over Black Mesa and back to the First Water TH.

[SuperstitionGuy]

Be sure to have a plan A and a plan B in case there is a late winter storm passing through the state.

The higher elevations in the Superstitions can be quite dangerous weather wise even in late March with snow and heavy rains that can cause flooding.

However If the weather is advancing towards summer you might be able to experience the apple orchard at Reavis in full bloom.

[sirena]

I have limited experience in the Supes, but from what I've seen I would go for the lower elevation hikes in the western part over the Reavis Ranch area.

[AveryFisher]

I am leafing through guides to the Supes and there are many possibilities but I thought I would ask from a group of people I knew would have experience! Thank you so much for these suggestions.

[jdcollard]

We did a hike from Roger's trough trailhead to circlestone and then to the ranch...day 2 we went to circlestone...day 3 we hiked out. It was a great hike!

[DJSponge]

Can anyone recommend a route for the wife and I and our 10 year old daughter? We are good up to 6 miles a day...looking primarily for a loop, but an out/back would be ok too.

[DJSponge]

Sorry, 3-day, 2 night trip as well...thanks in advance.

[nonot]

Assuming that the streams out there are flowing - Peralta trail to the dutchman, camp just east of the intersection on the dutchman.
Day 2: east on the dutchman to near labarge spring
day 3 - take the dutchman and bluff springs trail back to the Peralta TH