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Hi! I'm planning a backpacking trip over Thanksgiving weekend to the Superstition Wilderness. We are thinking of doing a loop - going up the Peralta Trail and then taking the Dutchman Trail back to the trailhead. I'm concerned about the availability of water as it looks like there hasn't been any rain recently. I have called the Tonto ranger station as well as the Mesa ranger station. Tonto said there is NO water and that we must pack in all water. Mesa said that there is definitely water (but was vague about where). Not sure what to trust...

I'm looking at a map that has several springs marked along the trail - Crystal Spring, Bluff Spring, La Barge Spring, Charlebois Spring, and White Rock Spring. Has anyone been on these trails recently and know if there is water available at these sources? If water is available, are these springs relatively easy to find (close to trail? signed?)? Also, are there any water sources near the Peralta trail?

Any info about the water situation would be appreciated. Thanks!

LaBarge Spring is Perennial so you will have Water there...I believe Charlebois is as well...Take enough Water to get you to those Springs. I wouldn't plan on Water anywhere else on that Route, and if you do find it, it's just a Bonus....

Charly-boy spring and LaBarge spring should have reliable water and are along your route. The rest are iffy, based on past observations.

There are no reliable water sources along the Peralta trail. You may find water but you may not. LaBarge is the easiest to find, you can usually hear it from the intersection. Charley boy is farther from the trail but there is a good side trail that takes you there. Assuming you take the correct turn off the Dutchman you will find it no problem.

Charlebois and LaBarge springs are guaranteed water. I would be surprised to see water anywhere along the Peralta Trail or on the Dutchman between the Peralta and Terrapin. If I were you I would skip the Peralta Trail entirely. They'll be crowds all the way to Fremont Saddle. Take Bluff Springs Trail out to the Terrapin and go around Bluff Spring Mountain to the Dutchman. It will add a couple possible pools of water if you need them and I think its a more interesting hike

Thanks for the info about Charlebois and La Barge! Does anyone know if the Marsh Valley area has water?

Tough Boots, Bluff Springs Trail/Terrapin Trail is a definite possibly for us, especially if Peralta trailhead looks too crowded, BUT I have read that these trails are overgrown and easy to get lost? Just wondering what the difficulty is, as we have never backpacked in the desert before and we're bringing our dog - I am already nervous about the water situation and I would hate to get lost too, haha.

Camp out at Charliebois. Lots of great places to setup camp. And there's always water there.

@icyfire

BUT I have read that these trails are overgrown and easy to get lost

Although I do not know your level of experience or general trail aptitude, I think most would agree that is an inaccurate statement.

icyfire wrote:BUT I have read that these trails are overgrown and easy to get lost?

I've been on all those sections of trail recently and the worst overgrowth is going to be along the Dutchman on the northeast and northwest sides of Bluff Spring Mountain-- and you'll be hitting those sections of trail on either route. Its nothing that will make you lose the trail though. Route finding shouldn't be an issue. The Terrapin can be a little confusing going south but if you're heading north, the route is much more obvious. I haven't been on Peralta north of Fremont Saddle this season yet but in my experience it is usually just as overgrown in sections as anything else out there.

If you want something with very easy route finding and less overgrowth for the the dog's sake, you might think about doing Dutchman/Whiskey/Red Tanks/ Dutchman / Bluff Springs Trail or some version of that... You'll have water at LaBarge Spring for sure and probably puddles in Barks and along Red Tanks (but I wouldn't rely on it).